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rcl4668 wrote:In reply to dxman92:
Thanks for the great feedback thus far. I am still waiting to hear from my track insurance company regarding a settlement on my Viper
Apologies for the thread hijack, but could you do the "buyback" thing on the Viper? If your insurance company lets it go for cheap enough, you could probably double your money parting it out.
In reply to friedgreencorrado:
Corrado: I am still waiting to hear from the insurance company's adjuster as to whether the car can be repaired or not although my car dealer's body shop estimate does not look encouraging. You're right though, it's incredible what parts (engine, panels, tranny etc) for the 2003-2009 Vipers sell for.
Hmm, I might amend my suggestion of LSx Miata and suggest a Dodge V10 Miata.
I'm kinda thinking miata. leaves lots of money in your budget for track days, gas, and tires. Use it as a tool, beat it up, and you can prolly still get a good bit of your money back out of it when you sell it, if you've built/bought wisely.
I don't think the same can be true of a track slut M3.
First, you posted at GRM where any question can be answered with "Miata." It's a rule here. What do you want for breakfast? "Miata." What do you need for a track car? "Miata." Etc., etc., etc.. the variation on the theme is "LS Powered Miata" but I am not sure that works for breakfast anymore.
SMs in middling condition tend to go in the $7000 and up range on this side of the country. That usually gets you a decent, workable car that is going to need the typical maintenance items. However, a SM (or SSM as I have) is a fully caged beast, and that limits is usefullness for street use and compromises your safety if you drive it to and from the track without a helmet on.
You said you were looking at the following cars:
"First generation MX-5 Miata, used C5 Corvette (ZO6 posssible but not required), used Factory Five (Cobra replica) spec racer, RX-7, used/older Lotus 7/Caterham replica "
My suggestion would be to get a decent Miata, add a four point bar to it and hit the track happy. It's a mild combination that is bulletproof, there is plenty of information out there on how to make one fun, and if you chuck it into a tire wall somewhere your total cost may be less than the deductible was for your Viper incident!
wreckerboy wrote:First, you posted at GRM where any question can be answered with "Miata." It's a rule here. What do you want for breakfast? "Miata." What do you need for a track car? "Miata." Etc., etc., etc.. the variation on the theme is "LS Powered Miata" but I am not sure that works for breakfast anymore.
SMs in middling condition tend to go in the $7000 and up range on this side of the country. That usually gets you a decent, workable car that is going to need the typical maintenance items. However, a SM (or SSM as I have) is a fully caged beast, and that limits is usefullness for street use and compromises your safety if you drive it to and from the track without a helmet on.
You said you were looking at the following cars:
"First generation MX-5 Miata, used C5 Corvette (ZO6 posssible but not required), used Factory Five (Cobra replica) spec racer, RX-7, used/older Lotus 7/Caterham replica "
- with the possible exception of the Lotus 7 clone and the Miata, the rest of those cars are big cars that go big speeds and use big part$ to do so. The Z06 is silly fun for the money, but price brakes and tires for that thing - both consumables it will chew through rapidly. If you are considering first gen RX-7s also keep in mind that 12A engine parts, specifically rotor housings, are starting become unobtanium. There are plenty out there, but the newest of those is now 25 years old and the parts tree is starting to dry up.
My suggestion would be to get a decent Miata, add a four point bar to it and hit the track happy. It's a mild combination that is bulletproof, there is plenty of information out there on how to make one fun, and if you chuck it into a tire wall somewhere your total cost may be less than the deductible was for your Viper incident!
Wreckerboy, thanks for getting back to me here and over at www.miata.net.
/Rich
mazdaspeed miatae are going cheaper nowadays, and FM has a kit that puts them at 200whp on the stock turbo, and a 4-6 pt roll bar isn't too expensive... :)
rcl4668 wrote:In reply to friedgreencorrado:
Corrado: I am still waiting to hear from the insurance company's adjuster as to whether the car can be repaired or not although my car dealer's body shop estimate does not look encouraging. You're right though, it's incredible what parts (engine, panels, tranny etc) for the 2003-2009 Vipers sell for.
Yeah, it's tough to cut up something you've put so much time & effort into, but if the poor thing's dead anyway, at least you're helping others keep their cars on the road.
Not to mention (or, actually..to mention it..), this is one of the few times you can actually do the "Revenge of The Insured!" to the ins. co.
If they knew how much Viper parts cost, they'd charge you that much on the "buyback", and pay a guy to part it out themself.
V10 locost?
