Funny, the only thing lighter than a GTO that passed me on a track day was a Corvette. Not a single Miata, 911, or Civic. What the light cars make up in less tire and brake wear I more than made up the difference in in less drivetrain wear.
Funny, the only thing lighter than a GTO that passed me on a track day was a Corvette. Not a single Miata, 911, or Civic. What the light cars make up in less tire and brake wear I more than made up the difference in in less drivetrain wear.
Javelin wrote: Funny, the only thing lighter than a GTO that passed me on a track day was a Corvette. Not a single Miata, 911, or Civic. What the light cars make up in less tire and brake wear I *more* than made up the difference in in less drivetrain wear.
??? This doesn't make any sense. How do you have less drivetrain "wear" in a heavier car?
Easy. With 400HP and 400TQ you don't have to push the GTO at all, it just kind of idles around the track. You use the low-end torque and tall gearing to move.
Meanwhile Mr. Miata-san is revving his poor little 1.8L to the redline nearly the entire track to keep up on momentum. I used 2 gears the whole track, he used 4. 16 turns, how many shifts per lap? It all adds up...
Javelin wrote: Funny, the only thing lighter than a GTO that passed me on a track day was a Corvette. Not a single Miata, 911, or Civic. What the light cars make up in less tire and brake wear I *more* than made up the difference in in less drivetrain wear.
I didn't say it wasn't fast - just that it is a crappy track car. If you only go once or twice a year - a Bonneville will go around pretty quickly - so will an F body or an Audi A6. You don't see them all that often though because they just are not all that much fun. The reason there are a million old 911s at the track is because they are a E36 M3load of grins.
There are a lot of reasons to choose a big GT and I have looked at and test driven the GTO - I love it. All I'm saying is that if it is the prime driver for you to purchase one is as a track day toy then you are looking at the wrong range of cars.
The Elise is the girl you want to dance with... the GTO is the fat girl who doesn't sweat too much that your mom fixed you up with.
As a track day car that you still use every day I'd contend it's at least in the top 3 (with the M3 and the 911). I will give you that if you're going to just have a track toy, it doesn't make sense, but then not much would beyond a Seven, Cobra, or Radical.
I think people miss the point. For a trackday car.. (not a race car) what would be more fun.. a high revving miata that you have to keep on boil and at the ragged edge of handling.. or a big GTO that basically "idles around the track"?
I would take the miata
In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:
Actually, a diesel would make a stupendous track day car, though obviously not in a truck. The new Sky-D in a Caterham chassis for example. 350FtLbs, 6 speeds, and 50MPG at the track 
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: The Elise is the girl you want to dance with... the GTO is the fat girl who doesn't sweat too much that your mom fixed you up with.
That is so "quote worthy", pure awesomeness
In reply to mad_machine:
And I would take the faster car. I've tracked a Miata, an RX-7, an LS1-RX-7, the GTO, and the P71. The most fun was the P71 because it was the most "on the limit" as you say, but it sure wasn't the fastest. And honestly that kind of fun only lasts for so many lap before you get tired of getting passed.
I'd take the LS1-RX-7 as the track car, no question, but if I could only have 1 car in my garage that I had to drive every day AND take to the track, it would be the GTO (with kids, the Corvette without).
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: The Elise is the girl you want to dance with... the GTO is the fat girl who doesn't sweat too much that your mom fixed you up with.
The Elise is the battered girl with serious emotional baggage who'll dump you as soon as the money stops, the GTO is the farm girl next door that'll teach you a few things 
and then get greasy in the garage.
Is this actually for a dedicated track day only car or is this thread getting completely off track?
Javelin wrote: but if I could only have 1 car in my garage that I had to drive every day *AND* take to the track, it would be the GTO (with kids, the Corvette without).
I would agree with this.
But I wouldn't buy either if I am honest.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'll take the Miata. Plus boost. Suddenly a GTO becomes irrelevant.
None of the boosted Miata's were anywhere near the stock GTO man. There's a reason Flyin Miata is all about the LSx swaps now.
mad_machine wrote: I think people miss the point. For a trackday car.. (not a race car) what would be more fun.. a high revving miata that you have to keep on boil and at the ragged edge of handling.. or a big GTO that basically "idles around the track"? I would take the miata
like
Javelin wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'll take the Miata. Plus boost. Suddenly a GTO becomes irrelevant.None of the boosted Miata's were anywhere near the *stock* GTO man. There's a reason Flyin Miata is all about the LSx swaps now.
Ok you win. 
I'll put the Miata up for sale tomorrow, despite it being quite a bit faster than any stock GTO i've ever driven.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Javelin wrote:Ok you win.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'll take the Miata. Plus boost. Suddenly a GTO becomes irrelevant.None of the boosted Miata's were anywhere near the *stock* GTO man. There's a reason Flyin Miata is all about the LSx swaps now.
Clearly weight has no bearing on performance.
MG Bryan wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Clearly weight has no bearing on performance.Javelin wrote:Ok you win.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'll take the Miata. Plus boost. Suddenly a GTO becomes irrelevant.None of the boosted Miata's were anywhere near the *stock* GTO man. There's a reason Flyin Miata is all about the LSx swaps now.
Nope, LSx makes anything handle like the hand of god guiding you around a track himself.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:MG Bryan wrote:Nope, LSx makes anything handle like the hand of god guiding you around a track himself.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Clearly weight has no bearing on performance.Javelin wrote:Ok you win.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'll take the Miata. Plus boost. Suddenly a GTO becomes irrelevant.None of the boosted Miata's were anywhere near the *stock* GTO man. There's a reason Flyin Miata is all about the LSx swaps now.
Since the intake on an LSx is perpetually suckling the Virgin Mother's breast, that's a given.
AS a "One car to do it all" the GTO is a great choice. i'd rock one as my daily, track star, auto-x'er and cross country hauler.
But to make retarded statements that it's better than any miata ever etc etc etc is just...well...retarded. And not in that "Oh he's cute because he tries so hard because of his mental retardation" way but more of the "HerpaDEEERRRRRR" kinda way.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Javelin wrote:Ok you win.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'll take the Miata. Plus boost. Suddenly a GTO becomes irrelevant.None of the boosted Miata's were anywhere near the *stock* GTO man. There's a reason Flyin Miata is all about the LSx swaps now.
Anytime, anyplace bubba. I have 13.0 timeslips in the glovebox the 100% stock GTO. Let's see your MSM do that.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Javelin wrote:You caught me. I bought a Miata to go drag racing. I may or may not take it to the track. However, considering that similar power MSMs tend to run in the 12.3-12.8 area, i think i'm ok.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Anytime, anyplace bubba. I have 13.0 timeslips in the glovebox the 100% stock GTO. Let's see your MSM do that.Javelin wrote:Ok you win.92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I'll take the Miata. Plus boost. Suddenly a GTO becomes irrelevant.None of the boosted Miata's were anywhere near the *stock* GTO man. There's a reason Flyin Miata is all about the LSx swaps now.
No possible. It does not have an LSx engine therefore it is teh suckeh. GTO's are the awesomest car EVAR.
How did this morph into a GTO vs. Miata track car fight?
Seriously? Please tell me it has a turbo swap, because the way Keith talks about them they have no power at all. And why are you trying to talk into circles or change what was being claimed? I stated that the stock GTO I tracked passed every damn Miata (including the boosted ones). It is faster on a track. Pretty simple claim. You mod your Miata and I'll mod the GTO and the distance will get even greater. It's a superb handling car, and in any track that's big (and not like, say, an autocross course or a kart track), the Miata's weight and slightly better suspension aren't going to make up as much ground as you think.
Now yes, you mod a Miata to the 9's and it will go like stink, we all know that, but the reality is unless you're rocking a V8 or some seriously stressed-out over-boosted built engine, it's going to have a hard time keeping up with a stock GTO, let alone a modified one. Physics don't lie. Same reason a GTO will always have issues with a Corvette, etc, etc.
Javelin wrote: Seriously? Please tell me it has a turbo swap, because the way Keith talks about them they have no power at all. And why are you trying to talk into circles or change what was being claimed? I stated that the stock GTO I tracked passed every damn Miata (including the boosted ones). It is *faster* on a track. Pretty simple claim. You mod your Miata and I'll mod the GTO and the distance will get even greater. It's a superb handling car, and in any track that's big (and not like, say, an autocross course or a kart track), the Miata's weight and slightly better suspension aren't going to make up as much ground as you think. Now yes, you mod a Miata to the 9's and it will go like stink, we all know that, but the reality is unless you're rocking a V8 or some seriously stressed-out over-boosted built engine, it's going to have a hard time keeping up with a stock GTO, let alone a modified one. Physics don't lie. Same reason a GTO will always have issues with a Corvette, etc, etc.
I should have stayed out last time. You win again. GTO is a better track car than a Miata. Carry on.
Javelin wrote: Seriously? Please tell me it has a turbo swap, because the way Keith talks about them they have no power at all. And why are you trying to talk into circles or change what was being claimed? I stated that the stock GTO I tracked passed every damn Miata (including the boosted ones). It is *faster* on a track. Pretty simple claim. You mod your Miata and I'll mod the GTO and the distance will get even greater. It's a superb handling car, and in any track that's big (and not like, say, an autocross course or a kart track), the Miata's weight and slightly better suspension aren't going to make up as much ground as you think. Now yes, you mod a Miata to the 9's and it will go like stink, we all know that, but the reality is unless you're rocking a V8 or some seriously stressed-out over-boosted built engine, it's going to have a hard time keeping up with a stock GTO, let alone a modified one. Physics don't lie. Same reason a GTO will always have issues with a Corvette, etc, etc.
Bolded part for the uber irony. Nothing can best a GTO. Especially not some $1500 Miata.
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