M3 CS or 981 Cayman S?

[Funf6cyl]

Definitely go with the 981. Has balance no M car could muster and beyond being a car that you’ll be far more competitive (more so if you go with R compounds) in you’ll also have more fun.
The CS is nice but it’s not in Porsche’s league if you compare it even to a 718 GTS (which on cups would be faster than an M4 GTS) or a 911S (which is a good bit faster even on an inferior summer tire compound).
If you do plan to track a lot and really make something of it, a cup car will set lap times that will blow your mind. I have a friend who has one and my god is it the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen. There’s a reason the 911 is the most winning platform in history and the cup car and it’s dominance have been the key factor to Porsches dominance in street cars.

[Andrae26]

Originally Posted by jmg

Took out the M3 CS on a canyon run today for the first time since almost totaling my M3. It was a blast! Leaning towards an MPE if I can't find the perfect 981.

I will be installing MPE on mines soon. I just hit 100 miles though so I can't even punch it 😭

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Please don't buy a Cup car. Even pros can't keep them out of the wall for long with their suicidal driving characteristics

I'd take a M3 CS over a 981 any day. Over a GT4 as well. It's nice to drive in a comfortable car and still go to the track and actually be fast.

If you really want the 'pure sports car' experience then a Cayman may be the way to go. I prefer to go to the track and be competitive.

Looking at lap times on different forums, seems like an m4zcp with nt01 tires is about the same (1:52) as a stock gt4 on stock cup2 tires

I just got back from Sonoma this weekend and saw 6 cars get wrecked on Saturday alone.

Props to the people dicing it up W2W in $$$ to fix p cars.

The street cars winning the hpde were the Z06 vettes

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

Looking at lap times on different forums, seems like an m4zcp with nt01 tires is about the same (1:52) as a stock gt4 on stock cup2 tires

I just got back from Sonoma this weekend and saw 6 cars get wrecked on Saturday alone.

Props to the people dicing it up W2W in $$$ to fix p cars.

The street cars winning the hpde were the Z06 vettes

Holy crap, SIX? Let me guess, t10?

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by jmg

Took out the M3 CS on a canyon run today for the first time since almost totaling my M3. It was a blast! Leaning towards an MPE if I can't find the perfect 981.

Not a big fan of the turbo S55 exhaust note, but have to admit, MPE on M4 CS sounds pretty damn good.

[sharkbite]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Last time I drove the GT4 on track 3rd gear failed within 20 minutes. It was entertaining to drive but I would not straight swap it with any of my M3s. Besides, that car launched years ago and I'm anxiously waiting to find a fast one. Any day now...

Cars driven in HDPEs are covered by manufacturer insurance. This is the norm and not some kind of favor Porsche is doing. I guess I don't drink the cool aid but I find it insulting that a GTx car fails so quickly. I put 180k miles double track an E46 back in the day and the oem clutch was fine and dandy.

Who's GT4 did you drive and what track ? most of the CT and East Coast GT4 owners post up on RL if they had a 3rd gear failure.

I haven't heard of one in your area yet . Not saying it didn't happen but its mostly a very rare occurrence and one happening with a guest driver would be somewhat news.

You must be an exceptional driver to not find the GT4 fast at the track.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by sharkbite

Who's GT4 did you drive and what track ? most of the CT and East Coast GT4 owners post up on RL if they had a 3rd gear failure.

I haven't heard of one in your area yet . Not saying it didn't happen but its mostly a very rare occurrence and one happening with a guest driver would be somewhat news.

You must be an exceptional driver to not find the GT4 fast at the track.

Most of the interesting stuff is not on forums. Same as people running strokers, they are out there but not necessarily posting it up.
Lots of liability possibilities for everyone involved. The easiest way to deal with these things is privately and not involve anyone. You just take the GT4 to Porsche and say your 3rd gear doesn't work and you don't understand why.

One guy here had major issues getting the brand to cover a blown engine at a HPDE because he had videos all over the place. You can be sure that I won't face the same situation.

If you do lots of PCA track days in the Northeast I'm sure we'll cross paths, you can judge for yourself

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by fanatic1

Holy crap, SIX? Let me guess, t10?

All over the place.

The 2 I personally saw were an ND street car miata into wall on t11 exit and a sportsman/stock car/nascar thing into the driver side wall exiting T6

I got my first intro to bump drafting from a friend and for a split sec I thought I was going to add to the count

Another option for OP (spec 996)

https://showroom.windingroad.com/listings/product/4248

Throw the cat back on and should be able get it plated

[Funf6cyl]

Originally Posted by sharkbite

Who's GT4 did you drive and what track ? most of the CT and East Coast GT4 owners post up on RL if they had a 3rd gear failure.

I haven't heard of one in your area yet . Not saying it didn't happen but its mostly a very rare occurrence and one happening with a guest driver would be somewhat news.

You must be an exceptional driver to not find the GT4 fast at the track.

There’s a big difference between people who really compete and just doing track days/driving events where there is no official times, etc. The dichotomy of the mentality and effort is not even close to being the same. Don’t conflate the two as they couldn’t be further apart. When it comes to truly competing, Porsche has few peers if any.

[SYT_Shadow]

Yes. Some of us also compete in events like AER, where a Cayman S is a class 3 car and even E36s that are US-spec run in class 4. Good thing the US-spec M3 was completely neutered, otherwise the Cayman S would be a class 2 car.

I get to see the peerless Porsche engineering quite often, it is entertaining

It is too bad some Porsche trolls on this forum are unable to show up to a track event and put all that superior engineering into practice.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Funf6cyl

There’s a big difference between people who really compete and just doing track days/driving events where there is no official times, etc. The dichotomy of the mentality and effort is not even close to being the same. Don’t conflate the two as they couldn’t be further apart. When it comes to truly competing, Porsche has few peers if any.

My peers and I enjoy the having “pick and pull” as a viable parts source

None of us get paid to drive so repair and maintenance matter a lot.

German cars get a failing grade on that dimension relative to JP and US cars.

As an aside, the nasa NorCal “what not to do” example is buy a new cup car and stuff it I the first corner, on the first lap, of the first session (which happened a few years ago)

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

My peers and I enjoy the having “pick and pull” as a viable parts source

None of us get paid to drive so repair and maintenance matter a lot.

German cars get a failing grade on that dimension relative to JP and US cars.

As an aside, the nasa NorCal “what not to do” example is buy a new cup car and stuff it I the first corner, on the first lap, of the first session (which happened a few years ago)

How are you liking your 996TT? Why not go with the 997?

[DS_BMW]

ZL1 1LE? They look so mean!

[jmg]

Well, decision has been made. Took the car to Turnbull Canyon here in LA and had a blast.
Keeping the M3 CS and looking for a used MPE V2 to liven it up! I figure I'll just use the money for track insurance and have fun with it. Maybe if I get more serious I'll revisit a more focused car.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

How are you liking your 996TT? Why not go with the 997?

6TT was a very good friend’s car for many years and it had 60k miles when I bought it for $40k. I wasn’t specifically planning to get one, and sort of stumbled into it

I really enjoy it. Old school feeling from Hydraulic steering and suspension tuning, and its modified to have the grip and engine power to go play with the newer cars

Edit: congrats on making the call, Jmg. Enjoy your car!!

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

As an aside, the nasa NorCal “what not to do” example is buy a new cup car and stuff it I the first corner, on the first lap, of the first session (which happened a few years ago)

Ah I've seen this multiple times... once it wasn't a Cup car, it was a Trofeo R. Stuffed it into the wall at Mid Ohio after a long warning in the driver's meeting that the track was treacherous when wet

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

6TT was a very good friend's car for many years and it had 60k miles when I bought it for $40k. I wasn't specifically planning to get one, and sort of stumbled into it

I really enjoy it. Old school feeling from Hydraulic steering and suspension tuning, and its modified to have the grip and engine power to go play with the newer cars

Edit: congrats on making the call, Jmg. Enjoy your car!!

I have been debating getting one, since it's the only reasonably priced 911 with usable power to compete with modern cars. And given my commute to work (<1 mile) it may be a perfect low cost option for me as it will basically be more of a weekend/autoX/track car. I haven't gotten the itch yet to get a new car (wife is just dropping me off at work in her F80 since I sold mine) and have just been looking at all options.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

I have been debating getting one, since it's the only reasonably priced 911 with usable power to compete with modern cars. And given my commute to work (<1 mile) it may be a perfect low cost option for me as it will basically be more of a weekend/autoX/track car. I haven't gotten the itch yet to get a new car (wife is just dropping me off at work in her F80 since I sold mine) and have just been looking at all options.

I tried to PM you to take the 6TT convo offline. Clean up your message box man!

Yep, 6TT would work well for your usage and is far and away cheapest way to get a Turbo or GT 911

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I tried to PM you to take the 6TT convo offline. Clean up your message box man!

Yep, 6TT would work well for your usage and is far and away cheapest way to get a Turbo or GT 911

PM sent my bad!

[Andrae26]

Originally Posted by jmg

Well, decision has been made. Took the car to Turnbull Canyon here in LA and had a blast.
Keeping the M3 CS and looking for a used MPE V2 to liven it up! I figure I'll just use the money for track insurance and have fun with it. Maybe if I get more serious I'll revisit a more focused car.

You need to put on the MPE. It sounds thunderous on the CS.

[Alpine_F82]

The M3 is the better car it’s the bigger and better car I wouldn’t trade my m4 for a cayman lol I don’t think it’s comparable to the f80 platform sits with the 911’s not the caymans

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by M4BimmerChris

The M3 is the better car it’s the bigger and better car I wouldn’t trade my m4 for a cayman lol I don’t think it’s comparable to the f80 platform sits with the 911’s not the caymans

Man you better put your flame suit on. You are about to be thrashed by Tina for this comment.