QUOTE(iwanta914-6 @ Apr 18 2016, 08:56 AM)
I still don't want to give up my search for a 914, but there's been a 1981 924 turbo for sale locally for a little while in my price range. Does anyone here have any experience with these? I know there's a forum for the 924 but before I sign up for that I figured I'd check here first.
I was never a fan of the 924 growing up like I was the 914, but I'm trying to keep my options open as I try to find the right Porsche by the time I turn 40 (October this year).
My dad had a 951 back in the day, and it was a fun car. I figured that a 931 could be a fun car as well.
I have all 3. Multiple 914s, a 951 and semi recently got an insane deal on a 80 931. I never liked 924s but when i saw this one it grew on me pretty quick.
914 s will always be my favorite, not because they are better, they are just in my blood at this point.
951 s are wolfs in sheep clothing when well maintained. Probably the best performing non super car of the 80s, totally underrated.
The 931 is neither one of these, it does not have the "rawness" of a 914 and it will never perform like a 951 or feel as modern, in some ways though it almost a mix of the two. It was interesting to me when I got my 931 to compare the differences to the 951, despite being built on pretty much the same chassis only 6 years apart, just about everything on the 931 seemed more raw and unrefined (in that good nostalgic 70s way)
Things in particular of note (on mine anyways)
No power steering
hood has a bar to prop it up rather than struts
Mechanical Injection
G31 Porsche transaxle has the same dogleg 1st shift pattern as a 914 (I think they changed to the audi box similar to the 944s in 81 though)
old school turbo setup
no intercooler
has air conditioning
Galvanized
Galvanized
oh and Galvanized
924/931 timing belt jobs are like 1/10th the cost of a 944/951.
Near impossible to find some parts
Very low production numbers
81s had a decent number of improvements over the 80s mainly in the intake/turbo plumbing and electronic controlled ignition. Decent increase in power over the earlier cars should come out on top of an NA 944. Downside of the electronic ignition though is the NLA flywheel sensor, without which the car will not run.
It wont be a 914, it will be a fun car. It will be a more difficult car to own. It will be a much more rare car. Seriously, when was the last time you saw someone driving a 931, or even, have you ever in your life seen someone driving a 931? I have been going to Porsche meets for the last 20 years and I have never seen anyone show up in a 931.
Really hard to say what a 931 is worth given how rarely you see them for sale. I dont want to speculate on the prices, but so far there as not been a Porsche that did not eventually shoot up in value, especially the low production ones. I suspect the time for the 931 may be coming. No idea if 6k is a "good" price but I remember in the mid 90s when 914-6s could be had for 6k... something to think about anyways.