I am currently a bimmer guy but I am in the process of selling my race prepared 95 M3 and looking for something different. Plan to use it for 2 or so club races and a couple of hill climbs a year.

What would be a more reliable motor between the turbo and the 968?

Which would be faster given the same $$$$. Looking to spend about $15-20k or so on an already prepared car.

I owned an 86 951 about 9 years ago before I bought my M3, plus my brother has another 86 951 and my dad has a 89 951 (S), so I am somewhat familar with the 951 for street duty but not for routine track work.

thanks for your input,
Matt

 

I would go with a 951.

simpler platform, bigger aftermarket


Build a 3L 16v motor with 15k and have the best of both worlds.

 

+1...especially on the aftermarket

 

personally if I was doing it again I would probably go the S2 route or 968 but a good one (will be at the top of your budget). There is a good one (no affiliation) advertised on the racing DE forum) http://www.ecarlist.com/cgi-bin/show...33944&d_id=947

That said if you want to evolve the car a 951 will certainly allow you to more easily uprate power!

 

Buy back the bimmer

 

Overall I would think a 968 is going to give you way less headaches and potentially way less fun, if that makes sense. You could have a reliable 951 of course and run pretty low boost. You could have over 400whp as well. Much more potential with the turbo motor but it is a twin edged sword.

 

Boy, you sure picked a great time to get in the market. Between the season and the economy, it seems there are many awesome deals to be had out there. IMHO, the 951 is unbeatable in your price range. At that price and your usage you should expect many years of trouble free blistering fast laps in the right 951.

 

case by case thing but the more you invest on purchase the better value you will get and as there will just be more prepped up 951's you will get better value in that thing if you want to do your own mods you should have turboe'd the M3.
borrow 5 k spend 20 and you will get a 45k 951

 

If you're only going to do a couple of DEs and a Hillclimb, then you want a nice street / track car don't you? Buy Judson's here: https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turb...-20-500-a.html

 

I'm with DanR, if I got to do choose again, I would pick S2 or 968. S2's and 968's are just as quick as regular Turbo's at the track, and not far behind Turbo S's. They are generally more relaible than Turbo's and easier and cheaper to fix if they do break. All the brake and suspension equipment is interchangeable between 944 and 968.

951's are very tunable, unlike 968's so they can make lots of power, but as power goes up so does the cost and the reliability goes down.

I blew my TurboS motor last year and had been searching for an S2 driveline. I couldn't find one in time so have rebuilt it back as a TurboS. I wish I had found the S2.

Choose the 968, great cars and very afordable right now. I just picked up a 968 to do a 968 TurboRS clone car for the street.

 

since you said "club race" and not DE....go with the 968. It will out brake a 951 in the same stock class and possibly handle a little better.
If you wnat some 'head room' for future power go with the 951.

PS - if you wnat to cheat...go with the 951...oops, did i say that out loud?

 

I still wonder about tuned up stock looking S2 or 968 running e85 with 13:1 compression

 

I have been told (Karl at Racer's Edge) that the S2's motor can be made to create 245hp. That said, I have also been speaking with some HP nuts on the 928 side. I there is a bit more with some "tweaking" in the head.

With all that said above, my car now weighs approximately 2500#. Even with 220hp, it's going to be quick. N/A is ALWAYS the more cost effective way to go. I loved my Turbos, but after dealing with less headaches with the N/A cars...they are my choice.

C.

 

Not when it comes to head work!!! 8v vs 16v....

 

I love my turbo. but I cut my teeth on an NA. I would rather have a high powered NA. lots of high power turbo issues. read, "money". Both have their highs and lows. I can't go back to na now though. I'm addicted to the boost