Capricorn Engineering.

[Ex Skyline]

Thanks for the comments guys. May not have a lot of choice in the matter. Seems like nobody likes/wants to buy 944's anyhow [8|]. I mean, Edd aint sold his S2 yet after a few weeks and that's quite a pretty little car. Iv'e seen it in the metal and, it's not bad. Are people becoming less interested in our cars??

 

[John Sims]

I raced a Westfield for 5 years and used in on the road for a good few years prior to that. It was superb on a dry track and, on a track day, would lap Brands Indy faster than anything else on the day. However, it was a scary as a scary thing in traffic and, even on a mixed track day, you were way to vulnerable. In the wet it was no fun at all as right hand bends would just launch more cold water into your groin region displacing any water previously warmed. There was always something which needed fixing, or modifying, or both.

If you have a Seven itch, hire one. They are fun to own but not fun enough to make up for all of their down sides. As noted, they are plain frightening on the road and, while fantastically quick, as soon as you arrive behind another vehicle even a mini becomes the equivalent of an enclosed Transit Van as you are too low to see through it to overtake.

If you have an accident with another vehicle you will, most likely, die.

I agree with other points above, and have come to the same conclusion - You can't get enough for 944 to warrant selling it so just keep it and fix/maintain it as needed. It doesn't have to be the quickest thing in the county to still be fun. If you let it it will eat money faster than you can throw it at it, and still not be worth selling. Enjoy it for what it is.

There is a great deal to be said for having a car that is worth next to nothing and owes you very little. You can thrash it and enjoy it and, when something bad happens, either accept the subsequent cost or pat it lovingly and move on with a smile knowing you had value for money.

 

[944 man]

My father and my uncle both race 7-esque cars and neither drive them on the road, at all.

 

[Ex Skyline]

You know what,John, George and all the rest of you lot? Thank you for all your comments. Whenever I feel p155ed off and want to sell the '44 Turbo, I come on here and you all manage to talk some sense into me []! I'm going on holiday for a week down to Lulworth Cove today with Sarah and the kids. I think I will call in to see Jon on the way and talk about the next set of mods [8D]!! That will cheer me up no end, throwing my next divi at it [8D][8D]!!! Ok, so where do I hire a 7 from?.....Anyone.....?

 

[MarkK]

Caterham dealers usually rent them out for road use?

 

[edh]

ORIGINAL: John Sims

There is a great deal to be said for having a car that is worth next to nothing and owes you very little. You can thrash it and enjoy it and, when something bad happens, either accept the subsequent cost or pat it lovingly and move on with a smile knowing you had value for money.

I agree - and also tend to think that massive mods to a 944 are a bit pointless. Once you get beyond the low 300's it's a serious case of diminishing returns isn't it?
I have to say though that Mark's red car is one that stands out as an exception - not many other reliable 400hp 944's out there.

 

[MarkK]

[] Yup it has been a good conversion,I have done loads of miles this week,in it can't seem to bring myself to put it away at the minute!,the air con is so powerful in it and the KWs are settup quite soft it makes a really nice suprisingly comfy everyday car.
Did some big motorway hauls in it this month and as long as you tickle it the mpg range is not too bad,start hoofing it and the needle moves more swiftly!
Few tanks of fuel,a slurp of Millers 10/60,and a sunvisor clip are all it has needed.
Thinking of putting silver wheels back on it,gold looks a bit boy-racer according to the mrs[]
I have noticed though a definite reduction in 944s on the road[8|],i hardly see them now,and i really do play "spot the 944",people are look at mine sometimes and i can see from their face they are thinking "what the hell is that!???"
Anyone else noticed they are becoming a bit rarer on the roads?

 

[Andy97]

Book a Track have several Caterham for hire at their track days.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: ed

...... tend to think that massive mods to a 944 are a bit pointless. Once you get beyond the low 300's it's a serious case of diminishing returns isn't it?....

Yes and no. While there is a cost getting to 300 bhp, once there other issues become evident. There is often a level of cost caused by having 300 bhp which involves a number of things which, if you do a little more, would see you to 400 bhp.

Difficult to quantify but if you have a standard 944 and it needs an engine rebuild you might blow the car out and get something else. If however you have already spent several thousand in obtaining 300+, and then need a rebuild, it is less likely you will out the car. A rebuild and a rebore aren't going to cost a great deal more so the extra power is almost free.

 

[MarkK]

The extra 100 bhp to 400bhp is not that easy honest Mr Simms!!Ask Rick!!The red car had well over 300 bhp already,but to get it to 400 on the Rollers of truth lots had to be swapped that had already been upgraded,and more added on top!
The last few horsepower are not easy to get out of a 2.5 reliably,was fun though at the time,just had some value on the way home from work[]

 

[John Sims]

You're obviously right Mark if sticking to 2.5 but, once in the realm of engine rebuilds, it would seem natural to go for an increase in capacity. There is much that can be done with the original lump in place (as per WUF) but, if it comes out, the options are much expanded. As is often stated "There ain't no substitute for cubic inches."

The Rollers of Truth have proved that 400+ 2.5's are exceptionally rare (and the quest for such has brought many tears). 400+ blown 3.0+'s are less so perhaps.

My point was that, once into the mid 300s the engine/car isn't going to keep delivering unless a great deal has already been spent. Odds on, more will need to be spent even to maintain the figure seen on a glory run. I'm sure Beaky isn't producing what he did. PSH has done a spectacular amount to his engine to see strong consistent figures. Rick fought hard with WUF to get 400+ but had the potential for a great deal more with an increase in capacity.

300+ 2.5's often arrive through drip feeding parts and mods onto a less than perfect foundation. The increases will further stretch the engine and, ultimately, money will need to be spent on the core unit. The potential for cost is already there. If you can get mid 300's out of a rough engine, then apply all of that to a well built core unit the figures are going to be higher and stay for longer.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Mark whilst we are all on the subject what was your turbo race car like for consumables costs? compared for example to the 968?

Part of me has always wondered what would my race car be like with a nice turbo engine in there but my sensible head always says it will end up costing to much in use and have knock on consequences with things like the brakes and LSD, driveshafts etc.

 

[MarkK]

If I could go back in time with what I know now I would have reduced the weight of the car as much as possible and turned it into a more focused race car without the comfort items that made it a road car,central locking,electric windows,mirrors,pop up lights etc..having all those bits made the car heavy and it was quite a brake disc muncher,and tyres but that was it really....Not one DNF in the whole season of CSCC future classics plus a handful of sports V saloons and Intermarque races (hour long around Spa and Brands).
It was a lot of fun to do well with a car with number plates and road tax,that pressed my buttons quite a bit!
It was very robust gearbox,diff,driveshafts etc.In the 968 brakes are quite long lasting and can do half a season on a set of discs,tyres are swapped because of heat cycles,the 968 feels more fragile engine and gearbox wise I think,good but more lightly built.The 944 turbo racecar was a tank!

 

[Neil Haughey]

Thanks Mark. The one thing the S2 lacks is power. Now that I finally have a setup on her that works properly the thing has far too much grip/traction to get it loose corner exit. In some respects its a good thing my car was a handful in the past as it was valuable learning. Just feels to me like it would be much more fun with enough power to un-grip the back end, at the moment the limit is will the car oversteer or not on turn in which is not as much fun IMHO. At some point in the future I will have to decide to rebuild the engine or do something different. Want to get properly quick in the car first though, had to go back to CSCC as its the only way I can drive the car regularly on the same tyres and hence get the track time under my belt that I have always lacked (15 days total unbelievably).

 

[edh]

Just drive it in the wet Neil[]

 

[Neil Haughey]

On cups then one can feel what 0 traction is like []. Honestly the Pirelli slicks felt better in the rain IMHO which is a bit perverse when you think about it.

 

[TTM]

I just returned from a 1,200 miles trip in southern France and my 3.0T returned a remarkable average of 28-30mpg. I love sequential fuel injection []

 

[Ex Skyline]

Hi guys, just back from a week's break in Dorset with the "strife and dustbin's" and, it's make yer mind up time [8|]! I have a couple of people interested in the Turbo at 10k. I just can't make my bl00dy mind up!! []!! This is doing my head in!! I have found a few "7's" that fit the bill, all in Black. Two R300's and, One R500. Or, do I build an English "Orca"?? Decisions, decisions.....Don't all rush to your key boards, iv'e gotta sort this one out for myself []. Cheers chaps [].

Pete.

 

[chrismanchr]

this intrests me as i have a poorly s2 and also a spare engine that has the usual band of scores on cylinder no2 ,

how much would it cost to refurb a 3.0 s2 block

 

[Ex Skyline]

Just been out for a blat in the Turbo for a couple of hours and, I must say, it was a terrific couple of hours![8D]! This car flies! And no mistake!! He really does handle like a "Go Cart" too! This has fcuked my head up even more! Mon dieu, oh, Mon Dieu!!![]
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!![]