"marshknute" (marshknute)
11/02/2015 at 08:13 • Filed to: None
1
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"marshknute" (marshknute)
11/02/2015 at 08:13 • Filed to: None | 1
| 26 |
Back in May, I bought a 15’ WRX to use as a track car. It’s fantastic at autocross, but has an annoying habit of overboosting on a racetrack straightaway. It’s fixable, but only if I mess with the ECU and void the warranty. So I’m selling/replacing it.
That begs the question: what track car do I get? My criteria are as follows:
1). $30K budget ($35K if it’s really special)
2). Must be extremely reliabiable. So no BMW’s.
3). Must be naturally aspirated. I’m not risking any more overboosting BS.
4). Must be manual (obviously)
5). Must be quick. I do HPDE with the Porsche Club, and it’s not safe if your car is so slow that you’re constantly looking behind you and giving the pass signal. My WRX can hold its own, but barely.
Here’s what I’ve come up with: so far
C6 Corvette :
Highest performance / dollar ratio. I’m looking at an 08+ base model, which comes with the newer LS3 and gearbox. With 430 hp, it can easily hold its own against the 911’s I’ll be driving with.
Porsche Cayman:
Best all-rounder. With my budget, I’m stuck with base models. And I’d have to get a 2009+ to avoid the IMS issue. In terms of power, it’s even with the WRX, but it’s lighter and more nimble.
Honda S2000:
The curveball. My budget will buy the world’s best AP2 S2000. I’d love a CR version, but they’re rarer than lactose-intolerant cheese makers. I’m concerned about power. My WRX is already one of the slower cars at HPDE. I’ll have to test drive one, but 240hp and zero torque is probably not enough.
bob and john
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 08:18 |
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miata + exocet kit + LS3.
OR
caterham + hayabusa swap +
turbo
nitrous
Wheelerguy
> bob and john
11/02/2015 at 08:21 |
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On the Caterham: dude he said he doesn’t want a turbo.
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bob and john
> Wheelerguy
11/02/2015 at 08:23 |
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right.
caterham + hayabusa swap + nitrous.
Ryanator122
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 08:24 |
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A 2008 Mustang with your own selection of mods can pretty well keep up with a Porsche
jariten1781
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 08:25 |
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You’re running with 911s...so the obvious choice is...um...a 911.
You can get a cherry 996 with budget to do the IMS or an early 997 at your 35k price cap.
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Wheelerguy
> bob and john
11/02/2015 at 08:25 |
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Well... at least it doesn’t overboost.
LongbowMkII
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 08:29 |
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Pure track car? cut the BS and get any of the kits/used race cars out there.
track/weekend toy? You can find a 911 for that price with enough to refresh it and replace the IMS.
samssun
> Wheelerguy
11/02/2015 at 08:34 |
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Nitrous is overboost on demand.
Flavien Vidal
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 08:41 |
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For a track car, I’d go with a C5 Z06 myself over a C6... Unless you can find a nice C6 Z06 in your price range.
jjhats
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 08:44 |
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cayman will be most fun and look nicest off the track. corvette will do best at the track and I don’t think the s2k will satisfy you if you thought wrx was slow
JR1
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 08:50 |
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Not sure if this is a DD. If not I suggest looking into Vipers
Needmoargarage
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 09:00 |
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Whichever one you’re most alright with potentially stuffing into a wall :)
But seriously, out of the three, I’ve only ever driven a C6 Z06 on track. It was very fast, but hardly anyone sane could safely drive that car to its full potential without a cage. I’ve run with the Porsche Club as well, and in my experience it was more driver than car that determined speed, so I think the S2000 would be an excellent choice as it would force you to become a very fast driver. (Not that it is a slow car by any means on track!)
Also, if you are comfortable wrenching/tuning and with a budget of 30k, you could build a wicked ‘real’ track car.
Punk_Girl_98
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 09:04 |
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I don’t know too much about those cars but I’d think the Honda and Chevy would be the easiest to fix and least expensive right?
DirtyBird
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 09:21 |
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buy a fourth fen firebird/trans am/Camaro.. tons of room left in the budget to make it exactly right
Snuze: Needs another Swede
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 09:27 |
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I had an 04 WRX, driven an S2000, ridden in a Cayman. The only one I have zero experience with is the ‘Vette.
If your WRX was all stock, then a stock S2000 is probably just as fast. Remember, it’s a much lighter car, and the lack of AWD means less power robbed from the center and front differentials. It also handles more neutral and with less mass over the front tires, turns in much better. All that said, it is a much more demanding car to drive. Boost is your friend in the WRX and can pull you out of a hairy situation. Since the S2000 is so gutless on the low end you need to really work that 6 speed to keep it in the powerband. But it will reward you with it’s sweet song and lots of top end pull once VTEC kicks in, yo.
Cayman might be a nice middle ground between the two cars. As I said, I’ve ridden in a few but never driven one. It’s going to have pretty neutral handling due to the mid-engine layout, and the extra 2 cylinders and liter or so dispalcement will make it torquier than the S2000 without the overboost issues of the WRX. It’s probably going to be the most expensive to maintain on this list, though. Also, I have a good friend who worked at a fairly reputable Porsche tuning shop, if you’re seriously interested in one, I can talk to him and get the lowdown on what years are best and what upgrades you need to consider. The one thing I do remember him saying is the stock bushings are garbage so if you’re going to be tracking it regularly you need to replace them or they will blowout on you.
My personal choice would probably be the ‘Vette. It’s a whole class above either of these cars in terms of performance, so it may be a little much depending on how much driving experience you have. But you won’t be hurting for power, that’s for sure. Also they are tough as nails and pretty cheap and easy to maintain. I would even consider a C5 Z06 with the 405HP LS6, or if it’s in the budget look into a C6 Grand Sport. These come with the semi-dry-sump oiling system from the C6 Z06 which, while not a must, would be an extra piece of mind on the track.
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marshknute
> Needmoargarage
11/02/2015 at 09:31 |
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I like your thinking, and the “stuff into a wall” argument is making me lean towards the C6. I’d feel sad if I crashed an S2K or Cayman, but not a Corvette.
I’ve always respected Corvette’s for their performance, but have never lusted after one b/c of its shitty interior and blue collar approach to speed. That emotional detachment is probably a good thing, so I’m glad you brought it up.
And the Corvette is the only car on my list that can easily hold its own against the GT3’s and Turbos in the upper run groups, so I could keep it for several years as I move up the ranks.
AfromanGTO
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 09:34 |
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For 30-35K why not look into a Boss 302 Laguana Seca, C5 Z06 with mods, C6 Z06, 2nd gen Vipers, a 911, or a Mazdaspeed Miata.
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Needmoargarage
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 09:43 |
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I’d agree that it would be a very difficult car to outgrow. With an emotional detachment you won’t feel so bad when it comes time to cut up and modify the car to install rollover protection, better seats, harnesses, etc. Another bonus is the huge amount of parts available from Z06s and the aftermarket. Let us know what you end up deciding!
Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 09:53 |
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Take your pick
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Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
> DirtyBird
11/02/2015 at 10:15 |
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Except he wants to be able to turn
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DirtyBird
> Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
11/02/2015 at 10:22 |
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why wouldn’t he be able to turn?
Too many M's
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 10:38 |
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Exclude BMW for reliability and add a Cayman? The Porsche tax when it comes to parts is a bit higher than the Bavarian competition.
Here are three snapshots, an E46 M3, E92 M3 and a Cayman base, and their brake pad selections from Tirerack. Guess which is the P-car?
They don’t have as widespread selection for track options on the Cayman base either. There are some, don’t get me wrong, just not as many to choose from.
$30k could find you a high-mileage E9x M3 that you could do the rod bearings, decent track pads, high boiling fluid, and just beat on it at the track. You could also find a really nice E46 M3 that has had the subframe reinforced and VANOS repaired, do the same as the E9x in regards to brakes and just drive. The E9x is more complicated to work on but wear items and basic maintenance is quite easy. The E46 I had was easy to work on and dead reliable. The only mechanical failure was an alternator I had changed out in 45 minutes or so.
I think the best bang for your buck in terms of highest performance would be the C6 or a C5 Z06. Easy to wrench and a booming aftermarket.
Out of the BMWs and Corvette’s the good thing is there are also great online communities that can give support and recommendations, comparisons, advice, etc. Since everything on those platforms has pretty much been done before you’d have a lot of options to go with.
If you want to embarrass at the track, get the S2000 and do a few choice mods (mostly driver) then pass everyone.
Van Man, rocks the Man Van
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 10:49 |
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Depends. If it's a track car and DD in one, then Cayman all the way. If it's solely for track purposes, go for the Vette because it's much more capable.
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Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
> DirtyBird
11/02/2015 at 10:55 |
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Cause it’s an early 2000s f body? All they’re good for is one quarter mile at a time
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DirtyBird
> Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
11/02/2015 at 12:14 |
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have you been in one on the twistys?
911e46z06
> marshknute
11/02/2015 at 14:08 |
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The C6 is a barrel of goddamn monkeys on the track. I highly recommend it.