Please note I didn't say "automatically", but "automatic". As in, slushbox.
Here's the dilemma - I injured my achilles tendon last year and it's been the usual slow healing process. While it's gone from "must have automatic" to "I can kinda sorta drive a manual again", it's not that great and after my recent experience going karting (and limping like nobody's business the next day) I'm questioning the wisdom of driving a formula car. In fact I'm going to do a little experiment later today or tomorrow to see how I cope with that. And yes, I have an appointment with another podiatrist for a third opinion in the next few weeks.
Anyway, depending on how things go I may end up not being able to track the formula car or my Mini unless I'm OK risking further injury (which I'm not).
Which begs the question - if I have to go automatic or DCT, what's out there that would work and would be available for the price of a reasonably nice NA Miata? Call it $5k or so?
C4 'vettes come to mind, but while I've instructed in C6s with an automatic I've not had any experience of driving a C4 with an autobox on the track.
Of course yet another option is getting a bike powered car that allows for some clutchless shifts as a replacement for the FST, but those tend to be a tad on the expensive side. Plus I already tried and don't fit a Radical (the obvious choice) that well.
Aren't there 11 billion automatic Mustangs for sale at any given time? Bonus points for the glory of the auto V6 car.
In reply to mazdeuce - Seth :
That's a good point. Not sure I want an auto V6 though unless I need something else to strap a supercharger to.
Anybody know how these hold up to track work? At least out here it looks like a Fox Body (which would've been my first choice for nostalgic reasons) might be out of my price range so I'm probably looking at the SN-95s or S195s. The latter might be a stretch though.
Edit: Turns out that there are a few S195s for sale within the budget.
Ironically, they're all manuals...
Look for an early SN95 with the 5.0? More bonus points for finding one in Texas so I can test drive it for you.
You know, the NC 6-speed automatic isn't a terrible thing to live with.
They were big time used by rental agencies and retiries...
Pretty quick and lively feeling, add a huffer from FM and a huge trans cooler and you should be good to go.
Jus' Sayin'
In reply to Stefan :
Main concerns with an NC - other than just having sold an RX8 - are the available rollbar arrangements.
I'm not opposed to your C4 Idea. Mine wasn't terrible, and the early ones used a 700r4, which is easy and cheap-ish to put a full manual valve body for all the shift control without any need for a left foot.
In reply to barefootskater :
Oooh, didn't think about a full manual valve body.
I should've mentioned that we've owned a C4 before and that I wouldn't mind another one. It just seems that there haven't been that many discussions around here regarding the suitability of the auto ones for track work.
I liked my 700r4 in autocross. A full manual valvebody would have been much better. I can see no reason NOT to do an l98 c4 with a full manual 700r4.
Exceptthat a 4l60e with flappy paddles may be much better. Never driven one though.
In reply to Stefan :
That was the one I had in mind...
However it also looks like Blackbird Fabworx makes an SCCA-legal bar for the NC that works with the soft top.
In reply to BoxheadCougarTim :
It’s a shame no one here has an automatic C4 Z51 for sale... :-p
You can get a MkV GTI (2006.5-2009) with a DSG gearbox for $5k all day. The DSG is a dual clutch - for track work you may need to add an additional transmission cooler. Add brake pads and fluid.
In reply to Pete Gossett :
Heh. You're just a tad far away for me right now and unfortunately that negates the good price on your car somewhat.
In reply to smokindav :
Interesting, hadn't realised that they got that cheap - although the majority of "cheap" ones out here seem to be in the $6k-$7k range, but that would still be doable. How does the DSG hold up on track?
Tim a couple things here:
A Formula 500 uses an automatic clutch, while most people left foot brake in them you don't have to.
On your FST couldn't you simple fit a hand clutch. I've known two paraplegics who raced Formula Vees. Those cars used all hand controls but it wouldn't be to hard to come up with a servo to control the clutch pedal. I've given thought to doing this in my Datsun so I can left foot brake like I did in the D-Sports
C4 is my vote only because I am looking at a couple. 85 with some body damge($2500 has been there for 2+ months), 84's are sub $3k all day. 92 with really bad paint but a rebuilt trans for $5k. 86 with a cam for $5500, etc.
I mean Pete even has one for sale here https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/open-classifieds/1985-corvette-3500-mine/137755/page1/
edit never mind he already was here
Is this a situation where a non-M3 E36 or E46 would be a possibility? Seems the automatic ones are a lot easier to find than manual, I just don’t know how well they hold up to track use. If they are okay, though, I’d think you could find a pretty decent one for $5K.
In reply to BoxheadCougarTim :
I have a 6-speed manual so I can only tell what I've picked up along the way - as I mentioned you would need to upgrade the transmission cooler for track work as reports are that it will go into limp mode during track work without a better cooler.
eastsideTim said:
Is this a situation where a non-M3 E36 or E46 would be a possibility? Seems the automatic ones are a lot easier to find than manual, I just don’t know how well they hold up to track use. If they are okay, though, I’d think you could find a pretty decent one for $5K.
the issue that i see is the demographics of auto e35/e46 owners at this point in the cars life and the lack of preventative maintenance on a german car.
In reply to MrChaos :
The plus side of that is... Didn't some of the e46 cars use some form of the 700r4? Or 4l60e or whatever they called it?
Jaynen
UltraDork
4/10/18 9:36 p.m.
Manual valve body C4 seems like the ticket in my book, because torques means you don't really have to shift a lot anyway.
However FWIW if I bought a GTI even a new one I would probably get the DSG anyway, I know APR has a tune for the DSG as well as the engines that supposedly improves some things and the DSG boxes hold a lot more power than stock clutches. However I don't know that I have heard anything about reliability either way
What about an automatic g35/350z? I had a 6 speed G sedan for a while and really liked it. I’d imagine the auto would be pretty good too
In reply to Turbine :
Yea that is another good idea. IIRC the autos didnt have as bad of an oil consumption issue as the manuals.
I like the C4 idea. An old-school auto like that should be much more friendly to being manually downshifted (with a throttle blip to rev-match) than a modern one that's likely to end up in computer confusion.
