Jackgat, utkinpol is right, it's a slippery slope. Every mod you make to the car would make it nicer/better for the track but most also make them less comfortable for the street. Most, if not all, also hit resale value. If you have a nice track accessible to you and have like minded friends and a forgiving wife, save up for a GT3. My C2S may drive, sound and feel like a GT3 after having spent lots of money on it but a GT3 pulls away handily in the track because they wind up to 8500rpm and weigh so much less. GT3s also don't have to worry about their IMSB scattering all over the Tarmac or cylinder sleeves sharing lokasils with their pistons.

 

I look at all this not from modding perspective but from customization perspective. most of changes I made to current car I would move into GT3 car, in case of NB GT3 it is same chassis, so, pretty much everything goes up there, but you have much better engine and transmission.
They are same cars pretty much but if you compare _stock_ C2 or C2S to GT3 - you get much more in the stock gt3 package compared to stock C2. It does not mean C2 cannot be built to have very similar performance - it only means it is cheaper and faster to start with gt3 car.

plus in gt3 you have more power and overall better motor. it is not overly critical if you do not compete/race but, it is what it is. nowadays if you can find a decent gt3 or RS car in upper-mid $60k I think 997.1 gt3 is a very good starting choice as you get a car that needs very little to be done to it - just perhaps take off stock shocks, send them to bilstein for revalving, put in stiffer springs and you are ready to go.

 

not trying to be a dick, but if you're 'new to the track', why not just drive the **** out of it until you begin reaching the limits of certain components. a newbie does not need a fully prepped track car to have fun and learn a ton. don't overlook autoxing either for car control improvement - you're almost always at a limit. most will tell you, learn to drive a slow car fast and then move up. if you can be fast in a slow car, you can be fast in anything. don't rely on the car to make you fast, work on your skills first and then begin the mods to the car.

 

Yes ..................... and no. Not having the right wheel alignment accelerate tire wear and could lead to premature cording. That's throwing money away which could have gone towards your mod. Well, at least get the alignment as close to track spec as OE components allow. Same goes for deep sump, oil baffles, centre radiator, lo-temp thermostat, etc.They are to preserve your engine than to go faster.
Regular brake pads overheats the disks and chews them up quickly. It is very easy for a novice to overheat the brakes in a hot day. Without proper brake fluid, it could become a safety issue, too. These are some of the reasons Porsche wants you to send your car in for inspection before any DE. Well, they also want to rip you off a little.
Just saying ......