400 bhp 944 turbo or V8 M3 ?
Discussion
I moved from a 968CS to e46 m3cs, and yes in some respects the 44/68 is hard to beat. You will miss the intimacy, the steering feel and the relative lack of weight, but what I don't really miss is the 3 liter 4 pot. It's not a bad engine but the m3 engines (either the straight six or V8) are in a different world. I've ended up getting rid of some weight and sharpening up the car and I now find it on many of those tactile levels mentioned above pretty close to the old Porsche.
I would also be wary of turbocharging the 3litre a little, those engines run quite hot anyhow and I believe this is the main issue you will face. Lots of horror stories on the 968 scene with turbos IIRC.
Obviously best thing to do would be to take a test drive in an E9x though I would also consider if I were you looking at a 46, maybe a CSL if you an stretch as these are probably not so far in weight from the porsche than the e9x and arguably the more special weekend car.
Lovely looking car though, if I were you I'd keep it!
I would also be wary of turbocharging the 3litre a little, those engines run quite hot anyhow and I believe this is the main issue you will face. Lots of horror stories on the 968 scene with turbos IIRC.
Obviously best thing to do would be to take a test drive in an E9x though I would also consider if I were you looking at a 46, maybe a CSL if you an stretch as these are probably not so far in weight from the porsche than the e9x and arguably the more special weekend car.
Lovely looking car though, if I were you I'd keep it!
blade7 said:
J4CKO said:
Depends whether you want to go for a drive or spend your weekends rebuilding 944 engines.
400/400 is a walk in the park for a properly built 3.0 engine with the right MAF,turbo and exhaust.944's are a minimum of 23 years old, the car was never destined for 400 bhp, I dont doubt it can be done but I remember reading about
high powered 944 turbos and there were some tales of woe.
MOTK said:
I moved from a 968CS to e46 m3cs, and yes in some respects the 44/68 is hard to beat. You will miss the intimacy, the steering feel and the relative lack of weight, but what I don't really miss is the 3 liter 4 pot. It's not a bad engine but the m3 engines (either the straight six or V8) are in a different world. I've ended up getting rid of some weight and sharpening up the car and I now find it on many of those tactile levels mentioned above pretty close to the old Porsche.
I like the E46 M3 and I think it's a better car than a standard 968/944T but it's making best use of what it's got and short of forced induction I don't see it matching a 400 bhp 944. The V8 M3 just has more engine.not sure if there is much point in building a 3.0T 400 bhp 944 - it would most likely be an overly expensive and fruitless build, sinking that kind of money in to a 944T well you'd never get it back. I've had a few 944T and the most power I've had was arouind 300 and it struggled with putting that down I think at 400 you'd lose most of it with wheel spin on the road, might be ok on a dry track with semi slicks but average uk roads / wet / cold etc owuld be a waste of that power - an E90 M3 or 335i would be miles up the road by the time you had come on boost and found any traction.
They are entirely different propositions. A weekend toy that you can fettle with, or a fast reliable daily driver... Incidentally, I had a V8 M3 for a year when I was doing lots of driving for work, and it made sense. My circumstances then changed, and I chopped it in for a Scooby which has just had an engine rebuild and I also do various bits myself.
blade7 said:
I like the E46 M3 and I think it's a better car than a standard 968/944T but it's making best use of what it's got and short of forced induction I don't see it matching a 400 bhp 944. The V8 M3 just has more engine.
Consider the ESS supercharging kits then. Easy and reliable 500hp from the six with no internal mods. Many people run these, you're looking at about £6k fitted.http://www.esstuning.com/products/E46-M3-VT2%252d5...
400BHP sounds nuts in a 944. I would get the engine making whatever it can reliably then spend on suspension, brakes etc. getting the whole package running absolutely spot on. Unless you plan to track it, the pleasure you will get in a 944 is in the twisties.
Of course, if you wanted something comfier.... how about a 928?!
Of course, if you wanted something comfier.... how about a 928?!
Strange comparison. M3 isn't a weekend car if that's what you're after look at something like an Exige. The M3 is a daily with plenty of poke and a good all round package. Weekend type car for me has got be something extreme... Can't comment on the 944 as never driven one but couldn't imagine they were built either with the intent of being weekend type sports car?
MOTK said:
blade7 said:
I like the E46 M3 and I think it's a better car than a standard 968/944T but it's making best use of what it's got and short of forced induction I don't see it matching a 400 bhp 944. The V8 M3 just has more engine.
Consider the ESS supercharging kits then. Easy and reliable 500hp from the six with no internal mods. Many people run these, you're looking at about £6k fitted.http://www.esstuning.com/products/E46-M3-VT2%252d5...
I think it would still have to be the 944 with 3 litre turbo though
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