944T/968 modern equivalent?

[IMI A]

Penguinracer said:

M2 Comp

Thats a super shout. Luv that car but sadly not £25k?

[aka_kerrly]

IMI A said:

Penguinracer said:

M2 Comp

Thats a super shout. Luv that car but sadly not £25k?

True, or for a chunk under budge you could get the very best 135i coupe.

[blade7]

IMI A said:

Penguinracer said:

M2 Comp

Thats a super shout. Luv that car but sadly not £25k?

I don't think a good Gen 2 997 4S is either, which is the only one I'd consider.

[blade7]

fesuvious said:

......currently musing and doodling the idea of a mechanically standard (save for corner weighted updated suspension) 944T but with fibreglass panels and plastic windows.....lighter seats too.

Weight saving would be circa 100kg....

Would be a wonderful car to drive on the road. And, if mechanically good to start with will be super reliable, cheap to run and awesome on fuel!

All that plastic would make it look like a shabby track car. Light seats/binning the rear seat,removing the air con and fixed headlights loses a fair amount of weight. Plus deleting the sunroof helps. I've had KW's set up by CG on mine for years, with Michelin PS2's it sticks well. I don't know about the cheap to run bit though.

[IMI A]

blade7 said:

IMI A said:

Penguinracer said:

M2 Comp

Thats a super shout. Luv that car but sadly not £25k?

I don't think a good Gen 2 997 4S is either, which is the only one I'd consider.

I wouldn't rule out a gen 1. Slightly prettier and you can build in engine rebuild into purchase offer.

[blade7]

IMI A said:

I wouldn't rule out a gen 1. Slightly prettier and you can build in engine rebuild into purchase offer.

There's one on ebay now with a Hartech rebuild. I'm not looking to swap at the moment though.

[IMI A]

I don't think i'd swap your 944 turbo for the 997. Funnily enough a Kiwi called Nick Murray released a gen 1 v gen 2 on youtube today. Haven't seen but maybe worth a watch. Personally I think its the C2S which you'll enjoy the handling on most if you don't mind a bit of mid corner nose bob at high speed.

[blade7]

I do still like the old school surge when it comes on boost .

[IMI A]

blade7 said:

I do still like the old school surge when it comes on boost .

Can't beat a bit of boooost!

996 turbo. Take one for a drive you'll love it

[blade7]

IMI A said:

Can't beat a bit of boooost!

996 turbo. Take one for a drive you'll love it

I had a ride in a modified 996tt. Didn't feel that exciting until it was going really, really fast. Probably the only car I've been in that I thought was litre bike fast at very high speed. They were £25k once....

[IMI A]

blade7 said:

IMI A said:

Can't beat a bit of boooost!

996 turbo. Take one for a drive you'll love it

I had a ride in a modified 996tt. Didn't feel that exciting until it was going really, really fast. Probably the only car I've been in that I thought was litre bike fast at very high speed. They were £25k once....

They will be back down to £25k. They handle but not sweetly like a 944. At least not out of the box but 9e RWD them set them up like turbo GT3s all the time. Personally I'd stay awd with 500bhp and our weather. i know what you mean about the lack of excitement but there is so much knowledge around these cars now not hard to liven them up via an indy.

[Gary C]

alabbasi said:

Golf R probably does everything better than a 944

Except excite.

[IMI A]

Gary C said:

alabbasi said:

Golf R probably does everything better than a 944

Except excite.

I'd go as far as saying a Golf R probably does everything better than most cars in terms of dd. Hardly a fun car though. However I personally love the Golf GTI Clubsport S. Only a few made and they feel special. Really good looking car too.

[gareth h]

I had a 944 turbo and a 968 as a young(er) man, for me of all the cars I’ve owned I’d say the Evora came closest, great ride and handling, and an almost useless pair of rear seats, although I did manage both kids in the back of the 944 just to prove a point to my wife who was a little distressed when I came home in it for the first time!

[pfnsht]

Following this thread with interest as I'm also struggling to think of more modern 2+2 format cars for a reasonable budget. I've got a couple of kids and this style makes it easier to use.

GT86, 135i but don't fancy either. I have a Corrado VR6 in my collection too but that is my "old" car so wanted something newer.

[blade7]

fesuvious said:

Taking the weight from the extremities completely changes the handling. In a much more pronounced way than from inside the wheelbase.
It doesn't have to look crap (granted however obviously it wouldn't look quite as good as factory).

I have to disagree. I know of a road car that spent quite a long time in a decent body shop, having a plastic front end fitted. Add in plastic windows and rear screen and it would look nasty IMO. I don't see the point in having it standard mechanically either, your 'racecar' would look a bit silly when mapped Fiestas were all over it.

Edited by blade7 on Friday 2nd August 10:32

[blade7]

fesuvious said:

this thread isn't about laptimes
its about the driving experience
dropping the weight extracts performance gains of every type, hence no need to modify.

mapped fiestas are utterly ste in terms of feel, and nowhere near as involving

Who said anything about lap times? No need to modify a 30+ year old design that was pegged back from it's pre production output, OK. I've done some hard road miles in a Fiesta ST, I think you're opinions are flawed.

[IMI A]

fesuvious said:

ok, you're entitled to think that way
I'm quite certain your hard miles on the road in an ST out qualifies my experience

No reason to sound a little condescending though is there?!

I’d love to see what Singer would do to a 944 turbo. I’m going to have another one some day. Miss mine. I can’t even find my old photos of her Covered 100k road and track miles in her. She wasn’t cheap to run mind. Steering racks, torque tubes, clutches, boost leaks, head gasket, list just goes on and on. Maybe I had a lemon?

Edited by IMI A on Friday 2nd August 12:19

[IMI A]

Yep one of the finest handling cars I’ve ever driven. Hitting peak boost as you’re clipping apex intoxicating when you get it right.

[300bhp/ton]

pfnsht said:

Following this thread with interest as I'm also struggling to think of more modern 2+2 format cars for a reasonable budget. I've got a couple of kids and this style makes it easier to use.

GT86, 135i but don't fancy either. I have a Corrado VR6 in my collection too but that is my "old" car so wanted something newer.

GT86 is pretty much the only coupe of this ilk for quite some time. At least for the UK market.

There is the Genesis coupe outside of the UK and then the BMW hatches and 2 door saloons.

The ultimate is probably the Lotus Evora, but they have never really dropped to low prices.

Infinity G35 or G37 coupe be a candidate, but probably more luxury cruiser than sports car.

Which really leaves FWD hatches (occasionally 4wd) or hatch based coupes like a TT or RCZ, which either will or won't appeal. Or the saloon based BMW's and maybe a Merc of some kind.


The only other car(s) that may offer similar thrills are the pony cars like the Mustang. The Camaro and Challenger are of similar ilk and can handle well, but are a lot bigger and heavier.

A sorted Mustang however could be quite a pleasant surprise for many. Although "lightness" is still not it's thing.


RX-8 is probably a good shout for a lot less money, just look beyond the internet hyperbole.