Recommendations ?

[TTM]

In the context of overwhelming road repression down here I'm finding quite frustrating to drive the turbo at the right pace. As you all know it really comes alive at seriously illegal speeds. The gearing is suited only to unrestricted Autobahns.

Should I sell it and dump more money into the S2 that has provided WAY more fun in the five years I've had it or fit a S2 or 968 gearbox ?
We have completed the fitting of a 968 gearbox to a friend's car and it has transformed its "ease" of use.

 

[sawood12]

There are a few in the states that have fitted 968 gearboxes and rave on about them. But have you considered fitting the S2 crown wheel to your turbo box? It lowers the gearing but will make the car a bit more spritely. I guess 968 gearboxes are pretty rare.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Taking this question to it's logical conclusion - I'd suggest a Lux on P6000s.

Not being funny - my point has always been how to have fun at reasonable speed, and the current crop of cars such as Atoms have got to be the way forward. Linking this to another thread - how much enjoyment could you really get from a veyron before you either lose your license or crash it?

 

[John Sims]

Paul makes a very fair point.

Aside having Chavs tailgate me I enjoyed driving our Lux every bit as much as driving Beaky.

There is, however, something to be said though when a Saxo (or BMW []) tries to push you along at 80 and you press "Go" peddle. The Turbo squats down and the idiot behind becomes an ever decreasing image in the mirror.[8D] You can't do that with a Lux. (Obviously this was on a private road that I know.)

While it may not be the fashionable thing to say on the 944 forum but - what about getting a 968?

 

[TTM]

Although my friend has raved about it I'm not sold out on the 6 speed. I did not like the shifting on the few 968s I had the opportunity to drive and the gears felt ridiculously too close for my liking. I like the S2 better, both the car and its gearbox, which is just as well as I already have one []

Paul makes a good point indeed but if I were to buy a "less quick" car I would go for something drastic and very light like a Caterham.

I still have an extra S2 gearbox that I could have fitted with a LSD. I'm not sure the first gears were hardened on the S2 as was the case on the late turbo gearbox, though ?

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: TTM

Paul makes a good point indeed but if I were to buy a "less quick" car I would go for something drastic and very light like a Caterham.

I had a Westfield http://www.2ta.co.uk/petrolhead/slug/index.html and, while it was the fastest thing I have driven on the the track, it was far from satisfying on the road.

It was so low you couldn't see a damn thing in traffic - imagine driving a 944 when all other road users are in Transits. It was so low you couldn't even gain eye contact with Mini drivers. As a result, in any traffic, I was always concerned if the car along side had seen me.

It accelerated like a motor bike but, being so low, made overtaking difficult. If there was another car on the road it made driving frustrating.

It was fabulous to race (because all the cars were the same height and weight) but frightening on track days. Again, it was too small. If a BMW T boned you the first thing it would hit would by your shoulder.

Also, because of the cars characteristics it would corner and accelerate faster that pretty much anything on the track. This means you would lap faster than most things. Unfortunately, unless cars would let you by, it didn't have the grunt down the straights (where you should be passing) to get past.

In summary - unless racing - a very frustrating car........I still miss it though. []

 

[TTM]

I'm guessing your Westfield was pretty much track-oriented, wasn't it ?

 

[John Sims]

It was road registered and I developed a method by which I could change the section behind the bonnet. One section had an external kill switch and drivers aero screen for racing. The replacement section had a windscreen, wipers and washers which plugged in and was fully interchangeable within five minutes. It was a pretty damn good solution (though I modestly say so myself).

The passenger seat, and harness was removable for racing and a toneau covered the passenger area.

If you have a look at the pictures you get a good idea of the conversions. It pretty well ticked all the boxes for racing or road (aside being a bit stiff and far too small to drive on the road). The stiffness was derived from double aluminium skins and foam filling the voids - this increased rigidity and protection in the event of a crash.