Porsche 924 - can't fit in it properly?!?

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Chris B - 11 May 2004 15:16 GMT

Hey guys,

I'm new to this group, just bought a Porsche 924 - my first Porsche and a
very nice one at that. I know they're kinda looked upon as a 'poor mans
Porsche' and don't exactly have the performance of a 'proper' Porsche, but I
have to say it does handle very nicely and it goes well enough for me at the
moment.
I have one problem with it though - I can't seem to find a good seating
position. I'm about 5'10 and weigh 10 stone, so pretty average I guess.
However, the steering wheel is so low compared to where the seat is, my legs
have to go around the wheel rather than underneath. The upshot is, after
driving it for about 4 days, my left knee is starting to ache constantly as
my leg is at a funny angle every time I press down on the clutch. I've put
the seat back as far as I can whilst still being able to reach the pedals,
but still I can't get my legs underneath the steering wheel. Am I missing
something here? I've never heard of anyone complaining about the seating
position on these cars and the steering wheel doesn't seem to be
adjustable.. nor does the height of the seat. I'm just a bit confused - are
there any other 924 owners out there with the same problem?

Cheers,

Chris.

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Lockloven - 11 May 2004 22:40 GMT

Well thats an interesting problem you have there, I'm not real sure if I
will be of any help, but I will try.

I currently own '96 944 and I've noticed that I do sit very differently in
it then any other car I have driven. The way I fixed this was that on the
side of the seat there is are some buttons for the power seat. They move
the seat up and down amoung other things. I would check on the side next
to the door of you seat for these adjustments, other then that, I'm not
sure what you could do. I don't think that the steering wheel is
adjustable as you said already.

Anyway, I'm sure you will figure something out.

Good luck,
Anthony

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Chris B - 12 May 2004 01:04 GMT

> I currently own '96 944 and I've noticed that I do sit very differently in
> it then any other car I have driven. The way I fixed this was that on the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Anyway, I'm sure you will figure something out.

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think the seat is height adjustable.
Certainly, it doesn't have any electric functions. I just can't fit my legs
underneath the steering wheel! It seems like that's the way it's designed,
but surely everyone would complain quite vehemently if that were the case?
When turning the wheel, my hands constantly hit my legs. It's just like the
seats are too high, but having never driven any other 924 I can't say for
certain if they're all like that. It just seems like the sort of problem
which would have been sorted out, especially as mine is an '85 model.
I've been doing a bit of reading up and apparently Porsche did offer a
longer steering wheel column as an option, so maybe this was a
characteristic of the car. I just find it odd, as I'd imagine my knees are
in just about the same place as most other people's knees would be!

I see two ways this is gonna go. Either my leg's gonna get used to it, or
I'll end up with chronic knee pain!

In every other respect, I have to say it is a real pleasure to drive. I used
to drive a Mazda RX-7 Turbo II - it was faster and had similar distribution
of weight, but this car is something else and I'm not even totally sure why.
I'm looking forward to moving up in a year or so to a 944 or a 968.

Chris.

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Mike - 13 May 2004 03:55 GMT

Chris,

I own an '87 924S and to my knowledge there is no seat height or steering
wheel adjustment. The onlly adjustment I can find on the seat is
forward/backwaard position and the seatback angle adjustment.

One suggestion..you might replace the standard steering wheel with a smaller
diameter Momo brand racing wheel.

Mike Osborn

> Hey guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Chris.

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Chris B - 14 May 2004 02:24 GMT

> One suggestion..you might replace the standard steering wheel with a smaller
> diameter Momo brand racing wheel.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the idea. I'd like to keep my original steering wheel if at all
possible, so I'm gonna battle on with it for a while. I'm not a big fan of
fitting small diameter momo wheels and the like unless I'm gonna strip the
car out and go racing - kinda looks out of place otherwise! It's not too bad
now I've been driving it a week - maybe I just need a bit of time to get
used to it.

Chris.

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Paul H - 14 May 2004 01:09 GMT

Hello Chris

There may be spacers on the seat rails that you can remove - OK it may
not be enough but it may help...

Various steering wheel designs have been used by Porsche including
offset ones which give a few centimetres extra space. What design steering
wheel has your car got at the moment?

Thanks :-)
--
Paul Hedges
PCGB 924 Register Secretary
www.porscheclubgb.com

> Hey guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Chris.

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Chris B - 14 May 2004 02:20 GMT

> Hello Chris

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the reply;

> There may be spacers on the seat rails that you can remove - OK it may
> not be enough but it may help...

I found some links on eBay for spacers on the 924 the other day - I'll check
tomorrow.

> Various steering wheel designs have been used by Porsche including
> offset ones which give a few centimetres extra space. What design steering
> wheel has your car got at the moment?

I have what I think is considered the standard three-spoke steering wheel.
Looks like just about every other 924 steering wheel I've seen, apart from
early 2-spoke ones.
I think my knee is getting used to the seating position, as it hasn't been
aching so much the past couple of days, but my hands do hit my legs if I
turn too far without feeding the wheel through my grip, which I'm not
exactly used to having happen. Is this normal for a 924? I guess I figured I
would've heard more about seating problems before when I was researching
these cars if it wasn't just me having trouble! Probably wouldn't have
stopped me buying the car though ;)

Cheers,

Chris.

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Christopher Roberts - 15 May 2004 21:21 GMT

> > Hello Chris
>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> Chris.

Hi Chris

If the seat spacers are fitted in your car, then removing them will give you
about half an inch or so extra space. Don't fit them if you are struggling
for leg room.

In terms of the steering wheels, there is a higher hub version of the
3-spoke steering wheel which brings it out closer to your body, which some
people find helpful. Also the 3-spoke steering wheel is 380 mm, whereas the
4 spoke ones are 361mm. That is also nearly an inch smaller.

You have probably noticed that the steering wheel is eccentric, with the hub
set below centre. This enables you to read the instruments with as much
space between legs and wheel as possible. With practice you will also learn
to feed the wheel between your hands so that they do not hit the legs, and
will wonder why you had any problems before.

Finally, if you set the seat position back so that your legs are very nearly
fully extended when the pedals are completely depressed, you will probably
find it very comfortable. I certainly prefer the seating position on the
924/944/968 to any other car. Perhaps its because of my personal geometry.

Best wishes.

Signature

Christopher Roberts

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Chris B - 17 May 2004 16:15 GMT

> In terms of the steering wheels, there is a higher hub version of the
> 3-spoke steering wheel which brings it out closer to your body, which some
> people find helpful. Also the 3-spoke steering wheel is 380 mm, whereas the
> 4 spoke ones are 361mm. That is also nearly an inch smaller.

Is the four spoke steering wheel the usual wheel design that was used on
Porsches through the 80's/early 90's - with the rectangular centre section?
I might look out for one of those.

> You have probably noticed that the steering wheel is eccentric, with the hub
> set below centre. This enables you to read the instruments with as much
> space between legs and wheel as possible. With practice you will also learn
> to feed the wheel between your hands so that they do not hit the legs, and
> will wonder why you had any problems before.

Actually, I hadn't noticed that - I do find my hands hit my legs when trying
to turn the steering wheel a long way, but I'm getting used to it now. I
used to drive a Mazda RX-7, which did have steering wheel height adjustment
and I never had these problems, so I guess I just imagined the seating
position would be very similar to that. In many ways it is, but the steering
wheel just gets in the way!

> Finally, if you set the seat position back so that your legs are very nearly
> fully extended when the pedals are completely depressed, you will probably
> find it very comfortable. I certainly prefer the seating position on the
> 924/944/968 to any other car. Perhaps its because of my personal geometry.

I've tried moving it as far back as I can whilst still being able to depress
the clutch, but my legs still get in the way and I'm stretching my arms
quite a bit. Maybe my legs are too long or something?! I am now getting used
to it. Certainly, my knee isn't aching so much anymore. I got back in my old
car today to move it for the first time in nearly two weeks - I'd already
forgotten how much lighter the clutch was on that car! (and where the
handbrake was)

Thanks for the tips,

Chris.

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someone@somewhere.net - 14 May 2004 03:45 GMT

Porsche seats are interchangable between different models around the age
of your car. 928/944/911 Get some electric six-way adjustables. I'll bet
the wiring harness is hiding under the carpet.

> Hey guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Chris.

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Chris B - 31 May 2004 01:59 GMT

For anyone interested, I finally got around to checking under the seat and
did indeed find some seat spacers fitted. I removed them - lowering the seat
by only around 1cm. It has made a slight difference - but nothing major!

That all said, I seem to be fairly used to the driving position now - my leg
stopped aching and it's very comfortable.

Chris.

> Hey guys,
>
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Chris.

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