Any Tractor Guys Into Sports Cars Too?

dfkrug · Nov 22, 2017

RalphVa said:
The Miata (MX-5) is my favorite.

You have the new 2017 Miata RF (Retractible Fastback), Ralph?

In retiring my 2000 MR2 Spyder after 14+ years ownership, I would have considered
a new MR2, or maybe a Honda S2000. But neither are made anymore. Other
convertibles are too big and heavy, so the new Miata was it. I considered the Fiat
124, which is a Miata with a Fiat 1.4T engine, but it is 200# heavier. All the first
year cars were auto trans, too.

Only half of new Miatas are manual shifters.

BTW, our truck is also a Taco, and certainly no fun to drive.

This photo is our 2016 at Laguna Seca for the annual Miata Extravaganza.

Garandman · Nov 23, 2017

Wanted to get a fun car to drive but had a bunch of other requirements. Had to be parked on the street in Boston so exotics were out. Had to be able to take the kids on occasion, and drive all over New England any time of the year. I’m 6’2 with a long torso so anything too low didn’t work.

2009 WRX. Motor is Stage II, clutch is an Exedy Stage I, transmission was reworked at Rallispec. It weighs around 3200 lbs and has something over 300 AWHP on the dyno. Rims are forged BBS rally rims. Springs are stock but have Koni adjustable shocks. Summer tires are new: Michelin Pilot SuperSport.

Had plans to do a lot of time trials but started doing motorcycle track days instead. Next season we will get out more.

Wife at the Team ONeil Rally School winter class.

The car was originally developed for Rallycross. Today Vermont Sportscar builds the SOA Rally cars, which dominate US rallying though Ford is making a push.

fatjay · Nov 23, 2017

2008 Jaguar XKR, the (other) love of my life.

blackdog2086 · Nov 23, 2017

Haven't owned a sports car for many years and still like them, but practically speaking won't ever own one again. I've always been more of a motorcycle guy and on a dollar per performance unit (yeah I just made that up) they can't be beat. You can easily get a sub 500 lb. bike pushing or exceeding 200 hp. for under $15,000 new or much less used. I currently have 2 that will do 0-60 right in the 2 to 2.5 seconds range and I only have about $14,000 invested in the both of them.

I know that practically they are a fair weather toy, but how many people with expensive sports cars drive them as a daily driver in the rain and snow. Probably not many.

dfkrug · Nov 23, 2017

blackdog2086 said:
I know that practically they are a fair weather toy.....

I rode street bikes since the 70s, and nothing on 4 wheels compares in terms of
acceleration. The Tesla Roadster comes close, but even open cars are not as open
as a M/C.

In terms of practicality, m/cs were my preferred commuter vehicle when I worked
as an employee. Here in CA, you can ride in any season, skipping days when it
rains. M/Cs can use the freeway commuter lanes here in the Silicon Valley, and that is
a Huge benefit.

I started riding street bikes in MI, and winter driving was totally out. So, I also
had a pickup truck.

A small 2-seater car may seem impractical to some, but most of my driving does not involve
carrying passenger(s) or much cargo.

bunyip · Nov 23, 2017

My Brother always wanted a sports car but has a bad back so he compromised and bought a Porsche Cayenne, they are an ugly beast but do get up and go.
I told him I will buy a Bentayga just so I can do the 0-100kph faster, reality is I will keep my Hyundai SUV and comfortably cruise around with adequate mod cons.

Haneyrm · Dec 15, 2018

TTT. Lots of great cars in this thread. As much as I love tractors and trucks, gotta have something to keep the adrenaline flowing. I picked this one up recently.

Garandman · Jan 1, 2019

blackdog2086 said:
Haven't owned a sports car for many years and still like them, but practically speaking won't ever own one again. I've always been more of a motorcycle guy and on a dollar per performance unit (yeah I just made that up) they can't be beat. You can easily get a sub 500 lb. bike pushing or exceeding 200 hp. for under $15,000 new or much less used. I currently have 2 that will do 0-60 right in the 2 to 2.5 seconds range and I only have about $14,000 invested in the both of them.

I know that practically they are a fair weather toy, but how many people with expensive sports cars drive them as a daily driver in the rain and snow. Probably not many.

There Is nothing more lame than a dude riding around on a 180mph motorcycle with a giant chicken strip down the middle.

Why choose between motorcycle and car track days when you can do both? This WRX has been customized so I can drive to track days, drive a couple hundred miles on the track, and drive home. Has 320 AWHP.

Rdden a bunch of bikes on the track but this is the latest, GSX-R750. Has JRI shock, cartridge inserts, SS brake lines, WoodCraft rearsets. It is not very fun to ride in traffic. FYI lap times are similar.

TractorGuy · Jan 1, 2019

My first career was as an auto tech at Sport Auto in Jacksonville. It was the Fiat/MG dealer in front of the Brumos Porsche race shop on Main St. My second job was at the MG/Lotus dealer in Tallahassee. I eventually turned to specializing in the mundane Volvo repair trade but it was good to me for 25+ years. I still had the occasional MG, Austin Healy, Jaguar, Ferrari, etc roll in the shop. When I tired of bending wrenches I worked my way into a machinist position at a State University and did that until I retired in 2016.

I started autocrossing in the early 70s in a 1963 Morris 997 Mini Cooper S. I later updated it to a 1275 out of an Austin America.

After that I ran a 1968 AMX for a spell.

Over the years I had some pretty cool cars and when I turned 50 I bought a 99 Mustang GT. Did a fair amount of autocross and track days with it and it is still my go to fun vehicle.

Had a couple of diversions along the way with a 2003 Z06 Corvette and I even built a Late Model Stockcar into a road course toy but eventually turned back to the Mustang.