:bounce: Look what I did! Porsche 944 Turbo Cabrio!
Discussion
I finally did it! Roughly a year of agonising, 6 months of research and lots of grins later I am the owner of a red, mint (needs a little bit of work... I mean tiny...) 944 Turbo Cabriolet, one of one only 43 to grace the UK's shores!
Car is just fantastic, I feel so involved when I drive it, every corner is just heaven... The lag can be a bit annoying, but Christ, once that Turbo takes charge... whoa.
Wonderful getting used to a true supercar, the fat P Zeros, the notchy gearbox, the slightly offset pedals. Obviously not as easy to drive a Micra, and when you get out you feel you might have been in a fight, but God I love it!
Only one hiccup thus far, the tail of the exhaust (after the box) was badly rusted and eventaully came off. Getting that sorted over the weekend. Want to ask some advice here! What should that cost? Its literally the very last bit, the actual manifold is fine I think. The whole car just flew through its MOT 2 weeks ago.
Little bits need to be done to bring it up to my requirements. The blades on the wipers need changing - easy job. There is a bit of an oil leak (pressures are fine though!) but I think its due to the fact that the car just had its full service and the undertray might be full of oil? And that's that really!
Bought it on Saturday, and its already done 154 miles. Got to get a radar detector though, its a little licence loser that car!
My thanks to everyone on Pistonheads, could never have done it without the level of goodwill and knowledge out here. Thanks.
Car is just fantastic, I feel so involved when I drive it, every corner is just heaven... The lag can be a bit annoying, but Christ, once that Turbo takes charge... whoa.
Wonderful getting used to a true supercar, the fat P Zeros, the notchy gearbox, the slightly offset pedals. Obviously not as easy to drive a Micra, and when you get out you feel you might have been in a fight, but God I love it!
Only one hiccup thus far, the tail of the exhaust (after the box) was badly rusted and eventaully came off. Getting that sorted over the weekend. Want to ask some advice here! What should that cost? Its literally the very last bit, the actual manifold is fine I think. The whole car just flew through its MOT 2 weeks ago.
Little bits need to be done to bring it up to my requirements. The blades on the wipers need changing - easy job. There is a bit of an oil leak (pressures are fine though!) but I think its due to the fact that the car just had its full service and the undertray might be full of oil? And that's that really!
Bought it on Saturday, and its already done 154 miles. Got to get a radar detector though, its a little licence loser that car!
My thanks to everyone on Pistonheads, could never have done it without the level of goodwill and knowledge out here. Thanks.
Hi AD
Glad you are enjoying it.
Watch out for the oil leak... keep checking levels. I had an oil leak on my 944 Turbo... they are a pain to fix as you can't see where the oil leak is as everything gets covered in oil. Turbos have a lot of oil pipe unions/seals etc. and although the parts can be cheap the labour may not be... could take hours and hours to find. Mine got so bad it was using a litre of oil every 200 miles, LOL. Just went straight through. Maybe check they did the oil filter up properly at service time. Wet cars are a nuisance.
ATB
Dom
Glad you are enjoying it.
Watch out for the oil leak... keep checking levels. I had an oil leak on my 944 Turbo... they are a pain to fix as you can't see where the oil leak is as everything gets covered in oil. Turbos have a lot of oil pipe unions/seals etc. and although the parts can be cheap the labour may not be... could take hours and hours to find. Mine got so bad it was using a litre of oil every 200 miles, LOL. Just went straight through. Maybe check they did the oil filter up properly at service time. Wet cars are a nuisance.
ATB
Dom
Re the exhaust. If you've still got a bit of spare cash after shelling out for the car this is a great excuse to change the back box. Mine's got an ESS Janspeed exhaust which has got a much bigger tailpipe, makes a great noise and adds a little bit to the bhp. It's a good £300 though........
It leaves a little patch when it stops. About 3 inches in diameter...
The previous owner claims it has never leaked oil (I believe him) and therefore it should be just the undertray that is full. Have checked the oil every day, and its still full!
Any other suggestions.
Any ideas on estimations here?
(1) Wipers blades change (parts + labour)
(2) Examine oil leak
(3) Change tail pipe
Thanks guys!
The previous owner claims it has never leaked oil (I believe him) and therefore it should be just the undertray that is full. Have checked the oil every day, and its still full!
Any other suggestions.
Any ideas on estimations here?
(1) Wipers blades change (parts + labour)
(2) Examine oil leak
(3) Change tail pipe
Thanks guys!
the wipers are a cinch, go to halfords and set aside 5 mins
the tail pipe is a bit more awkward, easier with a ramp... maybe just ask the guys at kwik fit to do it for a tenner in their oily palms
as for the oil leak, how long is a piece of string... could be a fecked turbo or head gasket... but chances are it's not, so don't worry!!! just check oil level and get tech to examine at next service... may just be a tiny leak from the filter; feel free to have a look around and try and tighten up the filter if you can get to it
the tail pipe is a bit more awkward, easier with a ramp... maybe just ask the guys at kwik fit to do it for a tenner in their oily palms
as for the oil leak, how long is a piece of string... could be a fecked turbo or head gasket... but chances are it's not, so don't worry!!! just check oil level and get tech to examine at next service... may just be a tiny leak from the filter; feel free to have a look around and try and tighten up the filter if you can get to it
Thanks guys, will head off to Halfords tonight maybe. Kwikfit on the weekend...
By the way, still not sure how hard to push the car. Should I treat a little bit gingerly because its 13 years old? Or is it a Porsche that dies a little bit every time you take a corner under 40!? The grip is incredible, but not sure what it would take to actually lose the back.
If you guys know of any roads around South London that are doable (not talking about speeding, just really letting the car fly around the corner. If its national speed limit, that would be perfect!)?
By the way, still not sure how hard to push the car. Should I treat a little bit gingerly because its 13 years old? Or is it a Porsche that dies a little bit every time you take a corner under 40!? The grip is incredible, but not sure what it would take to actually lose the back.
If you guys know of any roads around South London that are doable (not talking about speeding, just really letting the car fly around the corner. If its national speed limit, that would be perfect!)?
Well it's only the same age as mine....and mine gets driven hard everytime the key is turned. It's done about 150 laps of the ring this year....and hopefully another 40 or so next weekend!
Fantastic cars, with pretty strong engines.
Dave
Fantastic cars, with pretty strong engines.
Dave
AdvocatusDiaboli said:
By the way, still not sure how hard to push the car. Should I treat a little bit gingerly because its 13 years old?
No, rag the arse off it. HOWEVER, always warm the oil up before you cane it, and always let it idle for a few mins after use to let the turbo cool down a bit.
Keep an eye out for misfires (as most turbo cars I've had have all caught them like the common cold), get it serviced regularly with Mobil 1 Motorsport 10W50 or Castrol RS. Don't use a really thin synthetic like normal Mobile 1 as it will probably smoke like Ivor the Locomotive.
As for handling, hmmm, I'd be interested to hear whether it is more like my old cabriolet or my M030'd turbo... my guess is it will handle more like the cab as if they stiffened it up too much it would shake the engine out of the bay and into your lap. Be careful with the boost in the wet; you can write them off when the turbo kicks in and they pirouette into the badgerlands.
Don't practise on public roads - go on an airfield driving day like Carlimits (try carlimits.co.uk with Andrew Walsh); there is no point practising doing stuff wrong, LOL. Your car will gently understeer if you feed the power in gradually around a dry bend. Your car will snappily oversteer if you feed the power in aggressively on a wet bend ie what you learn ona bend on a public road one day may not apply the next. Learn the physics of car control through Don Palmer or Andrew Walsh, then you can apply the learning selectively. On public roads, always drive within your limits and build up to them gradually - oh and watch out for policemen; my old 220bhp Turbo wound up to 150mph easily enough
Keep an eye out for misfires (as most turbo cars I've had have all caught them like the common cold), get it serviced regularly with Mobil 1 Motorsport 10W50 or Castrol RS. Don't use a really thin synthetic like normal Mobile 1 as it will probably smoke like Ivor the Locomotive.
As for handling, hmmm, I'd be interested to hear whether it is more like my old cabriolet or my M030'd turbo... my guess is it will handle more like the cab as if they stiffened it up too much it would shake the engine out of the bay and into your lap. Be careful with the boost in the wet; you can write them off when the turbo kicks in and they pirouette into the badgerlands.
Don't practise on public roads - go on an airfield driving day like Carlimits (try carlimits.co.uk with Andrew Walsh); there is no point practising doing stuff wrong, LOL. Your car will gently understeer if you feed the power in gradually around a dry bend. Your car will snappily oversteer if you feed the power in aggressively on a wet bend ie what you learn ona bend on a public road one day may not apply the next. Learn the physics of car control through Don Palmer or Andrew Walsh, then you can apply the learning selectively. On public roads, always drive within your limits and build up to them gradually - oh and watch out for policemen; my old 220bhp Turbo wound up to 150mph easily enough
AdvocatusDiaboli said:
Lucky man... I'd like a pop at the ring myself. How long is the drive over? Is it possible to do it and return over a weekend?
Takes a few hours... Brussels ring road can be a pain... you can easily do a weekend return but you will only get sensible newbie laps first thing in the morning so drive over on a Fri afternoon, get there in the evening, find the ring. Then get there AS SOON as the gates open on Sat morning and drive very carefully. Others won't and the ring will close probably at about 11.30am for the first of many closures. Then it's time to spectate at Adenaur Forst and watch the action, ahem, for the rest of the day as people try and recreate their best Xbox laps in Mitsubishi FTOs with bean can exhausts. Then go back early on Sunday for an hour's decent lapping, then leave for blighty!
Bren's is good to stay at: www.slidersguesthouse.com but book early and remember to check ring opening times.
Actually, I was giving it some day before. Car had been running a while, and then on a straight I gave it a kick in the pants from 1st gear. The car did misfire! Its happened twice to me...
I hope I don't have to worry about that. The car only has 84k on the clock.
When you mention get it "serviced regularily with mobil..." how often does regular mean? I don't think I'll be doing more than 4000-6000 a year.
Sorry for all this newbie questions, but then again... I am a newbie!
I hope I don't have to worry about that. The car only has 84k on the clock.
When you mention get it "serviced regularily with mobil..." how often does regular mean? I don't think I'll be doing more than 4000-6000 a year.
Sorry for all this newbie questions, but then again... I am a newbie!
Week one of ownership completed!
Absolutely love it, though the lag can be slightly annoying.
Any cures for the turbo lag out here?
The car is physical to drive, had the seat in the wrong position and changing into second ending up hurting my right shoulder muscles (v. strange, buth appened to a friend who was driving it too!).
I changed the seat postion and my gear change and its all good now!
Absolutely love it, though the lag can be slightly annoying.
Any cures for the turbo lag out here?
The car is physical to drive, had the seat in the wrong position and changing into second ending up hurting my right shoulder muscles (v. strange, buth appened to a friend who was driving it too!).
I changed the seat postion and my gear change and its all good now!
AdvocatusDiaboli said:
I thought all those fancy Mcpancy chips and wastegates and things made a diff to turbo lag?
Yes, they do, but don't worry abou the wastegate yet. A set of chips from either Guru racing or Lindsey racing (both in USA) will bring the boost in much lower down the rpm range, from about 2800rpm IIRC, and will hold .85 bar all the way to the red line (1.85 on your boost gauge). They can also give more boost if you want it, up to about 18psi before you need to start looking at other add-on mods.
Have a look at www.promaxmotorsport.com based here in the UK for all the various way to spend your hard-earned...
A simple boost enhancer from Promax for under £100 will make a big difference to the lag. The standard wastegate is a horrible piece of kit that even when brand new will be starting to open well before full boost is reached, so all your luvverly boost pressure goes straight down the tailpipe 
A well worn one will be even worse. The boost enhancer will help but a proper dual port wastegate will transform the car. I have a TiAL dual port wastegate from Speedforceracing in the US. At the current exchange rate you can get one shipped here with the adaptor plates to fit a 944 for under £300 including all the vat and import charges.
A well worn one will be even worse. The boost enhancer will help but a proper dual port wastegate will transform the car. I have a TiAL dual port wastegate from Speedforceracing in the US. At the current exchange rate you can get one shipped here with the adaptor plates to fit a 944 for under £300 including all the vat and import charges.
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