View Poll Results: Which means more to you?
Voters: 107. You may not vote on this poll
Would you rather...
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 700
Likes: 1
From: Martinez, CA
The one thing a faster car gives you is the visceral rush of acceleration out of a corner and raw speed down the straights. If I had the choice between driving my stock 200hp S2000 at Laguna Seca and driving my S2000 making 350hp with a supercharge, I'd take the supercharged ride. The faster lap times wouldn't mean I'm a faster driver, but it would give me more grins (yeah, assuming I didn't stack it after tank-slapping out of T6!).
Fastest way to become a faster driver: add track time, coaching and data aquisition into a big Miata pot. Stir under a medium flame until cooked to a fine consistency. THEN add a faster car.
Also, go back and take up motorsports at a younger age...
Fastest way to become a faster driver: add track time, coaching and data aquisition into a big Miata pot. Stir under a medium flame until cooked to a fine consistency. THEN add a faster car.
Also, go back and take up motorsports at a younger age...
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,774
Likes: 0
From: Socal, CA
Originally Posted by 4evertopless,Jan 14 2010, 12:48 PM
to be fair, tires are the biggest handling upgrade you can do to a car 
Very few drivers would take a heavy sedan on the "Big Track" at Willow Springs with OEM tires.The other cars in the run group had more mods than just tires, in comparison.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,655
Likes: 171
I always consider folks chasing the fastest street car to have something small in their pants. Really, what's the point. Fast is above 100mph and you cannot do that on the streets.
I'd perfer to become a better driver. I'm clearly not at the limit of the 240hp I have under the hood.
That said I too would love to get a SC. Just for the added woosh of a good 3rd gear pull.
It's all for fun. Point taken though.
I'd perfer to become a better driver. I'm clearly not at the limit of the 240hp I have under the hood.
That said I too would love to get a SC. Just for the added woosh of a good 3rd gear pull.
It's all for fun. Point taken though.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 18
From: Second City
Either this thread is only being looked at by track junkies and cone monkey's or people are lying 
Right now it's 21 to 1 for fast driver but most S2000 owners I know have more money in parts than in seat time (if any). Not that there's anything wrong with that, but where are all the people who more about paint than racing lines?
Anyway, there's a lot of reasons I like racing a stock, relatively slow (by today's standards) car. If I'm faster than someone in a faster car around a track then that makes me feel awesome. If I'm slower and he has a faster car, then no big deal. If I'm slower and he has a slower car, then I can still respect him as driver (because I know I don't suck and I know how hard I worked) - plus, I can learn from him.
Also, let's say I chose to spend $5k on a turbo instead of $5k on seat time. If the turbo car gets destroyed or stolen, I'm back at square 1. I have nothing and have to build a fast car to be fast again. If I went with $5k in seat time instead and the car goes away then I have $5k worth of awesome track day memories and tons of knowledge that I can apply to the next car. Funny story - I had gone to a parking-lot-pimping session one night after HIN. Some guy in a fully gutted, full roll caged, fresh paint, sr20 swapped 240sx with all high end parts rolled in. Started talking to him and asked him if he ever tracks it (because of the roll cage). He told me no - it's too expensive!!!
To be fair though, everyone here still likes having a fast car. If not, we all should have gotten miatas. I would be happier driving a miata quickly though then driving a ferrari slowly.
Right now it's 21 to 1 for fast driver but most S2000 owners I know have more money in parts than in seat time (if any). Not that there's anything wrong with that, but where are all the people who more about paint than racing lines?Anyway, there's a lot of reasons I like racing a stock, relatively slow (by today's standards) car. If I'm faster than someone in a faster car around a track then that makes me feel awesome. If I'm slower and he has a faster car, then no big deal. If I'm slower and he has a slower car, then I can still respect him as driver (because I know I don't suck and I know how hard I worked) - plus, I can learn from him.
Also, let's say I chose to spend $5k on a turbo instead of $5k on seat time. If the turbo car gets destroyed or stolen, I'm back at square 1. I have nothing and have to build a fast car to be fast again. If I went with $5k in seat time instead and the car goes away then I have $5k worth of awesome track day memories and tons of knowledge that I can apply to the next car. Funny story - I had gone to a parking-lot-pimping session one night after HIN. Some guy in a fully gutted, full roll caged, fresh paint, sr20 swapped 240sx with all high end parts rolled in. Started talking to him and asked him if he ever tracks it (because of the roll cage). He told me no - it's too expensive!!!
To be fair though, everyone here still likes having a fast car. If not, we all should have gotten miatas. I would be happier driving a miata quickly though then driving a ferrari slowly.
Community Organizer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,961
Likes: 12
From: Oregon City, OR
Another angle to look at it:
Fast cars can often get people in accidents (when driven unskilled). Refer to countless youtube videos of guys in high HP camaros and mustangs (just for example) trying to show off and smashing into other cars, lightpoles, etc.
Skilled drivers take that potential risk out of the equation....most of the time....hopefully...
Fast cars can often get people in accidents (when driven unskilled). Refer to countless youtube videos of guys in high HP camaros and mustangs (just for example) trying to show off and smashing into other cars, lightpoles, etc.
Skilled drivers take that potential risk out of the equation....most of the time....hopefully...
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,655
Likes: 171
Originally Posted by patinum,Jan 14 2010, 03:08 PM
Either this thread is only being looked at by track junkies and cone monkey's or people are lying Right now it's 21 to 1 for fast driver but most S2000 owners I know have more money in parts than in seat time (if any). Not that there's anything wrong with that, but where are all the people who more about paint than racing lines?
Anyway, there's a lot of reasons I like racing a stock, relatively slow (by today's standards) car. If I'm faster than someone in a faster car around a track then that makes me feel awesome. If I'm slower and he has a faster car, then no big deal. If I'm slower and he has a slower car, then I can still respect him as driver (because I know I don't suck and I know how hard I worked) - plus, I can learn from him.
Also, let's say I chose to spend $5k on a turbo instead of $5k on seat time. If the turbo car gets destroyed or stolen, I'm back at square 1. I have nothing and have to build a fast car to be fast again. If I went with $5k in seat time instead and the car goes away then I have $5k worth of awesome track day memories and tons of knowledge that I can apply to the next car. Funny story - I had gone to a parking-lot-pimping session one night after HIN. Some guy in a fully gutted, full roll caged, fresh paint, sr20 swapped 240sx with all high end parts rolled in. Started talking to him and asked him if he ever tracks it (because of the roll cage). He told me no - it's too expensive!!!
To be fair though, everyone here still likes having a fast car. If not, we all should have gotten miatas. I would be happier driving a miata quickly though then driving a ferrari slowly.
Right now it's 21 to 1 for fast driver but most S2000 owners I know have more money in parts than in seat time (if any). Not that there's anything wrong with that, but where are all the people who more about paint than racing lines?Anyway, there's a lot of reasons I like racing a stock, relatively slow (by today's standards) car. If I'm faster than someone in a faster car around a track then that makes me feel awesome. If I'm slower and he has a faster car, then no big deal. If I'm slower and he has a slower car, then I can still respect him as driver (because I know I don't suck and I know how hard I worked) - plus, I can learn from him.
Also, let's say I chose to spend $5k on a turbo instead of $5k on seat time. If the turbo car gets destroyed or stolen, I'm back at square 1. I have nothing and have to build a fast car to be fast again. If I went with $5k in seat time instead and the car goes away then I have $5k worth of awesome track day memories and tons of knowledge that I can apply to the next car. Funny story - I had gone to a parking-lot-pimping session one night after HIN. Some guy in a fully gutted, full roll caged, fresh paint, sr20 swapped 240sx with all high end parts rolled in. Started talking to him and asked him if he ever tracks it (because of the roll cage). He told me no - it's too expensive!!!
To be fair though, everyone here still likes having a fast car. If not, we all should have gotten miatas. I would be happier driving a miata quickly though then driving a ferrari slowly.
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 0
I guarantee I have more $$ in sharpening my driving skills than mods (heck maybe even car itself).
Many schools and race series with Skip Barber. Time testing a Panoz, karting with Anderson Racing, tons of fun!
Track time is priceless!
Many schools and race series with Skip Barber. Time testing a Panoz, karting with Anderson Racing, tons of fun!
Track time is priceless!
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 0
From: Fredericksburg, VA
I voted a faster driver. Not that I have had any track time whatsoever although I have always wanted to take my s out to a track event, but I have owned fast turbo cars and I grew tired of it. The s is not the fastest car on the road but it sure demands a lot from the driver when you push it. I would love to be an awesome driver. Maybe one day.
