Why talk of miata but no talk of the BRZ/FRS twins?

It's my first choice to replace the Evo with if I get rid of it.

Why?

- Cheaper but still "new(er)"
- Doesn't take well to engine mods so harder to fall into an endless spiral of mod death
- Very fast with suspension, proper brakes, tune and tires when driven well
- Looks like a sports car

The second point makes it very attractive to me

 

Because the motor is a turd.

 

I really want to like the BRZ but I’ve driven them enough in AX in STX trim that they just aren’t enough. If even in AX they just feel like they have nothing between element then it’s gotta be a dog on track. Conversely even an NC feels fast out of corners.

but I do really like the BRZ when dancing it through things.

So why not just add boost to the BRZ? No one seems to be able to keep them reliable. Everything is a weak point in it it seems. Where a 300hp NC will last a long time.

 

The engine is perfectly fine when not boosted, and the platform is proven to be fast on track. Hell, there is one not much slower than my Evo on my (used to be) home track:


Just don't buy the first couple years where they where still figuring stuff out. The newer years are much much much better.

 

Lap times are great and all, but I've driven on and it wasn't "fun". I like powerful cars. The GT86 isn't good at making power, and there are plenty of great platforms that are. Hard pass.

 

Yup totally get it, that's why I was going to do a ZL1 1LE, then realized the costs associated and it shifted my perspective.

 

Ive definitely gone in circles trying to figure out what I would build to be a "just for me to have fun" car. I have a truck now, so practicality concerns are pretty much out.

S2000 or NC have been up there on that list because both are so boost friendly and that 300hp gets you below 10:1 lb/hp with driver but not like the Evo being 6-6.5:1. Also they're light weight and fun to dance thru things.

Muscle cars, I love them but they fun in a totally different way. A ZL1 1LE (ZLE for short) is such an epic car out of the box. But its a big boy! If that was the choice I wanted to go I would probably look a base Mustang GT and a few suspension mods since that car already traps in the upper teens so plenty of power to not be totally lame.

I will get to spend time this summer in my buddies RX7 with small single turbo, ohlins, 295 yoko A052s, and other bolt ons. Not a crazy build but should be fun and give me perspective of what I want thats different than what I get from the Evo.

 

The OEM Goodyear supercar 3R is $1470 for a set on tire rack. (life span on track unknown to me)

A set of of 275/35r18 NT01's for an Evo are about 950-1000. (My tire go about 4-5 track days depending on the track)

Brakes for the Camaro seem to be about 50% more expensive if you compare buy similar part (2pc rotors and replacement rings, etc).

But with the Camaro.... I could no problem see driving that car to the track (because its stock) and I can fill it up at any gas station. And aside from MAYBE pulley/exhaust/intake/cooling/tune I don't see ever modding it. Except maybe to gut it and do a cage. So, it will always be at a power level that the stock drivetrain was much more meant to handle. Since I'm never planning that "next mod", all that money just goes to the larger brake and tire budget and I see it as a wash, personally.

Also, the maintenance ease of tracking a stock car is likely phenomenal vs maintaining a high strung modded evo.

**** me. Now you have me looking at them again.

 

For all those reasons (though my Evo is pretty minimal when it comes to maintenance cost since it's mostly stock) I had a deposit down on a GT350 (everyone can save their "ticking time bomb" comments; it came with warranty LOL). I liked the idea of not needing a truck/trailer and all the hassle of loading/unloading... all to do a track day. In the end, I decided no way am I selling the Evo and I don't need two "race" cars, so I went a completely different route. I'm glad. I now have the Evo I can continue to beat on and an "adult" car that I can just have fun in and enjoy driving... and NOT modify.
I'm very happy with my choice, though the Camaros and Mustangs are doing some pretty sick lap times with nothing but tire, brake pads, and brake fluid.

P.S. I took my mom to around town in the Evo today. She hates ST43s

 

Yup, I did all that. The biggest one is you can keep it basically stock compared to an Evo. Although I drive my Evo to/from the track so that is the same.

Then I factored in track insurance on a $65,000 car and that reality shifted me away and towards much cheaper cars that are still fun, like the BRZ/FRS.

 

I do agreed value policies on the Evo at $40k. Not so bad. Also, if you know how many tracks you're planning to do in a year, RLI let's you package deal them and it lowers the rate.

 

Same, mine at $49k was $274/event with RLI / Hagerty. My Evo was/is about $600-$700 an event to track (not including hotel and gas to/from).

ZL1 would be $400+ and probably closer to $1k/event.

In the end, it was more than I wanted to spend on a car + events when I could have just as much fun in something much much much cheaper.

 

You can go both fast and cheap with a fox mustang

Parts are cheap, car is cheap, replacement shell is cheap, they can be faster than you'd think. Solid axle isn't a hindrance if dont right unless really at the top top level.

I really do think you could have one of the fastest cars on track out of a well thought out fox build. Their looks are pretty subjective tho. I grew up loving muscle cars in the 90s so to me theyre still cool, I might just be in the minority tho.

 

I also have an soft spot for the fox body. Makes no sense because it's really not a good looking car Lmao. But I like the way it looks.
Same for the GNX.

 

I really like nicely done fox bodies as well. Reminds me of the good parts of High School too. 😎

My whole thing is I explicitly _don’t_ want a project car for my next track car. So it rules a fox body out.