View Poll Results: What track car for $6k?
Porsche 944 Turbo
9
14.29%
Porsche 944 NA
45
71.43%
1995-1996 BMW M3
6
9.52%
Other (Please post what it is)
3
4.76%
Voters: 63. You may not vote on this poll
Track day car Voting....
11-10-2009, 03:16 PM
#48
Race Director
#2: The new SCCA STR class includes Miatas, 944 NA, and early 1980's 911's. I was thinking the Miatas are going to kick *** until I started seeing some posts like yours about the lack of low end grunt from the Miatas. If you had to choose between the 944 and the miata here..what are your thoughts?
Spec Miata vs 944 Spec is mainly driver dependant. The top notch SM's are very fast and well driven and just a bit faster. However the miata has the edge where it can maintain momentum. It does not have the top speed of the 944. Even so the SM is 300lbs lighter then 944 spec. Change that weight balance and the performance may shift.
Even then a early 80's 911 can be very fast too. Again it wil come down to the rules.
11-10-2009, 04:01 PM
#49
Rennlist Member
You really cannot beat the affordability of the miata -- this is why they're so darned popular. They're stupid reliable and ridiculously cheap thrills.
That said, they have absolutely no personality in my honest opinion. I'm a big fan of cars with personality, and the beautiful thing about the world of cars is that there are plenty to choose from that have very similar performance, so why get a car without any personality?
I've driven a number of track-prepped miatas ranging from plain-and-simple first gens to crazy 3rd gens with an LS1. Gotta admit, the LS1 miata was pretty durn fast! But that kind of busts through your target budget...
But aside from turbo- or V8-powered miatas, I just find 'em so darned boring!
So here's what I did (although you already said you didn't like the MR2's): my cheap thrills car is a fully gutted (doesn't even have doors), roll caged, racing seated first gen MR2 with a quite loud exhaust. The go fast and have a rockin' time track car is the 951. Great balance -- the 951 is by far the superior of the two in every way, shape, and form...except when it comes to cost. Also, the MR2 is so beat up and dead-nuts reliable I can take it anywhere and not care about anything...
yeah, I'm rambling -- I know. um, just do what you want.
That said, they have absolutely no personality in my honest opinion. I'm a big fan of cars with personality, and the beautiful thing about the world of cars is that there are plenty to choose from that have very similar performance, so why get a car without any personality?
I've driven a number of track-prepped miatas ranging from plain-and-simple first gens to crazy 3rd gens with an LS1. Gotta admit, the LS1 miata was pretty durn fast! But that kind of busts through your target budget...
But aside from turbo- or V8-powered miatas, I just find 'em so darned boring!
So here's what I did (although you already said you didn't like the MR2's): my cheap thrills car is a fully gutted (doesn't even have doors), roll caged, racing seated first gen MR2 with a quite loud exhaust. The go fast and have a rockin' time track car is the 951. Great balance -- the 951 is by far the superior of the two in every way, shape, and form...except when it comes to cost. Also, the MR2 is so beat up and dead-nuts reliable I can take it anywhere and not care about anything...
yeah, I'm rambling -- I know. um, just do what you want.
11-10-2009, 09:01 PM
#51
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I have an 86 951, bone stock except for M030 sways that I would let go for $6500. Myself and my son tracked the car for 3 years without incident. My na rocks and is much more fun thru the twisties.
I have instructed in some ex 944cup cars....yikes, just efin yikes.
I have instructed in some ex 944cup cars....yikes, just efin yikes.
11-10-2009, 09:16 PM
#52
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Were you at VIR with NASA last month? There was an ex 944 cup car in my HPDE group. Looked rode hard and put away wet.
11-11-2009, 03:53 PM
#53
Race Director
I can't say about the STR classes since it will depend on the rules. Things like allowed mods, competition weight. Tire etc will define which car is faster.
Spec Miata vs 944 Spec is mainly driver dependant. The top notch SM's are very fast and well driven and just a bit faster. However the miata has the edge where it can maintain momentum. It does not have the top speed of the 944. Even so the SM is 300lbs lighter then 944 spec. Change that weight balance and the performance may shift.
Even then a early 80's 911 can be very fast too. Again it wil come down to the rules.
Spec Miata vs 944 Spec is mainly driver dependant. The top notch SM's are very fast and well driven and just a bit faster. However the miata has the edge where it can maintain momentum. It does not have the top speed of the 944. Even so the SM is 300lbs lighter then 944 spec. Change that weight balance and the performance may shift.
Even then a early 80's 911 can be very fast too. Again it wil come down to the rules.
