That would be just about the most expensive na ever, especially for a track car. Why buy an immaculate one when you are going to rip the carpet out etc. You should be able to get an na in good condition for $4k ish and then have more than enough for anything else you want.

 

Because it seems wrong to me to take a near-perfect condition car (great interior/good exterior/strong runner) that you'd find for that high a price and shred it to beat around a track every other weekend. Find a piece of crap that's run down on the inside and it won't be a complete waste when you strip that car down instead. Besides, a little wrench time can't hurt.

 

THANK YOU

 

Track use only I would go with 944S2, Unless you are going to want to race then the 944 N/A is the best choice. I wouldn't pick the 968 just because I don't like those cars as much based solely on the looks of the car.

Here is why I would pick the S2

1. Best Powerband
2. Best Maintance (If you work on it yourself)
3. Turbo Body and Brakes (N/A brakes require far to many pad replacement/rotor replacements)
4. ABS, Some don't like it but personally I find it helpful on the track expecially with a bias valve
5. Best Gearbox for pretty much every track I have been on. The Turbo is to tall and the N/A never will even see 5th gear.

 

just to clarify, I am using Canadian $. They are a bit cheaper than US$. My target for a car before mods is $6K-$9K CAD.

 

At your experience level you want to sign up for as many PCA DE's you can fit in this season. Forget club racing, that is a couple of seasons down the road. I'm not sure how many tracks are close to you, or your ability to travel, but you could drive a fairly stock car to a full season of DE's and have an awesome year with 20+ track days. This will prepare you for instructing and racing at the PCA club race level. To score 10 DE's in a year you better budget 3 grand US for admittance, and about the same for lodging/food. Don't forget gas and rubber, with that many track days you will eat a set or two, (5?) depending. If your 9K Turbo is up to date on all maint, you could have an extremely reliable car and many fun track weekends. Autocrossing will be much cheaper, not sure how much of that you plan to do. Once you get on a road course it sort of changes your feelings about cones. NASA has a great 944 series if the racing bug venom gets to the marrow.

 

If you're about to spend 10k on a 944, why not spend 10k on a 951? While looking i have seen many from 8-12 that have under 100k and clean clean clean. If you buy an NA it shoudl be around 5k and clean. I know these cars are really worth more, but it is the way it is and they are bargains.

 

Buy a n/a 944 and you'll always be thinking what could've been with the turbo.. I think I made the right choice seeing as how my car is more of a dd.

 

Wow,
I am amazed I did not see this thread last time it came around.

Well some facts.

My stock 951 S vs my 944 spec race car. 951 value is about 12k and my spec car is 10-12k value.

Best lap at Phoenix International Raceway.
944 Turbo S = 1:19
84 944 Spec = 1.12.9

If your goal is to race with the car get an 944. The 951 is a nice car, but it will take 20k to make into a racer of the same level as a 944. It will be faster than the 944 at that level of development, but for twice the money it should be. The 951 will also be more expensive to run from the tire bill alone.

Un like some of the other guys here I have tracked both cars.

My 951 was fun, but to make into a track car would take alot of money. The 944 I bought for $1400 in 1999 and by October 2000 I started autocrossing it. I built the car myself and started racing it in 2002. It was the best decision I ever made. As for prep level the 944 spec rules are a good level. The cars are reasonably fast, reliable and with a low cost. You can go faster, but you start getting the point where will cost big money to for little gains.

Rules for 944 spec can be found at http://944spec.org

If you know the guys at MantisSport in Toronto they can hook you up with a 944 spec rental as they have a few cars that are very well built and great examples of what the cars can do.

 

I sold my '84 to a guy in London last year. I'm pretty sure he still has it and would be willing to sell. It might be just along the lines of what you're looking for.

Body is very decent, probably 8.5-9 /10 Interior is OK, the carpet is a little ratty, but the seats are perfect and the dash is covered.

Basic suspension work has already been done. The car has 250# Welsteister springs up front, 28 mm T bars in back, Koni yellows all round, the big adjustable weltmeister anti-roll bars, and a strut brace.

Mechnaically, the car is well sorted out. Timing belt and water pump should be good for another year or two at least. I put in a bigger radiator, big battery cables, and switched to the 6 blade cooling fans. The only things that don't work are the rear defrost, cruise control and power antennae.

If you're interested, PM me and I can put you in touch with the guy.

edit - funny that Joe P mentioned Mantis sport . They did all of the suspension mods on this car.

 

I love 968s, and for the street I would always choose the 968 over any 944, but when it comes to the track I'd have to lean away from the 968. It's expensive to buy, expensive to buy parts for, heavier than any 944, and the gains are more-or-less marginal. The best part is the 6-speed tranny, which is near impossible to find with LSD anyway, and for a track car you should have LSD. S2s are more expensive than NAs - they're more on par with turbos. If you want NA characteristics but with turbo styling, brakes, suspension, more power, then the S2 is for you.

I don't know the rules of spec racing or club racing. If you're planning on upgrading the suspension, you can pretty much leave the 951 brakes alone because they are fantastic. The S2 and 968 use the same brakes. The NA brakes are OK but you might need to upgrade them, depending on your driving skill and style. Also, not much you can do with the 148hp in the NA, but the 951 engines seem to have no limit with power.

If you like white, a rennlister called "boost feen" has been trying to sell his '87 951 for months, and he's asking only $6600 USD or something like that. I think there was nothing wrong with it and in good shape, so that's a great price.

 

go for the 951!

 

I am on my third NA. Get the turbo. Trust me, you'll grow into it fairly quickly if you have someone who is guiding you along. To repeat what others have said- spend the $$ upfront on a nicer model so you don't sink so much more into just getting it into working order.

Again, after driving NAs for 11 years straight, GET THE TURBO. The only reason I didn't is that I have a wife and 4.5 kids, so I have to go on the cheap.

 

As fun as the speed is from a turbo, there is one thing you'll never outgrow from owning an NA...
.... And that would be catching up to the turbos in the corners!

 

Why didn't Porsche make a 3-litre, 16-valve turbo motor?

Discuss.