TTM... Yes... and no..
There are two thought processes here..
The first, is that for smaller tracks, and road based fun, a 944, 2.5 8v non turbo car, could be improved upon and not in the way that most people would go for, which leaves them asking for more power, but in a way which would make them feel more performance and increase how enjoyable the car is to drive... Instead of the traditional mods of wider tyres, the best suspension and a geometry setup tuned for ultimate grip at the expense of progressiveness, a 944 (resisting to say lux) owner could reduce weight, stick to standard 7J wheels, or even perhaps go down to 6J and have a geometry setup (alignment) which is forgiving and progressive, and result in a car which would be more fun to drive in the real world than going for the "impressive" mods which most people ask for.
The second though process, which I just wanted to provoke people into giving some thought about, is, when you guys have some spare shillings in the bank, and go looking for modifications, are the mods that they go looking for, really the right ones for improving the enjoyability of the car, or are they the ones which everyone goes for which seem like a good idea... Wider wheels and track tyres might make the car faster around a corner, bigger brakes might allow them to brake later, KW suspension might improve their stability and road holding, but is a car which is faster around a corner more fun?
It's not ever going to be everyones "bag", but for some, it might be enough of a spark of an idea, to make them think twice about going for traditional peak power and cornering mods, but make them think a bit more about what they enjoy about their 944, 944S, 944S2, 944Turbo and how it can be enjoyed more, rather than how it can look more impressive on a track day.
I get a lot of enquiries for tuning Porsche cars, and to be honest, if I was to give them exactly what they ask for, they would all end up with peak power levels which would look great on a dyno day, but would not be what they want.
A good example would be the old dyno days for Rick Cannells Dyno league... There were two 2.5 turbo's which peaked just over 400 BHP, but with low 300's in torque.. Very few people would have argued that the 320 BHP and 380 torque tuning packages would have actually been faster cars on the road or track...
In the past, I have always talked to tuning customers that have asked for XXX BHP, what kind of driving they do and 9 times out of 10 have told them they want less BHP and more torque, which will result into a faster car, for them.. However, now I think I need to ask them some more questions about fun versus lap times, and I think maybe some people might be well placed to ask themselves the same questions.
Not preaching, just suggesting that with a little thinking outside of the box, rather than following the pack, might give more value for money..., Others may still come to the conclusion that they need a turbo, KW, 11J rear wheels, pilot cups and a MAF kit.. But some may see a new path which might lead to a car more tailored for them.
Some might feel threatened or enraged by this because their path has already been chosen or they enjoy seeing the envelope pushed by forum members.. But maybe, a 944 2.5 non turbo owner might just stop lusting after the crowd with their tuned up turbo's that they might not be able to afford, and buy himself a set of set of 6J Cookie cutters off ebay and have a play or even just find their own path.
And before anyone says that a 944 wearing 6J wheels are dangerous, the 924 turbo had far more power than a 944 non turbo 2.5 and ran on 6J wheels from the factory and they were never widow makers. As did the 924S... If anything, it might even be safer in poor weather than the carlos fandango extra wide wheels that some lust after.
]. Serious question TTM, how would the polar moment of inertia be influenced in chassis tuning?? Is it weight or geometry, or something else?
