Mike in Chi

check out the race results here

http://www.pca.org/clubrace/2008_results/index.htm

Mike in Chi

See above

Rich Sandor

Bill, I'm sure the 944 has a higher moment of inertia. I built these cars into a PC racing game a few years ago, and entered all the data to get the correct performance.

I remember the 944 had a higher moment of inertia, because it reminded me of doing the same calculations for airplanes when I was building them for MS Flight Sim.

Rich Sandor

Mike, can't argue with results, there are definately some fast 944t's and 944s2's on there... but most of the 2.5L 944 na's are nearer to the bottom...

I will admit that they are like 914s - slowmentum cars where you can't cover up your mistakes by powering out them!

J richard

IMHO, and having both, I prefer the 911. I don't think you can take the whole experience apart peice by peice and talk about neutral handling of the 44,more power of the 911, etc... they are two very different experiences...and having way more seat time in 911's I like the tossablity of the 911, you attack a corner differently and I just like the driving style of the 911. In the right hands either can be fast, and its pretty common for the 944spec cars to run head to head with an sc...

For me, the 44 is an easier car to drive, the 911 is harder but more rewarding...

onefastviking

I guess I am just a car *****, last one I built was a 911 (ok,996) now I am building my old 944 into a faster classed 944, and I love them all !
Next comes a GT3 !

87 944 C

inexperienced first time driver i think should use the 944, basically a lil more forgiving at it's limit, after time move into a 911

smlporsche

There is no correct answer to this question.
The cars are vastly different and each and it's own rewards.
Having said that let me share my bias...

The 944 is an easier car to drive as has been stated above BECAUSE it is a better initial platform, I just don't understand these people who think that a difficult to handle car is somehow better...
In an eqaul HP comparison the 944 (S2) will be very hard to beat with an equally prepared 911 (are there any 911 w/ about 210HP?). Most of the 911 I pass in a typical DE have considerably more HP than me and those that pass me usually have over 100HP more, not a fair comparison.

ltc

Why were 968's excluded from the question?

I had some fun times following a 968 Firehawk on the track, fantastic handling car IMHO.

Rassel

There is no answer to which car is quicker.
There is no answer to which car is better platform.

It's completely dependent to:
What models you're comparing?
What modifications are they having?
What do you use as a benchmark?

This can be discussed forever. People can point out differences that can some times contribute to an advantage to a single situation but it taking one thing out of the context is utterly pointless, nonetheless it seems to give some value as entertainment.

And finally, that was not the initial question either.
Regarding the threads starting point:

I've never raced a 944 equal to a factory race 911. So I can't give you a good comparison. I can at least say that a car that is easy to drive is not necessarily quicker. Otherwise we'd never drive on slicks.

BostonDMD

OK......after reading all your kind responses I gathered that......
all things equal, it takes a better driver to drive a 911 as competitively as a 924/944 ( in the same class)......
......just because of the nature of the car or wheelbase.......
Am I right?

MTosi

Your spot on, I've never been able to figure out that logic .

The 944 chassis is IMO one of the best of that era, its right up there balance wise with the E30 M3, both are front mid engine. The only reason 944NA's don't do better is they have no power, you can't make a fair comparison between cars that have 25-50-100hp differential.

Don't just take it from me, my dad raced both 911's and 944S2/Turbo's professionally and won in both. Yet he always held the 944 platform in much higher regard. It always bothered him that Porsche never put very much effort into the platform, since out of the dozens of production cars he raced of all makes, he always felt that it was one of the best.

BostonDMD

Maybe I should get into a 944T and kick some serious culos in F class.....

Rich Sandor

I think a 968 vs 964C2 is pretty much the same comparison as a 2.5L 944 vs a 2.7L 911.

MTosi

People can argue all day long about how it takes a "better driver" to be "competitive" in a 911, and although the 911 may be harder to get to 90% or whatever you like to call it, in reality the difficulty of getting to 100% has no relevance to whether your driving a 944, 911, Miata, Corvette, BMW or even a Yugo for that matter.....