lurking for a while, have questions, track fun / 914 vs cayman s Options

[Dirty Evo]

ok , been lurking here for a while hesitant to post because I don't have anything useful to add to any threads, and I don't have any important questions.

but hell, I need to start sometime....

a bit about me: currently own '08 Cayman S... my daily driver, and occasional HPDE car. I also have a 1990 BMW 325i built to SPEC E30 race spec (built by me and my friends and local shop). I don't race , but that is my normal track car for HPDE... do roughly and even per month. About 12-15 track days per year total. I have the E30 because obviously cheaper to build out than the cayman, and every single conceivable part is cheaper and its super easy for me to learn to work on(I am not very mechanical, so I am learning about working on cars as I go along). And its fun and great car for learning to drive.

Problem is, I don't like BMW. Have always been a porsche guy... funny thing is I also don't like 911's (never have). My first car and highs school graduation present was a 72 914 1.7. Slow as hell, but fun (this was in 89). Then I had a 944S2 and now my Cayman and of course a whole bunch of fun non-P cars in between. But always been a fan of 914... maybe just a sentimental thing, not sure.

Ok , so that is my introduction to the site.

now my question: this is just looking for opinions / ideas / thoughts... for me to think about. for a track car, should I go with 914-6 (conversion due to my budget) or my cayman S ? I mean, if I drop $20K on a 914, will I still wish I was driving the Cayman on the track instead? Or is the 914 going to be more fun? remember, I don't race (only in lemons races, with a diff car), I am only out having fun at HPDE in upper-intermediate or advanced groups. I want to have FUN and be safe and be able to afford to fix my car and learn to work on it and have it look good.

So, build out my Cayman? or pick up one of these REALLY nice 914-6 up for sale right now.

Would love input from people who have driven BOTH on the track... which one did you like better??

[stewteral]

ok , been lurking here for a while hesitant to post because I don't have anything useful to add to any threads, and I don't have any important questions.

but hell, I need to start sometime....

a bit about me: currently own '08 Cayman S... my daily driver, and occasional HPDE car. I also have a 1990 BMW 325i built to SPEC E30 race spec (built by me and my friends and local shop). I don't race , but that is my normal track car for HPDE... do roughly and even per month. About 12-15 track days per year total. I have the E30 because obviously cheaper to build out than the cayman, and every single conceivable part is cheaper and its super easy for me to learn to work on(I am not very mechanical, so I am learning about working on cars as I go along). And its fun and great car for learning to drive.

Problem is, I don't like BMW. Have always been a porsche guy... funny thing is I also don't like 911's (never have). My first car and highs school graduation present was a 72 914 1.7. Slow as hell, but fun (this was in 89). Then I had a 944S2 and now my Cayman and of course a whole bunch of fun non-P cars in between. But always been a fan of 914... maybe just a sentimental thing, not sure.

Ok , so that is my introduction to the site.

now my question: this is just looking for opinions / ideas / thoughts... for me to think about. for a track car, should I go with 914-6 (conversion due to my budget) or my cayman S ? I mean, if I drop $20K on a 914, will I still wish I was driving the Cayman on the track instead? Or is the 914 going to be more fun? remember, I don't race (only in lemons races, with a diff car), I am only out having fun at HPDE in upper-intermediate or advanced groups. I want to have FUN and be safe and be able to afford to fix my car and learn to work on it and have it look good.

So, build out my Cayman? or pick up one of these REALLY nice 914-6 up for sale right now.

Would love input from people who have driven BOTH on the track... which one did you like better??

Hey Dirty Evo,

You're getting some good advice, starting with what can you afford to crash.

Another way to look at your conundrum is defining your GOAL: Do you want to go FASTER? Do you want a Better handling chassis? Do you like Mid-Engine feel?

I do have some racing experience: Formula Fords, a bunch of years with a Datsun 510 sedan (chassis design copied from BMW) and also had a 944S2 that I ran on-track. I'm now running a 914-V8 and its a handful. Here's my view (for what its worth):
-The Cayman will be better handling than any other of you alternatives with a 35 yr newer suspension layout...but an EXPENSIVE toy.
- I haven't driven a Caymen, but expect it to be almost as well balanced as the 944. The 944 High polar moment design was amazing ontrack: it felt as though it were impossible to spin the car....best basic balance I had seen since the FF.
-The BMW has the same basic suspension as a 914 and after years with the 510,
I don't see that much down-side to a sedan: in race trim BMWs hold their own.
-The BMW is already about as fast as a 914-6, unless you go bananas on the 911 engine, only lacking a bit a agility.
----So what is it you hope to get from an OLD 914 that will be more satisfying than the BMW (maybe with some more chassis development)?

It all comes down to your Desired GOAL, you're the DRIVER! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Best of luck,

Terry

[Dirty Evo]

----So what is it you hope to get from an OLD 914 that will be more satisfying than the BMW (maybe with some more chassis development)?

It all comes down to your Desired GOAL, you're the DRIVER! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Best of luck,

Terry

yeah, I have to say, the E30 with its measly 168hp or whatever it is keeps up with some serious machinery on the track. it surprises me... how well balanced it is and just fun.

I think with a 914, I am not looking for anything "more" than the E30... in fact, I guess what I am looking for is something comparable to the E30, but that I feel more of a sentimental attachment to. I have always been a Porsche and VW guy... i never dreamed of owning a Ferrari or a corvette.. I wanted a 914-6 or a 944 or 928... or VW squareback or notchback or GTI.... those were my dream cars as a teenage boy.

ok, so which gets me to the point... with a 914 I am looking for the rawness and mechanical feel of the E30.. stripped down, completely communicative... nothing between me and machine... but in a car that means something to me. I LOVE the feel and performance of the E30... but there just is no emotion there for me. Its enough speed and great handling for me.. I don't need more performance, just more "emotion".

to me, the cayman lacks the rawness... everything is perfect, but its a little too sterile and clean... the E30 stripped down is raw and dirty (figuratively)..

I guess my hope is that the 914 gives me the performance and feel of the SPEC E30 car enhanced by the passion I would have for a 914 (as opposed to the indifference I have for the BMW).

a little too touchy feely? yeah, i know, sounds cheesy, but hopefully you guys know what I am mean.

I think you guys are all helping me answer my own questions... THANKS... I knoew getting some other input would help clarify things.

[stewteral]

----So what is it you hope to get from an OLD 914 that will be more satisfying than the BMW (maybe with some more chassis development)?

It all comes down to your Desired GOAL, you're the DRIVER! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Best of luck,

Terry

yeah, I have to say, the E30 with its measly 168hp or whatever it is keeps up with some serious machinery on the track. it surprises me... how well balanced it is and just fun.

I think with a 914, I am not looking for anything "more" than the E30... in fact, I guess what I am looking for is something comparable to the E30, but that I feel more of a sentimental attachment to. I have always been a Porsche and VW guy... i never dreamed of owning a Ferrari or a corvette.. I wanted a 914-6 or a 944 or 928... or VW squareback or notchback or GTI.... those were my dream cars as a teenage boy.

ok, so which gets me to the point... with a 914 I am looking for the rawness and mechanical feel of the E30.. stripped down, completely communicative... nothing between me and machine... but in a car that means something to me. I LOVE the feel and performance of the E30... but there just is no emotion there for me. Its enough speed and great handling for me.. I don't need more performance, just more "emotion".

to me, the cayman lacks the rawness... everything is perfect, but its a little too sterile and clean... the E30 stripped down is raw and dirty (figuratively)..

I guess my hope is that the 914 gives me the performance and feel of the SPEC E30 car enhanced by the passion I would have for a 914 (as opposed to the indifference I have for the BMW).

a little too touchy feely? yeah, i know, sounds cheesy, but hopefully you guys know what I am mean.

I think you guys are all helping me answer my own questions... THANKS... I knoew getting some other input would help clarify things.

Hey Dirty Evo:

Now I understand! We just have to go with what "gets us going."

I'm thinking about the Datsun 510, which after a blow-up sat for years, but I just didn't have the motivation to rebuild it and take it back out. It just didn't fire me up....So I sold it.

Then I bought the 944. I was a beautiful Gran Tourisimo and was wonderfully balanced, as I mentioned. But after the great week-end at Laguna Seca, I realized that to get it where I wanted it would take a ton of work & $$. The car was wonderful but just TOO CIVILIZED.

That's when I sold the 944, bought a 914 from eBay and launched into my V8 conversion. It is the harriest thing I have ever driven and much faster than my Dad's 289 Cobra. I was aiming for "challenging" but my bud is right in tagging it "The Beast."

So I guess you need to get a 914, roll up your sleeves and make it what you want.
For pancake motor cars, this forum has a lot of experience in set-up, so that should be a good help for you.

Enjoy,
Terry