From my understanding of what's been said:
924 a late 70's sportscar, perhaps built to a budget but advantages as it is cheaper to run and fix.

944 an early 80's cruiser - built to Porsche standards but can be expensive to run and fix.

Both real good cars - but as a track day special I think Wile-E is right 924 is simpler, ighter and can be just as quick.
A good 944 sounds like a performance bargain for an everyday road car.

944 is sublime handler, hardly a cruiser......

quite right, just go to one of the car parts sites and check the parts prices on things you're likely to get through if you're racing - clutch kit for a 924 is around £150 while for a 944 it's over £300.

The key to the 924 is in the handling, on a track with a lot of corners there is little that will be able to keep pace.