If I were looking for an upmarket option. I think a Cayman would be near the top of my list as well.
A Miata would probably be at the top, but our budgets are markedly different

 

M2 and M3 both come with DCT.

 

Just to throw another option in the hat, what about a C5 or C6 z06?

 

Hard no on Vettes, not a fan in spite of knowing how capable those cars are.

 

I seriously thought about a Miata; they're cheap, you can get parts anywhere, and they corner great. Downside: they're dog slow on long straights (at least compared to the cars I'll be running with).

 

Ok that's a very healthy budget.

Yes and yes. But at a $40k+ budget you could do a lot to fix those issues.

Also yes, but they're very capable cars.

Then the answer is firmly Cayman.

 

As far as the Miata being dogshit slow on the straights - very true. But you could boost one with shorter gearing and have a pretty quick and cheap to operate car for well under $40k. You'd still have to row your own though. I was also going to toss out a Caterham Super 7. Those can be found under $30k, though the 360 models are in the mid-40s.

Even though you said this would be a dedicated DE car, I'm getting feeling that you want to chase laptimes, so I still think a PDK Cayman is the best option.

 

Caterham would be a blast, but could still suffer from the Miata condition of being left behind on the straights, though not as bad with how light they are.

Sounding more & more like a good solid Cayman would be the best option. Or a caged Boxster if you want open top.

 

Then find a shorter track. I'm a firm believer in driving a slow car fast is way more fun than a fast car slow and you will learn a lot more about driving fast from a Miata vs a 911 just because of how far you can push the limit of the car without being in the death zone.

I also have fast cars, and the M2 will land you in jail before the end of second gear...the Rivian will get you there even faster and I bet the 911 is pretty similar. I remember having the S2k and being able to flog the living shit out of it while staying around 50mph lol. It was a LOT of fun.

I plan on taking the M2 for a HDPE session in the spring time and am heavily planning on the fact that it will spark a new hobby of track driving. Been looking at Miatas and BRZ/GT86's for track cars I can drive/maintain for cheap, just need to find a place to store/work on one. Cayman (especially the base one) is the right answer if your budget can support one but the maintenance and upkeep on it will definitely be higher.

 

you don’t like the looks, or you are not a fan of the mandatory shin high white socks, above the knee shorts and white new balance shoes that come with ownership?

Staying in the GM family, at the last track day was a Camaro ZL1 (I’m not sure the trim exactly, but it was the one with the wing and all the aero flicks) that thing was a monster… definitely not short on power. I’m not sure of prices or anything, just throwing suggestions at you.

 

my friend is like this in his Miata. Gets a kick out of railing behind cars that have like 4-5x the horsepower of his 120HP Miata

 

If you ever drove the Glen you would not even consider this as a possibility for a nanosecond.

 

I have not nor is it likely that I will ever drive the Glen...

 

My only 'local' options are autocross, MSR Houston/Cressen, Eagle's Canyon or COTA.
A Miata would likely work well on all but COTA. That back straight would feel so long, compared to being in something like a P-car, AMG or M.
Wouldn't mind getting the Midget on track, but don't have a roll bar in it, so probably wouldn't be allowed to do much more than auto-x.

 

Once I get better with manual driving I may try a track day with my Cayman.

then again imma be so scared to crash the thing.

 

does yours have the auto blip if you press the sport button? I find that helps a lot.
Im sure every region is different, but my personal experience with the PCA group in my region has been great, both Autocross and HPDE. If you go with PCA, you will be required to have an instructor with you. In my region there are 2 groups that require instructors (green and blue). Green, is just to get familiar with the track. To make it to blue, you need to have decent pace, manage traffic around you (meaning see when people catch up, point them by and also overtake when you’re faster and you get a point by. You also need know where the flag stations are, and the track exits / runoffs are in case you need to bail due to mechanical failure). White group is the first solo group passing rules are similar to the novice groups. Black group is next where pace is increased, more passing zones (you still need to point people by) but people get pretty moody if you hold them up. Finally pink still technically has point by passing, but if a car is behind you, they expect to be let through or they will dive in. Generally pink is either super good drivers combined with a fast car such as cup cars, single seaters.

all that to say that with PCA, they keep it safe, progression is at your pace and while I do agree it’s stressful to be out there on track with your dream toy, they make it about as safe as possible.
I personally use track insurance as well…

 

The Niagara Region PCA has Green, White, White Solo and Black. I'll be cleared White Solo next Spring I was told once an instructor does a ride along with me. They're primarily interested in situational awareness, safety, flag knowledge, passing off line, off line entrances to turns and temperament. I've gotten high marks the last three times out and was told by the chief instructor I was moving up soon. My last time in September, the instructor was mostly silent the entire time, I didn't need any coaching apparently. I'm anxious to get rid of the extra 180-240 pounds another person brings along truthfully.

 

^^ How 'bout Road America? Our PCA travels there occasionally. A good friend of my brother's owns the track, great guy.

 

My biggest struggle has been having cars near me. I ran a session with my instructor but in the higher solo groups… omg, those guys are ON your rear bumper! Heavy braking abs chirping and all I see in my rear view was a windscreen and part of hood… mega butt clinching moments…

as far as run groups, I did notice that varies a lot, the track north of me FIRM had it differently as well but it didn’t have crazy fast cars like sebring does. Lots of folks there go to 10+ track day weekends a year…
yeah agreed that moving to solo, raw pace is not what they are looking for.

Chief, you didn’t answer my question above, would a Camaro work as a track day toy?

 

Probably a Camaro would work but there's a big problem: I hate 'em.

 

yea mine is optioned with Sport Chrono and it does it in Sport mode. And I think Sport+ as well.

it’ll be quite some time before I learn heel toe so I guess it’s nice to have.

 

ok, that will help a lot (at least that’s my experience).
I do heal n toe driving around, but on the track my little brain is already at capacity with car placement, awareness of traffic, flag stations etc, adding clever footwork is a bit more than I can juggle.
i also do not rush the shifts, I want to make sure I go in the gear I want to be in, last thing I want is 5 digits on the tachometer.

Anyway, a weekend of HPDE is more than zipping around a track, I find the folks there really nice, a bunch of car enthusiasts to hang around. Plenty of friendly and welcoming folks around.

 

ahhhh come on, no vett, no Camaro… you’re just being difficult

 

What about a Mustang? You can easily get a GT350 in your price range too but it's manual only.

 

A DE buddy had a GT350 and hated it on the track. He sold it and bought a Cayman GTS and is one of the fastest guys in the group now. Based on what he said I don't want one. A great friend of mine who has probably the most laps at the Glen than anyone told me years ago that a Cayman was singularly the best car he'd ever driven around the track including his Euro-spec Carrera Cup GT3, 996 GT3, and 991 GT3. When I hear these kinds of things over and over again, I can't help but think a Cayman is weapon of choice.

Someone asked if I have auto-blip: Yes I do and alternate using it between session or just heel/toe.

 

Sounds like it's a Cayman, then.
Not that it's not worth thinking of other options, but the Cayman seems to be the right fit.

 

Perfect, something like this would work nicely.

https://racecarsforyou.com/listing/2...yman-race-car/

 

Careful who you call a friend. Someone that says Cayman > 991 GT3 is nothing other than a heretic and must be dealt with!

<sarcasm>

….
or is it…

 

Fair enough. I never tracked mine but spoke to many people who said the exact opposite of what you're saying but it's all anecdotal and up to the person behind the wheel anyway.

M2 has auto blip too...and you can't fucking turn it off unless you're in full track mode with all nannies off. Which is fine for the track but I'd also love to do that for street driving too where I leave that ish on.

 

Here's my friend Scotty who drove his Cayman with Eliot Forbes Robinson at the Glen (they won). Can't find the pic I took of his newest acquisition: A Cayman GT4 RS Cup car.


Here's another one of his Caymans

 

I think soon, one of those cars should have your first initial and last name on the rear side window, top part of the driver door or bottom of the windshield

 

The last time I saw Scotty I asked him to sell me the #20 Gulf car-he said "I am NEVER going to sell that car." "I'll just have to wait until you die then and buy it from the estate." "I'll be sure to instruct the estate to jack up the price just for you." "Bastardo."

 

Wouldn’t sell it, I guess taking it off his hands for free wasn’t discussed

im sure you’ll find something, I look forward to pics when you do!

 

I'll be looking for the next few months, won't be ready to pull the trigger until late winter-early spring 2025

 

I was just reminded of something I learned at my last DE. My instructor is putting an LS3 crate engine in his Boxster this winter. The LS3 engine is not only more powerful but it's lighter than the Boxster engine too! Here's just such an example

https://racecarsforyou.com/listing/porsche-boxster-v8/

 

Now that looks like fun.

I was going to ask if anyone sells LS swap kits for the Boxster but judging by that link, one wouldn't help much...

 

Just met a PCA buddy at a local car meet and he said he blew his motor in his cayman at the track [he had the 3.4L]
maybe LS is the way to go

 

Renegade out of Vegas sells LS swap parts for 911s, Boxsters/Caymans, 944, and even 914.

 

The only thing I've noticed is the guys at DE's with LS3/Porsche______'s is that they're constantly working on their cars while the owners of the pure Vettes/Porsches are not.

 

Did someone say...track car?

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/36d...utm_campaign=n