Chris S

You don't have a very accurate mental image of me! There's also a lot of good Mexican and BBQ food here!

Elistan

Yes he can. The thread is about what car (any car, not just a stock car) would you want as BOTH daily driver and track car. An NC Miata with suspension and drivetrain mods is a perfectly valid answer. This isn't a "which is faster" discussion.

Penforhire

I'm surprised Porsche doesn't get more respect on this topic, given their support for racing. So many of the other brands mentioned will disavow their cars if they wander anywhere near a track.

PedalFaster

I'm as big a Porsche fan as anyone on this board, but I still wouldn't put the words "Porsche" and "affordable" in the same sentence.

The Boxster's a great, relatively inexpensive track car, but I don't see the point of paying more for one over a 350Z or an S2000 for track use. For street use, absolutely, but for track use when you run a significant risk of wadding up the car, no.

ZDan

Not to mention potentially costly RMS/IMS issues with water-cooled P-cars...

Chris S

I loved my Cayman S for track use, but $200+ oil changes get pricey when you start doing them @ frequently due to lots of track use, the tires aren't cheap, and I can't stomach the idea of an uninsured loss. If it wasn't for the cost (and oiling under high lateral G's) issue, I'd prefer to track a Cayman S w/ LSD added.

I mentioned elsewhere that I tracked a 996 GT3 this weekend, and from a pure driving perspective, it was everything I could ask for from a track car. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford to track one anywhere near as much as I do my Miata...and those engines are expensive to replace!

CosmosMpower

Under 30K, S2000

Over 30K, Cayman S

Ideally, neither. Buy a comfy daily driver and a track rat. Compromise sucks.

justinsan

USED E46 M3

weneversleep

Chris S: Does the 2010 Miata's revised suspension solve the issues that you found with the earlier NC Miata's handling?

Chris S

I haven't drive a '10, but they are stiffer, people seem to be more satisfied, and I've duked it out w/ a fellow instructor driving a stock '10 who really made it go around the track well.

I suspect it still wouldn't be as stiff or low as I'd like for track use, but everything I've read indicates it's a big improvement.