944 vs 924 vs Conquest

kaw550 wrote: I had been looking for a cheap winter project for a while. I was looking for a classic to restore. Something like an MG, Triumph or 914. Then I came across a 924 which had me looking a 944 then turbos then Conquests.

What do you mean "restore". Mechanical? Cosmetic?

It will cost as much or more to produce a "prefect" cosmetic 924 as it will an early 944. The reason is they share much of the interior bits.

A late 944 will cost abou the same as 944 Turbo again due the shared interior.

However one done the 944 Turbo will have the most return due to it being the most powerfull. Also most 924 you find will be cheap, but also rougher than 944 or 944 Turbo. The higher dollar cars tended to fall in better hands.

My 944 race car is mechincaly restored and it is cheap and not that hard. Junkyard spares makes it easier to do. 924 tend to have harder to find spares. However the cost to redo the interior on both is going to be very high if you can even source the parts.

924 tend to have harder to find spares. However the cost to redo the interior on both is going to be very high if you can even source the parts.

for a concurs restoration this may be true, otherwise, not an issue at all. there is a large community of 924 owners with a great parts swap network for one, and secondly the interiors are interchangeable. Starting with the 76 924 going all the way up to 1981 100% interchangeable. Then there are only only minor dash and console differences through the 85 944. then you take the dash and center console out of the equation and every thing is a direct swap right through the late model 968's. So yes, you can take a complete 1994 968 interior and bolt it right into a 76 924, and just about every part will line up perfect, and bolt down in exactly the same place. And with some modification, i can make the late dash and console fit as well, but its not a novice job like the rest of the interior. so from 1976 to 1994 90% of the interior is a direct swap, lot of parts out there in great shape, just need to know where to look

i put the brakes and suspension, front and rear from an 84 944 onto my 78 924, no modification needed except for relocating the front anti sway bar mounts.

a later model five speed tranny and torque tube will bolt right up to my 78 as well, but i like the 4 spd in that car, at least for short track and autocross, does take getting used to though.

i could go on and on, i havent even mention the audi and vw parts swap options... but ill spare every one. bottom line is there thousands of cheap 924's and 944 out there, if you like the idea, youve got allot of options and endless variation and interchangeability between years, so you can have your cake and eat it too in many cases. :)

When looking for something from the 60's or early 70's I was going to do a frame off. Nothing for show just to make a nice driver

If I go with something from the 80's or 90's I would like something that is unique enough to justify owning it. I am surprised how low the HP numbers are. I tried finding them for a conquest but gave up.

How would a 95+ ecilpe convertible fit into the comparison?

It may be a little too new but it appears that there are plenty of parts out there. Not sure how easy they are to mod or how they perform.

What about a porsche 928? I dont know much about them, but they seem to be better made than 924/944s. and around the same price. Looking up normal maintaince parts, most of the prices arent too scary (clutch isnt cheap, but thats the same for all cars with that drivetrain setup.) Are they way worse than it sounds to keep running? Or do they scare people away just becasue of the cost to pay to have them worked on? ( I daily drive an alfa milano, and i have been thinking about looking for a maserati biturbo for a project, so my opinion may be different than other peoples).

I did look at them. The seem to be priced a lot higher in my area but it could be what is available right now.

the 928 is an awesome car, but also allot more complicated, one look at the electrical schematics will have your head spinning. 82 or above manual would be the best bet, but they also demand a premium, as most were automatics.

engines have the same complicated t belt set up as the 944, just twice as much of it, and they are also fairly heavy.

DIY 928's are for the advance user, awesome cars but also demand allot of attention, and best used as intended, as grand touring cars, unless your very dedicated.

I loved mine, but ill admit i was in over my head starting with an abused one. next time, ill know better and will be able to enjoy it more, but i will have another eventually.

A 928 is a great car.. my parents have nice 50k mile 91 928 S4. 5.0L V8 and 316 hp. Nice rumble on start. However it is a 4 spd auto. Good for what it was which is a nice Grand Toruing car. I could drive 250 miles at over 120 mph car in that car more comfortably that I could go 60 mph in a regular car.

However it is not as tossalbe as even a 944 Turbo. My also stock 88 Turbo S is just as fast because it is more nimble. Still the 928 is great car for what it is. However it is an order of magnitide more complex. Remember when new that 928 was 70k in 1990 dollars and had the highest top speed of any production Porsche. That is like 120k these days. So it was geared to the top dollar customers.

If you can fine a nice 928 you will have a great car. If you fine a rat 928 it can be nightmare to get back going properly. That said I hear of an 84 version that is being built for LeMons and apparently is very quick. That car is a 5.0L and only 288 hp I think.