Oh John, and 2:02 is just insane, brother.

 

For what it is worth, I would keep your car as is. Unless you are going to race it, it is fast as sh*t. Why take a bath and not change performance a ton. Buy that little yellow Synergy 993 just for fun. I drove it the last time at VIR and it is a blast. Anyways, give me a shout.

Richard

 

I second what Richard just said. If you've already made all the upgrades (sorry, I didn't read your initial post carefully enough and thought it was a hypothetical), then I'd just stick with what you have. It appears to be an awesome car and you'll never get close to the money back that you've put into it. That's the ***** of moding cars and I've been where you are plenty of times.

 

John,

Yeah I heard that DAS built you the sickest cage ever. Looks awesome. What made you choose the JRZ?

In the end, and tell me if I'm wrong here, but if I upgraded from Bilsteins to JRZ/Ohlins/Moton, upgrade my transmission like I would (LSD, flywheel, clutch), then is there any reason that my car wouldn't be as desirable as a GT3 for track use? That's essentially the big question. I know that the block is weaker, but mine is holding up just fine and if it blows, it blows. But for the time being I have 500+Hp. I guess this is what I wonder. Is there anything inherent to the GT3 that is simply a better experience than I can milk out of a 997S that I am pretty attached to?

 

John,

Cool. I feel like we're getting somewhere here. Thanks man. I'll buy you a beer when I see you next for sure.

You're 100% correct on my 'evolution' here. I bought a 997S because it was the best they had at the time. The GT3 and Turbo weren't out. I would have bought a Turbo then, because I didn't know what I wanted. Glad I didn't now. It is further from what I want than what I have, by far. So, I bought the S and started building a street car. At this time, I didn't know that any tracks even existed around us, or that I could get out on them. Crazy, I know, but I didn't. So I started tracking and actually started really loving it. I ended up with 17 track days just from May to now, and that is including my car being out of service because of the incident you know about. So I really got into it. So the mods started working their way towards the track. Many of the things you mention I already have done. I have GMG adjustable sways, Cup car drop links, GMG dog bones, and GT3 lower control arms. I also have the toe links and the mono ball in all the places that were involved in changing over the aforementioned parts. I'm sure there's other places to put it though. So I've done a lot there. All done by Synergy, including setup. Also, I'm running the same setup (if I remember Kerrigan correctly) as their build cars. I just have much softer springs. They're set up as stiff as the Bilstiens will go. They're great for the street, but just not enough at the track. I'm aware of that. If I keep the car, I will also be buying 2 sets of 18" BBSs and Dunlop slicks from Synergy. It's what they run.

I traded in my Audi Q7 and bought a big Duramax and a 24' enclosed trailer while Synergy was setting it up, so I'm definitely going for the track stuff now, and am pretty dedicated. That's why I'm wondering if I should just go to a GT3 and start there. But then I really think that I have a great start here. So what it's a Carrera S. It's got tons of ***** and I just have some things I need to do... like the LSD and all the drivetrain stuff you mentioned. I do need to look at having it re-geared. I don' t know about shorter though. I don't know if it'd hook up. Remember, I have another 100HP on a 997GT3, and a good amount of torque too. And I do want to drive it on the road some. This sounds crazy, but I will probably leave the stereo and carpet and A/C and all that in. I like it. The sub box weighs 40lbs. I shed more than that by taking off my mufflers. I live in Asheville. The roads are incredible. I don't just drive the car to dinner though. When it comes out, I run it really hard in the twisties. And when I'm doing that, I love to have some Nelly bumpin. Hey. I can't help it. I listen to an iPod when I snowboard too.

As for safety, Synergy just installed a GMG roll bar. Not a full cage. I have OMP 6 point harnesses and Cobra racing seats. If I keep this car, it will have all the fire systems and shut offs of a race car. I have a great helmet, I wear Nomex gloves. I don't have a suit but I've been shopping. I will have a new HANS on the way from CDOC as soon as I choose if Traqmate is enough for me or if I need to spring for AIM (which you can help me with too).

So, where now? I ask myself this: why not just stick with my car and do the stuff to the drivetrain/tranny, go to Motons/Ohlins/JRZ (prob Ohlins because of Synergy), do the 18s and Dunlops, and finish out the safety gear? I'd essentially have a Synergy build car, but with a stereo, carpet, A/C, bigger brakes, and much bigger power. But this would cost roughly another $30k. Maybe more. But that same amount of money, on top of what I would get out of my car, would have me a GT3 with the cage, PCCB, I'd keep my seats, I'd still have to buy the 18s and Dunlops, I'd still have to buy the AIM or Traqmate, I'd still have to upgrade to Ohlins, I'd still have to do all the safety stuff... but the drivetrain would be in order. Yeah, I'd free up the intake and exhaust, but it isn't that much. I'd have a warranty even. But the car would likely be slower, subwoofers in the S and all, because 50lbs is easily overcome by 100HP.

So what's the thoughts now?

Thanks again.

I'll be out of the country until July 29th, but I anticipate that this will be a hobby for me to do at least 3 weekends a month. My job doesn't interfere at all.

 

Yeah. I'm going snowboarding with Jesus for 6 months. (Really. No joke. My wife and I are cleaning out our schedule for 6 months to snowboard with some other people that love Jesus from all around the world and really get to know Him again, all in the midst of the Swiss Alps. Check out http://www.ywamdavos.org He's been good to me.

Anyway, so you think I should keep it. I really think that's what I want to do. I just wish it were a GT3. I know that's crazy, but I do. I'm trying to be as honest as possible here. But I love the car.

John, I have to say I have no idea what you're talking about with the roof, so you're learnin' me something here. Do you mean ROOF like over the top of my head... cut it out and put a lighter one in roof? That is the only roof I know, but you say that it's in the wrong place, which throws me off again. But you do talk about paint... just help me out here. I'm totally lost, but want to know what it is you're talking about.

Traqmate it is. I'll research the coilover options. I know I have to upgrade to one of the big 4 (Ohlins, Moton, KW, JRZ). And I just want to barely keep it street legal. I don't want to compromise any more than the carpet, A/C, and stereo and all other legalities. Maybe I'll change my mind later (remember where I came from... I had 20s on this car at first!) but keeping it the way it is now costs me no money at all.

I'll stew over this for a day or two, but I think I'm good here. You've helped out a ton.

Happy New Year everyone!

Jared

 

Blakt out,
What size/offsets of volks do you have?

 

You will be glad you did and your investment will be more sound.
Good Luck

 

19X8.5 and 19X11. Don't know the offsets. They say that on them, but they are on the car at VIR/Synergy right now.

 

Don't put more money into your car. You car is quickly becoming a money pit. And on top of that it is going to be worth less and bev less streetable. This means that you reduce the market of people who would be interested in buying it.

If you are serious about tracking then a 996 GT3 is a better choice than a 997 GT3. You could probably find a track sorted 996 GT3 for a just bit more money than you car right now.

I think that would be a better idea.

 

So that we're all on the same page, I've got $141,500 in this car total. Just thought I'd throw that out there. That's the stereo, a set of 20s, a set of 19s, etc. I didn't include excessive things like tires, brake pads, etc.

It's still a sick street car as it is if someone wants to PM me an offer.

 

Good advice IMO.

Also, regarding the sunroof comments, yes, it's weight in the wrong place but I wouldn't butcher the car to get rid of the sunroof. It's a street car not a racecar so is it really that important that you shave off the extra weight? Who are you competing against?

I went down a similar path as you years ago w/ a BMW M3 LTW and wish I never had. It was a real money pit and I ended up w/ something I couldn't race because it didn't fit into any class, and something I couldn't drive on the street because it had a cage, etc.

Nowadays, I don't do much to my street cars. Typically an exhaust and I did a LWFW in the case of my GT3. This way I can trade them in or sell more easily (highly tuned cars can be hard to sell ... I want nothing to do with them) and you don't take a big bath on all the money "invested" in them. Because I love to drive and tinker on cars, I have a racecar. It's also a money pit and I'll never get my money out of that either, but I can race with it (as opposed to just DE events), I'm safe, and it's a real racecar that fits into a real class. You'll get a ton of seat time racing too.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

Agree with this completely. Don't put any more money into your car unless there is some ideal goal you have with it and never wish to sell. I love modding cars and know how you can fall down the path of continually 'updgrading.'

I put carbon seats in my RS and plan a set of lighter rims and maybe an exhaust and that is it.

 

If I keep it, I MUST upgrade the drivetrain to LSD, LWFW, and clutch. That's $8k. I'm spinning my inside rear wheel on exits because of the 500HP. It's like, 1 wheel drive. Never notice it on the street, but running hard on the track is an issue.

 

Let's do more math here.

Take X which is the cars value (you should definitely part out a lot), subtract it from Z, which is the what you have invested. If that number makes you nautious, keep the 997 and add a few more mods (not 33k worth though, do some research) because you are almost there with the 997, all you really need is some Motons/JRZ and LSD.

The 997 S seems to be too much of a liability with the block issue and the amount of track time you get. Chances are even the stock GT3 will be as fast and after you get over that warm bath, you can get to modding the GT3 to go even faster.