Track car advice please

[livinginasia]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 29 May 2023 at 07:11

[Mr MXT]

Can’t help on the car choice (except MX5, obviously) but I would say don’t put sticky tyres on if fun is the name of the game, which it should be on a track day!

Much more fun to have a lower limit of grip IMO and makes you a better driver…

[livinginasia]

Mr MXT said:

Can’t help on the car choice (except MX5, obviously) but I would say don’t put sticky tyres on if fun is the name of the game, which it should be on a track day!

Much more fun to have a lower limit of grip IMO and makes you a better driver…

Thank you - that’s very good advice, really appreciate that. I agree an MX5 would be fun but I don’t think it comes with a DSG type gearbox. Wish he would do a manual but he doesn’t want that on the road.

[Glenn63]

Is it purely a track car or to be used on the road a bit? Can’t beat a hatch for all round practicality, and everyone knows FWD is for people that can’t drive so 135i would be my vote out of that group. I’m biased with a fairly heavily modified m140 that’s my daily and track car though.

[livinginasia]

Glenn63 said:

Is it purely a track car or to be used on the road a bit? Can’t beat a hatch for all round practicality, and everyone knows FWD is for people that can’t drive so 135i would be my vote out of that group. I’m biased with a fairly heavily modified m140 that’s my daily and track car though.

Thank you. He has an X5 as a daily, this is just driving to and from the track and a few track days each year. He lives near me in the south east which means apart from Brands, it’s an M25 slog to all of the tracks, hence wanting the DSG. Practicality doesn’t matter.

The 135i would be fun, or maybe the Z4? Never see a Z4 on track, see loads of 135s, Clios and MX5s.

[Pedro Raynard]

Hi, my experience and thoughts.

Tracked a Scirocco R (DSG) and then M3 E92 (DSG) and now Z4M manual.

Just could not find a balance with the Scirocco always felt to be under steering (of course could have been the driver). Went for the M3, extremely competent car felt balanced but…….it just felt that to enjoy the car I needed to be doing silly speeds. Very well insulted from everything. Went out in a mates Z4 and immediately I knew having the roof down just changed to experience of motoring.

Swapped to an older Z4M, and really enjoy the sense of occasion getting out with the roof down and with a few tweaks really enjoy on track.

Therefore the Z4, 35i however I don’t know if it has a limited slip differential. If not then I suggest that rather than tyres or even brakes, look at getting a LSD. Hard roof a bonus as likely to offer a little more protection should it go horribly wrong. (If up when on track). Z4M LSD is standard.

Similar with the DSG v manual. Manual is about operating the car to get best out of it. With the DSG it just encouraged me to rag it around like a hooligan without thinking about car balance and planning ahead. The DSG just sorts itself out.

Hope that helps…..either way buy and enjoy.

Good luck.

Pete.

[livinginasia]

Pedro Raynard said:

Hi, my experience and thoughts.

Tracked a Scirocco R (DSG) and then M3 E92 (DSG) and now Z4M manual.

Just could not find a balance with the Scirocco always felt to be under steering (of course could have been the driver). Went for the M3, extremely competent car felt balanced but…….it just felt that to enjoy the car I needed to be doing silly speeds. Very well insulted from everything. Went out in a mates Z4 and immediately I knew having the roof down just changed to experience of motoring.

Swapped to an older Z4M, and really enjoy the sense of occasion getting out with the roof down and with a few tweaks really enjoy on track.

Therefore the Z4, 35i however I don’t know if it has a limited slip differential. If not then I suggest that rather than tyres or even brakes, look at getting a LSD. Hard roof a bonus as likely to offer a little more protection should it go horribly wrong. (If up when on track). Z4M LSD is standard.

Similar with the DSG v manual. Manual is about operating the car to get best out of it. With the DSG it just encouraged me to rag it around like a hooligan without thinking about car balance and planning ahead. The DSG just sorts itself out.

Hope that helps…..either way buy and enjoy.

Good luck.

Pete.

Thanks Pete, that’s extremely kind, and it’s good to hear the Z4 can be fun on track. I have no idea if the one he has seen has a LSD but I will ask him to check.

I do agree about the fun of going roofless, the noise, smells and senses are very different for sure.

Thanks so much.

[phazed]

What about a Boxster S. DSG from 2009 onwards with arguably a more robust engine relating to bore score..

Brilliant handling rear wheel drive with an epic howling soundtrack.

[BertBert]

phazed said:

What about a Boxster S. DSG from 2009 onwards with arguably a more robust engine relating to bore score..

Brilliant handling rear wheel drive with an epic howling soundtrack.

I think the OP abandoned this thread ages ago!

[phazed]

Ahhh