Long story shot, last week we upgraded to a 991 turbo from 987 Cayman. It's our great honor that Daniel Eastman sold the car to us. He is the 918 client manager and Porsche factory driver, as seen in this video:
Daniel is fantastic! He talked about drive the car every day, drive it on the track, he told that "the car will increase your limit", and we actually experienced that.

Now I want to go to track, but I feel the 991 turbo is too much for me as a novice. I only have 3 previous track day experiences. The question to all you enthusiast: should I buy a Toyota GR86 to start with on the track? Then regarding daily drive, how much difference in the fun department comparing the 991 and GR86?

Thank you all in advance!

 

If you're new to the track you're best bet is to get a Miata or GR86 and lots of coaching. You'll be a much better driver in the end. Power + Newbie driver can equal a few things. First, all the power will cover up issues you have to work on. All the nannies will also cover up areas to improive on. Lastly, you're not experienced enough to drive without the nannies and if you do it's likely you'll have an accident. Here's my list of track cars starting in 1999

300zx
WRX
E46 M3
Lotus Elise
E90 M3
Spec Miata
Spec E46
987 Cayman
996 Turbo
Spec Boxster

 

Thank you Brainofjjj for the advise! You have a great collection of track cars! Looking at today's market, seems GR86 is best bang for the buck. Any other suggestions?

 

I've got a 991 combo with 86 as a fun toy. The 86 is really good for what it is. It's not as practical as the 991, as weird as it sounds.

A 991 is a very easy car to drive and learn on though.

 

You could always look for a used Cayman. If you want something new then a GR or Miata are your best bets, NA motors and both will teach you how to manage your momentum. With good coaching you'll learn how to manage corner speeds, trail braking and how to keep your speed going. It may not be as fun as blasting around with 500hp but you'll learn a whole set of skills at safer speed.

 

Inexpensive cars are less $ to run (brakes/tires/maintenance costs), less $ risked with accidents, so financially they are better track cars. The trick is finding something low cost that has good driving dynamics and is enjoyable to drive and teaches you good car control due to the good feedback from steering/suspension/chassis. I have three go-to choices, mainly because of the purchase cost, running costs, and driving dynamics. My first two are Miata and BRZ/86/FRS/GR86. The Miata is a little better in some ways, the Subaru/Toyota twin is better in others. Miata has better suspension design (double wishbone), but the BRZ/86 is a very good chassis as well. The Miata is a little less capable as a daily driver, with less cargo and interior volume. I used to include the S2000 in this category, but prices on those are high now, and difficult finding one in good shape. My third choice is a C5 Z06, the brakes and tires are still affordable but definitely more than a Miata, just not as bad as a 991. The C5 has worse steering feedback, but is overall a very very well balanced chassis. I’d probably consider a Miata or BRZ/86 if more of a beginner, as your $ will go further and you’ll focus more on learning car control. You can step up to a C5 Z06 later and it will have enough power to smoke 95% of cars at a typical track day. 350/370Z are getting cheap, but everything on them is **** and will need more upgrades to not overheat or fall apart, and even then the chassis is not the best and they are very heavy so will be more wear and tear on tires/brakes. I would pass on those unless you are building a drift car. Anyways, just my 2 cents, take it for what it’s worth, but Miata or BRZ/86 you can’t go wrong!

 

Thank you all for the inputs and advise!
How many track days do you do per year? And do you always go to the same track?

I live in Denver, CO, and looks like we only have one track nearby.

Thanks again!

 

I would second a cheaper car as it is cheaper, will be a better tool to learn on.

Will be much cheaper to get a second/third set of wheels/tires.
Better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

The Miata/BRZ will be a lighter car, the handling dynamics will be good, and you can focus on learning to drive.

I am looking at a Cayman / Miata / S2K, but my wife asks why don't I just start turning my RX-7 into a track car. hmmm........

 

Ok, voice of dissent here (but it's all good) - it seems bonkers to me to buy another car just to learn track stuff when you already have one that is better in every possible metrics. If it's for running cost because you plan on running 25x a year, OK maybe but even then I'm not convinced an entire GR86 will cost less than whatever you will wear out on your turbo (the tires?) - it's a very long term recoup of that investment... The turbo will laugh at beginner track days, wear wise..

Sure a slower car with no nannies will let you experience things like weight transfer and proper application of brakes, line, etc, at a slower speed but I also believe you can learn the track basics just as well in your car as you can in a heap (and save $20K), the concepts are the same, even a turbo will let you feel weight transfer at lower speeds, just use your judgement and right foot appropriately when learning, following the advice of your instructor.. Also a 911 feels like a 911, a GR86 with front engine most definitely is not like a 911 at the limit (and i say that after exchanging my 991 with a subaru BRZ recently on small roads, with a buddy - does not have the behavior of a 911 at all). Nothing feels like a rear engine 911 so I would learn on the 911...

I'm 100% cool with track cars if your car is too valuable, expensive to maintain, or you have zero fear and no self preservation and are going to wreck for sure (even then I'd rather have the turbo with more safety features ;-) Or if you Want a track car because you are very much into it and it makes sense not to wear out your nicer car.. But as a learner it'll be a while before you are there IMO.
Dunno, Seems extreme to me.

 

911 S are not cheap to track...
$2,000 plus set of tires every 4-5 track days
$1,400 in rotors every 10 track days?
$150 brake pads...multiple sets
Brake fluid flush $122 will need a few

10 track days = roughly $6,000+ maintenance by itself....

 

Miata. Either buy or rent. Regardless of which car, spend the money on proper instruction. Value per $ insofar as actually improving yourself as a driver:

1. professional instruction
2. a car that *you* are solely driving (not one with all sorts of computer assistance where the car is doing the driving for you). a miata or toyabaru would be great. there are a LOT of miatas kicking around and lots more knowledge on how to support them for track use.
3. when the above are done, go have fun with your Turbo. you’ll be a better driver and actually able to appreciate what the car is capable of.

whatever you decide, have fun.

 

I ultimately sold mines due to it not being comfortable enough and up to par for my personal daily standards. My reason for having it is completely different then yours but YES it’s a great beginners sports car and consumables are much cheaper! Quite nimble and stiff right out of the box.

 

Consider this: 1995 Toyota MR2. Mid-engine rocket! #snapoversteer

 

you don't have to be WOT while you're learning the car on track. assuming you aren't tragically bad at driving and that you have a vaguely competent instructor, you'll be fine.

 

Wait a second... you're saying that you *don't* need to be WOT? How else can you drive "flat out"?? ;-)