Fast movements yes, but don’t be deceived. Brutality loses traction. It’s all about how you introduce that movement. An analogy I like to use is sliding a glass full of beer down a bar top. You can put some HEAT on that glass and get it really moving and not spill a drop, as long as you introduce the lateral energy…

You can get a baby seat in the back of a 911! you can get two if you’re not tall. kids still fit when they outgrow the seat. Unfortunately 911 are classed for shit by SCCA for autox (a c5 is faster in every scenario than a 996, yet it is classed BELOW them by the SCCA). Plus those non DFI engines (forget IMS) aren’t…

A Caterham is truly one of the most joyous driving experiences one can have. You don’t have to over-tire it to the point that you can’t get it moving around (I’d argue for people to only swap to sticky tires for the track) on the streets safely. Couple problems: 1) he’s having a kid. a caterham wont last a year in a…

But he is having a kid so presumably he want that kid to have a father... 

But the e92 m3 in fs and is pretty dang dominant

There is a reason they are so cheap. Unfortunately those engines don’t hold up to track use very well and rebuilds are $20k. You can get a deep sump and some other things to help, but fundamentally they are not as robust for track work as you’d want. Many a 986 and 987.1 Cayman track rat have told me to not do what…

Gah, these are so logical at this price point in so many ways... but man are they Corvette-ey. For some that’s a huge turn off. Including me. I wish I could make myself like them, but I can’t. Maybe it’s just all the stereotype vette owners I grew up seeing in TX. ugh

Choose your money pit. Maintenance or depreciation. Personally I’d rather take the maintenance hit than depreciation, which is minimal at this point. Hell, you might even sell the e92 in 2025 for exactly what you paid in 2020, or more. Just look at the e46 m3 over the last 5y

And this car is a killer in F street for SCCA. This is the most logical answer. I’m in the EXACT same budget and use case scenario as this guy and it kinda kills me... but these are the most logical choice by far. Just a bummer they are so big and heavy. I am philosophically misaligned with this car.

This is the truth. And no non-GT Porsches have dry sumps since the 993. the DFI engined 987.2 and 997.2 and newer have held up surprisingly well despite having a glorified wet sump... but not many of those cars are running suspension and slicks.

Man, I’d hesitate to make a 987.1 or older Cayman a track car. The non DFI engines don’t hold up great for this use case. I’m in a 996 looking for something more robust for track work and all the Cayman track folk I know say to just hold out for a DFI engined 987.2 or newer. Rebuilds are $20k, just like a 996. You may…

haha yep about #4. That’s the glory of autox. The street classes are where the closest competition and the best drivers are. SCCA wants minimal mods in street classes specifically so people can be competitive in a daily.

Need to be REAL careful on the Cayman. All the Porsche engines from about 1998 until the DFI era aren’t known for reliability on track. Many a 996, 997, 986 and 987 owner have had to swallow a rebuild. The DFI cars had most of those problems solved, but they came out around the time of the recession so there are very…

Classing is key with autox. Heavy steering isn’t a factor, tons of non-assisted steering cars out at any given autox. Shouldn’t be yanking the wheel around anyhow 

I think the strategy for time trials is to alternate hot laps and cool down laps to keep the car and tire temps down and in the optimal range, but also to give yourself time to get your brain together, get some clear track ahead of you and make another go for a time. A very different approach vs a track day where…

Those mods are a killer if he wants to be class competitive at SCCA autox (time trials are a bit more permissive). e92 is classed incredibly well for autox, it’s pretty much the defacto dominant F street car for nationals.

Was an LSD an option on these? It’s an absolute must around here (I’m writing 30 miles of this guy and going through the exact same budget and use case conundrum). No LSD SUCKS on the uneven autocross lots and crested, off camber tracks like the Shenandoah circuit out at Summit point. It’s an absolute must. I’m in a…

Bahahahaha, I learned about heads up asses from the best (YOU)

Hows the power delivery on the new one compare to the old one? I’ve been horribly disappointed by the engines in older ones. Big dead spot right in the middle where you want midrange and not nearly as much of a payoff for revving the nuts off of it as there should be. You have to rev it just to make it usable. Unlike…

Power to weight ratio is the key. As is delivery. 300hp is an arbitrary number if you’re not talking in relation to weight, gearing, torque etc