Summit to Require Roll Bar Next Year
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From: Maryland
Originally Posted by True_Blue,Oct 29 2008, 07:23 PM
so back to the S2000 and track days at Summit & VIR on 09 ... for my clarification & safety merits aside ... if I get a hardtop, I don't need a roll cage for track days?
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From: Maryland
Originally Posted by getfast,Oct 29 2008, 01:45 PM
I don't think anyone is comparing, as in, the cars are equal. Are they? One is an awesome Japanese sports car, the other is a German commuter/grand touring machine on a budget. Anyone climbing out of a S2K into an E36 will like the torque but miss the handling and stopping 
Reliability depends on model and care. I have seen some very reliable E36's (including my own M3, which hasn't needed anything but routine maintenance, despite being built 11 years ago and having 106k hard miles on the ticker.) Then again I have seen some real money pit E36's too, particularly early 325's. As someone implied earlier in this thread, it's not really a fair comparison because the E36 is a much older car (and worth much less these days too.)
Luckily - and this is the only point on which you and I disagree - E36 parts are cheap, especially non-M stuff. And used engines/transmissions/etc are widely available for cheap as well. The key is... don't go to the dealership for anything ever.
I agree with you on the Miata point though. I would compare an E36 to a Miata or an E30 or a Fox body Mustang or several generations of Civics or any number of other sub-$5k cars. As in, buy them with cash and modify them as you wish and run the hell out of them as much as you can afford. They're much more disposable than any S2000, imho. Not the same, but definitely fun in their own ways
Jon
Reliability depends on model and care. I have seen some very reliable E36's (including my own M3, which hasn't needed anything but routine maintenance, despite being built 11 years ago and having 106k hard miles on the ticker.) Then again I have seen some real money pit E36's too, particularly early 325's. As someone implied earlier in this thread, it's not really a fair comparison because the E36 is a much older car (and worth much less these days too.)
Luckily - and this is the only point on which you and I disagree - E36 parts are cheap, especially non-M stuff. And used engines/transmissions/etc are widely available for cheap as well. The key is... don't go to the dealership for anything ever.
I agree with you on the Miata point though. I would compare an E36 to a Miata or an E30 or a Fox body Mustang or several generations of Civics or any number of other sub-$5k cars. As in, buy them with cash and modify them as you wish and run the hell out of them as much as you can afford. They're much more disposable than any S2000, imho. Not the same, but definitely fun in their own ways
Jon
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From: NoMaD
Originally Posted by Hobbs5313,Oct 29 2008, 08:28 PM
Yes. It's capable of driving in the winter. I've been DD'ing it since I bought it. I think I have changed my mind again. Most likely keeping it and prepping it over the winter.
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From: NoMaD
Originally Posted by Hobbs5313,Oct 29 2008, 08:34 PM
Well, if you bring cash over, I might change my mind. You should know me by now. I'm easily convinced about changing cars. 
see my post above!
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From: The Blue Ridge
Originally Posted by Hobbs5313,Oct 29 2008, 08:28 PM
Yes. It's capable of driving in the winter. I've been DD'ing it since I bought it. I think I have changed my mind again. Most likely keeping it and prepping it over the winter.
Let me see.... Pete = Miata, George = Miata, keeping in cheap = Miata
NO horsepower = Miata
Sorry Calvin, I am of zero help here
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From: High Knob Mountain
Originally Posted by Hobbs5313,Oct 29 2008, 07:34 PM
Well, if you bring cash over, I might change my mind. You should know me by now. I'm easily convinced about changing cars.
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From: Gods Speed #57 Lemons #77
Originally Posted by True_Blue,Oct 29 2008, 06:23 PM
so back to the S2000 and track days at Summit & VIR on 09 ... for my clarification & safety merits aside ... if I get a hardtop, I don't need a roll cage for track days?