Porsche 924 1976–1988 car dimensions: 4213 mm long, 1685 mm wide and 1270 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,205 kg. Braked towing is 800 kg.
The 2+2 cabin has high-backed front seats from the 911 and a large glass hatch for good all-round vision. Heating and ventilation are standard with continuous temperature control and multi-stage blower. Air conditioning is optional from 1977. Power windows and mirrors are later options. Cruise control is optional. Manual windows are standard early on. No electronic driver aids.
The hatch opens wide to a shallow but broad boot. Rear seats fold flat to expand the load area. A roller blind covers the space.
Towing is rated at 800 kg braked and 500 kg unbraked on base models. Payload is around 320 kg. Sport suspension with firmer springs and anti-roll bars is an option. The hatch layout suits light luggage or shopping more than heavy work.
The cabin is a practical 2+2 sports layout with high-backed front seats carried over from the 911, a prominent transmission tunnel, and large glass area for clear all-round vision. Rear seats suit children or fold flat to expand the shallow but wide hatch luggage space. Heating and ventilation work well thanks to the water-cooled engine. air conditioning and a removable lift-out sunroof panel are available options on many cars. Later models add better carpets, electric windows and mirrors, and electric seat height adjustment on some grades. The feel is straightforward and usable for daily or long trips rather than plush.
Fuel economy rated up to 31 mpg highway and 17 mpg city in early US EPA figures for manual cars.
Oil change interval listed at 10,000 km with full maintenance at 20,000 km.
Factory crash testing included frontal, rear and side impacts plus rollover checks with defined crumple zones.
Standard safety includes dual-circuit brakes (front discs/rear drums early. all-disc later), 3-point front belts, collapsible steering column and later rear belts.
Body fully galvanized from 1979 for rust resistance. 7-year perforation warranty on later cars.
Fuel use is efficient for a sports coupe of the period. Early brochures quote EPA highway figures of 31 mpg and city around 17 mpg on manual cars, with California variants close behind. Real-world touring returns stay respectable thanks to the aerodynamic shape and modest power outputs.
Servicing follows straightforward intervals. One technical listing notes oil changes every 10,000 km and major maintenance every 20,000 km. Parts share with contemporary Audi/VW components keeps many items available and costs reasonable compared with air-cooled Porsches. Clutch and transaxle work is more involved due to the torque-tube layout.
Safety equipment centres on passive design. Dual-diagonal braking circuits, negative scrub radius steering and independent suspension aid control. Front three-point belts are standard. rear belts and all-round discs arrived later. The structure uses calculated crumple zones and a collapsible column. Porsche conducted its own frontal, rear, side and rollover tests at modest speeds. No public multi-star consumer ratings exist for this era.
Living with the car is simple if the body is sound. Galvanizing from late 1970s models greatly cuts rust risk. Regular checks on brakes, suspension bushes and the CIS injection keep it reliable. The large hatch and fold-flat rear make it more usable day-to-day than pure two-seaters. Keep an eye on sunroof seals and electrics on optioned cars.
Length 4213 mm, Width 1685 mm, Height 1270 mm, Wheelbase 2400 mm (924 1976–1988)
Sources: manufacturer data and published specifications.