I still vote 240Z as the pick, ideally with a 5 speed conversion. It is good street or track as all my pics were.
I still vote 240Z as the pick, ideally with a 5 speed conversion. It is good street or track as all my pics were.
tuna55 wrote: A bunch of you guys missed his 'street car' requirement. he said "also use for some HPDE" not "to be a dedicated track rat". I am interested at some of the results. I have nothing really to add, other than I am super interested in hearing more TVR and Alfa related suggestions.
Oh I totally caught it, but steering someone toward dedicated track car is soooooo much more fun.
In reality a Miata is the answer to this question, as it is over on the GRM board...
Well, as mentioned I wouldn't mind a Miata, and they're fairly easy to find down towards the Bay Area. As are 240Z-280Zs, actually. I'm not too keen on more British Engineering, although I could probably live with another MGB GT...
I might have a lead on a decent Mk1 MR2 but it's not clear at the moment if that's sold yet; pretty much all the Mk2s I found were either autotragics or had T-tops and I'm not too keen on either.
Oh well, I've got all winter to search for a car.
In reply to Andy Reid:
Andy, I'm curious about something. Every time somebody mentions Miata's I think "boy I wish they had made a Miata coupe". I'm not really into verts. I also like 240Z's. I've driven both, but not a lot. I'm interested in knowing how you (or anyone else with significant experience with both) would compare the two, especially in the areas of driving experience and handling.
BMW Z4 Coupe ;)
bravenrace wrote: In reply to Andy Reid: Andy, I'm curious about something. Every time somebody mentions Miata's I think "boy I wish they had made a Miata coupe". I'm not really into verts. I also like 240Z's. I've driven both, but not a lot. I'm interested in knowing how you (or anyone else with significant experience with both) would compare the two, especially in the areas of driving experience and handling.
I've owned multiple versions of both, and have tracked both. They are VERY different on track. A Miata is seriously easy to drive. It has no bad habits, and is fairly stable at speed, even in stock form. It is certainly a momentum car and corner speed is everything. To me, it's greatest strength is it's turn in. Properly set up, it's "right now". The car just changes directions and go. Most are power steering, but the manual versions give better feedback.
The 240 is an entirely different beast. It's a workout. The steering loads up and gets very heavy, but it's easy to place and to me, more rewarding to drive fast. And it has that awesome straight 6. Although not a rocket itself compared to modern cars, it has more torque than the Miata and has the edge in corner exit. However, I don't know if one can carry the corner speeds that a Miata can.
The 240 is also a bit twitchier at speed, at least the ones I've driven. But where most Miatas I've driven reward finesse, the 240 seems to reward anger. I liken it to dragging it around kicking and screaming.
I've driven a lot of different cars on track, and where the Miata ranks as a competent, fun car, the 240Z is ranks right at the top of my list as the most fun. It's not the fastest, it's not the nicest, it's not the easiest, it's doesn't have the best brakes or suspension, but it takes what it does have and creates a balanced package. It tells you everything it's doing, and warns you when you are doing it wrong.
André Rousseau wrote: BMW Z4 Coupe ;)
That'll take a while to go anywhere near my $5k-$6k budget...
I've got email confirmation that the MR2 I mentioned above hasn't sold yet so I guess I'll have a look at it on the weekend. From the descriptions it's essentially a one-owner car (the current owner is the original owner's daughter and only put it her name as the executor of the estate in order to be able to register it so it can be driven) and supposedly in very good condition. Let's see how good it really is...
Well, I would look at the MR2 if I could get hold of the business that is tasked with selling the vehicle. Clearly posted opening hours are vastly overrated. Grrr.
That said, a Jensen Healey has just turned up in Sacramento, with a bunch of spares including a spare motor. Any love for these or should I just run the other way?
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