JS

Yes, less power, less weight.
Smooth, speed will come.

orthojoe

My 2 cents:

Right now, it doesn't matter what the heck you're driving. Drive whatever is the most convenient and have fun. In the meantime, start thinking:

If you want to drive the latest and fastest, but don't care about ever getting fast, get a GT3. I don't care what anyone thinks, you just can't learn the subtle nuances of driving when you're in a 500hp car.

If you want to progress quickly as a driver, get a miata or 200hpish car. Spec miata is fantastic, but not street legal and brings with it another set of headaches. You can't drive a fast car fast until you can drive a slow car fast. Be prepared to be passed a lot, but also be prepared to pass a GT3 driver that decided to learn on a GT3.

A good 'best of both' that keeps the fun of a quick car, but is slow enough where you can still learn is a good 'ol cayman or 300hpish car.

My first track day was in an evo X
I really got into DE with a boxster spyder
I currently DE an RS and a spec miata, and I race the spec miata. I honestly have loads of fun in both cars. The miata is still teaching me.

My vote is cayman.

ipse dixit

Corvette C7 ZR1

Throw caution to the ******* wind.

victorc31

Where are you located or where are you shopping?

superdog

Located in NJ.

superdog

I like your style. I just don’t love corvettes. I actually do love them. But not enough to want one. Not at the moment anyway.

superdog

Great comments guys.

And i agree. I will learn on a slow car. And that’s the route I’ll take. I too know it to be the right move if I want to get good.

That said, I do want the RS. I found one I think works for me. Perfect all around.

And while the 458 is a dream come true. It came true. It drives like a sled. I’m genuinely just not that comfortable in it. It’s sexy as all hell, and in a straight line it’s tons of fun. Turns and braking do not give me confidence. Not like in my Targa. Not even close.

So if I can make the deal, I’ll swap the 458 spider for the RS and likely get about 20k back. I’ll also look for a built track Miata or something similar.

Then when I feel as though I’m ready maybe I’ll put the RS on the track. Seems like a good all around solution.

Ill miss the 458. But I’ll get over it pretty fast. I always do.

thanks again for the feedback. I’ll update the thread if anything comes out of this. Because it’s clearly possible I’ll keep the 458 and just pick up the Miata (or similar).

chance6

Amen to this, I have a .2 GT3 and while I plan to hit the track with it--I'm gonna wait a while. She is just too pristine and for now I plan to keep it just that way...I like to clean it up, and yes, I agree with OP, look at the beauty of it as well as take it out on weekends. I don't care what anybody says, it's a fun car on the street.

wmond

Where in NJ? If you’re around Monmouth county, let me know.

Reading all this, I’d say get the GT3. You’ll learn plenty and eventually be as good as if you started in a cayman or regular 911. .1 or .2, either one would be great and both are fun to drive around town and to cars and coffees. I agree with you on one thing, you’re never disappointed with the best. Good luck.

robmypro

LOL

robmypro

The easy decision is the 991.1 GT3. You get 5 years of “engines are on Porsche.” It is an easy car to drive fast. Extremely forgiving. Sounds amazing. And the PDK in sport mode takes care of all the shifting. No brainer imo.

Or you could get a C7 ZR1 and play Russian Roulette every time out, whether on the street or the track lol.

robmypro

Because ZR1...

Captain Scurry

I learned the most about car control racing my custom made 10 hp stick shift go cart around the yard during my youth. It was a blast. Thus, HP does not necessarily correlate to more fun. Start slow, learn, then move up. You will appreciate it more. It always makes me laugh when I see a great driver in an older, low HP car on the bumper of a poor driver in a brand new high HP car. Which driver do you want to be?

mr965

I'd say take the 458 out a few times to enjoy the Ferraritista rev limit.

HelpMeHelpU

Funny you are considering starting in a lowly GT4. When I wanted to get a GT4 I wanted to gain as much track experience as I could BEFORE I got the GT4 because I didn't want to be that ninny to which you refer, showing up in such a great car without really being able to drive it. So I got a 981 Cayman S, which is a fabulous track car, for beginners or otherwise.
I am probably in the minority here, and I've never driven a GT3 ( RS or otherwise), but I would say that until you can take several laps around a track at full throttle in a GT4 it's all the car you need. And it's a great car at that.

(BTW, I am in northern NJ, so let me know if you want to drive my GT4.)