hderr

Maybe I should do as the wife says and just get a girlfriend. ;-) but can she drive I say!!! Ok, here’s the situation.

I’ve always been interested in cars. Done the usual water pumps, alternators, brakes,… on GM, Ford, MG, Fiat,… products. Nothing to complicated. I’ve rebuilt one engine (GM V8) from the bottom up. Put a clutch in an 85.5 944 (my son’s). I like his 944, but he doesn’t share well. Autocross looks like a fun thing to try so I’m looking for a car to do this in without spending the wife’s retirement. So, I’ve thought about early 944’s, late 944’s, making my stock 66 289 Mustang into an autocross car, I’ve considered Miata’s (briefly), and now I’m looking at an ’87, 951. I want the car to be competitive in its class. I can’t afford to have a shop do all the work; I have to do at least some of it myself. I want to do most of it myself but I don’t want to get in over my head. Putting a clutch in a 944 looks simple to me compared to rebuilding a metric turbo engine. I obviously don’t know which direction to turn.

I’m new to the rennlist and in searching didn’t find much on maintance/cost of a 951 vs. say the 944 or why are there so many Miatas at the autocross.

So, let’s assume I go the 951 route. Did I just shoot myself in the foot as far as being able to maintain and afford parts? I’d appreciate any and all comments on this! thanks,
Porscheless in Cheyenne

Mighty Shilling

a 951 is about double the maintinance price of the 944 on a bad year. As for performance, it's a helluva lotta fun. save up and buy the BEST example you can... as your son has a 944, I'm sure you know there is nothing more expensive than a cheap Porsche.

Now, the 944 is a MUCH better autoX car... I beat my dad's turbo hands down. no prob.

hderr

So what's the deal with beating dad, more lower end torque or what?

lleroyb

I don't know why no one with autocross experience has chimed in but having had a 944 and a 951 I think the turbo is less able in tight situations, on the gas off and back on. Give it a little room and there is no comparison, the turbo will win hands down. I have never heard anyone say a turbo makes a great autocross car. On a road course 951s make everyone else nervous, even cars costing much more.

From what I have seen as a spectator, a 944 will beat a spec Miata. The Miata will be much cheaper to own and maintain I would think.

Lou

Kelly Chiu

If you want to autocross, the 944 and 951 especially will be smoked by a miata. Most autocross courses don't really have enough room for a 951 or even a 944 to really stretch its legs. Miatas can be had for cheap, the parts are cheap and it is a very good learner's car. I have a miata as a daily driver, hopping into the 951 on the weekends, the 951 feels like a cow compared to the miata.

lleroyb

A cow that makes the jump to light speed, that is.

Russian Rocket

If you want a car competitive in its autox class go with a miata or an NA 944.
If it was me i'd pick a miata without even thinking about it. so much cheaper to maintain. go with 94 or 95, those were the best years. Owned one and with $800 in susp+ some tires that car would give my 944 S2 a good run for da money.
Vlad.

Techno Duck

Id have to go along with the advice given here. If you want a purely competitive autocross car, the Miata is the way to go. They are extremely fast cars for that type of duty. If you want something a bit more liveable as a daily driver, a 944 would be a better choice.

Mighty Shilling

Now, what people are saying about the turbo is definately true. the NA has no turbo lag, so, it kicks *** on the autoX course. the 924S (IMHO) is much more "tossable" than the 944, and has the same suspension and drive train...it's lighter, and I personally can tell a HUGE difference on the autoX and road course.

However, you get on a road course, and the turbo is champion. I was leading a Mitsubishi Evo 8 MR for a couple laps until I overheated the brakes and had to use the runoff... Dad was showing new GTO's that 8 cylinders isn't always better...they eventually got pissed and went back into the pits...shooting us dirty dirty glares when we rolled back in...

So... it all depends on what you're looking for. if you're looking for a fun car for a road course, and a great car on the autoX, I'd go for a 924S or 944, or hell, I'll even say a Miata... However, if you're looking for a car that'll put you in the poll position, go for a turbo.

Also, I'm working on convincing NASA to bring the spec944 racing to Colorado. You cannot run a turbo in that... 944 or 924S only. the leading car right now is a 924S... and he's not leading by a lot. but it all depends on your intentions for the car.

Serge944

Swing for a 944 s2 (3.0l 16v) - it has almost 50% more power than the 2.5 liter counterpart.

Porschephile, can you really feel the 50 or so pounds that seperated a 924s and a 944? That's a spare tire and a cheeseburger.

hderr

Thanks for all the input, I especially like the idea of a Miata for the autox and 944 or 951 as a daily driver. Keep it coming.

M758

Right now there is no NASA region in Colorado. Too bad, but I would be great to have one. Are you looking to be series director for 944spec in colorado?

Also that 924S is no longer the leader in So-Cal racing. He has been surpassed by other drivers.

BeerBurner

My recommendation is to buy one of each.

I will also suggest that if you do end up with a Miata, read up on the "short nose crankshaft failure" problems with the '90 and early '91 Miata. Ask me how I know.

edit: and for a comparison between the two, I made this thread. In a nutshell, I find that the 944 makes a better daily driver than the Miata by design, although the Miata is likely to be far less expensive to operate. Mine, however, has been a money pit, but am willing to believe it's the exception and not the rule.

BB.

bjzorn

I own a 90 S2 and have driven a 951 at and ridin in a miata at the autocross, I say that the miata or S2 or even a 8V N/A 944 is the way to go for autocross, turbos just don't hae enough power down low to come out of the corners, A miata is a fun car to to autocross but the one Iwas in didn't have ABS and being used to ABS in my car(A PCA insturctor was driving it, he has a 87 951 that he normall y Autox) it took some getting used on where to brake and not locking up the the wheels. IF your going ot get a Miata for autocross make sure it as ABS,and if you can find one get teh "R" package light weight version, manual windows etc. rear spoiler(very sublte) and front chin sploiler in black.

And as far as maintence goes if you can do some of the work yourself its not bad and if you shop around for parts they are very affordable. My S2 has been very affordable to own(Althoguh I work at a P-car dealer so I get a break there) but I do some of the work my self and its actually really cheap. Plusthis car has been very well maintained its whole life and it really shows. My car with 152,000 miles is in better shape then some of teh 80,000 mile 951's I looked at. Actually people in the Local PCA here are suprized that it actually has that many miles on it. Most of them guess 60,000-90,000 miles. If you can find a car that has been well maintained and looks like new then I say go for it. But make sure the car has records and teh Belts have been done.



Just My .02

Brandon

xsboost90

i love my n/a 944 in autox, and drivers ed. If i wanted to really be competitive i would get a miata, but getting to beat miatas in my 944 has become a goal- they are so light! The way i look at it, the miata may get through the course faster but at the end of the day its still a mazda.