Road and Track 944

[DavidHolden]

Hi there,

This is my first post on the 944 forum so hello and apologies if I ask a stupid question. I currently have a 2011 Cayman S, which is a very nice car for the road. I had previously been a road driving enthusiast, having done HPC etc, but have more recently also taken up some track driving. Nothing serious, but it has got me thinking that I am better off with a more practical car for the road and something a bit less expensive that I can use on the track but also keep reasonably nice for weekend driving / meets etc.

I do like the 944 and have seen some very well sorted track prepared ones. I guess my questions are as follows:

- Am I crazy to think that with a budget of 6-8k I can find a suitable vehicle (either one that has already been modified or one that I can do up myself. NB my spannering abilities are limited to basic tasks)? I am not looking for an all-out race car, just one that has been upgraded to make it more suitable for the track. I'd like to keep some carpet and door cards etc.
- If this is not so crazy, where and when would I be best looking for such a beast and indeed does anyone here know of a suitable vehicle?

People have suggested I'd be better off finding something like a Clio etc but I'd quite like to stay with Porsche and I think the 944 looks so much better than that, and is of course RWD!

Thanks for any advice
Steve

 

[Masher]

I imagine there are many examples of cars meeting the description on this forum. It might be worth stating your location and I can imagine an offer of coffee and looking over a car will be forthcoming. If your near Herts / Essex / Cambs I'm not so far away.

Your budget sounds realistic - is it a turbo or NA you're thinking of?

Cheers
Mick

 

[DavidHolden]

Thanks Mick for the rapid reply.

I'm in the East Midlands nr Nottingham/Derby. I'm certain willing to travel around to have a look at some examples and am not in a rush to do anything. It strikes me with this sort of car patience may be required to find one. I'd much prefer to buy one from a fellow enthusiast than an unloved example off Autotrader (there seems to be a few of those).

I was thinking either a Turbo or S2 model but I do need to do some more research....

Cheers
Steve

 

[Masher]

Wise to have patience. I guess the route of my thinking was to look at some examples in ownership, not for sale, and get a feel for what is good and what is bad. Then when you've money burning a hole, you'll know what you want!
Cheers
Mick

 

[Diver944]

With that budget I'd be looking at a good S2 or a slightly ropey Turbo (ropey in a scruffy way).

Once bought then make sure the brakes are up to scratch, then proceed on a diet to lose as much weight from the car as you can. They can be lardy old beasts and if the suspension is worn you will be leaning around the corners like the Tower in Pisa

Edh is in the East Midlands and has a track S2

 

[Eldavo]

Hi Steve, my car is built to a similar spec as what you're looking for - I'll be at Cadwell on Saturday the 29th of March if you want to have a chat and a few passenger laps.

I'm not selling it though

 

[944 man]

For that money Id be looking for a racer built by EMC in Birmingham. Almost certainly the better way to get a car that's built right, with the right bits (not because racecar which is prevalent) and offers better value.

 

[andrew_churcher]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

For that money Id be looking for a racer built by EMC in Birmingham. Almost certainly the better way to get a car that's built right, with the right bits (not because racecar which is prevalent) and offers better value.

He does mention road and track.......so possibly a bit hardcore.

 

[944 man]

Easily road registered though Andrew and a car that works on track has to compromise road comfort.

 

[DavidHolden]

Does sound like an interesting idea. I am expecting it will not be a highly comfortable car on the road but for the purposes I'm intending it for this is not a problem. I guess I just don't want to make it so extreme that you would only ever dream of driving it to and from the track and that no non-petrolhead would consider getting in it

The pro build option sounds good although it sounds rather more expensive than my initial 6-8k budget, but perhaps I'm wrong. I imagine an element of man maths will be involved in any final decision...

 

[Eldavo]

My wife has never been in my current 944 and stated last weekend that she has no intention of doing so.

Based upon this I feel that I have succeeded!!!

 

[andrew_churcher]

Any pics of yours eldavo........?

 

[Frenchy]

Something along the lines of Daves car (Eldavo) would be just the ticket, our old friend Copperman also sold a cracking S2 which was lowered with KW's and other various trick bits and set up by centre of gravity, it also had creature comforts retained.
Did it not sell for 6.5k ?it was very presentable and well looked after, and would do road in comfort and show a few "superior" cars the way around a track []
Get a good one and they are supberb, keep looking on here and something will turn up, i recommend you take Dave's offer up of a blast around Cadwell if you can make it, just don't get in with him if there are any Nissans with "Blue Rinse" drivers knocking about []

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: Diver944

With that budget I'd be looking at a good S2 or a slightly ropey Turbo (ropey in a scruffy way).

Once bought then make sure the brakes are up to scratch, then proceed on a diet to lose as much weight from the car as you can. They can be lardy old beasts and if the suspension is worn you will be leaning around the corners like the Tower in Pisa

Edh is in the East Midlands and has a track S2

I certainly am... [] My S2 is currently "resting" but is looking likely to reappear later this year. If you fancy a chat & a poke around a 944 let me know. I can give you a few of the pro's & con's of track prepared road cars...and a good idea of costs. As Simon has said, your budget would stretch to an S2 racer. There's a nicely prepped black/green track car that has been kicking around on sale for quite a while. I also saw a white S2 race car from the north east up for sale - not sure if that sold.

As this is a road car, do you want a front cage? it's very close to your head in a 944.

Check out my project thread for more info & some nice pics.....944 track cars are very photogenic

 

[944 man]

Sorry for not being too clear, but as Ed has confirmed, I meant buy a used car which was built by EMC. Excellent value compared to asking them to build you a 'new' car.

Ive driven a heavily track orientated car on the road with fixed seats, all plastic windows and no sound deadening. Fruity exhaust too, and it wasn't too bad. In fact I quite liked it and it all came together at 95mph> at which point it was quiet and relaxing to drive.

 

[andrew_churcher]

Yes no doubt its much more cost effective to buy one already complete. Let someone else takes the initial wallet hammering to build it

 

[edh]

My car has carpets but no soundproofing, fixed bucket seats. It's quite comfy for long trips - spa etc.. in fact much nicer than some standard cars - dc2 integra for one.

Springs are quite stIff so it's less comfy on the back roads.

 

[Eldavo]

Interior
Soundproofing removed
Carpets re-dyed and replaced
Rear seat area carpeted
Fixed Cobra buckets
4 point harnesses
Rear half cage
No Radio/speakers
Carbon doorcards with 964RS door pulls
Resited the electric window and mirror switches to the centre console
(No air con, no sunroof and harnesses meant I couldn't reach the winders on the manual windows)
Vacuum gauge in a carbon panel where the radio was
Oil temp gauge in a carbon panel in the left centre vent
OMP steering wheel
Interior trim painted gloss black
Refurbed the instrument cluster light prisms and used LED bulbs

Drivetrain
996 17" twist wheels in gloss black
Forged CS 16" wheels in gloss black - track tyres
Mintex Motorsport front pads
KW Clubsport suspension
Racer's Edge solid adjustable top mounts
968 ARBs front and rear
968 strut brace
Promax stage 2 tune
968 bridge spoiler hatch
Cupra R front splitter
Headlight washer delete and replaced washer bottle with a 964RS item
K&N air filter - cos I iz a chav

And an old pic without the splitter, 968 hatch or black stone guards:

 

[andrew_churcher]

Wow...really nice. Cobra seats look a nice alternative to recaro pp's

 

[blease]

My S2 track oriented car is similar to others here.
Gaz Gold suspension, spare wheels with Cup tyres (HUGE difference), Cobra seats, sabelt harnesses, half cage, sound deadening out, engine sorted etc etc.
Still comfortable enough to drive to Spa and huge fun on track with adjusted suspension and track tyres.
Very happy for you to see my car, and if interested we can talk about your budget. Feel free to PM me or email.
Cheers, Simon