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?

 

the Z28 is your best bet as it will come from the factory ready to race with ceramic brakes or a used track prepped Zo6 overall it fits your budget with leftover if it breaks parts are easily accesible. How about a Boss Laguna Seca?

 

You can also track prep your turbo and really change its attitude with seats/roll-bar/harness/alignment/suspension/pads-fluid/exhaust/chip/GT2RS ICs/r-comps. My car is quite competitive and a heck of a lot if fun. Beyond the consumables these are quite bullet proof.

 

What is breaking? I'd look at a 996 GT3, 2008 Viper ACR, maybe a ZR1 (can be had in the mid 70's).

But overall, if you track proof your TT, not much will beat it. All you truly need is a good tune (maybe K24+), good tires, coilovers and sway bars and you can run with anything that's not heavily modded. Oh, and a little bit of aggression to push it.

If it's to your liking, a RWD/LSD mod works great too.

There are a few things that you'll need to upgrade over time because they will wear out, but with some work in it, you won't be disappointed.

 

You can not beat a track prepped evo on any track! It will give the gt3 rs a run for its money

 

My car has KW suspension, various Tarret links, sway bars, brake work, etc. problem is I keep having boost issues, rear spoiler hydraulics broke twice, engine fan blew, etc etc. the car is good but every time I track it it breaks. Every time.

So I wanted to go with a somewhat simpler car for track duty. The Boss is a maybe but they look bad riding on a wheel/tire package that is just too small. Ever seen one?

I came close to a Z06 before and a Viper before so maybe. There is something about the Z28 that speaks to me. Plus my kids can go it. So Im gonna wait until it is released.

I have 2 Turbos already so I dunno if I can have 3 911's. Plus I miss having a V8 (V10?).

 

My car went through a phase like that. Kept having nagging issues that shut down my track days. Boost leaks, abs etc. Mostly caused by stuff that was done to the car aftermarket. But the fact is that can and will happen with any car especially if you mod it. My car made it through and is reliable again. I don't know about the Camaro and hard track duty for extended periods so look into that but would be great to drive the little ones around in.

Keep us updated, I'd like to know what you end up with.

 

now that you mentioned tots the Z28 is your best bet it's factory prepped and ready to go with full warranty! as long as you don't crazy mod the car it has the heart and soul of a zo6 for cheap, add a set of R888s and have fun. Other cheap option is to keep your 996 tt have the gremlins sorted out tweak the suspension and cooling (engine/tranny) system it's a wonderful car and feels at home at the track,and keep your $75k, lol

 

I understand your frustration, for sure, but I bet that if you kept the 996, and took the delta between what you could sell it for and $75,000, down to your local top-flight Porsche race shop and told them to do everything needed to make the car stop breaking down, they could build you a car that would be super reliable AND thrash a Z28. They would probably replace several systems that aren't currently broken, upgrade others, maybe even detune your car if you're over the top with power. Whatever they did would be pricey (if my experience with MY local Porsche race shop is any indication), but you've already told us you're willing to spend 35 or 40k to upgrade from your 996 to whatever you get for 75k, and I'm sure you won't spend that on the 996 unless you want to make 800hp and be reliable.

Of course, sometimes we just want a new car, dammit, and logic doesn't enter into it. I'm cool with that too!

 

Well said!!

His car should be faster than a Z28 already to be honest. If he went overboard with big turbos, I've seen that cause lots of issues with wide track tires rubbing hoses and such. The rest should be a matter of boost hoses, DV's and hose clamps, done. Little money spent.

But good point on wanting something new, though it sounds like he likes his Turbo if it would not give him so many issues.

 

Do you want to race again or just track the car?

 

I am not a big horsepower person so my car's only mod in that regards is a chip and exhaust. I think the car has plenty for road-racing and as you can see from my past all my other cars were low power, low weight.

I already have dumped around $15-$20k into this car with wheels, brakes, suspension etc. not to mention fixing all the broken things and I will never get $1 back. If I now dump another $10k into the car it's like pissing in the wind. My car has been in the shop at this point for a month. Did you hear me? A MONTH!

Whatever I get next will be a dedicated track car that I can drive to the track. I will keep this bad boy for street duty. I am back on track in a couple of weeks and if 1 more thing breaks it's a done deal. Never again. But, if it survives I will reconsider. I am a reasonable man!

 

1-month??? That blows, and nothing is under warrant for sure at this point. Anything old could stick you with repair bills again... I hear the BRZ is a good time, not fast but a good driver. I coached in a Boss last month and it was pretty good- great brakes/torque/exhaust note but still needs tires/bar/seats/straps. I also like the Z28 idea for a new track beast.

 

How about an Ariel Atom? Light and simple with not much to break. Should be easy repairs if something does go.

 

Well, you're looking in the wrong direction, in my opinion. A Z28 is even heavier than a Turbo. I get the whole wanting to drive it to the track thing, but if that's the case, a well-sorted Miata (200 rwhp is very easy to attain, reliable, and coupled with a 2200-2400-pound car (depending on generation) makes for reasonably fast performance). BRZ is another nice option, but of course spendier because it's newer.

If you want cars that don't break often, you need either real track cars (have to be trailered), or you need cars that are lightweight and underpowered, then fix them up with mild power upgrades (Miatas take to turbos like fish to water, check out Flyin' Miata for all things performance). But these lightweight, underpowered Miatas, BRZs, MR2s, are not "impressive" street cars. Which is fine, unless you want an impressive street car, and by setting a price of $75,000, it tells me you do.

I'd be far more likely to build a barely street legal lightweight that I can hang a license tag on to get to the track, either on race rubber or with it stuffed into the car (Miatas hold 4 race tires easily, 1 deflated in trunk, three in pax seat). Then use the rest of the funds to buy a street car you like, or keep the 996TT. In fact, that's the route I always went back when I was a track junkie throughout the 90s and early 2000s.

Heck, man, you have extensive experience on the track, so you know these things. You're trying to do too much with a heavy car, so it keeps breaking. Use the right tool for the job. Even if you build an insanely fast Miata, MR2, or even Elise, your rubber costs get slashed to a buck-twenty a corner for really good race rubber. Fuel use goes down, brake pads last longer and cost less, cars are easier to jack and support, and for me at least, putting them at risk on track is a trivial event, versus same for a newish Porsche, or even a new and very expensive Z28. (The only real problem with the Elise is it's flimsy, and if you crack a piece of the body it's very pricey and difficult to get replaced, compared to regular cars. Otherwise, a used Elise is a great track tool, and as ugly as they are, a car you won't mind leaving in the garage when not at the track!