Should i drive him to the "Ring".....?

[Ex Skyline]

Can't make up my mind whether to drive my Turbo to the Nurburgring 24hr Rennen in May? Iv'e never driven him on any long runs before, the farthest being Brighton-Bournemouth. My mate and his friend are going in his 996 so, therefore, I would naturally like to go in my 944. I don't want to be pesimistic but, I keep having thoughts about being broken down by the side of a Belgian Motorway[]. There is no rhyme or reason for me having these thought's as the Turbo goes like a rocket and pulls like a train, with no knocks,rattles or bangs. I am thinking about going in my VW T4 2.5 Tdi. HELP!! What say you all?

 

[T3rra]

Do a few long journey in the up 1st build up some confedance and blow away them fears, most 944 drive hundreds of miles home when brought 2 play up the next day.

Iv done some pretty long jourenys in mine 3/4 hour driving oneway. Tempting fate, without a spear wheel or tools

 

[simkin911]

Didn't the previous owner drive it from Scotland to you ? And since then you've spent a load on it? Don't think twice I'd say. Go for it.

 

[MartinRS2K]

Drive it, make sure you do all your normal checks before you leave and carry spare bulbs etc.

We are doing the Dinslaken trip in May (1300 miles in a week) and its no worse than doing it in a modern car []

 

[Ex Skyline]

ORIGINAL: simkin911

Didn't the previous owner drive it from Scotland to you ? And since then you've spent a load on it? Don't think twice I'd say. Go for it.

Yes, it was driven from Dundee to Brighton without any problems at all and, since then iv'e done about 500 miles (in eighteen months) and, spent about 4k with Mr Mitchell (who is coming with me to the "Ring"by the way)[]. And, each time i do drive it, he sounds and drives fantastic [8D]. I just kep worrying it will go Bang when i don't want him to. Decisions,decisions.[]

 

[Hilux]

Thrashed mine on German Autobahns and travelled Northern Europe

If it breaks it breaks, most likely is hoses and electrics

Same as on a track, it goes and goes or it doesnt, whan you are following them in your T5 you`ll regret it big time

Good recovery/repair cover and off you go - enjoy and good luck

 

[Copperman05]

Of course you should! Mines been the Scotland twice, Le Mans twice, down to st tropez via Swiss Alps, it's what the cars were made for, they are pretty robust really, track days are probably harder on the cars than long hoons on motorways.


Edd

 

[GlennS]

These cars aren't simpering little driveway queens. They're relatively modern cars which handle huge distances with ease. I do 10,000 a year in mine (and it isn't my day car) trundling all around the country to race tracks. It has never let me down. Why would the short hop over to the Nurburgring phase your car in the slightest?

 

[MarkK]

Been to the Ring and Spa a few times in mine just get ADAC cover and enjoy,just don't stuff it on the ring then your trouble would really start..

 

[MartinRS2K]

ORIGINAL: Ex Skyline

Yes, it was driven from Dundee to Brighton without any problems at all and, since then iv'e done about 500 miles (in eighteen months) and, spent about 4k with Mr Mitchell (who is coming with me to the "Ring"by the way)[]. And, each time i do drive it, he sounds and drives fantastic [8D]. I just kep worrying it will go Bang when i don't want him to. Decisions,decisions.[]

If Mr. Mitchell is coming you've got your own repair service with you all be way []

 

[George Elliott]

You can bring your mate back home when his 996 briggs and stratton goes bang.

Join the AA?

I have put around 80,000 miles on 951's over the past 10 years and never had a breakdown on a journey. (have had a 3 year old A4 leave me on the side of the road in that time)

good luck

George
944t

 

[andy watson]

Pete,

Just get breakdown cover and go!

Yobo or any other car can breakdown

 

[edh]

There's no question - you must take it. Why bother with a 944 if you don't drive it on trips like that?

Definitely join ADAC - only 79 euros (and will even recover from the Nordschleife)
I even use them for my UK cover...

But it's the sort of trip that a 944 eats up - I don't see any reason to worry.

Mind you I did have a problem at the 'ring one year - broke a bottom mount on a rear damper. Still drove it back home, it was just a bit "interesting" over bumps, particularly over the tank road to Eupen [:-]

 

[DarrylH]

I'm taking mine to the ring in August and plan to get cover and take a few tools, half expecting it to brake but have no real reason other than "because it's old" lol

 

[Frenchy]

The old 220 has been to Le Mans numerous times and a trip around Germany it was as good as gold, Black car has also done LM and is off to Dinslaken in May, as said the usual checks a small toolkit for piece of mind fill her up go enjoy.

 

[Bob]

Mine has been to southern France several times and all around the British Isles without ever letting me down. A quick jaunt over to northern Germany is nothing for a well maintained car and IIRC yours is looked after by a known specialist.

Why are you worried about it breaking down, is there anything else wrong with it???

 

[Joss Walker]

Hopefully you feel suitably rebuked?

I guess you could go in a Diesel VW but what would you then do when you were there? Drive the VW thinking of the 944 and how much better it would have been?

 

[ChasR]

Maybe this story will encourage you to take the Turbo .

A couple of years ago a few friends and I decided to go to the 'Ring. Our choices of cars were a Honda S2000, Jaguar XJS V12, Volvo C70 GT and my Peugeot 205 GTi.

Out of all of the cars, the 205, the S2000 and even the Jag for the best part were pretty trouble free. The Volvo decided it would melt its wiring loom yards before we hit the hotel. But even that car would live to see the 'Ring thanks to some surreal determination on my friend's part! The Jag did get close to overheating at times but it was fine . The 205 really did show IMO that the wives' tales about French cars, mileage etc. were not necessarily true (at the time of the trip it had 170,000 miles on the clock and I had only really finished getting the car ready for the 'Ring (suspension refresh, and engine service) a day before I set off)!

I enjoyed that so much that I took the car to Spa the following year, where again the car performed without a hitch! Strangely it has given me more issues (fuel pump relay dying, hazard relay sticking, window holder breaking and distributor seizing its weights inside) once I stopped driving the car on a regular basis (read not touching it for over 3 months!) and only a few miles from home every time!

 

[Diver944]

When my Turbo was almost standard it toured Germany, did two Ring trips, circa 40 track days, several Le Mans trips, several family visits to Scotland and over 50,000 trouble free miles commuting back and forth to work.

These cars are pretty much bullet proof if you maintain them sensibly, it's why I've driven nothing else for the past 15 years we won't mention the family Clio and the works van []

 

[zcacogp]

Pete,

If you take a Diseasel VW Van instead of your 944 on a trip to the Nurburgring then I shall personally ask McNulters to revoke your login on here.

That's all.


Oli.