what to do next?

[RC18B 911 turbo]

I've been considering what my options are for what I could do next to the car to improve the performance of the car in a straight line.
I've fitted a H&S Exhaust with decat, a K&N filter and the KW V3 coil overs which for a while has kept me going and I've enjoyed it up to now. But now I want a quicker car, which in hindsight I should of purchased a turbo because there would have been more options for increasing the power but at the time I thought it would be plenty quick enough for me as an 18 year old, but now I think I've got used to it's power and need more.

Any ideas please?

 

[swright]

Trade it in for a turbo?[][][][]

 

[RC18B 911 turbo]

I would prefer a naturally aspirated car or supercharged car for the low down torque that would be available, hence why I am currently looking into an Exige S but I can't get insured on one right now and no insurance company will insure me on any forced induction modifications to the 944 which kind of puts me into a very difficult position, but I'm so bored with the car that for some inexplicable reason I would rather be driven everywhere or walk so the car just sits there as a drive ornament which considering the amount of money I've put into (wasted) on the car seems a little ridiculous now (which including insurance for 2 years and purchasing cost etc is now well into 5 figures) is there anything that I can do which my satisfy my craving for quicker acceleration for the time being that doesn't include using any form of forced induction?
How far can I go into reducing the weight (not bothered about any creature comforts) and can expect any meaningful gains?

 

[Fen]

Unfortunately I'd say not, Jon. I think if you lighten it you'll not notice any significant improvement and you'll devalue it. I know you've spent a lot on it, but when you got it it was a slightly scruffy and milagey car that you have turned into a nice and well looked after one. Current financial climate aside I think you'd get back some of what you have spent on it if you were to sell it when the market stabilises again.

Can you get insurance on a Turbo? Have you driven a modified one? They are like a quicker S2 if modded well for driveability. Alternatively you could move to the only country in the OECD where car insurance is optional (and you can drive at 15)...

 

[swright]

The seats weigh a ton so replacing them with some light weight buckets would be a big start. Ditch the rears and the carpets and im sure a hell of a lot of weight is shed right there. If you really wanted to go to town then you could remove things like the electric window motors and and anything else for that matter that is non essential.

 

[Black_JPN]

Buy a 1993 diesel Fiesta or similar derv powered plodder for the Monday to Friday slog. Come the w/e the S2 will feel like a rocket ship.

 

[pauly]

Get a bike.

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: RC18B 911 turbo

I'm so bored with the car -................. is there anything that I can do which my satisfy my craving for quicker acceleration for the time being that doesn't include using any form of forced induction?

try bungie jumping or get a motor bike [8|] bluddy ell []

 

[rd944]

ORIGINAL: pauly

Get a bike.

normally i'd agree, bikes are ace.. but then his car will just feel slower.

I dont think i've ever driven anything with 4 wheels that matches the accelleration and the buzz of a sportsbike, well, there was a chipped integrale that came close but even so...

 

[RC18B 911 turbo]

ORIGINAL: Fen

Unfortunately I'd say not, Jon. I think if you lighten it you'll not notice any significant improvement and you'll devalue it. I know you've spent a lot on it, but when you got it it was a slightly scruffy and milagey car that you have turned into a nice and well looked after one. Current financial climate aside I think you'd get back some of what you have spent on it if you were to sell it when the market stabilises again.

Can you get insurance on a Turbo? Have you driven a modified one? They are like a quicker S2 if modded well for driveability. Alternatively you could move to the only country in the OECD where car insurance is optional (and you can drive at 15)...

I think I can get insurance on a turbo it's about the same as the S2. I've not driven a modified one yet but it might be well worth a try I know that some of them are very quick and may well be what I want.

[/quote]ORIGINAL: Black_JPN

Buy a 1993 diesel Fiesta or similar derv powered plodder for the Monday to Friday slog. Come the w/e the S2 will feel like a rocket ship.

I work with fast cars for a living so that really wouldn't work but a nice idea though, I get to drive BMWs, (only the M cars and the 335i and 135i are quick) Porsches, Ferraris and Maseratis (last 2 not so often any more thankfully in the case of the Ferraris)

I don't like bikes either has to be fast on 4 wheels.

 

[edh]

The great thing about the turbos is the mid-range torque (and the extra power). Try one running a bit more boost & with a strong wastegate & see how hard it pulls from 3500 or so

It's only when you're off boost on 1st, maybe 2nd as well that sometimes you get caught out & the car doesn't pick up quite as fast as you 're expecting. For example, it can be an issue pulling out into a gap on roundabouts from a complete stop, until you get used to it.

You could swap your KW's & other bits straight over onto a turbo - you won't get your money back selling them on the S2.

 

[morris944s2john]

ORIGINAL: RC18B 911 turbo

I would prefer a naturally aspirated car or supercharged car for the low down torque that would be available, hence why I am currently looking into an Exige S but I can't get insured on one right now and no insurance company will insure me on any forced induction modifications to the 944 which kind of puts me into a very difficult position, but I'm so bored with the car that for some inexplicable reason I would rather be driven everywhere or walk so the car just sits there as a drive ornament which considering the amount of money I've put into (wasted) on the car seems a little ridiculous now (which including insurance for 2 years and purchasing cost etc is now well into 5 figures) is there anything that I can do which my satisfy my craving for quicker acceleration for the time being that doesn't include using any form of forced induction?
How far can I go into reducing the weight (not bothered about any creature comforts) and can expect any meaningful gains?

Will your insurance Co allow Nitrous???

 

[RC18B 911 turbo]

I'm quite tempted by a turbo now but I'd like to at least have a ride in one to get an idea of what I'd be looking at.
I think I would like about 300bhp. If anyone knows of a modified turbo anywhere I'd be interested in it not to bothered about cost as such.

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: RC18B 911 turbo

I'm quite tempted by a turbo now but I'd like to at least have a ride in one to get an idea of what I'd be looking at.
I think I would like about 300bhp. If anyone knows of a modified turbo anywhere I'd be interested in it not to bothered about cost as such.

Mine would fit the bill - PCGB valuation at £8,500 [] - It's not for sale, but if someone offered me that sort of money I'd be very tempted [][]

I'd be very interested to hear how you get on witha turbo - 300bhp and 325lb ft will feel a fair bit quicker than an S2

 

[RC18B 911 turbo]

I would certainly hope so with that sort of power and torque sounds like the sort of thing I want. I would like to get an idea of what one is like before I go for it so if there are any 944 meetings coming up soon and if someone is willing to let me ride in their turbo preferably modified I would be most grateful.

 

[944 man]

I disagree that lightening will not show a perceptable improvement. If we accept that removing 50kgs gives an improvement equal to a 10bhp increase, then I have added the equivalent of >40bhp to my car and I assure you that I can feel the difference. As an aside, when the car is fully laden (or approaching its original weight, depending on how you see it), it feels so sluggish, its untrue.....

Im not sure that lightening a car devalues it either: when you replace the massively heavy seats, bonnet or rear hatch glass with a lighter part, you dont throw the original kit away, do you? The electric window regulators only weigh a shade over 2.5kgs (the same as the door cards!), so the nett saving that you make really isnt worth the pita.

Whether you can gain enough to keep your interest is another matter, of course.

 

[Peter Empson]

That echos my experience too, although I'd add that the gains were even more beneficial in cornering and braking than straight line speed (as per the original post). However you can feel a surprisingly small increase in weight, I've currently got a pair of wheels and tyres in the boot, which I guess weigh 40kg and I certainly notice it during acceleration (even when I've forgotten they're there).

The other benefit with stripping the interior is that it sounds faster, a daft idea maybe, but you're no longer divorced from what's going on and feel more involved.

If it were me I'd be spending the money on some more track time, going fast in a straight line is nothing compared to going round corners quickly []

 

[James_G]

Jon

Do I not remember your signature showing you as having a 20% share in a GT3? How was that? If that wasn't quick enough for you then there probably isn't any hope.[]

Seriously though, I'm not sure what you do, but you clearly have the chance to sample some really nice hardware at work, stuff that some of us would truly love to have a decent go in. Of course I could head to my nearest BMW dealer and get an M3 for the afternoon but it would be a bitter sweet victory as I know I couldn't have that car in my life for a few years yet. I suspect your easy access to nice new cars is making your own car feel a bit ordinary, which with the condition and the work you've done means it is anything of the sort.

I can't make a suggestion for what to do with your S2 other than perhaps change how you look at driving it. Rather than driving it for the sake of it, how about arranging some road trips with your mates. Or doing some track days to hone your skills. Can you do a perfect heel and toe every time for example? You may not be interested, but it keeps me occupied on my driving skill rather than focusing on the german diesel that's pulling away from me.

Don't get an Exige though - I was a passenger in one to Le Mans in 2006 and I have vowed never to go in one again.

 

[944 man]

ORIGINAL: Peter Empson
...the gains were even more beneficial in cornering and braking than straight line speed...

Definately.

 

[pauly]

ORIGINAL: RC18B 911 turbo
not to bothered about cost as such.

Get an Atom.


(and flog me the KW's and mirrors [])