DCT track car - cheap options
Discussion
OK so first off this probably won't happen, or at least not for a couple of years, its another "thought experiment" bur here goes.
I track a clip 182 abs love it. Its about to get a cage and then it's pretty much done for me and i plan to use it to get to know UK tracks.
However I have been driving through Europe the last couple of weeks in a borrowed BMW which is nothing to right home about. Its a 2018ish X3 2.0 msport petrol. The suspension is actually surprisingly good for spirited driving but the main thing it Its an auto. I've never properly driven one and generally always hated the idea. Well it turns out I'm bonding with it and even though it only has about 190hp it'd actually quite fun.
Then we stopped at Maranello, and went to the Ferrari museum where my ither half had to drag me off the zi.ulator before I spent all my holiday money. It really was actually pretty awesome, and of course, it was Paddleshift. Which I really really enjoyed. Removing the clutch pedal and the mechanics of downshifting before the corners made for a different experience.
At some point I want to start tracking a RWD car but this whole trip got me wondering whether it should be a DCT RWD car?!
Now obvioys choice might be a DCT m3 but as I'm auto cars are a real blind spot of mine i thought I'd put a post on here and see what other, ideally much cheaper, options are out there?
Thanks
I track a clip 182 abs love it. Its about to get a cage and then it's pretty much done for me and i plan to use it to get to know UK tracks.
However I have been driving through Europe the last couple of weeks in a borrowed BMW which is nothing to right home about. Its a 2018ish X3 2.0 msport petrol. The suspension is actually surprisingly good for spirited driving but the main thing it Its an auto. I've never properly driven one and generally always hated the idea. Well it turns out I'm bonding with it and even though it only has about 190hp it'd actually quite fun.
Then we stopped at Maranello, and went to the Ferrari museum where my ither half had to drag me off the zi.ulator before I spent all my holiday money. It really was actually pretty awesome, and of course, it was Paddleshift. Which I really really enjoyed. Removing the clutch pedal and the mechanics of downshifting before the corners made for a different experience.
At some point I want to start tracking a RWD car but this whole trip got me wondering whether it should be a DCT RWD car?!
Now obvioys choice might be a DCT m3 but as I'm auto cars are a real blind spot of mine i thought I'd put a post on here and see what other, ideally much cheaper, options are out there?
Thanks
Just my 2 cents - I did about 30 laps at the Nurburgring driving an F30 328 A/T last and this year. It was a Ringfreaks rental.
To put things into perspective I daily drive cars with auto gearboxes for the last 10 years. I always used to think that cars with manual gearboxes are just for track days / race series. Not any more.
Now, after driving the track prepped F30 A/T I don't know what manual cars are for anymore to be honest.
That F30 is so much fun. The paddle shifts work fast enough. Surely, not at speeds of an 911 GT3, but way faster than a Ferrari F430.
Not sure about the reliability perspective though.
To put things into perspective I daily drive cars with auto gearboxes for the last 10 years. I always used to think that cars with manual gearboxes are just for track days / race series. Not any more.
Now, after driving the track prepped F30 A/T I don't know what manual cars are for anymore to be honest.
That F30 is so much fun. The paddle shifts work fast enough. Surely, not at speeds of an 911 GT3, but way faster than a Ferrari F430.
Not sure about the reliability perspective though.
I do like a good thought experiment! haha I think it depends a lot on what you want from the car, how quick it is and what your budget is. I've had both on road and track, I think the DCT is better for pootling and also faster at 10/10ths, but the manual is better when you're having a play on the road and more engaging on track. Strangely, I also miss using the torque of the engine in top gear on the motorway rather than the auto change down.
On track, would I want a DCT in a Clio 182 paced car? No, as I think the manual engagement adds to the experience.
But in my M4, with significantly more power, the DCT did make it easier to drive fast. It did lose some of the engagement but it also meant you could change gear mid corner without upsetting the balance of the car.
If I was building an out and out race car where time was everything, DCT would be the sensible choice, it also means you don't need to heal and toe to avoid locking the rear wheels under braking in some rwd cars (unless it has auto blip like the manual M2) but that's also part of the fun and I enjoy doing it. If I was building a track car to enjoy driving on track and maybe the odd road trip as well, the extra engagement of a manual is still appealing.
On track, would I want a DCT in a Clio 182 paced car? No, as I think the manual engagement adds to the experience.
But in my M4, with significantly more power, the DCT did make it easier to drive fast. It did lose some of the engagement but it also meant you could change gear mid corner without upsetting the balance of the car.
If I was building an out and out race car where time was everything, DCT would be the sensible choice, it also means you don't need to heal and toe to avoid locking the rear wheels under braking in some rwd cars (unless it has auto blip like the manual M2) but that's also part of the fun and I enjoy doing it. If I was building a track car to enjoy driving on track and maybe the odd road trip as well, the extra engagement of a manual is still appealing.
Justinas said:
Now, after driving the track prepped F30 A/T I don't know what manual cars are for anymore to be honest.
Aside from racing where tenths of a second matter (i.e. the time it takes to change from one gear to another), I can't see why anyone who can change gear and rev-match downchanges properly would choose to drive an automatic on circuit. I personally don't get much enjoyment from letting a machine do something I can do better myself, clearly in the minority 
Chunkychucky said:
...I can't see why anyone who can change gear and rev-match downchanges properly would choose to drive an automatic on circuit. I personally don't get much enjoyment from letting a machine do something I can do better myself, clearly in the minority
Just a minor point, you can't do it better yourself.Otherwise I'm on the fence - either are fine, I can particularly see taking a load off your brainpower in faster cars by having a DCT which doesn't need as much focus to work.
Chunkychucky said:
Aside from racing where tenths of a second matter (i.e. the time it takes to change from one gear to another), I can't see why anyone who can change gear and rev-match downchanges properly would choose to drive an automatic on circuit. I personally don't get much enjoyment from letting a machine do something I can do better myself, clearly in the minority
I see where you are coming from and I appreciate your thinking. Actually, I used to think the same.Here is a quick story I'd like to share. Some time ago I raced in a manual car. It happened to be a super hot, about 35°C, day. No air con. Windows shut due to safety regs. A proper sauna experience wearing my full racing kit inside the car. By the end of my 1 hour driving stint it was a bit challenging to focus. One of the thoughts was to make sure that I don't use a wrong gear that would over-rev the engine. There was absolutely no enjoyment shifting gears that day.
Also, an automatic helps with dealing with drivers mistakes. It's just more accurate and reliable.
Get a seven with bike engine and paddle shift or blipper. .
More fun than a normal manual IMO / IME on track. A well set up system lets you bang in gears mid corner with very very little impact to car balance as they're so fast. Plus you can change up, sideways, with the rears spinning
Just treat the engine and box like a consumable item... So go for a cheap, plentiful, super bike engine. Not a big cc (busa / bird) lump.
More fun than a normal manual IMO / IME on track. A well set up system lets you bang in gears mid corner with very very little impact to car balance as they're so fast. Plus you can change up, sideways, with the rears spinning
Just treat the engine and box like a consumable item... So go for a cheap, plentiful, super bike engine. Not a big cc (busa / bird) lump.
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff