Got smoked by a civic today...........

[xveganxcowboyx]

I was cruising out of saint paul to go to my grand parents cabin tonight when a crew of four "ricers" passed me about 25 minutes outside of the city. I stuck with them for a while just watching their highway antics. I decided to cruise up the line of them to get a better look. Civic, 240, integra, civic. I noticed the wing on the 240 though and realised it was the same one I had been admiring at my buddy's computer shop earlier today. I remembered a boost gauge, AF gauge and controller, and a big polished intercooler. I don't think he recognised me, but he did look.

I proceeded to the front of the line and was cruising next to an older white civic. It had a real metalic sounding exhaust and I couldn't figure out why a nice 240 was hanging out with all these "sad hondas." He started creeping forward then dropped gears and took off from about 75 mph. When I say took off, I mean took off! I dropped gears also, but a little late as I was startled by a loud "pssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh" as he downshifted. I was able to keep up pretty well, but he took a 1.5-2 car lead on his start and pulled another 1 or 2 away up to what was probably 110 mph or more. (my speedo is broke, but pretty fast)

We got next to each other and rolled down our windows. He gave me a thumbs up. I tried to talk to him, but I guess he thought I said go or something, because he took off. I downshifted and tried to compete, but the 240 blew by at the same time. I gave up and just watched the 2 of them play for a minute. I then caught up to them and tried to talk to the 240 driver. I'd been wanting to see under the hood of that thing since it pulled up in the parking lot earlier today. He just smiled and took off with a "grrrrrrr psssssssstttttt!" I just watched them for the next miule or two until they pulled off, but I was in a hurry so I had to keep going. Plus I felt a little humiliated. Stomped by a civic.





When I bought my 85 944 I knew it was never going to be an amazing drag racer, but I really feel the need for more power after tonight. I think I need to look into a turbo. This NA stuff just ain't cuttin' it! I definetly got taught some respect for the hondas.

[83-944]

You'll still come and visit us in the N/A world, right?

Come to my town, NOBODY wants to run with a porsche here. I don't get it. Granted, the twisties are fun alone, but it'd be so much more if I were chasing someone or being chased. I did get an out of towner in a Jetta today (that's all I know about the car) but I'll save that for a thread.

[neo the hacker]

never give respect to the hondas, you can strap a rocket to a shopping trolly and it will fly, but would you buy it?

[xveganxcowboyx]

We'll see how much I can really afford to put into this car. Forced induction is my choice (though I had 2 turbo cars blow up on me recently), but I'm trying to save for school in spain sooooo...... Whatever I do I think I'd like to do it to this car unless some great deal comes along. I love everything else about the car. I was thinking about what it would take to turbo it. I assume the 2 engines are roughly the same w/ the turbo being built more. I searched some threads and the consensus seems to be just sell an N/A and buy a turbo.

I've had the same problem with no one wanting to run. I think their all intimidated by the high class brand. These guys were serious so they either knew they could take me or wanted to test their toys on a porsche. Either way they did a good job.

And when you get your ass handed to you you've got to give respect. Especially is someone can do it in an econo-box. I had a honda as my first car. (mom gave it to me at 15). They are not fast. Obviously both were swapped and turbo'd. I certainly wouldn't drive the honda. The 240 on the other hand......

Hopefully a will get to see what these guys are running. If my friend can dig out the guys sales records from his store I'll have all his contact info. I really want to get a peak under the hood of that 240. As I said to my friend, you know a car has power when it accelerates from 90 without dropping gears and the car rocks backwards.

[ouz12]

I dont know. Youve still got one of the finest handling cars ever made. Respect is one thing, quality is another. I'm severely impressed...Im still cleaning out the ^$&&!!! fuel tank on this thing, ('85 944 NA) but The engineering that has gone into the Porsche alone makes it worth the while in my mind. Ive built rice-rockets for several years - and theres things like, VS the 280 - yea-the '77 280 im building will probably have ~ 275 Hp when Im done on a 2700 Lb frame...and it will most likely smoke the crap out of most...*most* of the Porsche's out there- and I will have added that extra 105 HP for the fraction of the cost I would have to pay to do the porsche that way - but I also know - there's 8 bolts holding my rear together on the 280 - -and there 24 on the Porsche. Little thing like that might be a pain in the A$$ to pull apart, but when theyre tuned to deliver 100% balanced power in the turns - well, that's where it's at for real road-handling/racing, isnt it? Porsche knew what they were doing. Ive got 2 buddies that would do a blow-by airflow disassembly of those Honda's - and very few can beat them in the straight-away ( both 750+HP,Nitro, doing mid 9's in the 1/4, big block mashers) - neither one can follow me through a turn with any respect,and without cussing me out. Maybe the 944 wont have enough HP,when Im done, and- maybe I know I'll want more power- but for now - there's always a bigger dog that can hand you your hiney......

[xveganxcowboyx]

It's true. I really love the porsche for that. I just want more power too. i really shouldn't complain, because I've gotten 2 1/2 out of the cheap, fast, reliable, pick two phrase. The handling is half of the performance aspect and until I win the lotto I should be reasonable. I've got more with this car than I have with any other car. I just get jealous. And of course I miss the sound of a blow off valve.

[neo the hacker]

Come on boys, you have that badge on the front that says you have one of stuttgards finest? you dont need anything else.

[xveganxcowboyx]

Lets not get cocky now. LOL I love my Porsche and I do strut a little more knowing I've got that beautiful badge on the front, but if someone else can out perform you they definetly deserve props. Lets not be brand nazis. (no pun intended)

[neo the hacker]

Some of my friends have merc 300ce coupes, ford RS cosworths, Sunny pulsar GTIRs, their all faster, but where they gonna be in 20yrs time? rotten in my local scrap yard, whilst my galvanised beauty will be on my drive looking beautiful in the sunshine. No substitute for quality.

[ouz12]

I was riding next to an acura today - dont know what kind of acura- some sporty lookin coupe thing with a spanky muffler.So I gassed it. He laughed at me and gunned it, but I passed him back easily- before I knew it we were doing 90 in a 35 and he could not catch me. BUT there was a school zone, so I decided to slow down - he flew the bird at me and laughed - mouthing "Sucker" as he passed ---Like I said - dont know what kind of Acura-Im not into Acuras....with Spanky mufflers...here's the catch.......................



I was driving my tahoe.


Sure he would have crushed me in the turns, but - at 6,900 Lbs, 7-1/2 cylinders firing ..and I smoked him in the light to light......IM not complaining. Unfortunately - last year when I was thinking about a Porsche- It was cause I had raced a Box-ter on the 440 loop, and he smoked me. My poor tahoe couldn't do it.

[Cbass]

I wouldn't be so quick to rag on imports, especially not once they've been modified. Honda has done some impressive cylinder head work, and any tuner worth their salt will look at a good head, and say "damn, that's a good head." Of course, then they go and stick them on these tiny little 1.8 liter engines... Despite that, a 1.8 liter engine can still make 400hp if you feed it enough boost and spin it fast enough. Say what you will, 400hp in a 2500lb car is fast, whether it's the front wheels or the rear wheels being driven.

If you really feel the need for speed, a 951 is the obvious choice. A 240SX is a good bet, albeit not as well built. Then again, it has multilink rear suspension, a DOHC head and a much larger, cheaper aftermarket. Tuning the cars has become a fad though, so I wouldn't really want to.

[xveganxcowboyx]

You're definetly right, but I take the deals as they come. I'm probably leaving the country next summer and I can't drive the porsche in the winter so I really should just enjoy what I've got. I got a lot for 2K!

If it turns out I stay here I would think about a 951. I'd probably have enough money to pick one up without having to sell my 944 first.

I'd also think about a 240, but I don't think I'd ever getting around to swapping it. (screw that sr20 bullshit, 2.6 is where it's at!) I've heard they get good results on the stock ka block w/turbo, but it's so much easier to start with an engine already built for boost.

Plus I may end up in new zealand which means fast cars for cheap. I can hold off my car dreams till then. Maybe an r33 skyline...............

[AC_A340-500]

Originally Posted by xveganxcowboyx

I was cruising out of saint paul to go to my grand parents cabin tonight when a crew of four "ricers" passed me about 25 minutes outside of the city. I stuck with them for a while just watching their highway antics. I decided to cruise up the line of them to get a better look. Civic, 240, integra, civic. I noticed the wing on the 240 though and realised it was the same one I had been admiring at my buddy's computer shop earlier today. I remembered a boost gauge, AF gauge and controller, and a big polished intercooler. I don't think he recognised me, but he did look.

I proceeded to the front of the line and was cruising next to an older white civic. It had a real metalic sounding exhaust and I couldn't figure out why a nice 240 was hanging out with all these "sad hondas." He started creeping forward then dropped gears and took off from about 75 mph. When I say took off, I mean took off! I dropped gears also, but a little late as I was startled by a loud "pssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh" as he downshifted. I was able to keep up pretty well, but he took a 1.5-2 car lead on his start and pulled another 1 or 2 away up to what was probably 110 mph or more. (my speedo is broke, but pretty fast)

We got next to each other and rolled down our windows. He gave me a thumbs up. I tried to talk to him, but I guess he thought I said go or something, because he took off. I downshifted and tried to compete, but the 240 blew by at the same time. I gave up and just watched the 2 of them play for a minute. I then caught up to them and tried to talk to the 240 driver. I'd been wanting to see under the hood of that thing since it pulled up in the parking lot earlier today. He just smiled and took off with a "grrrrrrr psssssssstttttt!" I just watched them for the next miule or two until they pulled off, but I was in a hurry so I had to keep going. Plus I felt a little humiliated. Stomped by a civic.





When I bought my 85 944 I knew it was never going to be an amazing drag racer, but I really feel the need for more power after tonight. I think I need to look into a turbo. This NA stuff just ain't cuttin' it! I definetly got taught some respect for the hondas.

Big deal. You have better brakes, and a perfectly tuned suspension. I'd take that over 100 extra horsepower any day.

[Cbass]

The SR20DET is a good swap all around, it's compact, light, has a good aftermarket and makes pretty good power stock. With injector upgrades, a newer ball bearing turbocharger, etc, you can have 300hp at the rear wheels with virtually no lag.

The KA24DE is a good bet for turbocharging as well, stock internals have been proven strong enough to withstand 300hp, which is impressive considering it's a naturally aspirated engine never designed to see more than 200hp. The extra displacement is nice, but it means you have to go to a good deal more trouble building the engine, sourcing all the parts, etc.

The RB25DET swap is a good one as well, but it is fairly heavy. Still, it's been proven to be a strong motor, with various tuners pushing them past 500hp.

I give Nissan respect in that they build strong engines, and they've always offered fairly cheap decent performing sports cars, ever since the early 60s, and they've always raced them, often with great success.

I hate to admit it, but I'm considering a Nissan VQ35DE swap for my 924, as with bit of headwork and some cams it would make more than 300hp, naturally aspirated and with good low end torque, on pump gas. I have to run my 924 on 94 octane gas, it is somewhat lacking in low end torque, and I'm making at best 150hp. The sad thing is, I'd probably get better fuel economy with the EFI 3.5 liter engine running on lower octane gas...

I agree with AC_A340-500 100%, power is no substitute for handling. Besides, that Honda's engine is pointing the wrong way! On the other hand, if you take a car that is already superb handling such as a 924 or a 944, and swap in a modern powerful engine, you have a formula for success.

[xveganxcowboyx]

Wow, the vq 3.5 would fit in the 924? That's impressive. I'd be interested in the details of that swap.

I definetly have a lot of respect for nissan. Great cars all around. The VQ engines are great too. I'm not sure about the 3.5, but the 3.0 has a super charger kit available and apparently holds up well. Mileage should be low 20's city and mid-high 20's highway. In a lighter car you may do even better. Every time they increased size they either got the same or better mileage.

My favorite car in my short car history has been my 92 Maxima se 5-spd. RIP. Pretty rare combo as the VE engine (platform for the VQ) was only available 92-94 and 5-spd was not a common option. Damn thing was a luxury tank with plenty of performance and good economy. Looked good too. Only drawback was the (just like that damn civic) sideways engine. LSD stock though.....

I've always thought the RB25DET was the best swap for the 240. It costs less than the sr20det and has better, easier power gains. Any swapped 240 has potential though.