The Porsche 924S may have passed muster were it not for the $21,900 price tag, the original 924’s lackluster reputation, and the car’s more dashing 944 sibling. Indeed, the least expensive Porsche was thoughtfully engineered and generally fun to drive. Yet it would never be the Porsche that enthusiasts would dream of owning.
The reasons were simple. The 2734 pound 924s looked old, which was understandable, since the design had been around for a decade. And it wasn’t a jet, even with its 147-hp engine. There were several more dramatic cars in the 924s’s price range. Two of the best were the 182-hp Mazda RX-7 that cost $20,799, and the 230-hp Toyota Supra Turbo, at $23,210.
If it was any consolation, the 924S’s output would rise to 158-hp in 1988. But more horsepower wouldn’t solve all of its ills. Along rough pavement, the 924S’s interior drummed distractingly, and the effort required to operate the steering wheel and foot pedals was great.
If you got over the 924S’s dated appearance, you’d find it embodied a bunch of its big brother’s virtues. But it cost 86 percent of the 944’s price; why not wait until you had the extra $3930 and buy the real thing.
Pingback: » 1977 Porsche 924 Test Drive