Great advice!

As for selling your car and driving a track prepared 3 series. I am sure that the arguments for and against can be made, but it really comes down to what you want. I will say that I wouldn't trade my 06 C2S for an E36 track car, the 997 is a very capable car, and it car be driven fast without much trouble. It is also faster then most cars on the track.

 

If you're not enjoying the Porsche the way you're using it, do something else!

It's not an investment (or one of the worst investments you can imagine with a guaranteed reduction of value).

If it's not entertaining to you, dump it for something that rings your bell. There will be someone else out there who will think it's great while you enjoy your 328 at the track.

Nothing to see here....move along now.

 

I can respect the concern of the costs and risks of tracking a nearly new 911. But it you want to save money, why not buy (in addition or instead - depending on finances) an Elise/Exige? From everything I've read, they are the least costly to run (tires/fluids), and the most fun to drive.
If you have your heart set on a BMW, then by all means go for it. This whole automotive hobby thing is all about 'wants' and not about 'needs'. But if you're open to alternatives, seems like the Lotus is worthy of consideration.
Oh, and I definitely have a personal bias. I have a special, and currently unfilled spot in my heart for that street-legal go-kart.

 

Well besides the few that became irritated with this post, I think the thing is that the car has to provide good entertainment. I do worry about a few things with the 997 on track. It really isnt a dual purpose car. Its a street car that you have to play around with in order to make it trackable (at least for driving in the instructor run group).

If I can swing the E36 and keep the 997, I will, but if I have to sacrifice the 997 then it would be worth it, in that I would have a car that I setup before the track, go down there, have a blast (push my driving more and keep develop my skills) and maybe take the next step and compete in a club race at some point.

I should have got an S, and because I didnt I have to back off. Brake pad changes would not be fun during an event (closed caliper design, no race compounds yet). I could go BBK/Bembo, or try and find someone to cobble up a parts list to steal componentys from a GT3/Turbo etc. But if the latter, then why saddle oneself with the lowest 911 trying to make it emulate something it was never ment to be.

I still cant fathom why Porsche didnt just drop in the old S brakes/calipers. If you want a track worthy car, Porsche would probably say you should go GT3.

My mistake was thinking that the base 911 was good enough as a dual purpose car. For some silly reason I thought Porsches just jumped to track duty without too much hassle.

Anyway, time to call Suncoast and se if they came up with a brake solution..

 

Afridi you know your car is as capable as an 08S? The brakes were upgraded and so was the HP. I don't understand why you are so down on your car? Did something happen when you were on the track that scared you? Did you spin out or loose control? I'm being serious, not polking fun. I'm trying to get where you are coming from.

Porsches' goal is to make a car you can drive to the track, drive on the track, and drive home. That's what a 911 is. From what it sounds like at your experience level stock should be just fine, or maybe just upgrade to R-compound tires.

 

Actually it handled quite nicely on the track.

You just got me thinking. I was riding as a passenger with another driver and he lost it (turned in early) at a particularly difficult corner (with a wall on the left side) we spun badly but survived. He, the driver thought he hit some dirt at the apex (there certainly was dirt kicked up there) but I know he turned in early and ran out of track.

Maybe that spin, the first i was involved in, scared me a bit more than I have realized. I have once dropped two wheels of track, but never been taken for a ride like that. And at the time, I was not scared or tense at all. Heart rate was stable. No shortness of breath. In threatening situations I usually become extremely composed. However i realize i have been more wary of going back to the track in the 997 since that incident.

I will mull over this some more. But thank you for jolting that out of me. I really hadnt realized that the incident actually had an effect on me. And that is quite strange, as I usually am pretty good at knowing where Im at emotionally.

Damn!

 

+1 on that.... you can have the best of both worlds that way... A dedicated true track car wouldn't be a) safe or b) good on the road;(

 

I've gone of the track a few times, it's not fun, but you do learn from it. I know exactly where you are coming from now. Give it some time.

My best advice is do not let your testosterone or ego do the driving. Just as you said you need to remain level headed on the track. You're not in competition.

 

I don't track my car either because of the risks involved. I considered it and many hear say that wrecks don't happen oftern, but my neighbor recently saw a brand new GT3 slam into a side barrier...total loss. He has since bought a miata for spec track events and retired his EVO to street use. I know...the EVO is not a Porsche, but it's all relative. I'm considering the Miata route myself.

 

Did you try AutoX first? My friend started off AutoX for a couple of years and was nearly at home the first time he tracked.

 

Based on 30+ years of doing track work personally I think the safest course of action is to assume you will have an accident at some stage. Most people won't but if you do....ouch! And yes, I have personal experience to support this and while I hear what everyone says about staying within your limits I'm not sure that is the point of track work.

How do you know you're within the limits until you find them and what about the guys around you? You certainly can't control them. Track conditions can vary considerably even lap to lap - as a for instance someone can drop oil a couple of corners ahead of you and you only find out when you arrive going sideways. Flaggies can only do so much.

So if the thought of all that scares you financially then absolutely go the Miata / E36 M3 or a similar path. That way who cares if it gets bent and you can still have a hoot. All you have to worry about is your personal safety.

 

The E36 328 is plenty for track use and will certainly give more head room to get better on the track. It may not be as fast as the 911, but it'll certainly be easier to take to its limit.

Why not keep both?

 

Ultimately guys is depends on who you are running with and how hard your driving. I DO NOT drive with the local Porsche clubs. I have tried with the 2 primary clubs and it was not a good fit. I joined the track and as a private member I get to enjoy the tracks with little or no traffic.

If you are not pushing it at the track, just enjoying your car, there is minimal risk.

 

This discussion fleshes it out very nicely.

There are times when staying well within your limits is fun and a great release.

But other times it is important to push and develop your skills further. Dropping your lap time and keeping it consistently at that new time is a very rewarding experience. Keeping up with a much faster car is very rewarding.

But as mentioned above, the track surface does vary. Damp conditions, cold days, oil or other fluids and sometimes other drivers doing silly things can get you into trouble.

While I am very comfortable driving on a track with race machinary with no restrictions on passing zones with a group of drivers I trust, there is always some inherrant risk.

Driving well below my limits is fun, safe and worth it some of the time. When pushing my Cayman, having the tail come round on me, and catching it was rewarding, and indicated I had reached close o my limits. Those were also the sessions where I was knocking of a second or two from my lap times.

 

Nicely put.

I had a young student at a recent circuit training day with a mid-eighties BMW 318i. Standard apart from some tired Bilsteins and a few m-sport body mods. A real rocket - 65kw (88hp) at the wheels!

Anyway, this guy was a natural. He had really good car control and with a little pushing was able to get the thing nicely up on it's toes. We both had a great day and he managed to knock 6 seconds off his lap time.

During the day I had a short drive and to be honest the thing was a piece of s..t. Seriously - no power, no brakes, shot suspension and a gear lever with 6 inches of sideways movement. Not quite what I would want even as a budget toy but it was worth what, $1000? Down here that's about the same as one tyre for a 997.