I You Were Buying a Brand New Car for Track Duty...

..What would you choose?

Periodically, I have thoughts of liquidating the fleet and buying a brand new car specifically for track use. Something that would get a cage, race seat and suspension and tire upgrade, but keep its stock mechanicals.

If you were doing this, what would you choose and how would you spec it out?

I'd prefer RWD, but I'd consider other configurations as well. Although I recognize the value for the buck you get from Corvettes, I'm not a big fan.

I'd skip the A/C, the stereo and fancy interior and body kits. Performance options would get a serious look.

What would you pick? Mustang? Camaro? Genesis? Lotus?

What else am I missing?

miata

Mustang. Add Griggs suspension and big tires, maybe a catback and call it a day.

Lotus?

/thread. Please. I need someone to live vicariously through.

Two more things: I'd prefer a coupe, as I've gotten the convertible thing out of my system and I'd like something with a little more room inside (for a good seat) than a Miata.

Elise or a Mustang. But buying a new car and risking it on the track is not a plan I could afford.

Viper comp coupe.

Z06

/thread

Honestly, a base model RX-8 could be good. Go for a hardtop/cloth interior car and you'll save money on options plus have more room for the cage/seat.

Genesis Coup 2.0T R-Spec would be the closest to what you're looking for (all the performance goodies like the Torsen and Brembos without the leather and moonroof) but we don't know exactly what it will/will not come with yet.

I like the idea of the new Cayman S with the optional Torsen, but by the time you get it spec'd to track duties you could buy a Z06 and have change leftover, not to mention the Z06 would spank it 8 ways from Sunday.

I hate to admit it, but the Toyobaru FT86 looks mighty promising being so lightweight. Also Mazda just announced at the Tokyo Motor Show that they are trimming at least 200Kg from all of their next cars, starting with the all-new MX-5 coming out in 2011 or 12. That could change everything.

Ahh, I was beat to the RX-8. I would look at these also. Even better is the price of a low mileage 2-3 year old model is quite reasonable.......

Used RX-8's aren't worth crap! Audra seems to like them and since I'm (trying) ditching the 7 she's been keen on getting her own "race car". I'd like to replace her GP GT with an RX-8 one day. There's multiple nice stock '04's around here for ~ $8500!!

I can't believe no one's said it yet: EXIGE.
Pretty much the only true trackday car you can get right out of the showroom. (Okay, not counting the 2-Eleven.) Everything else is compromised for street duty. If you can't quite afford the Exige, go for one of the lesser Elise variants. Can't really go wrong in that lineup.

Jay wrote: I can't believe no one's said it yet: EXIGE. Pretty much the only true trackday car you can get right out of the showroom. (Okay, not counting the 2-Eleven.) Everything else is compromised for street duty. If you can't quite afford the Exige, go for one of the lesser Elise variants. Can't really go wrong in that lineup.

+eleventybillion, or a Caterham

The questions comes down to one choice in my opinion

Z06 or Elise

Porsche GT3. If I could afford one, it would be the only car I own.

z06

or a Caterham

I've wanted a Caterham for years, but unless you're out on the track with a bunch of other Caterhams, you're pretty vulnerable.

You don't want to be setting up for the big turn at the end of the straight in front of the guy in the Corvette who just missed his braking marker.

if money were no option, MT900.

if I were wealthy, Z06 or Elise

if I wanted to fit into multiple classes, miata

But... since I cant even afford a new Kia, I'll stick with modifying what I have

BMW M3.

FR500 Mustang.

If it had to be fast, an Elise. If you want something reliable and easy on parts, a base Fit. Used, an early Miata or a second gen Escort GT.

What about a Solstice Coupe? Not that expensive and handles fairly well if you get the handling package.

I don't think there's any brand new car good for track duty.

Maybe ya'll make more than I do, but I'm not going to risk stuffing even a 25k Miata into a wall.

I think a used RX-8 would be pretty sweet, if the answer isn't Miata.

By "track use", do you intend to race it, or is this for HPDEs and the like? Obviously racing it will mean classes and restrictions that affect your choice.

I don't think it's been mentioned yet, so I'll say Factory Five Roadster. If you don't like pushrods or iron blocks, I've seen at least one built with the all-aluminum 32v Ford mod motor.

All hypothetical here, of course, but HPDE only.

At least with my local BMWCCA events you can buy very cheaply track day insurance coverage at an agreed value that'll cover your car no matter what happens. By cheap, $50k in coverage on my 750 would have been around $120 IIRC.

http://hpdeins.locktonaffinity.com/Default.aspx

Scott