WTB - a new (to me) car

[BLAIR]

out of the cars you mentioned i really like the S14

but have you considered a SC300 5 speed... (thats my dream car)

-you can get them for 5 to 7k range
-they are toyota so they dont break
-tons of aftermarket parts for them
-heavy, but pimp and rwd (pretty much a mkIV NA supra)
-5 speeds are rare but you can come by them every so often

[.RJ]

-heavy

Thats a huge liability for a track car to have.

If its heavy it will be a tire and brake pad/rotor/fluid/caliper eating shitbox and just everything will wear out faster.

[BLAIR]

-heavy

Thats a huge liability for a track car to have.

If its heavy it will be a tire and brake pad/rotor/fluid/caliper eating shitbox and just everything will wear out faster.

yea but like dave.. some supra brakes and wheels (pretty cheep) and i bet its as fast as a 240, not that thats all that matters

PLUS.. you all are bling bling.. you got money to replace tires/pads/fluid etc

[.RJ]

yea but like dave.. some supra brakes and wheels (pretty cheep)

If you have to do a $1000 brake swap onto a car so that it doesnt destroy the the pads every two weekends.... that should be a hint

PLUS.. you all are bling bling.. you got money to replace tires/pads/fluid etc

It doesnt go as far as you'd like to think.

[BLAIR]

those brakes go for near half that. and thats a nice upgrade.. im sure the car would survive fine with some upgraded stock stuff..but the TT supra stuff is nearly as cheep

[.RJ]

im sure the car would survive fine with some upgraded stock stuff

Not on track it wouldnt..... 3 laps at summit, the fluid would be boiled, pads on fire and rotors cracked

[CaptainHenreh]

Curb weight for a 1995 Lexus SC300:
3506 lbs.

Curb weight for a 1995 Toyota Supra: (N/A)
3215 lbs.

Now, I'm guessing that since Dave doesn't crack rotors, boil fluid, or set fire to his pads when he has a passenger, I'm also guessing the damage wouldn't be that severe on an SC300, either. In addition, I have a sneaking feeling that there's quite alot of heft to be eliminated on the Lexus, like an 18 million way heated leather driver's seat that could probably make the weights equal. Furthermore, if someone were in the market for a "Supralike" car, an SC300 would save that person in the range of 3-4000 dollars.

Having said that, there are far better cars for the track. If the convertable thing is a must, you're left with el numero homo.

Have you considered a C4 'vette? Rear drive, enormously wide wheels, six forward gears (on some), V8 power, and no more expensive than anything else you've mentioned. Plus, any mechanic on earth can work on it.

Beats a hatchpile any day of the week, IMHO.

[Evan]

RJ thinks that the brakes on any car over 2500 lbs will spontaneously combust the second it goes on track.

I instructed a student in a Supercharged 400whp Crown Victoria with pep boys pads and the thing stopped all day long.

[.RJ]

RJ has severe brake paranoia

[Dave]

There was an NA-T mkIV with stock brakes and upgraded pads out at Summit last summer. From what I talked to him, he never had any issues braking. The SC would be a good option; at one time I was seriously considering one so that I'd essentially have a supra, and then another one for the track. Like Rex said, I'm sure you can make the SC weigh the same as the supra very easily.
C4 vette is also a good option. Easy power, pretty fast, can't be too hard to work on, RWD ownz, and then you can say you are driving our father's mid-life car and you aren't even 25 . If you'd consider the vette, don't throw away the fireturd or crapmaro, although I don't think I would compromise for that.

[G.Irish]

It only takes one untimely case of brake fade to lead to an untimely demise.

Even if the SC can get slowed down as RJ said its going to eat more tires and brakes because of basic physics. It will also take more distance to brake and will not change directions as well as a lighter car. That's not to say it can't be a formidable car on track (as evidenced by E46 M3's) just that you're having to overcome several inherent shortcomings from the start.

My vote would be for the S14. You have several options for more power down the road (SR20, RB20, RB26...LS1 :twisted and it handles well.

[ViPER1313]

Camaro Z28 (or SS) - fast, reliable, huge aftermarket, although a bit heavy. I own a heavy car - it's not all doom and gloom. For all the money you will spend getting a S14 up to specs in the engine / power department you can get a Z28 up to spec in the weight / handling dept. It's free to remove stuff and cut down on weight while it costs money to upgrade an engine. It's all a matter of taste.

IMO, there is no replacement for displacement (no NOS(Z), no *two* turbos).

[G.Irish]

The Z28 wouldn't be a bad choice, at least better than the SC IMO. I'd still pick the swapped S14 over it though. Yeah you can remove weight from the Camaro to get it more reasonable but you're starting out with about a 600 lbs deficit with the 240. Still, you are right that you'd have to spend a bit of money to match the stock speed of the Camaro.

In the end I'd have to drive both cars but I know I'd probably pick the S14. There is a replacement for displacement and its called forced induction.

[Dave]

my 240 has a stock motor with a $100 exhaust on it and it's pretty durn fast for what it is. Having tracked the supra and the 240, I will say that the 240 was easier to manipulate, but throttle steering it was a bit harder simply b/c it was weaker. A turbo build on the 240 is well documented, requires no internal work, and isn't too expensive, and would be my recommendation over a swap.

[Feersty]

S14 240 would be hot!

[Maengelito]

i did honestly contemplate a C4 vette, but i would like to stay away from domestics (because when it comes to imports, they just suck) another reason i am leaning miata is because i have the kosei's on the integra which fit on a miata (and E30 w/ spacers iirc) so thats one less thing i'd have to buy. evan's got a rollbar coming off his miata which if he's generous he can cut me a deal on (even though he probably wont be generous) and wear items on a car like that wont add up to much. brakes are small, wheels are small, gets decent gas mileage.

the S14 240 is also in good contention mainly because i might have a lead on one that hopefully i can get for a good price. i'm a bit weary of it though as the current owner is a girl that doesnt know much about cars and probably hasnt taken great care of it. obviously this is some research i'd do before buying the car.

other thoughts i've bounced around in my head:
N/A FC RX7 conv. (reliability is questionable... jack would know more)

bmw 2002 (super pimp, but probably not reliable or cheap)

early to mid 70s MGB conv (also not cheap or reliable)

and forgive me for saying this, but hangin up the race shoes for a year or two and getting me a jeep wrangler and look into offroading.

keep your opinions coming, i've really thought a lot about what people have been saying...

[Mike]

how about hanging up the shoes for a year or two... renting a car from a friend for autocrosses and buying a house?

[Maengelito]

how about hanging up the shoes for a year or two... renting a car from a friend for autocrosses and buying a house?

thought about that too... wouldnt need to rent a car because i still have the STi, but a house is something i cant afford even if i didnt race. prices around here are just too high for what i want compared to what i would get.

[WRXtranceformed]

I suggested this...
but he said no . Not a bad little project car for 600 bucks.

[ScottyB]

interestingly enough, Z28's have nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution. hell of an aftermarket too, and tons of people track them so the expertise is there.

like many have said though, id rather take a light car and make it powerful instead of vice versa. big cars have big appetites for everything.

my vote: 240...you can't go wrong. get a hatch and fit all your junk in it too.