First mod - down the slope I go?
10-11-2006, 07:39 PM
#16
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Another vote for getting the suspension done. You dont need to swap out the sways or anything else; Bilstein HDs and M030 springs will suit you fine (actually more than fine as you will see!). You will need to factor in the cost of correct setup post installation (alignment and corner balancing) so ask a few local shops about the cost of that. As for the gear itself - try the usual suspects if you like but I'd put Gert @ Carnewal at the top of the list.
I installed the HDs and springs myself and had them aligned and balanced by a shop. I had 47k on my car when I took out the oem stuff - I could open & close the oem shocks with little or no effort with my hands - they were that bad!!
Good luck..
I installed the HDs and springs myself and had them aligned and balanced by a shop. I had 47k on my car when I took out the oem stuff - I could open & close the oem shocks with little or no effort with my hands - they were that bad!!
Good luck..
10-11-2006, 07:40 PM
#17
Race Car
Originally Posted by 97_993C2
Greg/Chris
You both mentioned safety issues. My car only has 32K miles so I am pretty sure the shocks are the originals. The mechanic who performed the PPI certainly didn't say anything about them. The ride seems pretty solid to my untrained butt, but then I haven't really pushed my car. Should I be switching out my shocks for safety concerns? Should I be considering other pieces if they are in there already? I still don't plan to race my car, but I am sure participating in DEs will take my car beyond anything I do in day to day driving.
Dan
You both mentioned safety issues. My car only has 32K miles so I am pretty sure the shocks are the originals. The mechanic who performed the PPI certainly didn't say anything about them. The ride seems pretty solid to my untrained butt, but then I haven't really pushed my car. Should I be switching out my shocks for safety concerns? Should I be considering other pieces if they are in there already? I still don't plan to race my car, but I am sure participating in DEs will take my car beyond anything I do in day to day driving.
Dan
IMHO enough said. If you feel comfortable with the way it feels, drive it first....learn the car. If you get to the track and it begins to feel unsafe at high speed, then promptly come back and replace the shocks with whatever your budget will allow. If on the other hand it feels okay at high speeds, and you are a driver coming out of a .......honda lets say, then suspension upgrades will be more dangerous than the stock setup. You NEED to learn the characteristics of the car FIRST. When you get to the point that you drive like a scalded dog and come out of every turn in a controlled 4 wheel drift, THEN you will be ready to know what it is you need to tighten you (the car) back up, which will take you to hopefully a higher driving level.
Up until recently, I drove my 100K miles car at the track on STOCK green crap. But I drove the SH*T out of the car while out there and decided I wanted a little more. Now I am back to square one trying to figure out how to really set the car up. It handled better with the stock, but in due time I will get it. My race experience allows me to understand what feels "right" and "wrong". If you have no experience on track, you don't know what's right/wrong. And the last thing you need during a DE as a newbie, is "why isn't my car handling?". You'll spend more time worrying about the wrong issues (the car) instead of the "operator".
Just my .02 cents, but I see it all the time. Learn to crawl before spending money on trying to run.
10-11-2006, 09:01 PM
#18
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Adrienne,
I'm in Granbury. I'm hoping there will be some DEs at Motorsport Ranch since it is just up the road from me. BTW do you know anything about Marc Wein and International Sports Cars? I think he is somewhere around Austin. It looked like he had some nice cars but nothing I liked that I could afford.
Dan
I'm in Granbury. I'm hoping there will be some DEs at Motorsport Ranch since it is just up the road from me. BTW do you know anything about Marc Wein and International Sports Cars? I think he is somewhere around Austin. It looked like he had some nice cars but nothing I liked that I could afford.
Dan
10-11-2006, 09:34 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by 97_993C2
BTW do you know anything about Marc Wein and International Sports Cars?
This Marc Wein? He tried to buy a car from me a while ago. Didn't get any warm and fuzzy feelings so I did some research...
http://sec.gov/litigation/admin/34-50288.htm
10-12-2006, 02:06 AM
#22
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Originally Posted by 993inNC
If the shocks aren't leaking, doesn't necessarily mean they are good. But you state that to YOU it feels solid.
IMHO enough said. If you feel comfortable with the way it feels, drive it first....learn the car. If you get to the track and it begins to feel unsafe at high speed, then promptly come back and replace the shocks with whatever your budget will allow. If on the other hand it feels okay at high speeds, and you are a driver coming out of a .......honda lets say, then suspension upgrades will be more dangerous than the stock setup. You NEED to learn the characteristics of the car FIRST. When you get to the point that you drive like a scalded dog and come out of every turn in a controlled 4 wheel drift, THEN you will be ready to know what it is you need to tighten you (the car) back up, which will take you to hopefully a higher driving level.
Up until recently, I drove my 100K miles car at the track on STOCK green crap. But I drove the SH*T out of the car while out there and decided I wanted a little more. Now I am back to square one trying to figure out how to really set the car up. It handled better with the stock, but in due time I will get it. My race experience allows me to understand what feels "right" and "wrong". If you have no experience on track, you don't know what's right/wrong. And the last thing you need during a DE as a newbie, is "why isn't my car handling?". You'll spend more time worrying about the wrong issues (the car) instead of the "operator".
...
IMHO enough said. If you feel comfortable with the way it feels, drive it first....learn the car. If you get to the track and it begins to feel unsafe at high speed, then promptly come back and replace the shocks with whatever your budget will allow. If on the other hand it feels okay at high speeds, and you are a driver coming out of a .......honda lets say, then suspension upgrades will be more dangerous than the stock setup. You NEED to learn the characteristics of the car FIRST. When you get to the point that you drive like a scalded dog and come out of every turn in a controlled 4 wheel drift, THEN you will be ready to know what it is you need to tighten you (the car) back up, which will take you to hopefully a higher driving level.
Up until recently, I drove my 100K miles car at the track on STOCK green crap. But I drove the SH*T out of the car while out there and decided I wanted a little more. Now I am back to square one trying to figure out how to really set the car up. It handled better with the stock, but in due time I will get it. My race experience allows me to understand what feels "right" and "wrong". If you have no experience on track, you don't know what's right/wrong. And the last thing you need during a DE as a newbie, is "why isn't my car handling?". You'll spend more time worrying about the wrong issues (the car) instead of the "operator".
...
Still, I don't think this is at all Dan's point. He wants to mod the car for the reason so many of us do: to add a "personal" touch so we can feel more like it's "our" car. Nothing wrong with that in my book. So if an improved suspension will improve the look (lower ride height), improve his daily ride, and make him feel more "connected" to the road, then it's a good move. Lap times or driving prowess did not appear to be his stated concern. And let's face it, we all just want to enjoy the car. Anyway, that's how I read it.
Edward
10-12-2006, 02:20 AM
#23
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ok,
so you wanna spend some money? right.
regear the transmission........but if you really want to go for BIG.......do what Greg has in his "new" car.
1st gear you almost break the speed limit....2nd gear.....you get a nice ticket, and 3rd gear......there goes your DL.............I am sure Greg will chime in on this.....LOL
def redo your suspension if its still stock. pss9 is always a fav...or ROW ......with HD shocks.
this should set you back close to 10k with install...................still wanna play?......
so you wanna spend some money? right.
regear the transmission........but if you really want to go for BIG.......do what Greg has in his "new" car.
1st gear you almost break the speed limit....2nd gear.....you get a nice ticket, and 3rd gear......there goes your DL.............I am sure Greg will chime in on this.....LOL
def redo your suspension if its still stock. pss9 is always a fav...or ROW ......with HD shocks.
this should set you back close to 10k with install...................still wanna play?......
10-12-2006, 02:25 AM
#24
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As a really good first mod, I would reccomend RSR mufflers, not expensive, easy to do, great improvement on audible driving feedback without going overboard. Also drill out your air box, costs nothing and really works. After this do the ROW M30.
Omilu
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10-12-2006, 08:05 AM
#25
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Spot on! The best investment you can make is always in yourself!
Originally Posted by 993inNC
Dan,
As a new owner, take advise from someone you could run into at a track.....an instructor (me
). Unless you have plenty of seat time in a 911 or any other car as it applies to track time, suspension mods are a waste of your money. Only replace it as a saftey issue. It is WAY more important that you spend your money on track time. I used to "spank" the fields I ran with, on wore out suspension, only being passed by faster cars, because I know how to drive. Having said that, if the change is for safety, go with the ROW setu, it will be more than enough for you to get to know the car. Which is where I'm going with this. Learn the car's baseline before "mod" ing it up. Tires will be a worthwhile investment and a second set of rims. The wing and splitters DO come in handy beleive it or not (certain restrictions apply).
If nothing elese, just be safe with the car, and it'll be a blast
Oh and welcome to Renn
As a new owner, take advise from someone you could run into at a track.....an instructor (me
). Unless you have plenty of seat time in a 911 or any other car as it applies to track time, suspension mods are a waste of your money. Only replace it as a saftey issue. It is WAY more important that you spend your money on track time. I used to "spank" the fields I ran with, on wore out suspension, only being passed by faster cars, because I know how to drive. Having said that, if the change is for safety, go with the ROW setu, it will be more than enough for you to get to know the car. Which is where I'm going with this. Learn the car's baseline before "mod" ing it up. Tires will be a worthwhile investment and a second set of rims. The wing and splitters DO come in handy beleive it or not (certain restrictions apply).If nothing elese, just be safe with the car, and it'll be a blast
Oh and welcome to Renn
10-12-2006, 11:33 AM
#26
Race Car
Originally Posted by Edward
I agree with everything you say here. As a matter of fact, I drove my car for 3 years (daily driver AND timtrial events) before I finally got the PSS9s on, and that was finally at about 80K miles! I *knew* the boingers were shot since I bought her, but figured I'm the slowest part of the equation so didn't worry a whit about upgrading the suspension (and being fiscally challenged helped restrain me as well).
Still, I don't think this is at all Dan's point. He wants to mod the car for the reason so many of us do: to add a "personal" touch so we can feel more like it's "our" car. Nothing wrong with that in my book. So if an improved suspension will improve the look (lower ride height), improve his daily ride, and make him feel more "connected" to the road, then it's a good move. Lap times or driving prowess did not appear to be his stated concern. And let's face it, we all just want to enjoy the car. Anyway, that's how I read it.
Edward
Still, I don't think this is at all Dan's point. He wants to mod the car for the reason so many of us do: to add a "personal" touch so we can feel more like it's "our" car. Nothing wrong with that in my book. So if an improved suspension will improve the look (lower ride height), improve his daily ride, and make him feel more "connected" to the road, then it's a good move. Lap times or driving prowess did not appear to be his stated concern. And let's face it, we all just want to enjoy the car. Anyway, that's how I read it.
Edward
) with what you say too. But if he has no clue what the car is supposed to do, he'll be a great danger on the track. I'm not saying don't mod up.......just all in due time. He's only had the thing 2 months and probably isn't familiar with its "driving" characteristics (damn another hard one). One or two times on track and he or his instructor (hopefully) will know if it needs something.
10-12-2006, 11:48 AM
#27
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Originally Posted by 97_993C2
I bought a bone-stock 97 C2 with the intention of using it as a daily driver and keeping it stock.
1. Color changed the interior from blue to black.
2. Three spoke steering wheel
3. Bird armrest.
4. Bilstein HD shocks.
5. ROW M030 Springs and Sway Bars.
6. Front Protection Bar.
7. Motor Sound Airbox.
8. Supercup Exhaust.
9. Manual Oil Cooler Fan Switch
10. Boot on Tiptronic Shifter
11. Hard Back Sports Seats
12. HID Headlights
13. DSP Amp and Control Unit
14. Becker CD-220 Radio w/ iPod connection
15. Turbo Front Bumper (Euro)
16. Clear Front Lights
17. Red Caliper Mod
18. Front Protective Cover
19. Rennline Dead Pedal
20. Silver Hood Crest
Good luck.....
10-12-2006, 12:05 PM
#28
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Originally Posted by 97_993C2
Adrienne,
I'm in Granbury. I'm hoping there will be some DEs at Motorsport Ranch since it is just up the road from me. BTW do you know anything about Marc Wein and International Sports Cars? I think he is somewhere around Austin. It looked like he had some nice cars but nothing I liked that I could afford.
Dan
I'm in Granbury. I'm hoping there will be some DEs at Motorsport Ranch since it is just up the road from me. BTW do you know anything about Marc Wein and International Sports Cars? I think he is somewhere around Austin. It looked like he had some nice cars but nothing I liked that I could afford.
Dan
Yes, I know Marc Wein, and his SEC fame. I just spoke with him yesterday. He is active with the local Porsche Club, and so far he has not done anything to indicate dishonesty. Hey, maybe he learned from his mistakes, I dunno.
10-12-2006, 12:12 PM
#29
Race Car
Originally Posted by TomF
There is no "gotta keep up with the Joneses" attitude here about mods...
Mike
10-12-2006, 07:24 PM
#30
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Thanks for all of the great input. Remember I said have no current plans ( I reserve the right to change my mind at any future date ) to race/track my car so I am not trying to figure out how to optimally "set up" my car yet. I would like to improve my driving skills so that I can enjoy my car more fully. When I participate in DEs I assume/hope I will be pushing my car harder than when daily driving. I just thought upgrading my suspension to a more "sporty" one would improve my daily and DE driving experience. It appears that the stock system will be adequate for my current plans - unless it is in danger of failing?
Adrienne, I didn't mean to pass judgment on Marc earlier. I only talked to him once on the phone and he seemed like a nice guy and a knowledgeable Porsche enthusiast. He also knew his competition in Houston, Ray (RPM) and Robert (Victory), and his assessment of their cars turned out to be spot on when I went down to look at them. Marc got his website , www.intlsportscars.com , up shortly after I talked to him. None of his cars interested me except the Artic Silver C2S, which was out of my price range, so I never went to see his cars in person to see how accurate his assesment of his own cars was.
Tony told me he was planning to be at MSR also but he didn't know what day. If he does let me know, I will get up there so I can get to meet both of you and dispel any notion that I am as flakey as my posts make me sound... or maybe not.
Dan
Adrienne, I didn't mean to pass judgment on Marc earlier. I only talked to him once on the phone and he seemed like a nice guy and a knowledgeable Porsche enthusiast. He also knew his competition in Houston, Ray (RPM) and Robert (Victory), and his assessment of their cars turned out to be spot on when I went down to look at them. Marc got his website , www.intlsportscars.com , up shortly after I talked to him. None of his cars interested me except the Artic Silver C2S, which was out of my price range, so I never went to see his cars in person to see how accurate his assesment of his own cars was.
Tony told me he was planning to be at MSR also but he didn't know what day. If he does let me know, I will get up there so I can get to meet both of you and dispel any notion that I am as flakey as my posts make me sound... or maybe not.
Dan