Since last October I've spent 1.2 gazillion hours and .186 gazillion dollars building a new race car and (thus far) campaigning it successfully in pursuit of a regional series championship. One of the effects of this process is that it's really driven home how much work it is to operate a fleet of cars if there's an expectation they're all kept somewhat current on maintenance. While the race car (and finally, most of the way into the season, the poor long-suffering Tacoma that tows it) is perfectly sorted, maintained, and set up, the balance of the fleet is a pitiful picture of deferred maintenance.
Also, having a totally nutso race car has obviated the need for a somewhat nutso track day car that requires a fair amount of upkeep. Also, I'm going to finish my '62 Sprite (again) and I have a nice NA Miata w/ lots of FM stuff on it.
What if:
...And consolidate everything those 3 cars did into one new one? Fun car for a few track sessions when I go instruct? Yes. Fun convertible w/ regular seats for spring/summer/fall driving? Yes. "Look at me!" tiny sports car? Yes.
And I reckon on the basis of kit/donor/parts cost vs. what the M3/Sprite/Miata would sell for I'd end up ahead and have a much lower annual cost of ownership, more space, and more time.
Could the answer be a kit car?
Since I am on the fence here as well. Why the 818 over say the Exocet which is Miata based and well cheaper.
I have been leaning more and more towards a FFR spec racer, you can pick them up for 18-20K. Not a 100% competitive car but a serious option.
If you want to focus on instructing and HPDE, then yes.
If you still want your W2W fix, then no.
If you're familiar with Miatas, there's a much lighter (but less pretty) option that's much easier to build. The 818R is 2012 lbs according to the R&T article, we had XP-3 on scales with wings and a full tank at 1515. Our track equivalent can have two seats, too. Just sayin' 
I'm keeping the Radical C Sports racer for W-2-W. Pulling 2+ Gs and doing 1'14's at Summit won't get old. Doing 13 race days in a season will, however. Regarding weight, the Radical is under 1240# on the scale in the tech shed, and it'll make you crap your Nomex suit w/ a bone stock $1500 craigslist Suzuki Hayabusa engine for power.
The Exocet is a cool car - but I want something that's not just a track toy. My wife and I are actual-size adults - I'd like to be able to get in the thing to go for an ice cream drive on a nice summer evening or drive it to work now and then.
My M3 is 98% track, the Miata and Sprite all street. This would hit all the bases.
At the risk of being a canoe, I'd like to point out that the room available in the Exocet is luxurious, and most of the ones in the US and UK are street legal. I could put the seat back another 4"-5" from my preferred seating position, and I'm 6'2" / 220lbs. XP-3 has a 17" seat on sliders. We get a lot of people calling us convinced that it will be tight because Miatas are tight, but that's just not the case.
Ice cream drives should be less of this
And more of this
I'll confirm that there's quite possibly more room in the Exocet than in a Miata...but it is going to leave you exposed. I'd try to get some time in an 818 before deciding it's got the right vibe for what you want as well. Heck, maybe a FFR Roadster might be better for more cruising-style duties.
With a reasonable suspension, the FFR Roadster has a very comfortable ride. You'll just have to do something about the exhaust noise
ddavidv
PowerDork
8/21/13 6:22 a.m.
You're a racer, so this probably won't concern you as much, but in looking at the 818 and how it's constructed vs the Exocet (which I'll confess I lust for) the safety of the latter seems far superior. I have some concerns with the little or no structure forward of the passenger compartment of the 818. Since nobody has yet crashed an 818...but I have seen photos of a crashed Exocet, and the insurance adjuster in me was pleased.
