Have a chance at getting into an E36 328 track car. I've weighed out the expense of modifying my Carrera for track use vs getting a GT3. Think stepping back to the BMW will allow me to go to the track more often.

Since getting into Porsche I have been at the track less. And with the 911, only once, which was a let down. As a result I ended up buying a Yamaha R6 to have some fun during the better weather.

I miss the track and doing another year on the side taking photographs doesnt appeal to me.

 

Why may I ask do you track less in the Porsche. I haven't yet gotten into tracking but I have a few valid concerns - one is wrecking a 100K car which from what everyone says requires an expert driver to drive at 10/10 so how would one ever get to that point. The other is the massive expense of tires, brakes, etc.

 

Well, then someone else gets a nice 997.2 - I reckon there's a silver lining for that buyer.

I've had 3 e36 cars - two of them M cars. The M3 Coupe was a blast, but no 911.

I reckon you'd get a lot of money back selling the 911. I guess an e36 is a lot more economical for track use.

You gotta do whacha gotta do.

 

Hate to have to give up the 911.

Expense, lack of parts, etc etc.

 

No matter what you do it is going to cost you or you will loose money. Your car is perfectly capable with a few mods. What you don't realize is you have a diamond in the rough.

I'd keep it! Get Bilsteins, a track/street alignment, Champion light-weight wheels, Sport cup or corsa tires, short throw shifter, exhaust system including center exhaust bypass.

Only about 10k and you will love your car on the track. I can see how stock you wont enjoy yourself. I FELT THE SAME WAY! Now my car is transformed into a track machine

 

It's too bad, but if you're looking to sell it let me know. I might be interested.

 

I had an e36 M3 and it was a fun track car with some modifications. But the last of them was made in 1999, I think, so you will be purchasing at least a 10 year old car. These cars have some inherent weaknesses, some of which can be costly to fix. The VANOS systems are notoriously troublesome, and the rear end subframe (? proper terminology) can rip out at 50,000 to 60,000 miles, especially under hard use such as tracking. Other weak points include, I believe, either oil cooling or water cooling systems. The bottom line is that, if you want an e36 to be set up for the track, you have some serious investing to do to get it there, especially since the cars are at least 10 years old.
And compared to the Porsche it is going to feel seriously anemic unless you supercharge it.
My two cents: If you can afford the Porsche, stick with the new Porsche over any 10 yr old car. If driven appropriately, and with proper instruction, I do not necessarily agree that tracking for a few weekends each summer is all that hard on a car (other than tires and brakes.) Get a set of track tires/wheels and pop them on before the de event. Pop them off whan it's over. Simple.

 

Bad idea. You're going to lose a lot of money. First two years depreciation is the worst. And nothing is drives like a 911 and more fun to drive on the track than a 911.

 

Perhaps he wants to go back to BMW.

 

I've been thinking the same thoughts as the OP WRT my '07 997S (except that I wouldn't sell my P-car). It is an expensive car to run on the track considering the cost of a set of pagid pads (one set per year at least), tires, and maintenance. And then there is the risk of an engine issue (money shift) or accident damage - which at 997 costs for me means I have to buy insurance as I can't afford to replace my car with a similar car.

I could afford to replace an M3 up to (but not including) the e9x series. Or spec-Miata. Or maybe an older 911 (pre-993). So for track use I'm done with my 997S as much as I love it.

That's a big change for me - up to a few months ago I planned to track it again this year. But a conversation with, and letter from my insurance company convinced me that I was taking on more risk than I could afford. I can walk away from an e36M3 and feel the sting but not really suffer. Not so the 997S.

Others may differ, and good for them.

 

I have an '87 Carrera that doubles as DD and DE car. It is a driver's car, even though it is considerably slower than a 997, but it is also more affordable and less painful to the pocket should something go wrong at the track (I cannot also afford to replace my 997 if I wreck it with a similar car). It is a dry sump motor and there are no driver aids anywhere. The build quality is second to none - I want to see my '06 Carrera S in 23 years' time to see how it has held up as compared to my '87 model. Being slower means I have a lot of fun getting close to its limits at less than catastrophic speeds on a 997.

 

Dude you have got to be crazy. Dumping a 997.2 Carrera for an old BMW ? And not an M ? If I had to vote I'd say stick with Stuttgart.

 

If it's about the cost of sorting it and the risk of loosing it, I can see your point. Nothing worse than tracking a car you can't afford to write off. Takes away most of the fun.

 

I've taken part in numerous track events and have not seen anything near a total loss. In fact, I rarely even saw an infield slide. The DE events are meant to be fun and instructional. They are not a race and probably should not be driven at 10/10 until someone is in the expert or instructor category. Maybe the plan should be to back off a bit, learn the limits of the car gradually, and therefore severely reduce the risk a bad accident.

 

You should take a look at this post. A great deal of Porsche owners are reluctant to track their cars from fear of damage, but as mseligson stated a great of events occur without a hitch.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...tes-track.html