Porsche 944 Turbo Trackday Car?
Discussion
A friend already does trackdays. Very lucky bloke, he has a Clio 172 Cup and a absolutely bonkers supercharged Atom 3. Both of which he uses on the track.
Another friend of mine is selling a 944 Turbo, not many miles, horrid colour (gold), not much money.
Hmmmm.....I'm thinking that would make a pretty good trackday car?
I would really like to get into trackdays, looks amazing fun and I would also like to improve my driving. Maybe by having some tuition on the track.
Advice please.........
Should I buy the 944 Turbo and convert it and make it a proper beast of a trackday. The guy who looks after my E30 M3 builds trackday/rally cars (XS Racing in Chesterfield), so that bit is covered. And budget I'm guess 4-5k (including car)?
(Is that realistic)?
Or
(Similar to my friend) just a get a Clio 172?
TBH I'm quite excited about the prospect of converting the 944. But not sure about which would be the most fun, drivable etc. It won't be something I will do every weekend, too expensive. Maybe once a month (maybe even less). Not selling the M3 but would just like something that's exciting and fun. Hooning around on the roads is just getting too damn dangerous.
Your advice would be most welcome.
Thank you in advance.
Another friend of mine is selling a 944 Turbo, not many miles, horrid colour (gold), not much money.
Hmmmm.....I'm thinking that would make a pretty good trackday car?
I would really like to get into trackdays, looks amazing fun and I would also like to improve my driving. Maybe by having some tuition on the track.
Advice please.........
Should I buy the 944 Turbo and convert it and make it a proper beast of a trackday. The guy who looks after my E30 M3 builds trackday/rally cars (XS Racing in Chesterfield), so that bit is covered. And budget I'm guess 4-5k (including car)?
(Is that realistic)?
Or
(Similar to my friend) just a get a Clio 172?
TBH I'm quite excited about the prospect of converting the 944. But not sure about which would be the most fun, drivable etc. It won't be something I will do every weekend, too expensive. Maybe once a month (maybe even less). Not selling the M3 but would just like something that's exciting and fun. Hooning around on the roads is just getting too damn dangerous.
Your advice would be most welcome.
Thank you in advance.
Edited by hesnotthemessiah on Tuesday 12th July 22:49
944 is a nicely balanced car. To get the full benefit out of it the total of the race car mods should be:
Replace the tyres
Replace the bushes
Replace the springs
Replace the shocks
Strip the interior
And don't bother with anything else. With the weight gone it'll go, stop and corner much better than standard, and the strain that's removed from the drivetrain will mean it'll be OK to track on the standard components. The lower the performance of the car, the easier it is to get to the limit, which is the point of a trackday.
Replace the tyres
Replace the bushes
Replace the springs
Replace the shocks
Strip the interior
And don't bother with anything else. With the weight gone it'll go, stop and corner much better than standard, and the strain that's removed from the drivetrain will mean it'll be OK to track on the standard components. The lower the performance of the car, the easier it is to get to the limit, which is the point of a trackday.
BTDT
Great track / road cars - heavy for a track only car. The 944 has terrific balance. It's a bit quiet & undramatic on track, which isn't to everyone's taste.
Be warned that it's very tempting to modify a turbo car - there's plenty of ways to spend thousands on upgrades, and as you do that, other things will break (headgaskets..) The more power you develop, the more heat you need to deal with.
I assume the car you have in mind is an early one - 220hp. KLater cars had more power & some useful upgrades. Once the car is serviced & runing well, I'd suggest a Manual boost controller, tial wastegate & new chipset will provide a big kick to the performance. It will be fine in standard road trim, but much better stripped, improved suspension, seats & caged.
Great track / road cars - heavy for a track only car. The 944 has terrific balance. It's a bit quiet & undramatic on track, which isn't to everyone's taste.
Be warned that it's very tempting to modify a turbo car - there's plenty of ways to spend thousands on upgrades, and as you do that, other things will break (headgaskets..) The more power you develop, the more heat you need to deal with.
I assume the car you have in mind is an early one - 220hp. KLater cars had more power & some useful upgrades. Once the car is serviced & runing well, I'd suggest a Manual boost controller, tial wastegate & new chipset will provide a big kick to the performance. It will be fine in standard road trim, but much better stripped, improved suspension, seats & caged.
I just sold my 944 track car (2.5l not turbo unfortunately). It was superb on track; as others have mentioned the balance is excellent and the handling on mine was fantastic; really predictable and responsive as well as very forgiving. Mine had fully adjustable shocks all round, strut brace, stripped out interior with roll cage fitted and a non-PAS rack but otherwise standard. It was also fine to drive to and from track days. I would go the 944 route if I were you.
If you have yet to get into track days, I would take the standard 944 turbo as it is to the track first, bleed the brakes and general service will be all the track prep you require to get started, then after a few days you can better assess what money really needs spending to make a better fun track car.
I think many people do things the wrong way round in they buy a car spend a fortune preparing it to practically a race car, then either cant afford the track days or get board and sell on with little track use. For me the 944 would be more fun than the Clio but will clearly cost a far bit more to run.
I think many people do things the wrong way round in they buy a car spend a fortune preparing it to practically a race car, then either cant afford the track days or get board and sell on with little track use. For me the 944 would be more fun than the Clio but will clearly cost a far bit more to run.
Im looking for a 944T, to use on the road; if you dont buy it.
For my part, I say that many are bought to convert, but few are completed. The cost is high and for every proper car Ive seen I have seen 20+ ruined with cheap seats bodged in and the door cards missing. Not enough to show any improvement, but more than enough to greatly affect the value.
Youre looking at well over £3,000 for a cage, suspension and a seat/harness - and you havent carried out any remedial work (headgasket, always required, brake caliper refurb, always required, all that alters is the degree of plate lift).
For my part, I say that many are bought to convert, but few are completed. The cost is high and for every proper car Ive seen I have seen 20+ ruined with cheap seats bodged in and the door cards missing. Not enough to show any improvement, but more than enough to greatly affect the value.
Youre looking at well over £3,000 for a cage, suspension and a seat/harness - and you havent carried out any remedial work (headgasket, always required, brake caliper refurb, always required, all that alters is the degree of plate lift).
Good cars on track I've used 944 turbos on track, they are very nicely balanced, even just a standard one with good pads, brake fluid and a thorough check over will be quick and capable. Old age is the issue so need to make sure its all in good shape.
As said above can quite easily be tuned with a set of chips, boost controller, fuel pressure reg, ideally a tial wastegate, not expensive and not that difficult to do and engine not stressed with that sort of power just make sure compression is good (around 300 on a good one).
Suspension is quite soft on track but that compliance helps it find lots of grip. Upgrading the suspension might be the most expensive bit unless you find some used stuff to put on.
Ideally you need to start off with a Turbo S or SE then you get LSD, bigger brakes, stiffer suspension, gearbox/diff oil cooler as standard, LSD being the most important thing and not easy to retro change if you are buying a 220 model.
If its a gold coloured car you might be lucky and find its a silver rose model which is also an S model and will have all the good bits on it.
As said above can quite easily be tuned with a set of chips, boost controller, fuel pressure reg, ideally a tial wastegate, not expensive and not that difficult to do and engine not stressed with that sort of power just make sure compression is good (around 300 on a good one).
Suspension is quite soft on track but that compliance helps it find lots of grip. Upgrading the suspension might be the most expensive bit unless you find some used stuff to put on.
Ideally you need to start off with a Turbo S or SE then you get LSD, bigger brakes, stiffer suspension, gearbox/diff oil cooler as standard, LSD being the most important thing and not easy to retro change if you are buying a 220 model.
If its a gold coloured car you might be lucky and find its a silver rose model which is also an S model and will have all the good bits on it.
Thank you guys so much for your advice. I am seeing my friend next week about the 944. I think I will definitely go that route. Much more involved and exciting.
What are your views on tuition on the track (with the resident professional)? Is it worth it or just find your own level by learning as you go?
Thanks again......
What are your views on tuition on the track (with the resident professional)? Is it worth it or just find your own level by learning as you go?
Thanks again......
Down to the individual, you'll always benefit from good tuition though.
I only started this year and doing my 4th day next week but it's the first time I've asked for tuition. I've been to the track twice already but feel I'm ready now to progress a bit. I know others who've felt it helped them loads just on their first day though.
If you're a confident driver already then tuition the first time out might not be required, the racing line / braking points should be mostly obvious and you need to build up to the limits any way first.
If you want tuition or feel you want/need it then just do it you'll benefit either way as mentioned.
I only started this year and doing my 4th day next week but it's the first time I've asked for tuition. I've been to the track twice already but feel I'm ready now to progress a bit. I know others who've felt it helped them loads just on their first day though.
If you're a confident driver already then tuition the first time out might not be required, the racing line / braking points should be mostly obvious and you need to build up to the limits any way first.
If you want tuition or feel you want/need it then just do it you'll benefit either way as mentioned.
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