944T/968 modern equivalent?

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So, what coupe from say the last 10 years betters the handling/performance, and is less than £25k used. I'm thinking 997 4S, BMW M or Audi TT-RS.

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I don't know much about them, but a quick google suggests the gen 2 997 is much less susceptible to expensive engine problems.

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I'd rather have a standard TT-RS.

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Yes, but is it a Coupe?

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BubblesNW said:

The Scirocco R is...

It's front wheel drive...

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IMI A said:

Its betters the handling that makes your question a difficult one. Have you thought about a C63 Coupe? Its handling is fun. Amazing amount of car for the money.

Never really fancied one. A 997 still makes more sense.

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Stunters said:

A GT86 was my first thought as well.

The Fiesta ST got better reviews.

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300bhp/ton said:

blade7 said:

Stunters said:

A GT86 was my first thought as well.

The Fiesta ST got better reviews.

Better at what though? Not sure I’ve seen a bad review of the GT86 tbh.

Read the comparison tests? I bought the Fiesta for her indoors. And for a lot less money.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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....

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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

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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.

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IMI A said:

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?

I think the ultimate using Porsche parts would be a 968 turbo. Not the 968 S/RS Porsche built, but a 16v with modern induction, engine management and turbo. It would easily make a reliable 400bhp, and probably 500+ with dry sump and a light refresh occasionally.

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kingroon said:

A friend of mine wants to do that; he's looking at starting with an S2 rather than a Turbo.. Bit of Weightloss, nice Buckets, standard Engine Mods etc.

The only logical reason to start with an S2 is that he can't afford a turbo. Polish up an S2 as much as you like, the turbo standard equipment and an extra 100bhp will always tell.

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kingroon said:

It's absolutely about not being able to afford a Turbo.. Having said that, sometimes it's not about more power..

In this case what is it about then?

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kingroon said:

Buying a Porsche, owning a Porsche, making it yours, and doing what you can with what you have in the Bank..

You should have put that in your 968 advert, it would have fitted in with the moody pictures...