I just did a track day today in my 02 996TT. I've only done track days a few times, and my car is setup for street use. After seeing some of the other older P cars that have racing equipment, I'm wondering if I should venture down that path with my car. Is the TT worth tracking? Don't get me wrong - it's a fantastic car, but it's heavy. Seeing other experienced drivers and their cars makes me realize how much more needs to be done to my car to make it track-friendly. Of course I can add race goodies, but is it worth it?

Meanwhile, I was having a really hard time catching up to a guy in a Ford Focus SVT! I'm not sure what he was packing, but he sure had talent! I'm starting to wonder if we Porsche fans are overlooking other less expensive, fun, good handling cars. Are the days of needing a Porsche to be competitive over? I could buy 4 Subaru STis for the price of 1 TT! I'm starting to think I could have just as much fun in a light weight sport-compact. Okay, so you throw $10K at it to beef up what needs fixing.

So I guess I'm wondering how many of you have had good luck tracking your TT? Have you had or considered other fun track cars? Or, have you just given up on tracking, and just have fun on the street?

Cheers.

 

Subscribing!

 

For a lot of people who aren't made of money, I think the idea of thrashing or crashing their TT on the track keeps them away.

With that being said, if you have the money - go for it. Or sell your car and get a GT2.

If you just want to get into racing, there are plenty of cheaper cars that you can have a blast with. RX7 turbos are a blast, E36 M3s are a blast (especially with forced induction!), and even a "slow" spec Miata is a blast on the track. Any of these cars can be had for $10-20k, maybe more if you really want it modded.

 

Yeah, I like staying with Porsche because I like the marque. I was thinking of something like an early '90s Turbo model. The guys with those cars seem to really have a blast, and they are lighter too. Getting a GT2 seems like going in the wrong direction - even more expense and risk, and more weight. Having said that, I read some other recent posts where people do really like the GT2 for track over the regular TT.

 

raygr,

A 996tt is a street car that you can have fun on the track with. Is it a good track car? No. Reverse the question. Can a good track car be taken to the street, take on long drives etc. No.

A car set up for a short track won't be competitive for a long track or a track car isn't a good drag car, take any speciality to an extreme and you will sacrifice in other areas.

 

So True!

 

I can tell you the most cost effective, and best way to improve your track times,

Race tuition. Much better than modifying your car.


All the best
adam

 

Don't beat yourself up over it. On the tracks, it's probably 80% talent and 20% car. I track my Turbo because I like it, not because it makes me faster.

Sure, you can floor it on the straight and not let anyone pass. But if you do this at the BMWCCA schools where I track my Turbo with, you will soon have very intimate relationship with the black flag.

I was with the B group (BMWCCA has four groups, D, C, B, A, A being fastest) at Button Willow last weekend running counter clockwise with the BMWCCA. I was in fourth floored as soon as I hit the apex on top of the magic mountain, and lo and behold, an instructor in a stock E46 M3 was closing. I decided to let him by at the passing zone before the star mazda, and watched him just rocketed through the Esseses and into the front straight like I was standing still.

It's really the driver, and not the f'ing car, as the saying goes. In your case, once you have enough track days under your belt, and with the Turbo, you will be pretty darn fast on the track.

 

I track the car a lot and agree that the driving skills is what gets you around the track. I am toying with the idea of getting either a Shelby Cobra or a GT350 to do some vintage stuff with Kevin

 

Vegas eh? I'll be at the Sin City chapter BMWCCA driving school on 5/15-16 running the new lenghtened short track. AFAIK, the school is not yet full.

http://www.sincitybmwcarclub.com/driving.html

There will be at least two Turbo's and one GT3. Of course, the more the merrier.

 

Let's face it: The TT is not a track car. It's definitely an everyday driver. A GT car...

I wouldn't "upgrade" it to a track car... if it's a track car you're after, then trade your TT for a GT2.

 

......OR A GT3

 

GT3...there is no track substitute

 

Why would I want to trade my turbo for a GT2? It would be slower on all but a very short track.

 

uhmmm... a GT3 RS is a good substitute...

But in general it's correct that a GT3 is DEFINITELY so much more of a track car than the TT.
In Germany the TT makes a lot of sense though. Especially when keeping in mind that there's a thing called "Die Autobahn".

On the Autobahn a TT is king. A GT3 doesn't even see my tail-lights for more than 30 seconds.

I don't get that? What are you talking about? The current GT2 is a 483 hps, rear wheels powered beast which goes from 0-100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds.