924 or 944 as trackday car
Discussion
There seem to be a few 924 and 944 fans on here that I am going to upset, but here goes. I want to do some trackdays and hillclimbs next year, but the thought of stuffing a mint 993 into the armco really does not appeal.
There seem to be quite a few 924s and 944s out there that are going for a song as although they are mechanically sound the interiors are compltely cream crackered. Picked up cheap and stripped out with some suspension mods, they look as though they would make decent trackday cars for not a lot of dosh.
Anyone have any experience of this idea?
There seem to be quite a few 924s and 944s out there that are going for a song as although they are mechanically sound the interiors are compltely cream crackered. Picked up cheap and stripped out with some suspension mods, they look as though they would make decent trackday cars for not a lot of dosh.
Anyone have any experience of this idea?
Doing exactly that - picked up a 944S2 - had it's first track outing at Donnington a couple of weeks ago & was stunned at how good it was 'as-is'. This was really a sanity check day as there's no point in spending money on suspension etc if it was going to be too slow so pleasantly surprised at how well it went. Quite a few 944 forums with info.
Not sure how thats offensive to 924/944 owners ? They were designed to be driven not polished !
Both cars have good track potential, as a 944 owner who does the odd track day I may be being a bit biased here !
The main area to concentrate on is the suspension. 944 suspenion is fully adjustable so as well as getting knuckle joints, bearings, bushes etc replaced, I would thoroughly recomend a full geomery check.
Early 944's with manual racks are probably best avoided as the rack is a bit slow witted at 3.5 turns lock to lock (Power racks are about 3 turns, makes all the difference!).
Best mod I've made to mine is fitting an M030 adjustable rear anti roll bar, I have it on its stiffest setting. Makes the car turn in brilliantly and keeps the car flat at the same time.
Both cars have good track potential, as a 944 owner who does the odd track day I may be being a bit biased here !
The main area to concentrate on is the suspension. 944 suspenion is fully adjustable so as well as getting knuckle joints, bearings, bushes etc replaced, I would thoroughly recomend a full geomery check.
Early 944's with manual racks are probably best avoided as the rack is a bit slow witted at 3.5 turns lock to lock (Power racks are about 3 turns, makes all the difference!).
Best mod I've made to mine is fitting an M030 adjustable rear anti roll bar, I have it on its stiffest setting. Makes the car turn in brilliantly and keeps the car flat at the same time.
I would have thought that a nice 924S bought on the cheap could be turned into a very nice track car, stripped of all unnecessary weight and the suspension fettled. It could prob be done for less than £4k including getting the engine looked at.
They will probably go down to about 850kgs totally stripped, even if you keep the engine 160bhp then its still going to be very nice. Very cheap and still a Porsche.
They will probably go down to about 850kgs totally stripped, even if you keep the engine 160bhp then its still going to be very nice. Very cheap and still a Porsche.
I guess if you are looking at 924 & 944 you are thinking of 924S vs early 944 rather than a later S2 or turbo etc?
You may know already but in case you dont- 924S & early 944 had basically the same 2.5 engine & running gear (actually early 924S has a bit less power- later ones the same)
The normal 2.0 924 is a bit gutless, yes the 924 racers use them (with a perfomance cam nowadays) & if you ever encounter one on track (esp a twisty track) they are amazingly fast considering the lack of power, but thats mainly due to the cornering speeds due to race suspension & that most will have pretty decent drivers at the helm.
The 2.5 engined cars are no rocket ships, but with an engine in top form & the key things of a fully stripped car & decent non standard suspension attended to, coupled with decent tyres & a good driver at the wheel can make them certainly quick enough to give road 911s worth 10 times as much a wake up call on track.
There is a train of thought that the 924S makes the better track car over an early 944 as narrower body/narrower tyres= less drag.
924S's were cheaper that early 944s due to being less desireable, but there doesnt seeme to be a lot of difernece between prices now, with ok & usable examples around at under a grand for the 924S & £1500 for the 944.
One thing to be aware of tho is even tho the purchace price can be really low for a tatty 924S or 944, by the time it is in a sorted & in a decent & track ready state the budget can be easily many many times the purchace price, & after a few track days & a few brakeages of 20 yr old componants & thus more ££ spent, that budget can be easily many many times the purchace price of the car & also if you have the urge for more power its not an easy or cheap job to rectify with the 2.5.
Because of this it may be better to start with a later car with a bit more grunt to start with like an S2 over a 2.5, or even a turbo which with simple mods can pump out approx double the bhp that of a 924S or 944lux. You can pick up a decent but not mint S2 for the price some people are willing to pay for 944luxs if you search hard enough.
A decnetly track prepped S2- esp stripped & with decnet track suspension can be is a pretty nippy track car, & a turbo with the same & chipped is a genuinly rapid beast.
You may know already but in case you dont- 924S & early 944 had basically the same 2.5 engine & running gear (actually early 924S has a bit less power- later ones the same)
The normal 2.0 924 is a bit gutless, yes the 924 racers use them (with a perfomance cam nowadays) & if you ever encounter one on track (esp a twisty track) they are amazingly fast considering the lack of power, but thats mainly due to the cornering speeds due to race suspension & that most will have pretty decent drivers at the helm.
The 2.5 engined cars are no rocket ships, but with an engine in top form & the key things of a fully stripped car & decent non standard suspension attended to, coupled with decent tyres & a good driver at the wheel can make them certainly quick enough to give road 911s worth 10 times as much a wake up call on track.
There is a train of thought that the 924S makes the better track car over an early 944 as narrower body/narrower tyres= less drag.
924S's were cheaper that early 944s due to being less desireable, but there doesnt seeme to be a lot of difernece between prices now, with ok & usable examples around at under a grand for the 924S & £1500 for the 944.
One thing to be aware of tho is even tho the purchace price can be really low for a tatty 924S or 944, by the time it is in a sorted & in a decent & track ready state the budget can be easily many many times the purchace price, & after a few track days & a few brakeages of 20 yr old componants & thus more ££ spent, that budget can be easily many many times the purchace price of the car & also if you have the urge for more power its not an easy or cheap job to rectify with the 2.5.
Because of this it may be better to start with a later car with a bit more grunt to start with like an S2 over a 2.5, or even a turbo which with simple mods can pump out approx double the bhp that of a 924S or 944lux. You can pick up a decent but not mint S2 for the price some people are willing to pay for 944luxs if you search hard enough.
A decnetly track prepped S2- esp stripped & with decnet track suspension can be is a pretty nippy track car, & a turbo with the same & chipped is a genuinly rapid beast.
[quote] 1989, 94k, zermatt silver, M030 Sports suspension & LSD, navy leather, full electric sports seats, aircon, just serviced, fsh, recent belts, 17" porsche alloys, Hayward & Scott exhaust, vgc and a great drive. Tel 07797833895 for further details. 94000 miles. £6750. [/quote]
Rip the interiour/aircon out & flog, then bolt in race seats & cage & fit power chip.............
>> Edited by Bananaman on Wednesday 24th November 14:05
Rip the interiour/aircon out & flog, then bolt in race seats & cage & fit power chip.............
>> Edited by Bananaman on Wednesday 24th November 14:05
Go for it. And dont be put off by the 2.0l 924. They can be had more cheaply than the 924S and 944, and if you witnessed the 4 cylinder race at the Brands Porsche Festival you would have seen that they are pretty even on pace. A 924 racer beat several 944's.
I've just got myself a stripped 2.0l track day car to use over the winter while the racer is in the garage.
I've just got myself a stripped 2.0l track day car to use over the winter while the racer is in the garage.
Actually on the trackday 944 note I had a brief blast in a very nice chaps track 944 at Silverstone yesterday, went over for a chat with him coz his early 944 was going & soundling a lot better that you would expect an early 944 to do.
Reason= 968 lump under the bonnet!
Terrific combination, however it was at a truely horrific cost! not fair on him for me to blab what that cost was on here, but was a heck of a lot of dosh.
Great fun car tho.
Reason= 968 lump under the bonnet!
Terrific combination, however it was at a truely horrific cost! not fair on him for me to blab what that cost was on here, but was a heck of a lot of dosh.
Great fun car tho.
If you are looking for something to develop go for the 924S or 944 since the 968 engines can easiy be fitted.
The 924 is a smashing little car (nicey) but is limited on engine potential, we have one that is gutted and caged, weighs in at 1000kg (dream on for 850 unless you are VERY determined) and has 135bhp/135lbft from its standard engine with 9m head.
My fave would be a 1988 924S with 160bhp since it has the best of both worlds being narrow and light yet with space for more power and better brakes. Simon at Porschapart has one with a 968 engine that may be for sale (could have been sold now).
The 924 is a smashing little car (nicey) but is limited on engine potential, we have one that is gutted and caged, weighs in at 1000kg (dream on for 850 unless you are VERY determined) and has 135bhp/135lbft from its standard engine with 9m head.
My fave would be a 1988 924S with 160bhp since it has the best of both worlds being narrow and light yet with space for more power and better brakes. Simon at Porschapart has one with a 968 engine that may be for sale (could have been sold now).
Just an afterthought: a good customer is building a 924 track car with us and is interested in selling off his fast road converted 924. Nice solid 1984 car in resprayed white, no sunroof, had £000's spent, running on 944 5 stud suspension & brakes, konis all round, 16" design 90 wheels, 968 anti roll bars, single box exhaust. The engine has been rebuilt a few years ago but is a little tired, looking for offers over £2000 complete with 917 number plate. Call me or Steve if anyone is interested.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9860&item=4507350157&rd=1
Its a start
. And wouldn't need much stripping out to turn it into a trackday car its all been done.
Its a start
. And wouldn't need much stripping out to turn it into a trackday car its all been done. Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff