Slow car fast, Fast car slow?

[SAMM3Y]

Tracking cars is expensive.. to me budget is precedent over anything. If you've got a lot of disposable income I don't believe there's any real benefit of getting a dedicated shitbox unless you want to limit your financial exposure on the track, sure you'll learn how to get the most out of a slower car but ultimately you'll want more, unless you want to get competitive and run in a class like with a Miata or Toyota 86.
Don't get me wrong that's still a lot of $ and a ton of fun with some amazing, dedicated drivers just depends what you want out of it. My last 4 track days have been back on bikes, for me it makes more sense, it's a lot cheaper, a lot of fun and I've got a good friend to go with. I believe bikes are safer too on the track, they have a smaller profile and riders are typically more skilled and aware of their own health and safety. Expensive cars sometimes bring ego's and car drivers try and out drive their skill set but I guess that depends who you track with. I've tracked my m3 too and I will again but tbh I can't afford to crash it or to be crashed into and I've had/seen a few horror stories and close calls in cars a lot more than on bikes, some even in the parking lot.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Also tons to learn sitting behind well driven Miatas!

Watching Margaret Cheng fly around a track in her spec Miata was epic. More than 1 M3 driver would sheepishly give her the point by then romp on it to get on her tail only to turn into a spec in her rear view mirror two turns later.

I had a VP of Toyo tires ask my wife what turbo I had in my 1992 525i (manual, lsd, h&r’s and Bilstiens) after I’d lapped him in his 540i msport at buttonwillow. When she looked at him and said it’s a stock engine (ok, I had a Conforti chip) it turned out to be the last time I had to lay out lots of cash for tires. She even had to pop the hood to prove it! Great guy.

OP, as I said earlier, get coaching (electronic via Garmin, private, or post vids here) as the seat to steering wheel interface is the weakest part of the situation.

I was lucky and had lots of great coaches through the BMW club driving schools. I found that getting a ride with a faster driver around a track helped me learn faster (I am a visual learner).

[SAMM3Y]

^^^ lol yeah, be weary of any Miata with aluminum seats in it.. it's going to pass you and slowly fade into the distance and don't try and follow their brake lights/markers... they don't brake

[spooni]

Bought my 2010 a year ago, fully stock with 109k miles with the full intention of taking it to the track. 5 track days later, no regrets. I'm still a noob, but have learned a lot in my short time driving HPDE. Also, I have forced myself to do a lot of my own work, so the experience gained there is invaluable! I've spent way more than necessary on the car, but such is life

I've tempted selling it and moving to something like a full-blown track build(to save a few bucks), but I think at the end of the day, building something from the ground up is much more satisfying. Even if it does cost more.

[mattship26]

Have driven my E92 M3 on the track and my E46 M3. Love the overall feel of the E92 but you can't beat the feel of the E46 (manual) on the track. both great cars

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

I'll say the most fun I had as an instructor was in a Miata with a great driver for the day. He was extracting as much as he could from that car and it was a friggin blast. I'd love to have a Miata at some point.