Crown

Quote:
69bossnine said:
Let's see if we can play process-of-elimination:

F430 - If money's an object, I think the F430 is out the window. Not just acquisition costs, but the enormous liability on the track, when things wear out and/or break, or heaven-forbid you wreck it. Every way you look at it, so much money, not meaningfully faster...

Gallardo - Mmmmm, possibly, yes, but AWD takes some of the fun out of the track day, and also expensive to fix..

GT3RS - Serious contender

GT3 - Serious contender, less money

Exige S - I'm sorry, there's a point where a car is a car, and a go-cart is a go-cart... The Lotus exites me about as much as toy poodles, even fast and tough attack-trained toy poodles... And it's hideous to boot... But the price is right.

Z06 - Serious contender, cheap to repair, cheap to own, very fast with a purposeful tire. Really hone your skills, and enjoy frustrating the buhjeezus out of silver-spoon elitists in all the more expensive exoto-iron... That could exponentially increase your overall "fun-factor"

Ford GT - Slightly expensive (prices never depreciated, and now they're extinct), and spare parts could be a serious dilemma. But it certainly wins the beauty contest in my opinion, while being able to run shoulder-to-shoulder with any of the above-mentioned cars. SUPER CAR, but maybe not practical or durable for regular track-use.

Vantage - Uhhh, no, unless you like getting lapped alot...

Bottom line, I'd be shopping GT3 of some sort, or Vette of some sort... The rest are too damn expensive for what you want to do.

Quote:
69bossnine said:


Bottom line, I'd be shopping GT3 of some sort, or Vette of some sort... The rest are too damn expensive for what you want to do.

Quote:
69bossnine said:
Let's see if we can play process-of-elimination:

F430 - If money's an object, I think the F430 is out the window. Not just acquisition costs, but the enormous liability on the track, when things wear out and/or break, or heaven-forbid you wreck it. Every way you look at it, so much money, not meaningfully faster...

Gallardo - Mmmmm, possibly, yes, but AWD takes some of the fun out of the track day, and also expensive to fix..

GT3RS - Serious contender

GT3 - Serious contender, less money

Exige S - I'm sorry, there's a point where a car is a car, and a go-cart is a go-cart... The Lotus exites me about as much as toy poodles, even fast and tough attack-trained toy poodles... And it's hideous to boot... But the price is right.

Z06 - Serious contender, cheap to repair, cheap to own, very fast with a purposeful tire. Really hone your skills, and enjoy frustrating the buhjeezus out of silver-spoon elitists in all the more expensive exoto-iron... That could exponentially increase your overall "fun-factor"

Ford GT - Slightly expensive (prices never depreciated, and now they're extinct), and spare parts could be a serious dilemma. But it certainly wins the beauty contest in my opinion, while being able to run shoulder-to-shoulder with any of the above-mentioned cars. SUPER CAR, but maybe not practical or durable for regular track-use.

Vantage - Uhhh, no, unless you like getting lapped alot...

Bottom line, I'd be shopping GT3 of some sort, or Vette of some sort... The rest are too damn expensive for what you want to do.

Quote:
STRADALE said:

Quote:
69bossnine said:
Let's see if we can play process-of-elimination:

F430 - If money's an object, I think the F430 is out the window. Not just acquisition costs, but the enormous liability on the track, when things wear out and/or break, or heaven-forbid you wreck it. Every way you look at it, so much money, not meaningfully faster...

Gallardo - Mmmmm, possibly, yes, but AWD takes some of the fun out of the track day, and also expensive to fix..

GT3RS - Serious contender

GT3 - Serious contender, less money

Exige S - I'm sorry, there's a point where a car is a car, and a go-cart is a go-cart... The Lotus exites me about as much as toy poodles, even fast and tough attack-trained toy poodles... And it's hideous to boot... But the price is right.

Z06 - Serious contender, cheap to repair, cheap to own, very fast with a purposeful tire. Really hone your skills, and enjoy frustrating the buhjeezus out of silver-spoon elitists in all the more expensive exoto-iron... That could exponentially increase your overall "fun-factor"

Ford GT - Slightly expensive (prices never depreciated, and now they're extinct), and spare parts could be a serious dilemma. But it certainly wins the beauty contest in my opinion, while being able to run shoulder-to-shoulder with any of the above-mentioned cars. SUPER CAR, but maybe not practical or durable for regular track-use.

Vantage - Uhhh, no, unless you like getting lapped alot...

Bottom line, I'd be shopping GT3 of some sort, or Vette of some sort... The rest are too damn expensive for what you want to do.

What he said.

Quote:
HWJunkie said:
I have a Porsche 997 S that I have just recently started taking to the track.
I soon realized I was putting too many miles on it so I leased a daily driver and now I use the P car on weekends and track days, and I love the way it drives on the track but now that I have a few track days under my belt, I hate the tiptronic...

I am considering a wide range of cars to buy in it's place, starting with F430, Gallardo, GT3RS, GT3, Exige S, Z06, Ford GT, Vantage or ?

... I need a car mainly for the track but I also want to be able to take it out in the canyons on the weekends when I'm not at the track...

I'm not a rich guy and there are obvious price differences between the cars, so I'm curious what you guys think about this.

Quote:
Mithras said:
Why would you buy a NEW car for a track day car? Especially if you are only starting out? First off, go by the old adage of "drive the car as fast as the car will go, when you can do that get something faster."

I would wait until you are signed off, no lnger have an instructor with you all the time and are fairly advanced, then get something. It's much more pleasurable, and it makes you a WHOLE lot better driver to learn how to make a slower car fast as opposed to driving a fast car somewhat fast...

So even if you do go out and get something more tack oriented, don't put on slicks or R compond tires until you can drive your street tires to the limit, know where the limit is and play on either side of the limit comfortably.

If you're going to get something though my first suggestion would be a 911. My preference for track work is a 1973-1989 911. Many have had their suspensions done and set up fro the track. They won't depreciate and won't bankrupt you if you wreck it.

I'd also recomend the Elise/Exige, a BMW M3 (the older the better for track work), Porsche 944 (wonderfully balanced car), Mazda RX-7 (not my cup of tea, but many out there and a good track car). Also look at used race cars that are no longer competitive and too new for vintage work.

Quote:
HWJunkie said:

Quote:
Mithras said:
Why would you buy a NEW car for a track day car? Especially if you are only starting out? First off, go by the old adage of "drive the car as fast as the car will go, when you can do that get something faster."

I would wait until you are signed off, no lnger have an instructor with you all the time and are fairly advanced, then get something. It's much more pleasurable, and it makes you a WHOLE lot better driver to learn how to make a slower car fast as opposed to driving a fast car somewhat fast...

So even if you do go out and get something more tack oriented, don't put on slicks or R compond tires until you can drive your street tires to the limit, know where the limit is and play on either side of the limit comfortably.

If you're going to get something though my first suggestion would be a 911. My preference for track work is a 1973-1989 911. Many have had their suspensions done and set up fro the track. They won't depreciate and won't bankrupt you if you wreck it.

I'd also recomend the Elise/Exige, a BMW M3 (the older the better for track work), Porsche 944 (wonderfully balanced car), Mazda RX-7 (not my cup of tea, but many out there and a good track car). Also look at used race cars that are no longer competitive and too new for vintage work.

I understand what you are saying, however I have some issues with that, that may not apply to other people...
First off, I have a 997S and I have tracked it a few times and love it, but it's a tiptronic and last track day I was more worried about if it was actually going to downshift at the end of the long fast straight rither then concentrating on the corner. So I want a stick car. Not only for that reason but just because it's better for the track. Before I was fell in love with tracking my car I wanted to sell some of my colectibles and buy an exotic, hence the Ferrari and Lambo on my list, which now, won't work out unless I have another car that I can use at the track, but probably can't raise enough money for that. So now, I'm going to try and combine my purchase to a semi-exotic and a track car, Just something that's a nice street car that also can be used at the track. That's where the GT3 fits in, although the wife won't be driving it to pick up groceries, I will be able to drive it in the canyons and maybe out to dinner once or twice, but mainly it will be a track car...
The Z06 would probably take car of this whole problem, I could get one of those, mod it a bit and still keep the 997... But for some reason, the Z06 isn't really the semi-exotic I was looking for... So I have to make some decisions here...

I have a dealer that will sell me their allocation for a 2008 GT3 for $10k over, which sounds like alot, but then again, I can spec it any way I want, and since I can't afford a GT3RS, I'm probably going to get it in orange, or maybe green? Am I insane for doing this?

Quote:
HWJunkie said:

Quote:
Mithras said:
Why would you buy a NEW car for a track day car? Especially if you are only starting out? First off, go by the old adage of "drive the car as fast as the car will go, when you can do that get something faster."

I would wait until you are signed off, no lnger have an instructor with you all the time and are fairly advanced, then get something. It's much more pleasurable, and it makes you a WHOLE lot better driver to learn how to make a slower car fast as opposed to driving a fast car somewhat fast...

So even if you do go out and get something more tack oriented, don't put on slicks or R compond tires until you can drive your street tires to the limit, know where the limit is and play on either side of the limit comfortably.

If you're going to get something though my first suggestion would be a 911. My preference for track work is a 1973-1989 911. Many have had their suspensions done and set up fro the track. They won't depreciate and won't bankrupt you if you wreck it.

I'd also recomend the Elise/Exige, a BMW M3 (the older the better for track work), Porsche 944 (wonderfully balanced car), Mazda RX-7 (not my cup of tea, but many out there and a good track car). Also look at used race cars that are no longer competitive and too new for vintage work.

I understand what you are saying, however I have some issues with that, that may not apply to other people...
First off, I have a 997S and I have tracked it a few times and love it, but it's a tiptronic and last track day I was more worried about if it was actually going to downshift at the end of the long fast straight rither then concentrating on the corner. So I want a stick car. Not only for that reason but just because it's better for the track. Before I was fell in love with tracking my car I wanted to sell some of my colectibles and buy an exotic, hence the Ferrari and Lambo on my list, which now, won't work out unless I have another car that I can use at the track, but probably can't raise enough money for that. So now, I'm going to try and combine my purchase to a semi-exotic and a track car, Just something that's a nice street car that also can be used at the track. That's where the GT3 fits in, although the wife won't be driving it to pick up groceries, I will be able to drive it in the canyons and maybe out to dinner once or twice, but mainly it will be a track car...
The Z06 would probably take car of this whole problem, I could get one of those, mod it a bit and still keep the 997... But for some reason, the Z06 isn't really the semi-exotic I was looking for... So I have to make some decisions here...

I have a dealer that will sell me their allocation for a 2008 GT3 for $10k over, which sounds like alot, but then again, I can spec it any way I want, and since I can't afford a GT3RS, I'm probably going to get it in orange, or maybe green? Am I insane for doing this?

Quote:
HWJunkie said:

Quote:
Mithras said:
Why would you buy a NEW car for a track day car? Especially if you are only starting out? First off, go by the old adage of "drive the car as fast as the car will go, when you can do that get something faster."

I would wait until you are signed off, no lnger have an instructor with you all the time and are fairly advanced, then get something. It's much more pleasurable, and it makes you a WHOLE lot better driver to learn how to make a slower car fast as opposed to driving a fast car somewhat fast...

So even if you do go out and get something more tack oriented, don't put on slicks or R compond tires until you can drive your street tires to the limit, know where the limit is and play on either side of the limit comfortably.

If you're going to get something though my first suggestion would be a 911. My preference for track work is a 1973-1989 911. Many have had their suspensions done and set up fro the track. They won't depreciate and won't bankrupt you if you wreck it.

I'd also recomend the Elise/Exige, a BMW M3 (the older the better for track work), Porsche 944 (wonderfully balanced car), Mazda RX-7 (not my cup of tea, but many out there and a good track car). Also look at used race cars that are no longer competitive and too new for vintage work.

I understand what you are saying, however I have some issues with that, that may not apply to other people...
First off, I have a 997S and I have tracked it a few times and love it, but it's a tiptronic and last track day I was more worried about if it was actually going to downshift at the end of the long fast straight rither then concentrating on the corner. So I want a stick car. Not only for that reason but just because it's better for the track. Before I was fell in love with tracking my car I wanted to sell some of my colectibles and buy an exotic, hence the Ferrari and Lambo on my list, which now, won't work out unless I have another car that I can use at the track, but probably can't raise enough money for that. So now, I'm going to try and combine my purchase to a semi-exotic and a track car, Just something that's a nice street car that also can be used at the track. That's where the GT3 fits in, although the wife won't be driving it to pick up groceries, I will be able to drive it in the canyons and maybe out to dinner once or twice, but mainly it will be a track car...
The Z06 would probably take car of this whole problem, I could get one of those, mod it a bit and still keep the 997... But for some reason, the Z06 isn't really the semi-exotic I was looking for... So I have to make some decisions here...

I have a dealer that will sell me their allocation for a 2008 GT3 for $10k over, which sounds like alot, but then again, I can spec it any way I want, and since I can't afford a GT3RS, I'm probably going to get it in orange, or maybe green? Am I insane for doing this?

Quote:
Mithras said:

Quote:
HWJunkie said:

Quote:
Mithras said:
Why would you buy a NEW car for a track day car? Especially if you are only starting out? First off, go by the old adage of "drive the car as fast as the car will go, when you can do that get something faster."

I would wait until you are signed off, no lnger have an instructor with you all the time and are fairly advanced, then get something. It's much more pleasurable, and it makes you a WHOLE lot better driver to learn how to make a slower car fast as opposed to driving a fast car somewhat fast...

So even if you do go out and get something more tack oriented, don't put on slicks or R compond tires until you can drive your street tires to the limit, know where the limit is and play on either side of the limit comfortably.

If you're going to get something though my first suggestion would be a 911. My preference for track work is a 1973-1989 911. Many have had their suspensions done and set up fro the track. They won't depreciate and won't bankrupt you if you wreck it.

I'd also recomend the Elise/Exige, a BMW M3 (the older the better for track work), Porsche 944 (wonderfully balanced car), Mazda RX-7 (not my cup of tea, but many out there and a good track car). Also look at used race cars that are no longer competitive and too new for vintage work.

I understand what you are saying, however I have some issues with that, that may not apply to other people...
First off, I have a 997S and I have tracked it a few times and love it, but it's a tiptronic and last track day I was more worried about if it was actually going to downshift at the end of the long fast straight rither then concentrating on the corner. So I want a stick car. Not only for that reason but just because it's better for the track. Before I was fell in love with tracking my car I wanted to sell some of my colectibles and buy an exotic, hence the Ferrari and Lambo on my list, which now, won't work out unless I have another car that I can use at the track, but probably can't raise enough money for that. So now, I'm going to try and combine my purchase to a semi-exotic and a track car, Just something that's a nice street car that also can be used at the track. That's where the GT3 fits in, although the wife won't be driving it to pick up groceries, I will be able to drive it in the canyons and maybe out to dinner once or twice, but mainly it will be a track car...
The Z06 would probably take car of this whole problem, I could get one of those, mod it a bit and still keep the 997... But for some reason, the Z06 isn't really the semi-exotic I was looking for... So I have to make some decisions here...

I have a dealer that will sell me their allocation for a 2008 GT3 for $10k over, which sounds like alot, but then again, I can spec it any way I want, and since I can't afford a GT3RS, I'm probably going to get it in orange, or maybe green? Am I insane for doing this?

I wouldn't go buy a new GT3 for $10K over. By your needs of a street legal exotic track car, I would look at a used GT3 eith a 997 or 996. I would also keep the elise/exige on the list as they are exotic enough. Maybe add a Noble (GTO, M12 or new M15), look at an NSX, and maybe a street legal Ferrari Challenge car (a 355 maybe?). New ferrari's and Lamborghini's are, for the most part, trackable cars, but not TRACK cars.

Remember with anything you get, there are only two types of track drivers, those that HAVE hit the wall, and those that will hit the wall AGAIN. Don't do it in something that's going to ruin you when it happens.