Oh wow.. I just read up on that 2012 Miata.. sounds insane! 2200lbs and an HP increase.
300HP Miata before I can stomach that stupid grin.
This is true. Now when I look at a vehicle I get excited at how much leg room the third row has.Just get a wife...followed by kids, and all this will go out the window ASAP.
Seriously, you'll be looking back on the years when you owned a G35 as the glory days.
Yet you have no problem stomaching a Toyota Camry as your daily driver...
Think I may just go with a '94-'95 Miata.. You get the 1.8 motor and don't have to deal with OBD II.
The only reason I was considering the Z is because I'd have no problem gutting it and putting in a cage, and I have quite a few parts already that I could easily swap onto it which would save me quite a bit of money. I don't think I'd want to gut and cage my G35. Outside of getting a cage put in, I'd be breaking even probably.
As for a Z not being a good autox car.. a friend of mine is consistently in the top 10 of overall (150+ drivers usually) with his in the group I autox with. It may not be competitive in nationals, but I'm not at that level. It makes one hell of a track car as well when properly setup.
No on the 370Z - Wouldn't want to convert a brand new car unless I had a ton of spare money.. and for the price of the 370Z, I'd rather get a used Cayman S.
The S2000 is another option I may have to consider.. just sucks that I'd have to sell all the aftermarket stuff I already have if I went this route.
Thanks for the comments and feedback!
With a Miata you can do Spec Miata too.
Don't forget the roll bar.
Just get a wife...followed by kids, and all this will go out the window ASAP.
Seriously, you'll be looking back on the years when you owned a G35 as the glory days.
Sounds like an excellent reason to remain single and childfree.
Sounds like an excellent reason to remain single and childfree.
Sounds like an excellent reason to remain single and childfree.
I put my money where my mouth is too I just wish the non-CR AP2's had the quick ratio steering rack that the AP1's had. All other CR parts can be changed out. I'm planning on moving to the CR's front/rear sways, steering stiffeners, suspension, and front lip. Wow, do I love that front lip:You want an S2000 and a daily.
I put my money where my mouth is.
I've spent a lot of time behind the wheel of the 350Z. The Z is a compromise/daily car with excellent performance, but it is not as rewarding, challenging, agile, or as engaging as the S2000. The Z feels ponderous and sluggish in comparison. In terms of raw performance figures, the Z is a match for the S2000, but the S wins every subjective category in terms of driving pleasure.
Exactly! Find yourself a woman who appreciates a good piece of machinery and the dominoes always fall into place. I'm specifically looking for one who either drives an S or is looking to get one which is good enough in my book, hehe. I think it has plenty of torque. It's all about staying in the right gear when still in VTEC. Never want the RPM's to fall low below to move off that high exhaust cam. This means shifting at redline and maintaining revs above 7k.Just gotta find myself a Danica Patrick
I'll have to see if my friend would let me take his S2000 to an autox or on the track sometime.. Do you find yourself wishing it had more torque, thomsbrain?
Yeah, as long as he doesn't mind it belching the motor out its tailpipes every six months.04 -08 RX-8 w/turbo + good tune.
Cheap, good fun.
While I agree with you, the reality is that there are far too many compromises for this to be an ideal solution. The moment you start going beyond the basics of making a car into a track rat, most will start despising the vehicle as a DD. Especially if you drive a lot and have to take other people. More noise, vibration, bumps, squeaks, rattles. Some may not care, but I imagine most will. Not to mention, without a second car it becomes a pain to take your car out of commission to modify/repair it.Having a separate track day car seems so decadent. There is something really appealing about having one car for all purposes. A racer is more impressive if it also functions as a daily driver. Same goes for offroad vehicles.
Yeah, as long as he doesn't mind it belching the motor out its tailpipes every six months.
While I agree with you, the reality is that there are far too many compromises for this to be an ideal solution. The moment you start going beyond the basics of making a car into a track rat, most will start despising the vehicle as a DD. Especially if you drive a lot and have to take other people. More noise, vibration, bumps, squeaks, rattles. Some may not care, but I imagine most will. Not to mention, without a second car it becomes a pain to take your car out of commission to modify/repair it.
And the same goes for an offroad vehicle. It is utterly ridiculous and unsafe to have a super-jacked up truck on huge tires on a public road. Safety hazard FTL, not to mention the same problems of having a track car as a DD.
Indeed. That would be the "basic" part. When you get into lifts that put your bumper at some cars' roof, that's a problem. When the tires stick out past the fenders, that's a problem. When the center of gravity is so high that braking is impacted, that's a problem.Well I guess it depends on how extreme your track day car or offroad truck is.
There's nothing unsafe about my Cherokee with 2" lift and 31" tires
Well I guess it depends on how extreme your track day car or offroad truck is.
There's nothing unsafe about my Cherokee with 2" lift and 31" tires
You guys just described the definition of a dual-duty where it's the jack of all trades, but an expert in none. It's how I like to build my vehicles.Indeed. That would be the "basic" part. When you get into lifts that put your bumper at some cars' roof, that's a problem. When the tires stick out past the fenders, that's a problem. When the center of gravity is so high that braking is impacted, that's a problem.
Just like tires and suspension may be okay for a DD. But when you get into bone jarring coilovers, solid bushings that transmit every vibration in the car, and an exhaust loud enough to wake the dead, you probably won't enjoy DDing your car.