Is it best to keep stock or mod?

[Frenco99]

Honestly I like my 944 stock ( Guards Red 1988 Porsche 944) I get a lot of attention and positive comments about it, I have phone dials now, but I'm thinking of getting the 17' inch twist wheels. What do you guys think, keep it stock?

[BoulderGeek]

Which will give you greater reliability for your dollar?

And personally, I hate turbo twist wheels. I like the period-appropriate phone dials.

[Tervuren]

I have 17's, 16's, and 15's.

The 17's haven't been on one of my 944's in probably three years +

There is noticeable acceleration loss from rest with the extra tire mass of the heavier lower profile tire. There wass noticeable extra brake pressure required.

The shorter the side wall, the stiffer the tire has to be to support the forces enacted on it as it has less travel to accommodate the force. This extra stiffness requires a much heavier tire structure, and this concentrates the rotational mass at the edge diameter.

The heavier tire structure will deform less, so with a soft tread compound, and reinforced suspension points, the next point is lower profile stiffer tires to sharpen the handling.

Without these, you are getting no benefit as the suspension points will flex and deform from the increase shock loads of the stiffer tire, you just trade the flex from one area to another.

So you end up with all the draw backs, and no benefits.

When I do a suspension rebuild with hard bushings, and suspension reinforcement, I'll give the 17's another go. Until then, they sit.

[campbelljj]

Agreed. Twists look bad on our cars. Get some 16 phonies or D90's or club sports. If u really want 17" buy cup1

[ckelly78z]

You shouldn't even be asking. It's your car, do whatever you want to it. If you like the look of turbo twists on your car, go for it, we don't have to like it because we ultimately don't matter. I have different wheels on my car, and a deleted rear seat for a sub system, and a different computer chip in mine, and it was all my choice, I didn't ask anyone's opinion.

[944tothefloor]

stock vs mod is a great discussion but one that involves many perspectives and scenarios. I now prefer mods that are really easily reversible, such as chips, which means the car is still basically stock.

"modding" my 951 to have a manual steering rack was one of the very best decisions I made with regards to the car's composition. It's just amazing how the feedback of the road, and the feedback of the intensity of the load put upon the steering mechanism as you turn, is translated to the muscles in your arm. For all those who prefer manual driving (me included), there's nothing like taking out the auto steering. there's nothing better than getting closer to the heart of the beast.

The only other best mod for my 951? The chips along with the banjo bolt. This added about 50 hp by allowing boost to increase by 5 psi (factory 10.8 to 16), while driving in the lower rpm ranges was greatly improved.

So there really is no best when it comes to stock vs mod!!!!

[flash968]

normally aspirated 944s (this means not a 951 but includes all years of normally aspirated cars) are essentially worthless, with even the best example being worth only a few grand. i see no reason to avoid modding the heck out of it. it's not like it's going to make a hill of beans of difference if you sell it. that is both a good thing and a bad thing. you won't get your money back from the mods, but it won't hurt you either.

i say, do whatever will make your personal driving experience best.

[Frenco99]

Thanks for the feedback guys