davidnyc

A little background on myself before I ask my main question(s):

I now have the ability to afford one of my dream cars. I narrowed it down to a 996 GT3. I have been doing track days since 1998, autocrossed since 2000, and one year of racing in 2003. Most of my experience was in a Integra Type R (great car: quick but not fast, reliable, amazing handling for a FWD, etc.). I have also owned a modified Miata (suspension, not motor) and a stock S2000 (was my daily driver for awhile). Currently, I also do some DE instructing for a local club at a local track. Obviously, most of my experience is in FWD, lower hp, high revving cars. So, the 996 GT3 is a challenge I am looking forward to doing.

My main question is basically what is the typical annual costs for this P-car for my usage that will typically be a weekend/fun car with 6-10 DE's a year? I am assuming the typical tires/brakes/fluid changes as with any track car. Anything that is specific to this car?

If you can also suggest some links (either within this forum or other places to research) that will be great. So far I have read that the LSD is basically "garbage" and either look for a car with a rebuilt or Guards LSD, correct?

Anyway, thanks for your help and I will continue to read and ask more questions.

996FLT6

Hopefully u can find one with all the right goodies ie at minimum- seats/harness/bar and rear toelinks that would help offset the initial costs to install them. At least for me on average it's bout 1000/day including trackday fee/lodging and food/gas consumables like tires/brakes/fluids over a season. I think mooty does 2k/trackday but he's in another planet ie Uranus : ). But there's quite a range in annual costs per trackday but car is pretty bulletproof. Don't let coolant hose popping off/****ty stock LSD deter u from buying. It's so much fun : ). Mike

Serge944

They're reliable and not maintenance intensive. Consumables are expensive though - pads, rotors, tires.

I've had great luck with my LSD. I'm starting to think it's not stock. Mooty - did Potter put it an aftermarket diff in my car?

mooty

Stock LSD n
Ur car.
U sure it's not dead?

AllanJ

Mike works as a groundskeeper at TH to help keep track day costs in check. Metal front splitter cuts grass very well.

If your LSD isn't doing much you may not notice, depending on track and driving style. Don't need to find a car with upgraded LSD. It isn't too costly to upgrade the guts.

Front rotors can be cheap, if you don't mind extra weight. (ATE) Rear rotors last a long time.

Pads & tires are expensive. You can help reduce costs by doing your own brake maintenance and oil changes.

davidnyc

When the word "expensive" is used for brake pads, what exactly is that? Is that $200/set? $300/set? I am used to buying Cobalt or Hawk pads and I am used to spending somewhat of a premium.

Tires, I expect to be more costly than my prior experience, because cost is size and type dependent.... but then this is also relative because it is based on usage.

996FLT6

^I had the best view of the race at t1 when pos shifter linked popped out. The photographer at t1 took alot of pics of my stranded car : (. Serge don't think Dave did nething with LSD. How do u brake? Do u drag or late it? Mike

mooty

Pads front 500-600
Rear 400
Tires at least 1200/set
Rotor ATE 200 set I think. Demans 600/front set

AllanJ

Pads: Pagid yellows are common for GT3 folks. $430 for front and $320 for rear is the usual advertised price (plus shipping). My local track day groups want at least 50% pad material left so you go through pads (esp front) fairly quickly.

Tires: Tire rack or Discount Tire Direct (for Nittos) has great pricing. 245/35 or 245/40 and 315/30 sizing for R-comps is also common for 6-GT3 folks.

911SLOW

Once you spend 10 to 20 k on mods running costs are very low indeed. : )

AllanJ

+1

I try to buy a bunch of parts way ahead of time and then my "operating" costs throughout the year are almost nil.

911SLOW

Allan you started changing avatars more frequently than I do, that is outrageous.

And it shows you r picking up bad habits very easily.

How is the suspension working for you? From a safety POV of course

AllanJ

I changed the avatar because I couldn't stop thinking about my fav track - ORP. A bunch of friends were there this past weekend and I couldn't make it because of family stuff. I miss that track....

As for the suspension - one of the best safety things I ever did! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get to a track to play with it. So I tossed on my street wheels and am driving to the grocery store in a much safer car.

Street impressions: absolutely amazing! With the new shocks/springs, slightly more aggressive alignment and custom front sway bar drop links, the car tracks amazingly well, even on bumpy roads. No darty movements, no "ant eater" behavior, no "tramlining"....whatever you want to call it. Previously, no matter which of 3 different shops did the alignment with a variety of alignment settings, the car was always a handful on poor roads. Now I can let go of the wheel on bumpy roads and it'll track straight.

I'm really looking forward to getting it on a track.

multi21

If you do 6 - 10 DEs a year, I'd budget 3 sets of tires ($1200 ea.), 2 sets of Pads ($430 fronts ea. $332 rears ea), a set or maybe 2 of front rotors, 1 of rears.

Brake fluid changes are easy if DIY.

Oil: 10 qts at appx. $6-7 per qt., plus filter, gaskets etc.

Figure in an alignment per year unless you have an off, then figure 1 per serious off.

Two spliters.

They you'll want to get a 2nd set of wheels. That quickly turns into a 3rd set of wheels. Your LSD will go out. Budget for that.

I usually wait for the "Mooty Semi-Annual Sale" for my parts. I used to have an east coast supplier named Dell, but he's out of the GT3 parts business right now. Luckily Mooty has a great supply chain and I can get an instructor to bring my parts to me right at the track to save on shipping costs. No, really. Did this with pads, wheels, etc.

Mooty will hook you up.

BTW, I'm looking for some rear rotors if anyone has any.

va122

New or used rotors Pete? I have a set of rears with 50% left