THSCC Forums

I agree with Mike that a M3 is a fine car for the road and the track BUT...it is a complicated beast and difficult to work on yourself for some of the major items.

I recently had to have the head replaced on mine and after reading the procedure in the manual I decided to let someone else do the work. you KNOW I HATED to have to do that as I've done all my other car work myself. But the need for VERY special tools and the complication offered by the Vanos (think VTEC but by the Germans) was just more then I wanted to take on.

On the other hand the Miata is, in comparison, trivial to work on. Parts are reasonable and just about anything is doable by a shade tree mechanic in their own garage. And the Miata is also a fine track car. In fact I think its one of the best to learn in.

It handles like a "real" (read, rear wheel drive) car. I've a friend who drives a 'vette on track and says a Miata is like a mini 'vette. You will have a TON of fun with a Miata AND, as a bonus, will have plenty of other folks to play with who are driving the same car.

Additionally a Miata is pretty easy on the consumables. Its light enough to be easy on the brakes. Its strong enough to get you into triple digits at the ends of the straights but not so strong to get you into serious trouble at really high speeds. In short its a car I think is perfect to own when you first start doing track stuff. If you want to step up to something with more grunt then certainly an M3 is a fine next step.

That said the fastest street prepared Miata at our events, which is driven by Matt McBride, is within 3 or 4 seconds of the best M3 time trial times on North Course. Not too shabby for a CSP or ITA car!

Ron

I don't know how many hours were on the engine. I do know that it was a SSC car since new and Hoppe didn't run it for very long when the engine went. He sold it to Ian with the blown engine and a spare block since the cylinder bores in the car were ovaled out to the point of no return. So for all I know that was the same engine block in the car for 6 years before the bores were beyond the point of repair.

Mo, sorry to hear that you sold the red one, best of luck in your search for another track car and I plan on going full bore into track next year, my project is up and running, no it just needs to be track prepped.

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2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

Yeah, I hear the later B16's like turn their cylinders into ovals.

I love the last gen Celica, but at least for the GTS, if you dont add a baffled pan or Accusump, it wont last as track car for long.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

So let's review the options so far ...

- the M3 which is harder to maintain than Japanese cars
- the Civic which is slow and ovals blocks
- the Celica which grenades motors and requires non-factory oiling solutions
- the Miata which is slow and dangerous

Hmm, decisions, decisions.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Sentra SER?

Profit?

How many events has Nicholson gotten out of his car?

Dangerous?

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Hey, I happen to be selling a car that should be THE slowest car at any track event you attend, if that's what you're looking for. 2000 2.5RS - Miata drivers have to lift for one of these to pass. They're fun in the turns and nearly impossible to spin, though. Interested? PM me.

Would make a great daily driver, too.

I knew I'd piss someone off about that Last I read, Charlie and Mo's heads poke out above the rollbar? I'd call that dangerous.

(Side note, and this is just me -- I personally won't track a Miata. I want more car, sheet metal, and crumple space around me than such a small car offers. I know many will argue that this is not important, but for me, it is. Just my opinion)

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

My car is fun on track - as long as the track curves, as soon as it straitens out......well needless to say it is not the fastest thing in a strait line. As for dangerous, I don't feel that it is any more dangerous that other cars, for a lightweight vehicle it is well-built. I think sometimes the "Sheet metal" coccoon just makes you "feel" safer W/o door beams and stuff it is just thin metal and plastic. I do agree with Mike that your head needs to be below the bar.

As for cost it is incredibly cheap relative to higher hp cars (read Vette) or even *gasp* BMW. Brakes and tires are less expensive and they last longer, No Vanos, VTEC, or any complicated plumbing. Drive it to the track unhook the trailer, change wheels and go.

My $.02

Mike your review is a bit....misleading.

-Miata's are not dangerous if the safety equipment is installed correctly.

-Its misleading to say Civic's oval the cylinders. Perhaps B16 engined Civics do but my D16 NEVER had a problem with that. I did loose the original engine after over 200k miles with the last bunch of hours of its life being on track.

-More metal around you? Put in a cage.

-The M3 is indeed bigger and more powerful which could mean an off would be at a higher rate of speed then a Miata or a CRX or Civic

-Regarding speed: Speed doesn't make you better but It DOES cost more! and speed is relative. Sure my CRX is slower on every straight but when we get to the corners.......

Ron

Oh boy, did you ask for it....

Mmmmm. A really slow Subaru that is almost impossible to spin. Sounds like a Mo-car for sure! Especially since I HATE to spin (or ride with anyone - I know, I know - I have to get over this phobia to do track which is one reason I'm sort of looking forward to it )

I just ordered the roll bar for the Miata - since we have about 400 sets of wheels for it - that is another reason this would be at least good for one of us to drive it on track.

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Mo Monroe
Go Pack!

Funny you mention this. That how I am too as far as riding with other folks. Maybe it's a 'control thing'. Although, I do enjoy riding with the novices and showing them the line, but they aren't too wreckless most of the time.

I rode with my instructor last year in a K20 Civic hatch with R6's and after two laps had to get out! Very informative, but I had to get out because I wasn't used to flying around the track that fast!

The ironic thing is that my instructor was probably more uneasy by my "all or nothing" braking style from autocrossing.

i feel safer riding with people who *are* wreckless

Matt - it is totally a control thing for me. I'm cool with the novices too - if they are truly novices who I know won't lose it on course. Another example is that I hate flying commercially too, but if I were flying the plane I'd be fine! It's the rest of the folks who would be scared.

I'm a control freak - and I know it. So I am really hoping track will start to cure me of this (at least for driving purposes!)



Mo

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Mo Monroe
Go Pack!