Sometime last year I decided I'm at the point in my life where I'm ready to to run at DE's and such while keeping it streetable. I completed a racing school (Skip Barber formula car) and ran a few autocrosses, DE's, and a time trial in my previous street car. Thinking about a used car in the $40-50k region that's capable on the track but also retains a couple creature comforts for the street (A/C, stereo). I've driven a few 997 C2S's which I certainly love, but the older 964s and 993's have that special something the 996/997 cars tend to lack (I guess the air-cooled engine, in addition to being generally cheaper).

I've looked at a few 964 RSA's, which seem to fit the bill as far as my needs as a driver, but I'm gradually becoming more interested in the pre-owned Cayman S's which can be had for roughly the same price yet are much less "rough" for street use. Also, the various turbo-kits out there for the Cayman aren't prohibitively expensive, and would turn the Cayman into about as fast a vehicle as I would ever want. But I'm assuming introducing forced induction to anything will invariably increase upkeep/maintenance greatly which is less than ideal.

Keeping expenses down is a big factor, and I know the mere notion of track use will add a ton of cost on top of usual Porsche maintenance, but I don't plan on running the car for a full racing season anytime soon, so aside from investing in brake pads, tires, maybe some suspension work and seats, I don't think I want to dump $15k+ in this car every year. I'm slowly becoming more technically educated in these vehicles, I'm just not sure if I'm on the right track to get on the track, so to speak.

 

Pick out a nice used Cay S, add a set of quality tires, brake pads and fresh fluids, and run it for a year. No other mods needed. After a year with the car you will know what you want to do in terms of competition classes and mods.