stevek1

Hey All,

I'm looking to make a switch this year from my current track setup and i've always been interested in a P car of some sort. Right now I have a Panoz gtra and it's a solid track car but since i'm only doing 6-8 days a year i'd like to return to a car that i don't have to trailer to the track.

I'm thinking an SC or G50 would make a pretty nice platform but other than some recon on this forum i'm fairly clueless about these cars. Is it going to be extremely expensive to pick up one of these cars and replace the necessary parts before it's safe to run? Once these cars are set up for track / street duty are they relatively easy on the wallet as far as general maintenance and reliability? How about consumables?

I'm an intermediate driver with about 30 DE days so I wouldn't be pushing the car past 8/10's most likely. I am aware that i have to throw all of my driving knowledge out the window for to learn to drive one of these cars and that is one of the factors that really intrigues me about the 911.

Chuck Harmon

http://www.buckley-racing.com/for-sale.html
This is a good car at a good price for an example. Titled street car set up for track use...arrive and drive!

g-50cab

I'd focus on a Carrera - 1984-1989. Don't get wrapped up in the G-50 flag - although I know a few that have g-50 carrera owners that flog them.

Probably one of the better documented - and better run set up cars (fast too) is my friend Joe's car - he has a 1987 carrera that he's taken many pounds of weight from - it's transformed the car.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...ild-story.html

The cheaper route is always to but someone else's project. I do know of a 1988 that's coming on the market soon - that has a bunch of work done to it

Great fun to drive - very challenging to drive fast

stevek1

Thanks for the links. It'll take some time to dig through the one on Pelican but I'm sure there is a lot of great info in that thread.

I'll start doing some further recon on the 84-89, particularly the turbo look alike ( forget the proper name ).

Any insight on consumables? Based on power and weight I wouldn't expect brake pads to go that quickly. Tires seem like a different story?

That silver 911 looks pretty familiar. I'm guessing that ive seen that car pounding around Sebring.

embacpa

Buying one already sorted for track is certainly the least expensive route to go. I bought a great condition 89 Carrera 3.2 street car for $23k. I now have $65k in it. It's really a track car now that I still drive on the street a bit, but only my kids will ride with me. I hope that gives you a sense of the build vs buy. My mechanic warned me and he was right. However, I have learned so much.

Learning to drive one of these air cooled 911's is soulful. And it is a freak'n blast once you learn how to control that rear end.

Ed Hughes

I wouldn't go for a turbo look. Find a well sorted car, no need for a garage queen if it is track bound. Good, up-to-snuff brakes, good rubber, and give it a go for a season. You'll soon learn the nuances of trailing throttle oversteer and be having a blast. Then, next winter you'll be plotting the upgrades.

g-50cab

Consumables are reasonable. Get a decent track pad and you are good - Once you get the 20 year old car sorted - they can be pretty reasonable to run. Now once you start upgrading - all bets are off.

g-50cab

this one looks like fun for the money

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...-rs-clone.html

wildcat077

We seem to be following the same path ... I paid $23,000 for my 89 as well and i'm into it for $45,000 so far ... lol
My car is fun on the track but i think i need a 3.6 with 300HP in it now!

That should bring it up another 10K easily

Cheers !
Phil

g-50cab

After my 3.6 upgrade - can't tell you (or don't want to tell you) what I have in my car - especially after the 3.6 needed a rebuild - BUT I do now drive the car that I want to drive... and it goes pretty good too.

Ed Hughes

Well, Ruby started out as a $10K car, and I can assure you, her sum total now is more painful. But, the entertainment value was superb.

TRAKCAR

an '04 GT3 and leave it alone?

g-50cab

Or you could do that. Or really any of the later 996 cars - or even the boxster s makes a great track car.

embacpa

i will absolutely put in a 3.6 if i destroy my 3.2. though, my research indicates it will cost closer to $25k. and yes, the cost would build from there as i would like make a few body changes to accept larger contact patch, improved oil cooling, etc. i would start eliminating a lot of weight as well. with all that, the power to weight ratio will keep up with a GT3 (at least one driven with a less skilled driver:-))

i almost pulled the trigger on a used GT3 RS, but am simply having too much fun learning how to drive a less forgiving car.

although, that GT3 RS is always in the back of my mind:-)

stevek1

Wow. Thanks for all of the info. Definitely sounds like a slippery slope once you get into modifications and the need to upgrade as driving skill increases. I knew some of the older 911s at the track had some money put in them, but really had no idea it was that much.

Maybe the 996 gt3 is the right choice. I can't do my own wrenching so perhaps the 80's 911 is a poor choice for my situation.