Need some help with future plans

[johnny_vitz]

After reading through this, I feel like I am torn the same as you are about this decision. I've been debating the last few years about what I should move on to, but I refuse to get rid of my echo (for some reason) I even have a guy a work with that keeps offering to buy it . I have considered all kinds of different cars but just can't pull the trigger and move on. I think I would rather have something unique I guess...I really don't know. There are just so many modded Miatas out there, I could never do it. Not to mention any Honda...we all know we dont want to see any more oil burners with fart cans on the road.
Either way, I'll be checking back in to see your final decision lol

[tmontague]

Originally Posted by johnny_vitz

After reading through this, I feel like I am torn the same as you are about this decision. I've been debating the last few years about what I should move on to, but I refuse to get rid of my echo (for some reason) I even have a guy a work with that keeps offering to buy it . I have considered all kinds of different cars but just can't pull the trigger and move on. I think I would rather have something unique I guess...I really don't know. There are just so many modded Miatas out there, I could never do it. Not to mention any Honda...we all know we dont want to see any more oil burners with fart cans on the road.
Either way, I'll be checking back in to see your final decision lol

having a unique car has it pros for sure but at the end of the day I am doing this solely for my own enjoyment and to have a great platform that I can easily find parts for, costs a minimal amount, has good online support and that can grow with my skill as it teaches me to be a better driver. If it was purely a street car then I agree unique is better. My car is slowly becoming more of a track build and the more I track it the less important being unique seems to me.

The amount of cash it takes to blaze a trail and be the first to build a chassis up in a way that has no support or has never been done takes ridiculous amount of money. This is the large difference of a street vs track car. With the temps my engine saw at the track last Friday, I would have to make serious changes to my front end to keep it cool if I ever wanted to go with some boost. Being the first for a street car isn't nearly as cumbersome as building a functional chassis that can handle 45 min full out track session in above 90 degree ambient temps.

Don't get me wrong, I love driving around in a very unique Yaris (around my neck of the woods) and I genuinely love my car. I am just realizing how little rational sense it seems to want to make it my lifelong track car in a few years when there are at least 3 solid chassis out there with a lot for sale in the used market and with many aftermarket bolt on options (ie: 370z, miata, s2000)

I personally don't like convertibles and a Miata isn't my choice of car if I was going just on looks, but there is a reason you hear the saying "miata is always the answer" on a pure cost+performance/fun perspective you can't really go wrong with them. I do like the FRS/BRZ but the aftermarket parts are inflated with the "Teenage tax" as it is currently one of the more popular "cheap" sports cars. This is why I haven't really thought much about that chassis.

Something I've learned being a fly on the wall at track days and listening to others who have tracked for many years is that there is no substitute for seat time. If you have limitations to your budget that chassis' w/ expensive wear items and/or ones that are always breaking down are not very conducive to seat time.

I'll always have my Yaris. All this would mean is that I won't be putting anymore serious money into the drive train. I'll update things like a racing seat and new tires etc, but large ticket items will be saved for a future track specific chassis.

[johnny_vitz]

Definitely, If you want a faster car that just requires readily available bolt on parts...those 3 are great options. The difference is buying a fast car or building one, that is totally up to you. I haven't had the time to make it back to the track this year...still hoping to do that soon.