LanceK

Hello all.....

I'm here for my first time from the 996 board and need some help.


I have an '03 C4-S and want to change it for a 944 or 968.

Basically I have decided I want more of a track car that I can drive hard for less money and less worries about damage etc.

I'm looking for some advice on what car and what mods are most popular for this type of application. I plan on spending time on this board to "get up to speed" but thought someone could help me get there a little quicker so I can start shopping for the right car right away.

I realize this is a very general question, but thought I'd try.


Also I have average mechanical abilities but am willing to do some of my own work. I also have a good friend who is a mechanic...


TIA

ERAU-944

hmm selling your C4S and going for a 944? you'll be able to afford 2 nice examples right away, and thats race converted! your best bet for power is to go with an earlier turbo car - '86. more were made, parts more readily available, highly upgradeable. if you're keeping the C4S and getting a track rat, a standard 944 n/a will do you just fine, plenty to learn the cars handling and get used to racing cars on a track. they aren't very upgradeable as far as engine/drivetrain goes, but you can modify the suspension quite a bit. i'd suggest going this way no matter what, because its easier to start out in a slower car and get good at driving, then move to a faster car. so if i were you i'd be going for a 944 n/a, doesnt matter much what year.

enjoy, the guys on this forum are highly knowledgeable and will help you out with any questions you have at all.

good luck! and welcome to the original water pumpers board!

-Michael-

Dan Gallagher

the 951 is cooler than a 996 but i see you are on long island (me too!) and i just so happen to be looking to trade my beautiful 87 944 turbo for a 03 996... if you want i can also throw in a 88 944 n/a to make it even

M758

944NA turned into 944-spec cars are great for the track and racing. Not good for the street. It is possible to make 944 Turbo great for the track and acceptable for the street. A 944 Turbo will be nice an quick on the track and with some mods as fast as just about anything, but they are not as good for racing as they cost more and they are not legal for as many classes.

SANDOVAL

Check out 968.net discussion forums for more info on the "968 type" there are alot of hard core track guys over there with 968 track cars and some 944.

streckfu's

If your looking for a fast DE car, go ....no run to a 951. They can be made to go very fast with only a little $$. If you want to compete, the N/A is the better choice because of the number of classes.

LanceK

Good info. so far, I appreciate it.

I would probably do mostly DE stuff but would like to keep the door open for competition. From what has been said it seems like a N/A model would be more flexible for competition?

What model does 951 signify?

What about the 968's?

User 41221

If you are looking for one car to do both, the 968 is probably the ticket. The 951 has more upside potential as far as top end hp and can be a monster suspension-wise as well, but the 968 makes for a great all around package and is a more refined car. The NA, especially the series I cars (83-85.5) are great fun tho, as they are the lightest of the bunch, and feel more like a "true" sports car when you are driving them, but they are way down on power, and after driving a car with more power, you will probably start jonesing for a 951.

Bottomline, you can't go wrong with any of them, but if its a street/DE car, either a 951 or a 968 will be more fun for you.

Regards,

SANDOVAL

Seriously sign up over at 968.net to get the biased opinion lots of track guys who also use their cars as dailys...there is a great DE thread on the board right now...

http://65.61.16.109/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5034

ERAU-944

951 is Porsche's model designation number for the 944 turbo cars.

good luck, be sure to stick it out here, and share your experiences when you decide what you're going to do!

-Michael-

M758

Well,
A 951 is a great DE car. The only problem is that if want to race it in PCA you need to keep the interior and the engine stock (no chips even) although you can removed some parts to make it stock for racing. You can do pretty much all the suspension work you want. If you do any engine mods you will be sent to GT3 in PCA club racing. This is fine, but you need losts of money and mods. Think fiberglass body & 350-400 rwhp motor upgrades (est total at 50-70k depending on details).

If you just do DE and never race a 951 is great and fun.

The 968 and 944 S2 also a great DE cars, but they have far fewer engine power options. This is nice because you tend not to play with the engine since there is little to be gained. With a 951 there is so much to be gained it is very tempting to add power every few months. The 968 and 944S2 however do face the same racing issue as the 951. PCA stock class or GT3. Of course the S2 or 968 are easier to keep for a stock class since you will probably still have stock motor when you get the itch to race, but they are not as competitive in GT3 as it is hard to get a 968 or S2 to 350-400 rwhp levels.

The advantage to the 2.5L NA is they are also legal for racing in SCCA ITS. Again you cannot do much to the motors as in PCA stock classes (although ITS does allow a few). You can also run in various NASA regions if you are Preped to PCA I-stock or SCCA. NASA is starting to offer racing in 944S2, 968, or 951 prepped to PCA stock classes.


Also the 2.5L NA is much cheaper to obtain, modify and race than a 944S2, 968 or 951. Biggest drawback is that 944 2.5L NA does not have much HP and in completely stock form is a little slow on the track. Modifed it can hold its own.

So if you want to run a stock street car at DEs then a 951 is great option especially if you only have a minor desire to race. Just keep an eye on the PCA stock class rules before you make upgrades.

If you want to do DE as a prelude to racing a 2.5L NA is much better.

Dave951M

I'd have to ditto all of the above. The 951 can make absurd amounts of power since it was sold detuned from the factory in 86 so it wouldn't eclipse the almighty 911. It isn't hard to get more power and the handling makes it far easier to go fast than with a 911. Welcome to the redheaded stepchild of the Porsche family.

Dave951M

If you really want a walk on the wild, dark side, look at the 931. Turbocharged 2liter 924. If you get a car with the 5 bolt suspension from the first gen 944, then massage the engine a bit, stiffen up the suspension a bit, it's one of the lightest weight bodies in the 924/44 line and you have a really fun package. If you want to race, it's legal for most classes the 944na runs in. For a real hoot, don't tell the 911 guys that it's anything other than a 924 and let them try to figure out how you just sucked their headlights out as you go past, late braking waaay into a corner. Another perverse item, the 911 and most 944 guys will look at you as "just a stupid 924" and they will avoid you on the track like an uninsured mexican in a rusty Buick and will not try to outbrake you. Most parts are relatively cheap as they come from late 924 and early 944 cars. Jim Pasha didn't refer to the 924 as the best handling Porsche in stock form for nothing. Educate yourself a bit, go to 924.org and check it out. You could do this and still keep the C4-S for more "proper" Porsche occasions. Benefit- keep the C4S, have Porsche Q ship for the track=2 Porsches in the garage. You could even get a bumper sticker that says- "Why yes, my other car is a Porsche too!"

Jonas Goldsmith

If you want something for the big tracks build yourself a nice 951 race car... otherwise for about 10-15k total you can also build yoursefl a very nice and zippy 944 Spec car... Spec cars usually include a stock motor rebuild, full suspension, and a stripped out 944... Very fun to drive around!!

Dave in Chicago

Ah, the proverbial question... I am at this precipice myself. I have a nice '88 944 NA, bone stock, daily driver, and track weapon. The raging 158 hp has done a lot to force me to improve on the loose nut behind the wheel. I am likely acquiring a 951 which will be fully modded out for track (suspension, a-arms, likely a cage). If I can do so, I would like to keep both.

Reason? Easy. As stated above, the 951 makes a great dual purpose summer car / track beast. Well driven, you can run in the fastest classes at DE's. The stock 944 NA would likely be my path to club racing in I-class. Your really can't do much in HP with them (less differential between cars), and can tweak the suspension to make them run like stink in the turns. I often catch up the big HP cars on the back side of the track (read - lots of turns and few straights). Not bragging, as I have a LOOOONNNNNGGGG way to go to improve my skills.

I would love to compete in a class that puts more focus on the driver and less on the bottomless checkbook. Outside of the potential for a more even playing field in club racing, I can tell you it is extraordinarily satisfying to pass cars with race tires, suspension mods, and 50-150 more HP. That has made the 158-HP steed a blast for 3 years. It's time for me to step up my game now and manage more power. I think the driver has finally improved enough to match the car