Engine Placement
08-24-2012, 09:43 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Engine Placement
When racing, do you prefer front or rear mounted?
08-24-2012, 09:55 PM
#2
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each has its advantages/disadvatages. I like the 944 series because they handle very well, are very tossable, easy to catch and the entry price and maintenance is cheap. I would love to race a 911 at some point but not sure i'll ever be able to justify the cost to the wife.
08-24-2012, 09:58 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
each has its advantages/disadvatages. I like the 944 series because they handle very well, are very tossable, easy to catch and the entry price and maintenance is cheap. I would love to race a 911 at some point but not sure i'll ever be able to justify the cost to the wife.
08-24-2012, 10:23 PM
#4
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08-24-2012, 10:36 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
VR, will this help the tequila go down easier? 
08-25-2012, 10:20 AM
#7
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So many jokes with this quote and photo, but we're in mixed company....
The 944's back end will get a little loose on hard braking corners as there is no weight expect for fuel in the rear and all the other weight shifts forward and then there is the fact it has no ABS, otherwise, its a very well balance car. 911 is a little different to drive, but when you get it, it's very satisfying.
I think budget will dictate more than where the engine is placed quite frankly.
The 944's back end will get a little loose on hard braking corners as there is no weight expect for fuel in the rear and all the other weight shifts forward and then there is the fact it has no ABS, otherwise, its a very well balance car. 911 is a little different to drive, but when you get it, it's very satisfying.
I think budget will dictate more than where the engine is placed quite frankly.
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08-25-2012, 10:23 AM
#8
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08-25-2012, 11:16 AM
#9
I started out with front-engine/FWD and then moved to rear engine/RWD. Still race both today. I will tell you from my experience, once you get comfortable with the physics of racing and car control, the rear-engine/RWD is a better option - but harder to drive 10/10ths. There always seems to be more available. I was reviewing video last night of my last race where I was pushing 1.45 lateral g's in the corners on Pirelli slicks. I know with Pirellis I have seen consistent 1.6 - 1.7 lateral g's - but on Laguna Seca. Doesn't mean on the track I was reviewing that the surface and the banking will allow those, but it helps me figure out if I am really pushing as hard as the car will go (or if I need to). I don't always have to run on the edge as I base it on the competition or if I am hankering for a track record.
With front-engine/FWD, I treat it as a momentum car - minimal braking or using throttle snap oversteer to rotate the car earlier through the corner and maintaining mid-corner speed. I do get some throttle push on exit if I am pushing to hard on exit - so you can't just mash the throttle.
With rear-engine/RWD you have to modulate the throttle a lot more to get the weight transfer into the rear wheels for traction through the corners. Once you feel it "hook-up" it feels great and feels like you are "carving" the corner (like skiing or snowboarding).
With front-engine/FWD, I treat it as a momentum car - minimal braking or using throttle snap oversteer to rotate the car earlier through the corner and maintaining mid-corner speed. I do get some throttle push on exit if I am pushing to hard on exit - so you can't just mash the throttle.
With rear-engine/RWD you have to modulate the throttle a lot more to get the weight transfer into the rear wheels for traction through the corners. Once you feel it "hook-up" it feels great and feels like you are "carving" the corner (like skiing or snowboarding).
08-25-2012, 11:56 AM
#10
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Thread Starter
Will need to confer with VR
The 944's back end will get a little loose on hard braking corners as there is no weight expect for fuel in the rear and all the other weight shifts forward and then there is the fact it has no ABS, otherwise, its a very well balance car. 911 is a little different to drive, but when you get it, it's very satisfying.
I think budget will dictate more than where the engine is placed quite frankly.
I know a car should be as lite as possible, but has anyone tried putting weights in the back of a 944?
Tracked a 997S and LOVED it 
Supra Turbo is squirrelier than a cat.
The 944's back end will get a little loose on hard braking corners as there is no weight expect for fuel in the rear and all the other weight shifts forward and then there is the fact it has no ABS, otherwise, its a very well balance car. 911 is a little different to drive, but when you get it, it's very satisfying.
I think budget will dictate more than where the engine is placed quite frankly.
I started out with front-engine/FWD and then moved to rear engine/RWD. Still race both today. I will tell you from my experience, once you get comfortable with the physics of racing and car control, the rear-engine/RWD is a better option - but harder to drive 10/10ths. There always seems to be more available. I was reviewing video last night of my last race where I was pushing 1.45 lateral g's in the corners on Pirelli slicks. I know with Pirellis I have seen consistent 1.6 - 1.7 lateral g's - but on Laguna Seca. Doesn't mean on the track I was reviewing that the surface and the banking will allow those, but it helps me figure out if I am really pushing as hard as the car will go (or if I need to). I don't always have to run on the edge as I base it on the competition or if I am hankering for a track record.
With front-engine/FWD, I treat it as a momentum car - minimal braking or using throttle snap oversteer to rotate the car earlier through the corner and maintaining mid-corner speed. I do get some throttle push on exit if I am pushing to hard on exit - so you can't just mash the throttle.
With rear-engine/RWD you have to modulate the throttle a lot more to get the weight transfer into the rear wheels for traction through the corners. Once you feel it "hook-up" it feels great and feels like you are "carving" the corner (like skiing or snowboarding).
With front-engine/FWD, I treat it as a momentum car - minimal braking or using throttle snap oversteer to rotate the car earlier through the corner and maintaining mid-corner speed. I do get some throttle push on exit if I am pushing to hard on exit - so you can't just mash the throttle.
With rear-engine/RWD you have to modulate the throttle a lot more to get the weight transfer into the rear wheels for traction through the corners. Once you feel it "hook-up" it feels great and feels like you are "carving" the corner (like skiing or snowboarding).
Supra Turbo is squirrelier than a cat.
08-25-2012, 10:17 PM
#12
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Thread Starter
Got it 
08-26-2012, 06:39 PM
#14
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Karen, some people run their cool suit cooler in the rear spare tire well to get more weight back there.