GuyIncognito

exactly, the 964 C2 coupe is a great choice because it ticks so many boxes...

-still cheap-ish, but I think it will increase in value
-keep it stock and it's a great weekend cruiser
-rare enough to be interesting
-air cooled, but still modern-ish
-great DE or race platform

Chaos

C5 Z06

Martin S.

Great minds think alike A pal of mine bought a 964 C2 in Orange County, CA for $15,000....it was in good shape too. This is the price you'd pay, for a 84 - 89 Carrera, with no ABS, smaller brakes, sketchy air conditioning, less torque and HP. I just like the idea of 250 HP to the rear wheels...BUT, the 964 C2 carries hundreds of pounds (400?) more weight than a 84 - 89 Carrera....it needs bigger brakes. Most 84 - 89 Carrera track guys I know run 245 front and 275 rear, so these cars will have as much rubber on the ground as a 964 C2...regardless...the 964 C2 motor is very strong with plenty of torque. The front suspension is very similar to a 993, not the rear though..but we all know that. With the 964 you get coil overs front and rear with a rear swing arm suspension, not so bad. And lastly, the 964 coefficient of drag (CD) is lower than the 84 - 89 Carrera, or the 993 for that matter. This car is slippery through the air....but don't get me wrong, I am not selling Baby (My 993) for a 964, no way Jose. I have been developing this car for 10 years and now she is just where I want her....well almost, I could use a G50-32 tranny or a ring and pinion...very expensive options, $10,000 or $6,000 respectively.

Sterling Doc

Thanks guys

I haven't tried a Corvette. Keeping it in tires and brakes could be expensive, but fun.

I found Euro NCAP crash rating on the E36 - somewhat dismal - 1/5 stars for driver with catastrophic A-pillar failure in offset frontal crash.

While I don' t blame the car (wasn't designed for that in that era), and it wouldn't bother me as a dedicated race car (cage can fix that), it does bother me as a dual purpose car. My day job makes me especially aware of what happens when it all goes wrong. No retro crash tests on 911's - I can remain blissfully ignorant (though pre-996 cars probably were no better than the E36)

mclaudio

Keep current 911 and rent a race car when in need to scratch itch?

Sterling Doc

Targa was a nice street cruiser, but not a good base for a track car. It's already going to a new homw

quickxotica

968?

Also, +1 on the 964c2 idea.

sqweak

I'll wave my flag for the bastard unloved mid-year 74-77 cars, esp 76-77.

In convenient bullet point form:
* 76-77 are galvanized, greatly reduced rust issues
* haven't taken off like the SC or 84-89, so still deals to be had
* power nothing, so when you go fast or make a great save you get to take all the credit
* blank canvas. Parts and bodies are simple to swap, backdate to longhood or update to 993. Ditch the troublesome 2.7 for a 3.0, 3.2 or 3.6, etc.

I picked up an already track sorted 76 w/ 3.2 for the top end of your budget. Plenty of track-worthy but not yet dialed in for the teens. I love driving it around town as well as the 100 mile one way freeway trek to the track, no problem. I love it more every day.

Hoosier_Daddy

+1.

JustinL

I've got a manual E46 M3 coupe that is primarily a daily driver. It is a great car with a few minor drawbacks. The running costs are a bit higher and the S54 needs someone who will take care of it. The valves need periodic adjustment etc., but that engine really is a masterpiece. The exhaust sound sucks and the transmission feels like it's out of a Bavarian tractor; both of those can be resolved with better fluid and new exhaust parts. I've had to do the usual maintenance on it and it's not too hard to work on.

It is really easy to drive fast and inspires a lot of confidence. The DSC program is awful as it has one solution for every perceived problem: slow down and understeer. With it off it is quite agile, but also quite a comfortable ride on the street. I drive mine through the cold winters up here too and it's pretty good with the LSD and winter tires. Again it's better with the DSC off. The drawback is it is quite low and plows deep snow.

KaiB

I also like the 964 concept.

You could purchase a cherry 43K mile RSA and convert it into a very nice dual purpose car for a lot of $$. Spend a half season at DEs, get the racing itch and send it off to a good race shop, where....

...the entire car could be gutted, and every component replaced/rebuilt with the sole purpose of building up a nice GT car at even more $$.

Then go racing again.

Then meet up with a few cars which have 70 more hp, wide bodies and six speed trannys.

Then spend more $$, or suck up and make your underpowered narrow body go faster.

Then go racing again.

Fun...huh?

jdistefa

Eric, did you sell the 944?

If you need an interim car I'd be a big fan of the e36.

analogmike

I would disagree, if I had to crash a car an E36 would be at the top of my list. A friend hit a huge rock and telephone pole at 100 and the car was totally demolished but it saved his life, just barely.

Sterling Doc

Well, I finally found a BRZ to drive, and was completely smitten - so much fun for so little money [$25K]. All my thoughts of getting another used high-end maintenance ***** vanished. All the major controls are just perfectly judged. Light is right! Bye-bye Fraulein, hello Geisha!

I'll have another Porsche again when the Spyders, or Cayman R's come down, but for right now, this BRZ is too fun to pass up, and so cheap to run. Got 34 MPG driving 200 miles today, with the kids in the back. It feels very much like a very modern take on the 944.

You don't see this in a Subaru dealer much



This explains the car well (GT86=BRZ):

jdistefa

Nice call. BRZ is going to be my next DD for sure.