Porsche 924
The 924 is no longer the cheapest entry into Porsche ownership, so it’s time to grab a good one before the market really wakes up to this undervalued coupé
‘Upgrade to the 150bhp 924S and you get powerassisted steering’
If you haven’t driven a 924 before, forget any preconceptions about this not being a ‘proper’ Porsche. The 924 is as wellengineered as any other Porsche of the time, and that includes the 2.0-litre fourcylinder motor nestled in the slimline front end. The engine might not have an abundance of power, and like many a large capacity four-pot, its smoothness and refinement will never match that of a ‘six’ ( hence the addition of a balancer shaft for the later 2.5-litre unit), but it spins sweetly and throttle response is terrific. When hooked up to the five-speed manual gearbox that appeared a couple of years after launch, there’s enough oomph to have fun.
You’ll certainly be able to enjoy the delightfully agile handling that characterised this pretty coupé, the near-ideal weight distribution courtesy of a transaxle layout that placed the gearbox at the back. Upgrade to the more powerful (150bhp) 924S model and you get power-assisted steering, but steering effort is manageable even without it at parking speeds and feedback at a higher pace is incredibly accurate.
And all of this enjoyable handling is allied to a comfortable ride quality and confidenceinspiring brakes, turning the 924 into a perfectly usable everyday sports car.
It’s a practical one, too, thanks to its useful load space beneath the glass rear hatch. The supportive, highbacked sports seats – covered in somewhat psychedelic, but very period ‘Pasha’ cloth in earlier examples – mean that you emerge ache-free after longer journeys, while the driving stance itself is spot on.
The upright position of the steering wheel is typically Porsche
( but none the worse for it) and opens up an unobstructed view of the stylishly cowled dials, while the stubby gearlever falls perfectly to hand. Indeed, excellent ergonomics is just one of the many reasons why anyone looking for an affordable, practical, stylish and enjoyable sports car should have the 924 near the top of their shortlist.