My 2 cents... if you are after race car like feel & experience, then the 944 is the clear choice assuming both are stock. But then the Boxster based on my experience feels more nimble & tossable cos it feels "lighter"

Time-wise, don't forget that the driver is probably the biggest factor here

 

We were curious about the potential of the Boxster. POC rules puts both the Standard 2.5 Boxster and the 944 Turbo (non S) in the same class-J Stock. Having prepared both cars to the limits of stock class rules, the Boxster beat the 944 Turbo by 2.5 seconds on the big track at Willow Springs. The balance of the car is amazing.
You can read more here.
<a href="http://www.kokeln.com/r_d/boxter_01.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.kokeln.com/r_d/boxter_01.shtml</a>

 

Rob,
I do not discount that the Boxster is fast..
.. but at what cost vs the 944 Turbo.

It seems to me that performance value is edged torward the 944 Turbo

Also.. What is allowed in POC stock class rules?

I ask not really go in depth, but just to bring-up the point that these allowable mods probably are not condusive to the potential strengths of the 944 Turbo. For example the effect of a good suspension will impact both cars, but realtively simple 944 turbo mods such as chips, MAF, or KKK turbo upgrades are probably not allowed in a "stock" class and the equvalent mods on boxster are not that benefitial anyway. These on a 944 turbo will open a world of performance difference as you know.

I agree that if the orginal poster wants to go POC stock class racing the boxster may be better, but if he just wants a fast cheap DE car. I think 944 turbo has much greater potential. Of course if price is no object...

 

Believe me...we know all too well the potential of the 944 Turbo. The Boxster just happens to be better suited to a stock class environment than the Turbo.
The POC rules, in a nut shell, allow for alignment changes, brake pad changes, cat-by-pass and a roll bar or cage to be installed per regulations. No R compound tires, no shock or sway bar replacement, no A/C delete.
Once you go past a stock class and start to get into power modifications, yes the 944 is going to be MUCH easier to modify for big HP gains.

 

Thanks for info Rob,
Based on the changes you listed I would agree that the Boxster should be faster. Heck it is 15 years newer right? Porsche should have learned something in those years!

Then again you do have to pay for it! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

 

I'll vote for the 944 turbo S (since I use one extensively for DEs.)

Big issue...the huge difference in purchase price. I would get nervous driving a $60 car on the track.

Non issue...reliability. I put about 35 track days on the 951 without a single problem last year.

For mods....most everything has been tried so you can get lots of free advice on the 944 turbo/turbo S list.

Idea...buy a 944 turbo S track car AND buy a slightly used Boxter S for the street.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Larry Weinstein:
<strong>Idea...buy a 944 turbo S track car AND buy a slightly used Boxter S for the street.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Excellent idea. However, I would modify that statement a little.
Buy a regular 944T track car (once you start modifying things,
there is very little benefit of the turbo S over the regular turbo)
and buy a standard Boxster street car (on the street you can't
really take advantage of the S).

I've driven both 944 TS and Boxster S. Comparing stock 944
and stock boxster, the Boxster is a better car. It's faster, newer,
more comfortable, and easier to drive. Considering the price
difference, and the years of advancement, it better be!

Finally, once you start modifying cars, all bets are off. It's real
easy to get a lot more power from a turbo car, but you can
get more power from Boxster motors too, like installing 996
motors, turbo / supercharging, etc.

It's all relative.

Barry

 

Thanks for all the great advice and info.

 

The "kicker" is a "DAILY DRIVER" thingie!

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> IF your doing 6 DE-Events or Less then the 986 would be a better choice!

Now if your looking at an All Out Track Car, the 944 TURBO's the way to go <img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" /> But do you wanna drive it 52 weeks on the street to run 6 week-ends or LESS at the track?

<img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" /> I've run with both a modded "Ruff"
986 and 986 'S' as well as many modded 944 Turbo's. The Turbo's have shown better track performance than the 986's so far.

 

I will let you know after my first drivers ed. I can't wait !
Is there a 951 or a 986 or 993 in 'Need For Speed'?

 

1989 944 8v or 944S2 would be my pick.

 

Quick question. Did P get the oiling problem for the Boxster engine fixed. My understanding is that hard cornering was starving the engine for oil causing $$ problems.
See PPBB for details.

 

I have both cars and think I'm qualified to comment. I ran the Boxster S in DE's and other track days for a year and a half. Then I bought a non-S 944 Turbo to take its place on the track.

I think the suspension makes a big difference on both. My Boxster S had ROW M030 suspension upgrades and the 944 has a very good setup of coilovers, upgraded torsion bars, adjustable sway bars, etc. Figure $1000 of upgrades on the Boxster and $3000 on the 944.

I've driven both on the same 5 tracks in Colorado. With no boost tweaking on the 944, I get very similar times for both cars, within a second. On Pueblo, which is a higher speed course, the 944 beats the Boxster by about 3 seconds. Same crappy driver.

I bought the 944 to run on the track because it's worth about 1/3 as much as the Boxster, and chances are that I will have a whoops at some point. Also, there is a much greater selection of tuning parts available. Porsche raced the 944 and got the ball rolling, providing some factory racing parts and inspiring the aftermarket, too. In PCA racing you will find many very fast 944 Turbos, but I haven't seen many Boxsters. I think it would cost so much to make the car fast, people just buy 996 cup cars instead. Basically, the Boxster is not made for racing, but is a great street and DE car.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by KokelnRob:
<strong>We were curious about the potential of the Boxster. POC rules puts both the Standard 2.5 Boxster and the 944 Turbo (non S) in the same class-J Stock. Having prepared both cars to the limits of stock class rules, the Boxster beat the 944 Turbo by 2.5 seconds on the big track at Willow Springs. The balance of the car is amazing.
You can read more here.
<a href="http://www.kokeln.com/r_d/boxter_01.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.kokeln.com/r_d/boxter_01.shtml</a></strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">That's not what your website says. It says you prepped a 2.5 Boxster to the limit of the rules and beat the old POC record, which was held by a 944 Turbo. You don't know how prepped it was. It wasn't driven under the same conditions by drivers of similar ability, so your comparison is invalid. I've driven stock 944 Turbos and 2.5 Boxsters on the street, and it's hard to believe a Boxster, which is so weak in the power department, could keep up with a stock 944 Turbo on the track.

Regardless, the question was about DE's, where the guy doesn't have to worry about such rules. A small expenditure on go-fast parts will put the 944 well out of reach of a Boxster. I like it as a daily driver better as well. The Boxster feels too cramped for my tastes.

 

After doing my first DE today, I can say that the turbo lag is a non-issue on the track. And the track I ran wasn't a wide open course either (Pocono South).

Does anybody else think that the very fact that a 13-14 year old car is being compared to a new car mean something? <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />