fc-racer

Keith,

Your 951S drives totally differently than any other S out there. I'm really not sure why because with the other S's I tuned, we had way more low end torque, but the way that S drives is very different. It seems to have more torque down there even though the dyno says otherwise.

I think it's the way the chips make the engine respond to throttle tip-in, it just feels like there is a ton of torque in that car and when you think it's going to run out, another hit of torque comes in at 4500rpm.

fc-racer

rage2

When my 951 was stock, it was awesome in traffic. Not too laggy, enough low end grunt for passing in small gaps. With the big turbo, it's terrible at low rpms. I really don't get much power until I dip above 4000rpm. It's nice in a way, I have a heavy right foot, and it helps me with fuel consumption cuz the car's always off boost (as long as I shift at 3500rpm).

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by gatorbait:
<strong>My point: if you do mostly stop-and-go driving, consider a normally aspirated car with good low-end/midrange grunt and sufficient torque (again, the M3 comes to mind).</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">You don't need NA to have an awesome point-and-shoot traffic machine. My SLK 32 (supercharged V6) has gobs of torque everywhere. With the auto tranny, u just floor it and you can squeeze through the tightest of spots! It's the ultimate daily driver.

guardsred951S

Hi Farzaan,

Yes, it does drive differently. The best thing I have to compare it with is my pervious '89 APE stage II car and there really is no comparison. It's amazing how much low/mid range torque this car has. You would think the K26/8 turbo would be a little slower spooling but obviously it seems to turn up as fast if not faster than the K26/6 in the older models. I think these turbo cup chips are what makes the difference....

<img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

gatorbait

[QUOTE]Originally posted by oi-punx:
[QB]
Gator, After owning 2 944's I told myself that i'd continue buying German cars because of the high quality. However I definitely wouldn't disregard Japanese cars. When it comes to reliability and dollar/feature ratio (it has been my experience) that Japanese cars are very tough to beat. There's no doubt that Porsches and BMW's are tough as nails and are built very well, but that comes at a price that many find hard to swallow when faced with the competition (i.e. 993 vs. 3rd Gen RX-7, 300ZX TT or Supra TT, for lack of a better comparison). As for fun factor, that is purely subjective. Personally I found my old 2nd Gen RX-7 to be just as fun and enjoyable as my 944, in some ways more, in others less.



Your point is well taken. Cars from Germany ain't exactly cheap. You'll need 55-large to sit in the saddle of a new E46 M3, and close to that for a Boxster S. You're looking at the mid forties for an Audi S4. You'll pay in the seventies for an M5--the list from the Germany goes on...

By comparison, the WRX, 350Z (and its Infiniti equivalent), and the upcoming RX-8 are all great cars for the dough. If you care only for speed, the C5 Corvette and Mustang Cobra are solid values too.

In light of this, a legitimate question: Is a Boxster S worth the price of two 350Z's? If you enjoyed driving a 350Z nearly as much as a Boxster, you'd never be able to justify the difference.

Frankly, I'm priced out of new car ownership for most of Germany's offerings. Although I'm not a huge fan of Japanese sports cars, I'm glad to see them brought to market, because they'll help keep the German marques in check. But, if I ever feel that Japanese sports cars are more enjoyable to drive than German sports cars, I'll gladly hop the fence.

In any event, good luck with your decision.

BigPorscheGuy39

Sure, specs are important.

For my money, I'd get a Mercedes C230.

rhesus

If you're going for the WRX, wait till the STI version gets to the US. About 280 HP (17.5 psi boost) at a little over 3000 pounds sounds quite fast.

Modena 1

As a potential 951 owner, I can tell you that I have been tempted by the WRX. (I am looking for a good daily driver). But let me tell you this...the car in stock form SUCKS! The seating position is too bigh, the boost runs out at high rpm, and it doesn't feel that fast to me. Peppy? absolutely, its tuned that way. The shifter stinks, the handling is like a school bus compared to a 951. The WRX feels like a bigger car.

As for a modified one, I'm sure all of this changes, but frankly, I'm not into buying something new that I know i have to dump another $3000-5000 into before I even like it. Additionally, the 4dr thing bugs me...i wish a 2dr version was available.

just my $0.02

Mark G

I own both. As stated, the 951 is clearly the better track car. The rex is a kick aroung town, in the mountains. The stock suspension is supple, yet hooks up ok when pushed. The brakes are excellent in town and haul the car down without drama, but I can't speak to repeated hard stops(historically the weakness in anything not PORSCHE). It is, however, an econo box; kind of tinny. After saying all that, if I was forced to have only one car, it would be the rex. They appear to not break, leak, have funky electronics, or do anything but go.

white 944 turbo

Some how I dont feel comfortable in the Japanese cars with the exception of the RX7 which had a great cockpit design but if you like the subaru type of car you should look at the Mitsubushi EVO. This car has alot more potential and is the same style car. The other thing to consider is the Audi S4 because it too is that style car but it has probably more potential than the EVO in terms of performance and youll have that German car feel. The only Japanese car I would by would be a Supra turbo because you can make such a fast quartermile car or even an RX7 because I think it came the closest to giving that German car feel and can also be made very fast though the engines dont last with high HP but one thing is for sure I would never give up my 951.

white 944 turbo

Oh, one other thing about the Subaru. From what I was told the trany cant handle more than 350 HP safely, in fact I think that HP number maybe too high.

ian

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by white 944 turbo:
<strong>Oh, one other thing about the Subaru. From what I was told the trany cant handle more than 350 HP safely, in fact I think that HP number maybe too high.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Its not really the hp, it is the torque and the launches in first gear that people love to do with awd cars. The same tranny is in the wrx and 2.5 RS, when people put turbos on the 2.5's they end up with wicked torque and it just destroys the box. If you tune more toward the top end and refrain from 6000 rpm launches the box will last.

That said, subaru is bringing the STi box to the states in 2003 and that 6 speed is much more robust.

blu951

Whew! Thanks for all the great responses. I've also considered other cars and I just liked the WRX among them. It's true the WRX feels great around town and loses steam when stretching her legs. The S4, e36 M3 sounds like an idea...maybe the new Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 7???
Anyway I think that little "voice" is shouting.

shaheed

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by rhesus:
<strong>If you're going for the WRX, wait till the STI version gets to the US. About 280 HP (17.5 psi boost) at a little over 3000 pounds sounds quite fast.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">actually the specs subaru has released are 300HP/300TQ, 0-60 4.6 seconds, $33000

jchaley

I also own both a WRX and a 944 turbo as well as two 911's. They are all different in character. The 944 turbo with some very simple mods is way faster than the WRX. I have europroducts chips and a boost enhancer with the boost set at 13psi on my 944 turbo, in strait line acceleration the 944 will be 4 car lengths ahead of the WRX by 80mph. I purchased the WRX (my first new car) for my wife so that someone else could fix it for 4 years and I could play with my toys. This also keeps me from modifying it too much. It has lag but less than the 944 but never has that big turbo rush, just as the boost and RPMs are building the ECU dumps boost from 14psi to 10psi at 4000rpm and you never get the "rush". The WRX brakes are not as good as the 944 and it does not come close in handling. I live in Denver and at 5000+ ft turbos rule. I have had nothing but turbo cars as daily drivers here and the 944 works very well for that duty. I have been looking for a new car for me and will be selling one of the 944 turbos and a 911 this spring. A Audi S4 is my first choice but the low pricing on E36 M3's and now a 300HP WRX the choice is more difficult. These are pretty good car times!!!

blu951

Wow thanks for the info. I kinda knew about the WRX losing steam when you just start to feel it coming into it's own.