My next track car?
#16
11-18-2013 | 11:22 AM
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I'm a big fan of having a dedicated track car, My C5 Z06 has been a great. Still has a plate on it and its legal for NASA TT1, ST1 it won every event entered this year on the same rotors and brake pads running WC takeoff Pirellis. All I did was do a couple of oil changes. Last race weekend of the year in the friday practice session running on the end of everything brakes, tires, ect. It was only 1.3 secs behind Madison Snow in a 2012 platinum cup car running in the 1:57.xx Millers outer loop. Point is you could pick up a race ready c5 for 30K and keep your Porsche on the street. I say that knowing corvettes are sleazy, and not for everyone
#17
11-18-2013 | 03:11 PM
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So, I have been using my car a little bit at the track and I am....underwhelmed. I don't know exactly what it is but I think the main issue for me as to be that using a car this old (mine is a 2001) for track duty causes it to break and the fixes are not cheap. It seems every track day costs me some coin to fix an issue. That said, my past was cut on BMW's and I raced an E30 M3 touring car for a few years. After racing I moved into a Z4M Coupe and then 2 Lotus Exiges. The Exiges were great but a little too slow and I felt vulnerable due to size. Now, with the recent appreciation in value of GT3's and some new track toys being introduced I am trying to plan a year out. I really like the Camaro Z28 from a price/performance perspective but weight is an issue. Corvette is possible as well. The Alfa 4C is possible but no clutch means no car for me. I know this has been discussed a ton already. My budget is around $75k max. That is what I can spend and then thrash the car at the track. Any more and it will be a garage queen. Oh yeah, I don't have a trailer or a truck and after selling everything after racing I don't want either. So any thoughts?
#18
11-18-2013 | 03:56 PM
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Just got my car back after a month. It is still an amazing car and I still love it. But it better survive the next track day or else! Regardless, I am keeping this car so that is not the issue. The question is do I want to track THIS car? My Exige's never broke, neither did any of my M cars. I did need to maintain them and change things but no car has been like my turbo. Hopefully it will become reliable and I can continue with it. If not, I shall search for another track rat.
#20
11-18-2013 | 06:08 PM
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Cayman S
That's what I thought was missing from this thread as well. A Cayman is not the same HP class as a stock 996TT, but in stock form much better balanced, and some of those performance brake/suspension bits from the 996TT could likely be moved over to a Cayman S.
#21
11-19-2013 | 08:24 AM
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Here is what you need. 
The c5/6 corvette is the absolute best bang for the buck track car there is. Parts are cheap, they handle and grip like a Ferrari and have excellent speed. Granted mine has a huge built motor, but it waxes Porsches quite easy. I've ran against a cup car and he really wasn't leaving me.
The c5/6 corvette is the absolute best bang for the buck track car there is. Parts are cheap, they handle and grip like a Ferrari and have excellent speed. Granted mine has a huge built motor, but it waxes Porsches quite easy. I've ran against a cup car and he really wasn't leaving me.
#22
11-19-2013 | 08:47 AM
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Finding a good built C5 or C6 is tough. I tried for a long time. Nearly all are stock or turned back to stock. From my memory these cars need external coolers for the tranny, diff and motor to keep them running which are a big cost. Obviously, suspension, brakes and seats. But if you know of one let me know.
I bought my Exiges instead of a Cayman and I would buy another before a Cayman.
I bought my Exiges instead of a Cayman and I would buy another before a Cayman.
#23
11-19-2013 | 09:22 AM
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There is one on the forum for 28k. It's a built race car. But to even be fast and have fun stock is good. I don't have a trans cooler. And I even run the stock radiator. I made my wn oil cooler for 350$. The diff also has no oil cooler and i have 600/600. They are a brick ****house.
#24
11-19-2013 | 09:47 AM
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#25
11-19-2013 | 10:03 AM
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I've seen this car. But I don't want a race car. I actually want to drive it to the track and maybe here and there. I'll keep looking but I have a track event in a few weeks and gotta see if my car survives. But I do like the price/performance of the Z06's.
#27
11-19-2013 | 11:32 AM
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I've never seen one that wasn't constantly needing to be worked on. They are not the most robust. The LS7 is very durable when left alone internally, but the hubs suck, toy probably need some bushings too. Built motor is asking for a headache imo.
#29
11-19-2013 | 12:16 PM
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Actually I meant the LS6, for the C5Z not the LS7. LS6's will go boom too if you mess with them too much.
I had an LS1 based C5R that continuously blew up. The rest of my Corvette buddies have 6's and 7's that blow up and/or need CONSTANT overseeing with small (but track weekend killer) issues. If you drive them hard, and modify them internally, they can and will blow up. The LS7 might still blow up stock. Right now it's sounding like the grandsport might be a good option with the dry sump.
A heads/cam LS6 is about as far as you want to go, or the guy will have a worse situation than what he would be walking away from.
I had an LS1 based C5R that continuously blew up. The rest of my Corvette buddies have 6's and 7's that blow up and/or need CONSTANT overseeing with small (but track weekend killer) issues. If you drive them hard, and modify them internally, they can and will blow up. The LS7 might still blow up stock. Right now it's sounding like the grandsport might be a good option with the dry sump.
A heads/cam LS6 is about as far as you want to go, or the guy will have a worse situation than what he would be walking away from.
#30
11-19-2013 | 02:31 PM
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Yeah, I know a guy who blew up his C6 Z06 at the track with less than 50k miles. I think a lot can be said for the post 2000 vettes. But, I would always argue for dry sump with any regularly tracked car. A Porsche isn't cheap to track. But you are a lot less likely to vent your rods out of the block due to oiling issues like the LS motors have been having lately.