Better track/street car than 135i w/ FBO??

[Zsanz]

Originally Posted by 02rsxpilot

The fastest cars in my club are all 911s of various assortments and degrees of modification. Since Vette's are out (understandably), that's the direction I'd go given your budget and desire to get faster than the beast that the 135 already is. Skip the 996s though and either pony up for the 997 or go retro.

I will also throw in Monster miata for the lols.

[Boosted_N54]

Originally Posted by P90Puma

FBO 135i is a TERRIBLE track car, but great STREET car.

Why is this?

[wildcat767676]

I think the NASA guys this weekend have talked me into getting a e36 M3 as a dedicated track car an keeping the 1. (Actually they almost had me convinced on a miata!). What do you guys say???

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by wildcat767676

I think the NASA guys this weekend have talked me into getting a e36 M3 as a dedicated track car an keeping the 1. (Actually they almost had me convinced on a miata!). What do you guys say???

Agree 100% if you have the money.

If not, Non-M E36 and strip the living crap out of it, or SPEC E30

[wildcat767676]

I'm just sad I made my car so fast on track and have to start over. Part of me figures race the 1 an pay the man when I break it and the other part says go full race car and just build it as I have money...

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by timbo_3101

Here in Victoria (Australia), the quickest vehicles on circuit also tend to be dedicated race cars including Porsche and modified Japanese (Skyline/Evo/WRX). Our E82s don't seem to be as competitive as experienced E9x M3 racers.

In terms of street cars the hit the track here it is generally EVOs, R32-R35 GTRs that are the fastest.

Originally Posted by wildcat767676

I think the NASA guys this weekend have talked me into getting a e36 M3 as a dedicated track car an keeping the 1. (Actually they almost had me convinced on a miata!). What do you guys say???

That is my eventual plan. Keep the 1 as a nice fast street car and get an e36 M3 I can strip out and put in proper safety gear, cage,seats,harnesses etc.

[vanbmw]

Of the cars on your list...the Cayman S stands out for me. I still help out at some track days doing some instructing and get to drive peoples cars on the track. The Cayman's I have driven have always really impressed me. Good power and great handling. A stock Cayman S with some track tires is a great track car and a good daily driver...as long as you don't need a rear seat. Virtually any 911 is a good track car with only minor changes. Parts can be not too pricey as there is a large market of aftermarket supplies. I love the BMW M cars but I have a friend with a E46 M3 track car. Beautiful car to drive on the track. Super pricey to repair. He has found parts can be hard to get and shockingly expensive.

Living in Phoenix you have the ability to hit the track year around. I worked for Bondurant driving in the 90's and loved my two years there! I would say also consider looking at a dedicated track car. Pulling weight off the car is a huge improvement...helps both on the straightaways and in the corners. Weld in some stiffness and you are good to go. This opens up a huge can of worms...storage...extra insurance...trailer etc but it can be a great way to go. Just something to consider.

[wildcat767676]

Thanks for the feedback on the Cayman S! I test drove a couple and felt it was pretty slow compared to my tuned 135i although the steering and handling felt pretty sharp! I'll bet on track it is just multiplied.

Had a 911 4S years ago and completely stock it was fantastic on track! Should have kept it but I was afraid of braking it on track. I guess these days the parts aren't really that that bad?

Other than the e46, have you driven the e36 on track?

I also worked for Bondurant for some time, small world! Had a few of the Mustang track cars(should have just kept it). My 135 just kills them though on track... Problem is with current mods it gets classed into TT3 with NASA against some serious prepped race cars. Can't compete with full interior, no cage, AT... That's why I'm thinking dedicated track car that's cheap and only do minor mods to stay in a low class, i.e. e36...

Originally Posted by vanbmw

Of the cars on your list...the Cayman S stands out for me. I still help out at some track days doing some instructing and get to drive peoples cars on the track. The Cayman's I have driven have always really impressed me. Good power and great handling. A stock Cayman S with some track tires is a great track car and a good daily driver...as long as you don't need a rear seat. Virtually any 911 is a good track car with only minor changes. Parts can be not too pricey as there is a large market of aftermarket supplies. I love the BMW M cars but I have a friend with a E46 M3 track car. Beautiful car to drive on the track. Super pricey to repair. He has found parts can be hard to get and shockingly expensive.

Living in Phoenix you have the ability to hit the track year around. I worked for Bondurant driving in the 90's and loved my two years there! I would say also consider looking at a dedicated track car. Pulling weight off the car is a huge improvement...helps both on the straightaways and in the corners. Weld in some stiffness and you are good to go. This opens up a huge can of worms...storage...extra insurance...trailer etc but it can be a great way to go. Just something to consider.

[Kgolf31]

The cheaper the car, the better. When you get into TT and going 9/10s and 10/10s, going off track is going to happen. When it does, you are going to have to replace parts and the cheaper the better in this case. Porsche is no where near this

With that being said, power isn't everything. IMO it is alot more fun running a car like a lightweight miata than a heavy M5

[wildcat767676]

Agreed. That's why I was thinking e36 or miata. Miata is cheaper but so small and I'm just a BMW fan so It'd be nice sharing parts and tools with my other car...

[hxman]

2014 Corvette is the best bang for the buck and getting some great reviews........

[vanbmw]

I have driven a few E36's on the track and they are very nice. The handling/steering is just great. The motors have good power but it is more high RPM horse power and less low end torque but still tons of fun. If you get caught napping out of a corner and are low in RPM's you will be a bit short on power. Keep it on the rev's and the engine sings a beautiful tune.

Parts can be the issue I have heard. My buddy said parts for the M motors tend to be special order and not stocked very often. He has had bad luck...even some things like a radiator hose had to be ordered from Germany and was expensive.

I am more familiar with Porsche parts. I currently have a 1994 911 3.6 turbo for my track car. I haven't tracked it for a 2 years...but that's another story. Any time I have needed parts they have been stocked locally and the prices are not too bad. The 911 can still be a challenge to master but man when you get it right it is sublime on the track. I have been to many Porsche track days and it is amazing how few cars have mechanical issues. Porsche's take 45 minutes of hard tracking in stride. I have been to some track days with mainly tuned Japanese cars and seen automotive carnage. Don't get me wrong...some GREAT cars and lots of fun but on those days you see so many cars spitting out coolant, loosing brakes (Nissan's) and destroying turbos (okay usually user error where some dumbass has cranked up his boost too far).

[wildcat767676]

I love Porsches as well. Had zero issues with my 02 911 4S either. That's great to hear about their reliability! I hadn't heard that about BMW parts before, I will research.

Porsches aren't cheap though. Might as well track the 1 then right? Unless it was cheap 98 Boxster lol...

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by wildcat767676

Agreed. That's why I was thinking e36 or miata. Miata is cheaper but so small and I'm just a BMW fan so It'd be nice sharing parts and tools with my other car...

IMO find a guy with a Spec Miata at a NASA event, bring beer and offer to drive his car for a session.

[wildcat767676]

Not a bad idea! Went for a ride in one and it was fun except for straights! They do rent them, maybe I'll try that first...

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by wildcat767676

Not a bad idea! Went for a ride in one and it was fun except for straights! They do rent them, maybe I'll try that first...

Valid, they typically don't trap much.

But for comparison, a Spec E30 was around 120 mph on the back straight at Mid-Ohio into China Beach.

My Z4M was around 130-135 the same weekend. Perhaps if I had more balls I could go 140.

The differential isn't THAT much. It sure is there...

[135iam]

I know of a 98 M3 fully track prepped by EVO sport and fall line with around 70000 miles. It's won a lot of NASA Midwest and great lakes TT from 05-10. The owner lost interest and it's sat in his garage the last few years and driven on nice days. PM if interested and I will get you in touch with him

[wildcat767676]

PM sent!

[tglazed]

Not much of a luxury car but have you ever thought about a lotus exige or lotus Elise? I drove a supercharged Elise and it was pretty cool.
Seething like this and then throw some coilovers on it.
220 hp in a 2000 lb car doesn't sound to bad.
http://m.cars.com/for-sale/#photogal...Elise&zc=84095

[wildcat767676]

I just never liked how small they were but I wouldn't mind a test drive!

[tglazed]

If you wanted to go all out you could get the exige s240.

http://m.cars.com/for-sale/#vdp?list...10849999984095

I just thing tracking a 2100 lb car would be a ton of fun. 0-60 times of anywhere from 4-4.5 seconds is what I'm finding

[stormzusmc]

Supercharged E36 M3 hands down.