Best "affordable" GT car for a developing DE driver
Yesterday | 03:42 PM
#31
Everyone has a different notion of what is "affordable"..
I would suggest an older, early boxster or even better an early Cayman S. Look for 2006-2008... Lower cost of entry and without huge power that can mask poor driving habits.
And - If you think a 2006 Cayman/S is not worthy.
Check out what well driven a 2006 Spec Cayman/S can do compared to many new cars.
Oh Sure - I'd love a cup car. I loved my 996/GT3 too. But these are not affordable GT cars for a developing DE driver.
I would suggest an older, early boxster or even better an early Cayman S. Look for 2006-2008... Lower cost of entry and without huge power that can mask poor driving habits.
And - If you think a 2006 Cayman/S is not worthy.
Check out what well driven a 2006 Spec Cayman/S can do compared to many new cars.
Oh Sure - I'd love a cup car. I loved my 996/GT3 too. But these are not affordable GT cars for a developing DE driver.
Yesterday | 03:48 PM
#32
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Hah! Agreed! Well driven SPC cars are quicker than nearly all DE-driven 981 and 718 GT4 street cars. On big tracks, too.
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Yesterday | 05:11 PM
#33
Nope. I 100% think thats a plenty capable car.
In the original post, the OP mentioned doing 3-5 track days a year and being an intermediate driver. I think we often forget just how much car all of these actually are. My vote would be to keep the Carrera T for now and continue to develop skill set.
Maybe put a deeper race type seat in the car so not sliding around as much, but nothing else at this point. Then get a coach or instructor to sit right seat at least once a day every day on track. Have a plan on what you what to work on, and where you want to work on it depending on the track. Starting with vision add smoothness. Focus on working on braking (its not where you start your braking but where you end it) and having an incredibly smooth release to the point of no being able to tell when the very last bit of brake is released. Maybe once you can do that, go to a bit more aggressive brake pad and again working on the braking.
Its way too often that instructors see people in newer, very powerful cars and literally have no ability to drive (the car and electronics do everything). Its much harder to learn that smoothness and nuance in a higher performance platform. There is still so much to learn here with what you are driving. I'd even venture to say that if you got a great instructor or coach, that person could likely help you shave 5 or more seconds a lap your first event - and you would be a much safer driver even though going much faster.
That would be my counsel (and thats coming from a guy with a Cup Car).
In the original post, the OP mentioned doing 3-5 track days a year and being an intermediate driver. I think we often forget just how much car all of these actually are. My vote would be to keep the Carrera T for now and continue to develop skill set.
Maybe put a deeper race type seat in the car so not sliding around as much, but nothing else at this point. Then get a coach or instructor to sit right seat at least once a day every day on track. Have a plan on what you what to work on, and where you want to work on it depending on the track. Starting with vision add smoothness. Focus on working on braking (its not where you start your braking but where you end it) and having an incredibly smooth release to the point of no being able to tell when the very last bit of brake is released. Maybe once you can do that, go to a bit more aggressive brake pad and again working on the braking.
Its way too often that instructors see people in newer, very powerful cars and literally have no ability to drive (the car and electronics do everything). Its much harder to learn that smoothness and nuance in a higher performance platform. There is still so much to learn here with what you are driving. I'd even venture to say that if you got a great instructor or coach, that person could likely help you shave 5 or more seconds a lap your first event - and you would be a much safer driver even though going much faster.
That would be my counsel (and thats coming from a guy with a Cup Car).
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Yesterday | 06:12 PM
#34
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I'll only say that after working with tens of thousands of drivers in a DE environment over the last couple decades, and hundreds of serious 981 GT4 CS. 718 GT4 CS, 718 GT4 RS CS as well as the last five versions of the GT3 Cup back to the 996 Cup, the platform that is the best for a developing DE driver is still the mid-engine platform of the last twelve years.
The street GT4's are great dual-purpose cars, well balanced, with nothing out of proportion to anything else (good balance between ALL the capabilities, braking, acceleration, lateral acceleration, transitional handling and power).
Not that the rear engine platform isn't a visceral charge and ultimately equally if not more competent. but it takes more practice and is a fair bit tougher to learn the limits of such a platform and GET close to them.
it's just my personal opinion and experience that the mid-engine platform allows most casual drivers (less than a dozen times a year) to progress more quickly, safely.
The street GT4's are great dual-purpose cars, well balanced, with nothing out of proportion to anything else (good balance between ALL the capabilities, braking, acceleration, lateral acceleration, transitional handling and power).
Not that the rear engine platform isn't a visceral charge and ultimately equally if not more competent. but it takes more practice and is a fair bit tougher to learn the limits of such a platform and GET close to them.
it's just my personal opinion and experience that the mid-engine platform allows most casual drivers (less than a dozen times a year) to progress more quickly, safely.
Last edited by ProCoach; Yesterday at 06:14 PM.
Yesterday | 08:13 PM
#35
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I thought he was referring to the 996 GT3 street car and not cup.
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multi21 (Today)
Yesterday | 09:19 PM
#37
Drifting
The GT4 will take whatever you can throw at it though and do it all day IMO though with no risk of overheating, so there is something to be said for just not having to deal with a car you absolutely need to modify just to run more than 5-10 laps in hot temps. A lot of modern cars have heat issues, and some cant be solved well.
Last edited by Zhao; Yesterday at 09:20 PM.