When is that answer not miata? Track day car content

Javelin wrote: I don't know about all clubs/tracks, but I do know that in order to run at any of my local HPDE's my Miata needed to have BOTH an approved (SCCA/NASA) rollbar AND a hardtop. That's my #1 reason for disliking the Miata for track duty, I would much rather have a "natural hardtop" car to avoid those restrictions. Just my 2 cents.

I can and have run HPDE with Cascade, BMW, Alfa, Audi with only my approved roll bar at Portland International Raceway. I ran 5 days last year with various clubs. I can't speak for the Oregon Porsche folks...

I've run with OR PCA and Oregon SCCA.

You do have a rollbar though. I imagine Cascade and the others require wither that OR the hardtop.

In reply to Javelin:

I've found they all require a good sturdy roll bar, and don't care one way or the other about the hard top.

road racing a Miata will be WAY cheaper then the E36 M3. Cheaper to purchase, cheaper parts and easiest on tires, brakes and maintinence. But you will end up getting bored with it if your already considering the M3. I see a BIG cost difference but if that isnt an issue then go for it.

jeffp wrote: In reply to Javelin: I've found they all require a good sturdy roll bar, and don't care one way or the other about the hard top.

Huh. Hardtop must have been strongly suggested for the rain or something then.

Either way, it still stands that to track a Miata (or any Roadster) you must have a rollbar, and with a true Coupe, it is not required.

how about a Camaro? lots of power and great support.

Teqnyck wrote: I wanna use my last Protege LX as an example. I bought a Miata ebay manifold, a 50 dollar 2nd gen DSM turbo, made my own adapter plate and modded a DSM downpipe, Apexi SAFC from Craigslist for 100 bucks, Rx7 injectors from a drifter who wanted more power, so on and so forth. I ended up putting less than 1k into a turbo set up and I put 220whp down. In a Miata, 220 is plenty to get you around the track faster than most other people.

Good advice here.

Javelin wrote:

jeffp wrote: In reply to Javelin: I've found they all require a good sturdy roll bar, and don't care one way or the other about the hard top.

Huh. Hardtop must have been strongly suggested for the rain or something then. Either way, it still stands that to track a Miata (or any Roadster) you must have a rollbar, and with a true Coupe, it is not required.

I will tell you that a hardtop is good for more speed down long straights -- roof up on my Miata is easily worth 5 to 7 kph . . and every little bit helps.

thunderzy wrote: to the OP. I'm in the same boat. Looking for a non miata track car. I chose to look at the other spec series automobiles as they are proven machines, and have incredible parts and information support. I'm speaking of the E30, mustang fox body, and porsche 944. There is nothing you can do to these cars that hasn't already been done. I considered an e36 m3. But the parts are little too expensive, and its a bit heavy. I finally decided on the Porsche 944. They are cheap, have a spec league, and relatively easy to maintain. Out the box they are good all around performers. just my .02.

are 944's really that cheap? I had an 87 924 years and years ago, before I knew much about cars, and it was expensive to maintain. I forget but I think I had to get a timing belt done or a thermostat and it was supposed to cost somewhere around $2k. They guy ended up giving me a deal on it and i don't think it was very much. But he said those cars are a PITA to work on and parts are expensive. Have times changed, or was I being taken?

jonny330 wrote:

thunderzy wrote: to the OP. I'm in the same boat. Looking for a non miata track car. I chose to look at the other spec series automobiles as they are proven machines, and have incredible parts and information support. I'm speaking of the E30, mustang fox body, and porsche 944. There is nothing you can do to these cars that hasn't already been done. I considered an e36 m3. But the parts are little too expensive, and its a bit heavy. I finally decided on the Porsche 944. They are cheap, have a spec league, and relatively easy to maintain. Out the box they are good all around performers. just my .02.

are 944's really that cheap? I had an 87 924 years and years ago, before I knew much about cars, and it was expensive to maintain. I forget but I think I had to get a timing belt done or a thermostat and it was supposed to cost somewhere around $2k. They guy ended up giving me a deal on it and i don't think it was very much. But he said those cars are a PITA to work on and parts are expensive. Have times changed, or was I being taken?

I just sold my Miata with a broken engine for $1000 more than I just paid for my 944 with service history. A reputable shop charges around $1000 for the whole-hog timing belt, balance belt, and roller chandgeover, or you can buy $200 worth of tools and do it yourself in a day.

So far I have found the normal parts to be price comparable between both (fuel filter, air filter, plugs, wires, etc) and both have their expensive bits (AGM battery, CAS, hardtop, rear finish panel, harmonic balancer/crank nose stuff on the Miata and DME, timing changes, wheels, and clutch on the 944).