![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:37 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
You have $10,000 USD to spend on any of the 4 cars. Chosen for FUN and not chosen to be correct awesome choices. Just go with it!
Your goal is to make a TRACK ONLY car that is no longer street-legal (not including lawless places like Florida).
The money you have is the total you can spend on the car plus mods and maintenance (but excluding fees/taxes/insurance/gas).
Parts bought are new or something you already have to remove the subjective aspect of getting deals or making you have to browse Craigslist to answer.
Car 1: 1990 Miata (turbo) ($7000)
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Car 2: 1996 BMW M3 Coupe ($8000)
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Car 3: 1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe ($7000)
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Car 4: 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse ($1,200)
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Ok, last time some of you just went with the easy BMW choice so I gave you same choice to see if you’re still boring. It seems pretty track-ready. There’s also a MIATA! Anyway, this time I don’t actually want the Eclipse and the M iata having a turbo sounds good but I don’t want to take care of the potential gremlins. So, I’m boring this time, I CHOOSE THE M3! Honestly I’ve ridden with an instructor in a similar car and we went past a 991 GT3RS like it was rolling down a hill in neutral.
SEND IT!
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:45 |
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Track only? M3. You’ll probably get to enjoy the Miata 10% of the time and the other 90% of the time debugging .
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:48 |
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https://tulsa.craigslist.org/ctd/d/tulsa-2008-saturn-sky-red-line-turbo/7225400181.html
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:50 |
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Give me the M3, an E36 M3 was what I lusted after in high school. I’d actually quite like to have one some day, though the want for one has been outweighed by wants for different cars now.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:50 |
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Well, I hate myself and don’t enjoy free time, so Miata! I’ll climb that mountain and sort out it’s issues.
I’m also going to go nuts with a saw-z-all and take off anything not strictly necessary for it’s operation.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:51 |
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Yeah I thought the same for my decision. Still hoping there will be some weirdos here though haha
I’d spend the final 2k just updating the safety systems and a full fluid/brake change.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:52 |
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Sexy, but how exactly do you make that Track-Only with your last $1k?
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:53 |
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They really are equal to the Miata in most common track car at least that I’ve seen. There’s gotta be a good reason for that.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:54 |
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Nice! If it works, it would be my choice too. I’m planning to do similar with my NB but no turbo plans.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:54 |
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Install roll bar and... remove blinkers.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:54 |
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To be fair it totally depends on the track.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:56 |
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I’ve also seen some fast E36s on track, but I think most of them had been
LS-swapped.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:56 |
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Of those, the M3. Unless you can part the Miata to make it naturally aspirated again and spend the rest on prep.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:56 |
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Karmann Ghia with a Mitsubishi Eclipse engine donor. Stick the VW engine in the Eclipse and profit for more VW track mods.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:58 |
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M3. Not a Miata fan, the other two are slow.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:59 |
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Really? You would buy a car to run at only a single track?
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:59 |
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I would assume affordable and good on a track. I’ve heard that while the S52B32 doesn’t deliver the power of the euro S50B32 it makes up for that with reliability.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 14:59 |
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I would agree you could do the work to get the Miata NA again, sell the parts, and use them better. Good idea!
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:00 |
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Slow car fast! Plus imagine how fast you could make the Eclipse with basically $9k?
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:03 |
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While I am not a fan of Miatas (I don’t mind them just don’t see myself ever buying one), I am anti eclipse. 1st Gen’s are fine but that’s about it.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:03 |
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Well the BMW has two engines so I’ll take that one.
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Rebuilt Engine from Wile Motorsports
- Mishimoto radiator
- New rotors and pads
- Re-built engine
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:05 |
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lol what a DEAL
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:06 |
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Yup understood as well. I’m nostalgic for my 3G Eclipse but it was an awful car. Still, that’s why I found one that’s going for dirt dirt cheap.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:06 |
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I like the way you think!
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:08 |
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Miata, cost of the car + leftover cash = a great track weapon.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:08 |
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As incredibly fast as we were lapping Palmer in that instructor’s car, he never got close to my Cayman’s top speed down the “straight”. So yeah that was an eye-opener into what make a car be able to turn and driving experience can give you over power.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:10 |
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If it works! But yeah that’s pretty much what I’m planning to do IRL.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:11 |
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If it were “Pick one to be a fun car” I’d go for the turbo miata, but if it’s just for the track I’d take the e36 for sure.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:12 |
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Uuugh, such a tough choice between thr miat and the beemer.....
Can I has both???
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:14 |
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M3 because I know them inside and out, they’re easy to work on, and are fantastic and friendly to drive on track . I love Miatas but never really feel good in them ergonomically, have no interest in turbo track cars and prefer to have metal over my head. I also love old VWs, but to make a Ghia into anything worth driving quickly would blow the budget out of the water. The Mitsubishi, just...no.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:15 |
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While I would normally gravitate towards the classic VW, the one-piece body would be a pain to repair every time it gets damaged. So I’d go with the Mitsubishi Eclipse and LS swap it using the FWD LS drivetrain from a Chevy Impala. I believe those can handle about 400 hp. I’d put the engine in the back of course, so it’s mid-engined. Then I’ll have myself a budget C8 Corvette!
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:15 |
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You’re increasing the value of both cars with the swap, I think.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:16 |
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That is actually a valid point. I live fairly close to Summit Point (~1 hr). My next closest tracks are Dominion, New Jersey Motor Park, PIRC. There might be a few others, but those are the ones I’ve been to and am familiar with. So if I’m going to be racing regionally, it might be a good idea to pick a car that would do well on those types of circuits - assuming there’ s some commonality to them.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:20 |
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Oh man, those lift-back hatches on the 3G Eclipse would be an AWESOME place to put the engine. You’d have to do some ventilation/intake and sound deadening but totally worth it.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:21 |
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lol pragmatic!
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:22 |
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Sure but you have to sell your tow vehicle to afford it , and find a way to tow the Miata to the track using the M3 lol
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:22 |
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Yeah if the Miata was N/A and track prepped that’s a different story for me, but the M3 is the most obvious choice.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:23 |
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What if i just drive it to the track tho
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:26 |
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There are so many things that change though over time. Surely you can make any track car work at any track within reason. I have 2 tracks within 1.5 hours, and about 4 good ones within 2.5 hours. Maybe 7 total if you include what I wouldn’t really care to drive on. Certainly I’d run mostly at the closer ones but I can’t resist trying new things and finding out how that affects my car or setup. Still, I can see it being valid!
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:26 |
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I’d rather use a Mazda B series engine in a different chassis for a track weapon, but that’s just my crazy preference.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:30 |
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You mean out of the truck? Wonder what that does to your weight distribution in a Miata. Likely not their favored 50-50 lol
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:31 |
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Then you didn’t read the prompt that said Track-Only, not street legal :p
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:33 |
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Turbo Miata. Remaining $3000 goes towards a Borg-Warner EFR turbo to replace whatever is currently on. And not just any Borg-Warner. The big boi
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:39 |
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I would probably prefer a better handling car to go on more technical/twisty circuits than Formula 1 circuits that require a ton of power to feel “adequate” and might not need low speed cornering maneuverability .
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:40 |
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Oooo, apparently I’m blind! I got too excited when I saw turbo miat i guess lol
Although I’m sure I can register whatever I want in I ndiana as well
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:46 |
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No, the Miata runs a B series engine. It’s the name of that family of engines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_B_engine
I’d run it in an even lighter chassis that has shown to be even quicker at the track. the 121/Festiva chassis.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 15:48 |
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Oh so like the BP-ZE (?) engine in my 99 Miata?
![]() 11/04/2020 at 16:00 |
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I said no cheating like in Florida haha
![]() 11/04/2020 at 16:02 |
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Perfect description! That would be a blast until it’s a blast.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 16:23 |
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Miata. Because they’re so cheap to build/ operate and one with actual power would be fun.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 17:52 |
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E36. Pl ease and thankyou.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 17:55 |
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Yes sir, and you’re welcome.
![]() 11/04/2020 at 18:08 |
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Miata. Guy actually knows what to say in his ad
![]() 11/04/2020 at 18:10 |
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M3 says just "coilovers", and no engine pic. On a track car you gotta do better than that
![]() 11/04/2020 at 18:14 |
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Truth, but still, other people’s turbos lol
![]() 11/04/2020 at 18:15 |
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Maybe so, but that’s a little more nuanced than this game needs. Besides, you have $2k left over to fix things if you need :p
![]() 11/04/2020 at 19:00 |
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Will 2k get me a euro spec engine for it? Then we’ll talk
![]() 11/04/2020 at 19:09 |
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I only know that it’s a BMW... probably lol but I bet if you waited on the market long enough anything’s possible.
![]() 11/05/2020 at 03:20 |
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Mazda plz.
![]() 11/05/2020 at 07:08 |
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I have one out of a 92 Escort GT that I was planning on using. But yeah similar idea. I’m planning on using Familia GTX electronics and engine management otherwise I would have looked for a BP-4W head.
![]() 11/05/2020 at 07:40 |
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Since I said “ewwww” to the Ghia (no that it’s a bad car, not just a track car IMO) and the Eclipse along with my fears of of the electrical uncertainties of the M3; I’d go the stereotypical route of Miata.
![]() 11/05/2020 at 07:42 |
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M3 electronics worry you but the turbo in the Miata seems fine? I kinda went the other way
![]() 11/05/2020 at 08:23 |
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I can rip off the turbo kit and go back to NA.