First Track Day Car...need a little help deciding.

RacerBoy75 said:

If the OP  doesn't fit in a Miata, then he probably won't fit in a Lotus, or at least be able to get into a Lotus.

 

 

I could get in...just fall in.  Getting out is the hard part...with a Miata the door doesn't open wide enough for me to fall out on the ground and then get up like I do with a Corvette.  One friend has a Vette and another has a Lotus (not sure of the exact model) but I have trouble getting in and out of both :).

kevinatfms said:

A 11-14 V6 Mustang would be killer. 300+hp, 6 speed and just an infinite aftermarket. Ford Performance has a massive catalog of off the shelf components that fit the V6 cars from the faster V8 cars that bolt right on. 

I like the way you think but I do need to at least give the BRZ/86 an honest shot by sitting in one and taking it for a test drive.  I haven't sat in a '11-'14 Mustang yet either so still need to make sure it works for me.

Another Question.....

Required octane ratings....I read in the BRZ owners manual that Subaru recommends 94 PON but it also says you can use 91 PON without any ill effects.  The Mustang owners manual says 87 PON.

Is anyone using 91 PON or anything lower than 91 PON in the BRZ/86?

Thanks

Bullfrog12 said:

Another Question.....

Required octane ratings....I read in the BRZ owners manual that Subaru recommends 94 PON but it also says you can use 91 PON without any ill effects.  The Mustang owners manual says 87 PON.

Is anyone using 91 PON or anything lower than 91 PON in the BRZ/86?

Thanks

With a stock tune 91 would be fine at least for street driving, you may want to put in some 94 for track driving just to be safe. I don't know what would happen with octane below 91, definitely not recommended, it is a very high-compression engine after all...if you plan to reflash the ECU, 93+ octane is the first requirement for every canned tune out there.

GameboyRMH said:

Bullfrog12 said:

Another Question.....

Required octane ratings....I read in the BRZ owners manual that Subaru recommends 94 PON but it also says you can use 91 PON without any ill effects.  The Mustang owners manual says 87 PON.

Is anyone using 91 PON or anything lower than 91 PON in the BRZ/86?

Thanks

With a stock tune 91 would be fine at least for street driving, you may want to put in some 94 for track driving just to be safe. I don't know what would happen with octane below 91, definitely not recommended, it is a very high-compression engine after all...if you plan to reflash the ECU, 93+ octane is the first requirement for every canned tune out there.

Thank You...I agree.

Update on the search...

Went to test drive a Toyota 86 today...automatic with paddle shifters and the 2 liter engine.

Then test drove a '20 Mustang with the turbocharged 2.3L 4 cyl, automatic with paddle shifters. I was not impressed with the power.

I was able to rule out the Toyota/Subaru for several reasons...about the same height off the ground as a Miata (so getting in/out is a challenge) and it did have a little more interior room than the Miata but not as much as the Mustang plus the Mustang seat is a little higher off of the ground...just enough where it isn't painful to get in/out.  Acceleration was very similar to the Miata I drove at NOLA.

Still need to find a '11-'14 Mustang with a V6 and a six speed standard transmission to test drive but everything about the '20 Mustang I drove I liked...except the turbocharged 4 cyl and the fact that it was black on black, that just won't work for my climate.  I am leaning heavily towards the Mustang.  

In reply to Bullfrog12 :

There really isn't a wrong answer, it's whatever works for you.

Make sure you check head clearance. I fit in my 96 Mustang with a helmet on my 2001 my head hit the top.  Not sure why ford jacked the seats up. 

In reply to DrMikeCSI :

Excellent idea...I forgot to take my helmet with me so when I find another Mustang, I plan to take my helmet along for the test drive.

Test drove a 2011 V6 Mustang yesterday but it was an automatic.  I could tell that the Mustang is the car for me so I'll continue looking until I find one with a standard transmission.

Many thanks to everyone who helped me on this journey.

Cool, keep us posted!

Bullfrog12 said:

Test drove a 2011 V6 Mustang yesterday but it was an automatic.  I could tell that the Mustang is the car for me so I'll continue looking until I find one with a standard transmission.

Many thanks to everyone who helped me on this journey.

If you post the details you'd want on the Mustang, you would be putting dozens and dozens of enablers to work looking for you! ;)

Wellll just a little update on my search.

After renting the Miata with paddle shifters, driving the BRZ with paddle shifters, and a Mustang with paddle shifters....does anyone notice a trend :).  Now I am thinking I'd like to have paddle shifters but that limits me to a 2015-2017 V6 Mustang since I do NOT want the turbocharged 4 cylinger or the GT (5.0 V8).

I currently have all of my searches set to find either a 2011-2014 V6 Mustang with a manual transmission or a 2015-2017 V6 Mustang with any transmission since the automatic has paddle shifters and the manual would be almost as good and acceptable.

Black, Dark Gray, or similar dark colors on the exterior are no gos since I don't want to burn myself when I touch the car in the summer time.  Others living in the deep South can probably relate. 

Nothing that meets my criteria within 200 miles of zip code 32504 so I'll keep searching.  I may have to extend my search area if nothing pops up :).