Mikey B

Looking for some advice here. Last year I did a DE with my BMW M Coupe. Had the time of my life!! The car was totally stock... toasted all four rotors and chipped the paint. Came to realize that if this is a hobby I intend to pursue, it would be wise to get a car that is set up with track performance and safety in mind. My need for speed is pushing me in this direction as I can no longer justify getting my rocks off by going fast on public roads. Just not worth the risks... So, my budget is $20 - $25K. Want something street legal so I can drive to DE events, but still set up with safety equipment and performance mods designed for the track. I am not mechanically inclined so as low maintenance as possible would be great too. Would love to hear any suggestions... I recently purchased my dream car, a 1996 993TT but I don't have the heart to track her as she is a low mileage beauty and she wasn't cheap... Need to find that perfect beater track car now!!... Thoughts?

schwank

944S or turbo... S would be cheaper to maintain I would think. A base 944 would be even cheaper but would be quite a bit down on horsepower from your usual steeds.

lowside67

I'll go ahead and post my usual non-porsche suggestion: E36 M3. Easy to drive, very reliable, and easy to obtain. Also, as my good buddy Rich with his 951 and I compare notes, it seems that parts are easier to source and cheaper in terms of both maintenance and upgrades for the BMW.

After that, my next choice would be a 944 S2 (NOT 944S).

pu911rsr

Hard to beat an 911 SC based track car if you want to race a Porsche.
Phil

boqueron

I think that this thread could help you...https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-and-drivers-education-forum/183911-which-lowest-maintenance-porsche-to-track.html

38D

He said low maintenance

$25k should get a you a nice Carerra or even 964 with seats/cage/etc. I would not worry to much about performance mods as a novice.

PorscheDoc

944's are low maintenance if you catch up on the work that everyone has neglected in it's past ownership.

kurt M

I have never owned a 944 and am not a 911 or nothing snob but from what I have seen 944 non turbos tend to leave many wanting something more in the long run. 951s tend to leave people broke if they track them enough. If you are going to get a used Porsche and bust a nut getting it all fixed up for DE why not get a 911 if you have the $? More $ up front to purchase but often times less work needed to get it top top and track ready.
In the long run they all seem to be $20K cars unless you have the tools time and skills to DIY.

spazegun2213

Agreed, grab a 944, cage it, and go wild. you can easily sink 20k into a 944 and by that time you will have your race license and you can race in the 944 cup!

That and if the worst occurs you are not out that much money.

Ed Newman

Boxster S - quick, reliable and a great street car too

schwank

Which is interesting as I've talked with several owners of modified 951's who have said they looked around for other track cars and couldn't find anything as competent for anywhere near the money.

Yes they can get expensive when you head way down the slippery slope of mods if you search for massive hp. But if you keep them relatively benign with only minor mods you should have a very reliable 300hp track car.

The whole thing about these things being expensive relates to people deferring the maintenance until the timing belt blows and takes the head with it. I've run 6 track days in my NA this year and the only thing I've done is rotate the tires.

Oh, and I was always partial to 911's before I bought the 44. I love em all now!

2BWise

944S or 951? Aren't you forgetting one...944S2. Won't have the maintenance costs of the turbo, but will hang with an unmodded one. There are quite a few people racing S2s so there are plenty of cars and parts to be found.

trackjunky

5th to 2nd missed downshift (915 gearbox); worn synchros every other year; Broken rear swaybar mounts; additional oil cooler for high oil temps --- *cough**cough**

MRichmond

I am strongly considering getting a Z4 M Coupe for a track car, installing a roll bar (not cage yet), Motons or JRZs, springs, etc. With not that much work, it should be a great track car. To complement the Porsche suggestions above, I second the E36 M3 idea. A friend recently bought a well-pedigreed race-prepped M3 for around $20K. If you want to save even more money, a well-prepped 325i can be a good track weapon, but I suspect you will be frustrated by the lack of power compared to what you already are used to.

dave morris

964.