hmd

I am looking for another 20%street-80%track P-Car. Having tracked Boxster, 944S2 and 951, I was ready to purchase an early 993 or late 964C2. But having recently witnessed a colleague rolled his STi and totalled the car in the process, the saying of 'don't track the car if you can't afford to wreck it' certainly has become more relevant.

So I find myself looking at an early 3.2 car. I am interested to hear from anyone who has crossed to the Dark Side. Will I be able to cope with the dynamics of a rear engine car and one without ABS?

Please let me know before I shoot myself in the foot.

84_Carrera

I am learning this now, coming from front/front/abs, with my 84 Cab. I am only finding ABS an issue on the street during abrupt "panic stop" situations, and not really an issue yet on the track, with stock brakes.

My track days thus far with the 911 have been wet ones, which have made for some adrenaline-filled laps.

Still fun though, and very challenging.

Bill Gregory

While the 911 is different, you'll quickly learn why they leave others in the dust through corners. Look on this as an opportunity to discover why 911's have remained such popular street and successful track platforms for so many years.

I moved the other way, from a 911SC to a 964C2, and having ABS or not is not a big deal. You probably already know that to maximize your dollar investment, you'll want to find a 3.2 Carrera that has already enjoyed some track-friendly upgrades, ie, a rollbar/cage, Bilstein shocks, thicker torsion bars, cooling for the front brakes, cloth seats with shoulder harness cutouts, and harnesses.

Ed Hughes

When you look at how many pre-89 911s are out there and tracked, the answer is a resounding YES-you'll be able to cope.

I don't even know how to spell ABS when driving my '84.

JCP911S

IMHO the 3.2 and earlier 911 are a **** to drive.... they are no more dangerous or difficult to drive than any other car, but you really need to learn how to drive them, as they are not as forgiving to the ham-fisted.

Big thing you need to learn is that you must use the throttle to settle the back tires in a turn... lift unexpectedly, and the tail will come out on you... once you become comfortable with this, you can use it to position the car and it becomes a hugely useful tool.... but it does require some practice, so work up to it gradually.

Also.... these cars are cheaper to run IMHO... very robust and the parts are not as expensive as some of the later cars...

Have fun

Peter Zimmermann

LOL! I think you got that "dark side" comment backward, switching to a 911 is going from the dark side TO the light! I've raced 356s, 914s (4 & 6), 944s and 911s. The 911 requires the most attention and technique, but man, after you've done only one great lap in a 911 you feel sooooo good! If/when you get one (Bill G. is right on the money about finding an already modified car - if it's been done right), don't think that you'll be able to hustle it through a corner ten minutes after you get in it. I strongly recommend that you spend at least a thousand miles in it, learning it on the street (clutch, shifting, etc.), and get used to its quirks. Have fun!
Pete

84_Carrera

JCP -
That's the thing I'm doing now, learning to keep the weight distributed over the rear through the corners. I'm progressively more on the throttle through most corners now, coming out the other side near / at WOT where I can. It's taken some "oh what the hell, let's do it" attitude where I wouldn't have been as comfortable before, but as Peter mentions, it feels incredible when you come out the other side. Unfortunately, my dry experience has been limited to offramps & sideroads, as my track days have been wet so far.

Oh, and widening & replacing the meats & wheels out back hasn't hurt. After some fun tonight, I parked it & started feeling the rear sneakers - the Kumho MX's get pretty sticky when hot! (Insert big grin here). The 9" rear wheels & new tires greatly improve rear grip.

When I decided to buy a 911, everyone under the sun told me "Don't Lift" - if you go in too hot, stay on it - you'll either make it or die. If you go in too hot & lift, you're definitely gonna die".

altonj

I love going for track walks during a DE and listening to an instructor tell us "this would be where you could try out your ABS!" I spell ABS - GTP as in Brembo. Easy to modulate right at the verge of lockup. My 911 is so easy to drive on the track, it makes even me look good! Take Bills advice, get one that has some mods already......

Cheers, Jeff

hmd

Thanks for all the encouragements everyone.

And Bill I will heed your wise words, when looking for one.

Fortunately a local Dark lord lent me his Tie Fighter for a day on a local track, and I must say I had a ball.

Pic of The Borrowed Tie Fighter

84_Carrera

Is that New Hampshire International?

hmd

Fred,

About 10,000 miles across the pacific in the southern hemisphere.

84_Carrera

Interesting! I was looking at the single wiper and thought right-drive, but the paddock area looks very similar.

Cookie Porsche

hmd,
You'll get plenty advice on this one! I like your 'loaner' - is that what you call a 20% road car???

I agree, ABS is wasted unless you have lot's of rain in your part of the world.

I do however believe the best base to be the 964 - to me it is a much better candidate as a 80/20 than the older 3.2.

The 964 has got decent brakes (and easy to upgrade to 993TT), it has got allround coil-over (easy to upgrade to whatever) it has got 3.6 versus 3.2 and it has got G50 versus 915. The list goes on.

The 964 is always A LOT cheaper than the 993 and surprinsingly close the the 3.2. It is a better road car as it actually has got SOME air vents.

Buying seats, tires, seatbelts, roll cage, etc...... costs the same for both. Parts are much cheaper for the 964 than for the 3.2.

And before the 3.2 brigade despatches a snipper - I really like the 3.2.

Regards
Tom

hmd

Tom,

I agree with all the things you said except the pricing. There are A LOT more track ready street 3.2 than there is 964 street/track cars from this part of the world. My calculation is that to get a 964 street/track ready it would me more than USD 18.5K or 126K Rands.

I started with 993, then thought about 964, now 3.2 that's it I am not going any further back in time

It's all affordability at the moment, Otherwise we would all be driving Carrera Cup cars

Cookie Porsche

hmd,

Allright then. Buy a SC 3.0 (204bhp). These are quite a bit cheaper than the 3.2, the basic engines are ultra strong (I believe better than the 3.2) and you can easily bolt on an exhaust and a set of carbs to achieve the 3.2 power and MUCH better response (this is a FUN car remember).

The money saved can be used to build an ultra-reliable giant killer and the car will be usable on the street.

Just fit nice seat, all the safety stuff, remove weight and add light weight goodies (bumpers, wing and bonnet). Add sticky tires and voila. 1050 kg's and 240 bhp - a 993/964 eater is born.

Lastly - never worry about wrecking your car. Most whoooopsies can be repaired and life is too short.

Tom