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Is buying a tracked car for a daily a bad idea?
I am actively searching for a 996TT and some contenders have been historically tracked, some from 1-2 times, others more. From someone who wants a daily driver and has no plans to track it, is considering a tracked car going to cause more problems downstream? Reliability is my main concern.
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Buying a bad car is a bad idea, tracked or driven less than the time it takes to fully warm up each time. |
Bought my car with 40k, no records, some track type mods like big brake kit, exhaust, ICs. As I worked on the car it was obvious it had been tracked by the rubber dingle balls all over on the top of the bottom covers. I now have 90k on it with a few more track days and have had no issues relating to the track. If anything my car is in better shape because of track use and the attention to details it creates. Now a car that looks like a track rat is another story.
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It all depends on how well the car was driven and maintained.
The Mezger engine was designed to be raced so tracking it doesn't hurt it at all. Mis-shifts and overrevs, bad driving, whether on track or street does the damage. |
Depends completely on what you mean by "tracked".
I had a GT350 that I did three hpde weekends with. But bone stock, no shenanigans, remaining firmly planted on the black part of the track at all times. Was it "tracked"? Strictly speaking, yes, but If that's the kind of tracking we're talking about, I see no issues. On the other hand, a car that has been lowered, cambered, with a scrotch harness and all sorts of other nosebleed mods, driven ballz to the wall at 10/10 every weekend, with plenty of time spent in gravel pits and maybe a bump or two to the body, then **** no, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 feet pole. |
I sold my 993 after tracking it heavily for 7 years. I felt like she had a good run and it was time to let her live out the rest of her life cruising through retirement as a street car. The car was put back to stock, cleaned up, and became a gorgeous reliable cruiser. So gorgeous that I eventually tried to buy it back, with no luck.
After knowing what my 993 was able to put up with on the track day after day with no sweat, I feel like there is nothing on the street that could stress that car, aside from unreasonable abuse of course. IMO, if you're going to use it as a street car only, I wouldn't sweat the fact it's been tracked. Obviously this is assuming the car checks out in all areas. |
our mezger motors are unusually robust and reliable. previous tracking the car shouldn't be considered an impediment to purchase as such. it is, as suggested all about the regular care and maintenance. my current car has been to willow springs more times than i have and at 160K+ miles. and while it's been "retired" from that type of workout, no issues to report.
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I would not hesitate because it was on a race track. Tracked cars are usually better maintained. If it was a full on track car with 100s of days and many mod and track rash I would say it should stay a track car.
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For the first couple times you go on track, you’re probably sitting next to an instructor who wants you to slow and smooth, learn the line and time the breaking zones. You’re driving safer than you were on the streets and canyons. I wouldn’t be concerned about owners admitting their p-car having tracked a couple times. They weren’t confident or foolish enough to be dangerous yet. A pcar that has never been on proper racing pavement is just sad. It’s like a Land Rover that has never gone off road and let the suspension articulate fully. |
Originally Posted by MezgerTT
(Post 15575700)
I wouldn’t be concerned about owners admitting their p-car having tracked a couple times.
Originally Posted by MezgerTT
(Post 15575700)
A pcar that has never been on proper racing pavement is just sad.
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Originally Posted by Turbodan
(Post 15575611)
I would not hesitate because it was on a race track. Tracked cars are usually better maintained. If it was a full on track car with 100s of days and many mod and track rash I would say it should stay a track car.
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I don't think it's a valid blanket statement to say that tracked cars are well maintained.
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Originally Posted by Dock
(Post 15575870)
At what number over "a couple of times" would you start being concerned, or is two the number?
Taking a drive to see how the owner treats his/her car especially with up and down shift habits is a good thing. Do you think the car actually knows? |
Originally Posted by Dock
(Post 15575954)
I don't think it's a valid blanket statement to say that tracked cars are well maintained.
Although I'd say if a car did have significant track time over a number of years and still looks good and runs well now, it likely was maintained and driven well. Otherwise the car wouldn't have lasted this long without major issues. |
Originally Posted by MezgerTT
(Post 15576022)
Yeah, taking the car to a remote track takes time, effort and commitment. It can mean the person have a chance to get familiar enough with the track to start taking more chances, like approaching the corners too hot, and beyond their shifting abilities and consistency. That assumes they know how to apply heel-n-toe or at least rev match consistently without fail. The standard setup of the TT is also not really robust enough for repeated aggressive track use. It’ll shorten the life of the components. I’d rather see the original parts be taken off and preserved during prolonged track use periods.
Originally Posted by MezgerTT
(Post 15576022)
No, but it’s sad nevertheless.
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