Looking at cars for daily-driver/track usage

DanB · Post by **DanB** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:12 pm

Oil consumption don't bother me nurn. Anybody run premix in the -8 like some do (and maybe I shoulda done) in the -7's?

Thanks for the 318ti suggestion Senor Bradshaw, I always liked 'em. But a N/A DOHC 240SX is faster, better-handling, and cheaper!

Sorry Michael, I think the Z's gonna remain my primary track car for a while. Any luck in your search? I'll keep ya in mind if I run across anything interesting.

Thanks for the input, all of ya.

ndavis · Post by **ndavis** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:55 pm

BMW M-3, they even have some with 4 doors, 25 mpg hwy, fast & fun

turtlevette · Post by **turtlevette** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 9:08 pm

rajito wrote: And FWIW, the two SSU Z06's ran 59's at LRP

Raj

They're ignoring you. How can it be that the Emperor is not wearing clothes?

A lowly American made car stands head and shoulders over the foreigners???

Never speak of this again.

DanB · Post by **DanB** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 9:59 pm

Z06 = outta my price range. However, I do have a hairy chest, so with some gold chains I figger I'd be looking pretty deezirable to tha ladeez if I gots me a 'Vette...

But cirrusly,
When I *do* get a Corvette, it'll be a '67 small-block coupe, or (more realistically) a '70-'72. With a built 383, race 5-spd (no heavy-ass T56!).

Those C5 Z06's, I guess they get around the track OK, but DAYUM what a wide arse! The Z06 hardtop body style doesn't help things, either!

For the same money I'd put an LS1 (or 2!) in a 3rd-gen RX-7

tmak26b · Post by **tmak26b** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:04 am

My fiance and I have a 2004 RX-8 and 350Z. Both are used for daily driving and the Z is used for all sorts of racing. They are both nice cars, each have their own advantage and disadvantage. The RX-8's motor is a little on the weak side and it does have a softer suspension. The suspension is awesome for everyday driving, but I found it to be too soft for the track.

The gas mileage on the 8 does suck, but the ride on the Z is bad too. It's give and take, I like my Z, but I hate the storage capacity on it too. I only did 1:07 on street tires with the RX-8, I did 1:05 on the Z with street tires and 1:02 on race tires on a stock car at LRP.

Also remember the RX-8 is a momentum car, complete different driving experience. I do miss my old RX-7...

DanDarcy · Post by **DanDarcy** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:08 am

Hi Dan, I have a Miata, Honda S2000, and a BMW M Roadster (315 h.p.). The Honda is by far the most fun to drive

but it is smaller than even the Miata on the inside and with my large ass the seat is too small

but it sure is fun once the rpms past 6000. The doors of the Honda do not swing out to far either which makes entery and exit difficult , especially at my advanced age.

But I still love to drive the car

The Miata just doesn't have any power

The BMW doors open wider but the head room is less than the Honda although the seats fit me better.
You ought to drive a 2.0 liter S2000 before you discount it. I also had a 2001 Z06. Fantastic Car !!!

I could get over 30 mpg on a back road trip, huge trunck, plenty of room for my fat ass, no rattles, reasonable ride, great handling, scary power, and you can find ones with 30-50k on them in the $20-$25k range.

Good luck with your car search .

lou m · Post by **lou m** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:27 pm

Hey Dan,

I'll tell ya what you what to hear. Go for the turboed 240SX.

Honestly, you actually never want to see another car like the one you're driving.

I think you have been talking about that conversion ever since we met.

And we can rent some dyno time and tune em too.

Lou

DanB · Post by **DanB** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:41 pm

LOU!
Great to hear from you, man!

Turbo 240SX *would* be sweet. Light weight, great suspension, plenty utilitarian, gobs of potential, for the least outlay of $$$. Only drawbacks are the age/mileage/condition of S13's available, and the question of whether or not a non-U.S. motor would pass R.I. visual emissions inspection. Could turbo the stock motor I s'pose...

Howz the GLH-S monster-in-a-box?

lou m · Post by **lou m** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 11:25 am

I'll give you a call and we can catch up.

The GLHS only got out a couple times last season. I need to figure out the new turbo. I was not making much boost till about 5000 rpm, then it would hit hard and light up the tires in third. The result was not much forward motion.

I'm going to put it on the street this year so I can shake out the bugs.

The Z28 is fixed.

What do you say, Mosport this year?

tmak26b · Post by **tmak26b** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:50 am

I have to disagree, the S13 chassis is like paper. It flexes like crazy. The only way you are going to do well is dump money into it on aftermarket parts.

DanB · Post by **DanB** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:59 pm

Tmak, 'preciate the input!

The 240Z I'm used to is quite the flexi-flier, the S13 is a rock in comparison. If it doesn't have Gibraltar chassis rigidity, I'm not too worried about it.

One thing's for sure: Whatever I get will be a COMPROMISE.

tmak26b · Post by **tmak26b** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:00 pm

DanB wrote:Tmak, 'preciate the input!

The 240Z I'm used to is quite the flexi-flier, the S13 is a rock in comparison. If it doesn't have Gibraltar chassis rigidity, I'm not too worried about it.

One thing's for sure: Whatever I get will be a COMPROMISE.

prepare to keep dumping money into it

DanB · Post by **DanB** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:17 pm

tmak26b wrote:prepare to keep dumping money into it

You have experience w/ the S13? I'm all ears...

Mark Swinehart · Post by **Mark Swinehart** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 5:08 pm

Dan -

I know it too late - but here is a car which just sold this afternoon on EBay.
The only reason I didn't bid is because I didn't want to go to AZ.

http://tinyurl.com/2njpfs>

Post by **chaos4NH** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:07 am

For 1 thou??? I missed that one! Had tickets to phoenix!

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Looking at cars for daily-driver/track usage

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