GT3CAR

I have a good friend who is a little tired of seeing me have so much fun at the track. He asked me today what would be a good track car to start with so that he could try it out. Here is what he is thinking:
1. He wants something he can drive back and forth to the track
2. He wants something with a relatively low to medium entry point so that he can see if he likes the experience. $15,000 - $30,000K ??
He has already been to the track and has done a ride along so he knows what he is getting into. He can afford to upgrade no problem when the time comes. For now, he wants to start simple.
He is honestly not looking to be the fastest guy on the track, he just wants to get into it and learn. He sees us having way too much fun!

Any suggestions? What cars did you start out in? Thanks in advance.

Lindsey

cviles

How about a 944? They're cheap and fairly docile and a lot of Porsche tuners know how to set one up for the track. Once you get it sorted, they're almost bulletproof.

A second option would be a 986 Boxster. Quite entertaining on the street and the track.

Just make sure he has a shop that knows p-cars check out the car before you buy it.

dan360

Assuming it doesn't have to be a P-car, there are lots of track prepped BMW M3s out there.

I just did an event at Tremblant with the BMW club and those guys ran a really impressive drivers ed event. Good instruction, well split up run groups.

Definitely cheaper to dip the toe with a BMW than a P-car (or an F-car for that matter!).

911/Q45

My best student showed up for his first track day with a rental Ford Focus. Every mistake he made was promptly signaled to him by the howling front tires at a speed slow enough that he couldn't get in trouble. He had a blast and was pedaling that car at 10/10ths perfectly by the end of the day. Have your friend do that, then he'll be ready to pick out the right track car for him.

tcracing

I have an '89 944 Turbo, fully prepped for the track with 2 hrs. on Pat Williams Racing 2.8 engine with BIG turbo, dyno is +400 HP. Need to sell it, one too many toys in the garage at the moment!

smlporsche

I bought a 944 S2. See my avatar.

I like it because it has alot of torque for a '44 and once set up handles as good as any street car out there.

Total cost about $25K

008

2005 Lotus Elise

GelbGT3

A 944 or 924S is a pretty good choice. They are good cars in which to learn to drive, and relatively inexpensive to buy, prepare, maintain, and shod with tires. But they are prone to spinning the #2 rod bearing, and rebuilding such engines, especially if you punch a hole in the case, is not cheap. Used engines for these cars are becoming harder to find given the popularity of 944 Spec (and similar class) racing.

Perhaps a better alternative is a Boxster (but not an S). They are also cheap, more modern than the 944, and have fewer years/miles on them. The engine should be more durable, and if you blow one, I understand there are crate motors available from Porsche for about $5,000. There is a growing group of Boxster Spec racers.

Terry L

You cannot do better than a track prepared Lotus Elise. I have driven mine for the last 2.5 years before the new GT3. No trailers, no problems. I am now considering selling so he may want to contact me but my advice stands nonetheless.

Holger B

Miata, E36 M3, Elise, S2000...all good choices. Find one that's been to a few DE's and already has some safety equipment, etc installed.

OldGuy

Historically speaking my heart sings for a 914/6. At the vintage racing they kick everybodys but
you can get into one for that price-
Little know fact you can get an open wheel formula ford for 18K trailer spares and car.

mooty

damn, i had all four. you could have bought any one of them that i sold for cheap.

Ray S

944, 986, or Miata

Alan Smithee

E36 M3 or M Coupe. Nice ones are less than $20k, and they're cheaper than a Porsche to maintain.

Miatas are great fun in the tight stuff, but I think most would quickly get bored of their lack of power on bigger tracks.

nkhalidi

Oughta be something that already has track-hardened parts from the factory, a car in which your buddy won't have to spend time and money upgrading/changing/futzing with OEM parts.

Relatively few cars fit this criteria; I'd recommend an Elise or the newest, most sport-oriented Porsche he can afford. Elise is barrels of fun, though I'm told that fixing bodywork after shunts is expensive.