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

[Thorshammer]

HMM, good question.


First, find a real advisor, that isn't trying to sell you their services or have any other agenda when they advise you... LOL

Chris has a good point, prepare to race something you can afford to walk away from and not injure your financial stability. The days of irresponsible racing are pretty much over, because they can't be sustained.

Before you buy a car, or have one built, find out where you want to race. Some guys like PCA, or POC, some guys like SCCA or NASA. Also, what type of racing you want to do.

If it is autocross, prep the Cayman or buy a race prepped 914. Great car (the Cayman), still under warranty (sorry PCNA) and you will have a great time, but be prepared for some fairly expensive maintenance costs. Find out where the local guys are racing, and contact some racers in advance and tell them you are thinking about starting racing. IF you contact a shop, they will guide you to what they do, which may not be what you want to do. The 914 is light agile and cheap to run, and there are lots of high performance parts out there new and used, and several 914 specialists to make the car into exactly what you wnat.

If roadracing is your choice, I would not choose the Cayman. But if you insisted, build it to a SPEC set of rules, this way you have a chance to compete against cars that are fairly equal. Don't get me wrong, you will still have a few in the clas that will prep to the inth degree, usually because they can't drive....

The 914 would be a good choice, but two things come to mind. 4 cyl engine reliability, and the vintage of the car. While I raced one at a high level, I also had the ability of building my own engines, and knowing enough good people (such as Chris Foley) to help with the items I did not have the tools or ability to do. The 6 cylinder is a better choice and will run many hours without major rebuilds, but the cost to build one is a bit higher. If you choose to run a four cylinder car, you must a have a spare engine. Most competitors have at least one spare and one mule engine with reduced horsepower.

Next brings us to the Boxster. This would be my choice at this time and the reasons are a few. One, the cars are getting very affordable, there is a Spec Series which has many cars and is very popular, and also, you can run a Spec Boxster in many different classes and organizations. NASA, PCA and POC all have Spec Boxster classes for the 2.5 liter Boxster. SCCA has ITR, and may soon have E production if I get my way. The cars are well known, and there are several for sale at reasonable prices.

I would suggest you buy a car already built. This will eliminate many issues you will have trying to build your own. Make sure you take someone with you that knows race vehicles and at least has some high level amateur experience. Just because they say the "race" doesn't mean shit. The way you step into this, will guide your success.

Good Luck,



Erik Madsen

[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

[Dirty Evo]

excellent opinions and feedback guys!! thanks!!! everybody pointed something different out that I need to consider.. really appreciate it!!

[grantsfo]

Randals Beast for $25K would be a great car. Perfect club racer.

[koozy]

Randals Beast for $25K would be a great car. Perfect club racer.

I agree. You couldn't build that car for 3 times the money unless you did it all yourself. Fantastic car.

[campbellcj]

I agree. You couldn't build that car for 3 times the money unless you did it all yourself. Fantastic car.

I'm very tempted to buy it but I'd be killed on sight by my wife...she wants a bigger house.