Briggs

Hello All,

This is my first post. I did try to search the forum for like questions but was unsucessful.
I'm trying to decide which 944 would be the best for me.
This will be my first Porsche. I plan to autocross it and particpate in a few DE's this year hopefully. I have done auotcrosses and the HPDE, with my daily driver, through local PCA.
The 944 cup series looks interesting and may be in my sights for next year.

Basically for right now I would like something to get me started. I'm leaning toward a NA 944, although I worry that I'll feel the car is under powered.

ONe last thing. I'm 6' 3". Should I be Concerned with the stock seats? Should I plan on doing a race seat?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated


Briggs

Jfrahm

Hi Briggs,
You have come to the right place. I must say I'm baffled by people who buy a 944NA and then wish it was faster. If someone wants a car with more than 150HP or so, they should buy something other than an 944NA. The 944S2 is a great track car and has great power. That might be a good choice for you.

-Joel.

led

But it will only be a matter of time until you feel the crave for boost...
Even so, I still love my NA, but like Joel said... I wish it was faster!

Edit: Almost forgot... Welcome to the forums!

xsboost90

I like my n/a. I feel i still havent pushed the car near its limits yet and its mostly stock. That being said, i dont do too bad at the pca autox and de events either. I would say the stock seats in a late car like 87+ - -- 89 would be plenty low for a 6'3" person in there. You may need to get one w/ power drivers seat so you can lower it all the way down like i do for helmet clearance, or get a even lower racing seat eventually.

Techno Duck

It also depends on your budget. If you can afford to maintain a 17 year old car comfortably, get a 944 Turbo if you want the fastest of the bunch. They have the greatest power potential. If you want something still fast, still not 'as' cheap as a 8-valve n/a car and not as fast as a turbo, (and not as much power potential) get a S2. If your on a tighter budget but still serious about buying one, id get the 8-valve n/a car. The acceleration wont blow you away, but it gets the job done. Thats not to say the regular 944 is a bad alternative. Its just as fun and i happen to love mine. It does sometimes leave something to be desired when trying to merge into fast moving traffic, but honestly you forget all about that once you hit the twisties .

And yes, if you get a 8v n/a car and get a ride in a Turbo...you will want one.

Technically both cars in stock trim, the 8-valve n/a cars are actually a bit more competitive in autocross, even more so with the S2. You need to contend with turbo lag. However if i did have a 944 Turbo, it would definitetley be modified and definiteley be put in the modified class. On an open track, the turbo will leave a regular 944 in the dust.

black944 turbo

My 86 fits me fine. I am 6'6" and this is the only car that I have ever driven that I can stretch out in. As far as a track car buy an NA a little easier to maintain and still tons of fun.

daniel951

Where you located briggs. Maybe someone can take you a ride in each vehicle and see which one you like more. oh wait i shouldn't say that because i know the answer lol. make sure you get a car with maintence and documenation or it can come back and bite u in the butt.

Briggs

Thank you all for the time and the insight. I do understand that starting with a N/a that I'll be yearning for more. (Power that is!) However, I came across the 944 cup series that NASA Mid Atlantic hosts and the stock class appealed to me. Close racing , appears to be with in budget, and the location and timing of the events fits my life at this time. ( Two young boys that like to play every sport they can) The cup class is for stock N/a 2.0/ 2.5/ & 2.7 liter motors. The 3.0 and turbos go to the super class. I would imagine the later class starts getting pricey to run. Maybe it not that much more. Any thoughts?
At a minimum I have a year before I could consider the series anyway. I need to get the required license. Through DE events and track time.

I live in Md. and plan on joining the Chesapeake region PCA. I participated in their Autocross events and 1 Zone 2 HPDE last season with my Acura RSX-S. I 'm hooked but realize I don't want to continue with my daily driver.

Again, Thanks for the information and the great welcome.

Briggs

Eyal 951

The guys in the road racing forum will be able to help you with class and expenses on racing and what you should buy and what to do.
If its a race car, get an 83 NA. If its a fun, weekend car with HPDE ventures, a turbo or S2 is the way to go.
https://rennlist.com/forums/forumdis...?s=&forumid=65
Eyal

FLanderhol

My 1st 944 was an N/A Automatic, Stock it feels a little slugish but its a Porsche slugish if you know what I mean Its fast but i little short of power, Im sure if you got an N/A standard car you would like it, As theey are all saying now I own an S2 and it has Plenty of power! welcome

aeronautica86

I would say S2 if you will primarily use the car as a driver/autocross car, turbo if you will do alot more DEs than autocross or really want a car with the potential to be pretty fast, if you are on a lesser budget the 944 n/a (8v, 158hp) and 944S (n/a, 16v dohc, 188hp) are good choices

Luis de Prat

951

blgdaddy

I am not into the racing end of the deal (yet), but i have an 83 n/a stock as possible and i am 6'-4". and fit very comfortablely in my 944.

M758

For autocross stay away from the 944 Turbo. The Turbo is a great car, but is never in its power band in an autocross setting.

So you have a few NA options

968 - 3.0L 16valve - 236 hp
944S2 - 3.0L 16 valve - 208 hp
944S - 2.5L 16valve 188 hp
89 - 944 - 2.7L 8v 162 hp
83-88 944 - 2.5L 8v approx 150 hp.
87-88 924S - 2.5L 8v approx 150 hp.

The 2.5L 8valve cars will be the cheapest to aquire and maintain. They are also the lighest cars with older being lighter. The 924S is the same as the 944 except it has narrow fenders.

For the track a stock 2.5L 8valve car is a bit slow if it is stock. This means stock suspension and stock weight. None of the nomally aspirated cars are easy to gain power in. The turbos are quite easy, but never good for autocross. I can take my 83 NA stock and have it run faster than my stock 944 Turbo S in an autocross. Track is where the Turbo car shine.

Now if you strip a 2.5L NA car and put a decient suspension on the car they turn out to be quite fast.

Case in point. Our local track is a Phoenix International Raceway 1.5miles.

Best time I turned in my stock 250 hp 944 Turbo was 1.19 on street tires.

I then built up a 944 2.5L 8valve car for autocross. I stripped the car and put on R-tires. I lowered my Ax times, by 2 seconds at least. Out at the track I figured I would slower since I was giving up some 100 hp. However first time out I was turning 1:20's with ease. I was not even trying and running almost as fast as an all out lap in my 944 Turbo.

Well with a little but of suspension work and pushing hard I have run low 1:13 laps in the same 2.5L 134 rwhp car. In fact I am only slightly slower than some well driven F-stock 944 Turbos. (These are fully race prepped 220bhp car running at 2900lbs no driver). I run at 2600lbs with the driver.

Point is that while the 2.5L 8valve car has precious little hp with a little work they can run very quickly at the track. They however will never be powerhouse cars and get their speed from never using that middle pedal. Also as an instructor I have been asked to drive student's cars to show the basic line. One student had a stock 996 TT. Nice car, but not very much fun to drive compared to my 944 race car. It was big heavy, and slow to respond. Sure it was fast in a straight line, but my little 944 was much more fun to toss into corners and simply drive the **** out of. On a track the only place my 944 would give ground to the 996 TT is under acceleration. In the corners my 944 would destroy a stock 996TT. Now how does it feel to get killed in acceleration? Well just fine as any yahoo can go fast in a straight line. Few feel comforable entrying a decreasing radius corner at 110 mph, trailbraking a to slow the car and then getting the back end to rotate and then standing on gas at 75mph to get the car to hook back up again once you are pointed in the right direction.

For compairson a top notch 944 spec race car goes for $12k fully complete, with nice paint and plenty of spares. These cars come stripped to an empty weight of close to 2400lbs, basic yet competant suspesion and a rebuilt stock motor. You can build a car for 1/2 that if you do it yourself.

Typically a basic 944S2 will cost 6k to 8k, 944 Turbo will be 7k to 12k, and 968 will be 10 k to 15k.

Giantviper

I am 6-2 and my dad is 6-3 we both fit in my 1988 944 N/A without a problem. All i can say is stay away from the auto trans 944 they are dogs. the Manuals are fun and at times with the N/A you may wish for a little more power but they are sill tons of fun. I have not done anu DEs but plan to in the future as they sound like tons of fun.

My best advise when looking for a car would be to find one in the best condition as you can. DO not sacrafice getting car in better condition becuase it is not the model or price you were looking for. When searching for a car as old as ours i think it is best to look for the quality of the example first. If you find a few you like then you can get a little picky on model.

Lastly do not forget to get a certified porsche Mechanic to look over the car before you buy it. They may cost a couple hundred dollars but can save you lots of money in the long run or from buying a lemon.