What Model Year for track car? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

kooliosupraboi · 02-09-2018, 01:39 AM

I'm currently trying to do some research on getting either a frs/brz and making it a primary track car. I currently have a nearly stock 15 sti with several track days on it, rear sway bar, tires + wheels, pads, aos, stock power.. After some track days there's two things I've noticed.. 1. My driving style doesn't really suit AWD and 2. continuing to track the sti further might lead to a slippery slope of the mod bug. which I don't want to really deal with since it is primarily my DD which I love at the moment.

I've done a lot of reading and decided either a NB/NC miata or a 86 twin would be what I want to pursue. I have no intention of trading in my STI and I will continue to DD it and occasional weekend canyons. If I were to trade/sell it in, I know I would regret it big time, so I'm looking for a 2nd car in the FRS/BRZ.

Because I will already have a DD, the 86 will be track duty mainly, I am looking for a cheap used one that I can learn on and have fun with. So my question is.... Are there any year models I should try to avoid or look out for? Are there any big differences between a '13, '14,'15 in regards to track performance?

Thanks~

swarb · 02-09-2018, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kooliosupraboi

I'm currently trying to do some research on getting either a frs/brz and making it a primary track car. I currently have a nearly stock 15 sti with several track days on it, rear sway bar, tires + wheels, pads, aos, stock power.. After some track days there's two things I've noticed.. 1. My driving style doesn't really suit AWD and 2. continuing to track the sti further might lead to a slippery slope of the mod bug. which I don't want to really deal with since it is primarily my DD which I love at the moment.

I've done a lot of reading and decided either a NB/NC miata or a 86 twin would be what I want to pursue. I have no intention of trading in my STI and I will continue to DD it and occasional weekend canyons. If I were to trade/sell it in, I know I would regret it big time, so I'm looking for a 2nd car in the FRS/BRZ.

Because I will already have a DD, the 86 will be track duty mainly, I am looking for a cheap used one that I can learn on and have fun with. So my question is.... Are there any year models I should try to avoid or look out for? Are there any big differences between a '13, '14,'15 in regards to track performance?

Thanks~

You say cheap.

Miata. Roughly equal on the track for roughly half the price. 15 inch tires are dirt cheap too.

finch1750 · 02-09-2018, 02:26 AM

Get a MY14+ as they worked out most the kinks. The early ones had tune issues

Mr.ac · 02-09-2018, 02:48 AM

You already know what you want. Miata.
Proven cheap track car time and time again. Cost per performance out beats pretty much any other car unless getting one for free.

But just so I won't butt hurt fan boys, go with the '14's. As for cheap, wait a year or two and they'll get some under $8k with under 80k miles on them.

But you know...Miata.

DAEMANO · 02-09-2018, 03:16 AM

2015+. Issues weren't all resolved until then. Get a salvage title for optimum cheap.

nikitopo · 02-09-2018, 03:26 AM

As the others said, a car with manufactured day after June '14. Many of the first year engine and tune issues were solved after this period. Performance wise you won't see serious differences.

EAGLE5 · 02-09-2018, 05:47 AM

Plenty of track days on 13s. If you fit miata

dradernh · 02-09-2018, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swarb

You say cheap.

Miata. Roughly equal on the track for roughly half the price. 15 inch tires are dirt cheap too.

^^^ This.

Starting with a no-rust $5K '99-'00 NB, even if you had a QUALIFIED shop build it for you, you could have a real track weapon built for $12-$15K. DIY would be less. The running costs are commensurately cheaper as well.

venturaII · 02-09-2018, 10:14 AM

Salvage '13. Chances are the known issues have been addressed already, and if they haven't, it's no mystery how to fix them, and it might actually help in negotiating a price. Who cares if your track car doesn't have the latest window rubbers..

ka-t_240 · 02-09-2018, 10:25 AM

What ever is cheapest and in good mechanical condition. There is no big performance changes as you go thru the years.

I have been tracking my '13 since 2014, no issues at all. Many of the main issues these cars have a present over most of the years.

NoHaveMSG · 02-09-2018, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturaII

Salvage '13. Chances are the known issues have been addressed already, and if they haven't, it's no mystery how to fix them, and it might actually help in negotiating a price. Who cares if your track car doesn't have the latest window rubbers..

The rocker arm issue kinda freaks me out. Not exactly an easy fix and it's a roll of the dice if you are going to have it.

Racecomp Engineering · 02-09-2018, 11:08 AM

A 2014 and later would be my recommendation. Difference in price vs a 13 is not that big so you might as well save yourself some potential headaches.

But...what are your goals? Driver improvement? Time attack? Just for fun? Fast laps?

- Andrew

dattran86 · 02-09-2018, 11:53 AM

Miata is always the answer

FirstWinter · 02-09-2018, 12:03 PM

Miata

02-09-2018, 01:39 AM	#1
kooliosupraboi Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2015 STI Location: socal Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	What Model Year for track car? I'm currently trying to do some research on getting either a frs/brz and making it a primary track car. I currently have a nearly stock 15 sti with several track days on it, rear sway bar, tires + wheels, pads, aos, stock power.. After some track days there's two things I've noticed.. 1. My driving style doesn't really suit AWD and 2. continuing to track the sti further might lead to a slippery slope of the mod bug. which I don't want to really deal with since it is primarily my DD which I love at the moment. I've done a lot of reading and decided either a NB/NC miata or a 86 twin would be what I want to pursue. I have no intention of trading in my STI and I will continue to DD it and occasional weekend canyons. If I were to trade/sell it in, I know I would regret it big time, so I'm looking for a 2nd car in the FRS/BRZ. Because I will already have a DD, the 86 will be track duty mainly, I am looking for a cheap used one that I can learn on and have fun with. So my question is.... Are there any year models I should try to avoid or look out for? Are there any big differences between a '13, '14,'15 in regards to track performance? Thanks~

02-09-2018, 02:26 AM	#3
finch1750 Undisputed El Presidente Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Zenki 37J ZN6 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 11,571 Thanks: 9,382 Thanked 9,397 Times in 5,261 Posts Mentioned: 374 Post(s) Tagged: 33 Thread(s)	Get a MY14+ as they worked out most the kinks. The early ones had tune issues __________________ "Just like how a strut bar somehow enables you to corner 20MPH faster around a cloverleaf on-ramp, when the reality is, you can do it already but you just don't have to balls to do it." - CSG David

02-09-2018, 02:48 AM	#4
Mr.ac [insert cool phrase here] Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: BRZ Premium Location: Central Coast CA Posts: 2,369 Thanks: 709 Thanked 1,558 Times in 930 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	You already know what you want. Miata. Proven cheap track car time and time again. Cost per performance out beats pretty much any other car unless getting one for free. But just so I won't butt hurt fan boys, go with the '14's. As for cheap, wait a year or two and they'll get some under $8k with under 80k miles on them. But you know...Miata. __________________ New daily driver - Subaru BRZ Premium Weekend fun/track car - '91 MR2 Turbo Gen3 Old daily driver - '88 MR2 Supercharged

02-09-2018, 10:14 AM	#9
venturaII Only users lose drugs. Join Date: Nov 2014 Drives: All the time Location: Shrewsbury upon Worcestershire Posts: 1,818 Thanks: 874 Thanked 1,067 Times in 674 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Salvage '13. Chances are the known issues have been addressed already, and if they haven't, it's no mystery how to fix them, and it might actually help in negotiating a price. Who cares if your track car doesn't have the latest window rubbers.. __________________ "To know a thing well, know it's limits. Only when pushed beyond its tolerances will true nature be seen." Amtal Rule

02-09-2018, 11:53 AM	#13
dattran86 Driver Join Date: Aug 2016 Drives: 2013 Whiteout FRS Location: Toronto/GTA Posts: 539 Thanks: 427 Thanked 237 Times in 159 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Miata is always the answer __________________ Check out my website: http://www.aim4apex.com/ IG: aimforapex

02-09-2018, 03:26 AM	#6
nikitopo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: '15 BRZ RA Location: Greece Posts: 3,787 Thanks: 2,416 Thanked 1,944 Times in 1,261 Posts Mentioned: 29 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	As the others said, a car with manufactured day after June '14. Many of the first year engine and tune issues were solved after this period. Performance wise you won't see serious differences.

02-09-2018, 10:25 AM	#10
ka-t_240 Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Drives: BRZ Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 968 Thanks: 124 Thanked 327 Times in 236 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	What ever is cheapest and in good mechanical condition. There is no big performance changes as you go thru the years. I have been tracking my '13 since 2014, no issues at all. Many of the main issues these cars have a present over most of the years.

02-09-2018, 11:08 AM	#12
Racecomp Engineering Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: 2016 BRZ, 2012 Paris Di2 & 2018 STI Location: Severn, MD Posts: 5,403 Thanks: 3,418 Thanked 7,241 Times in 2,962 Posts Mentioned: 303 Post(s) Tagged: 9 Thread(s)	A 2014 and later would be my recommendation. Difference in price vs a 13 is not that big so you might as well save yourself some potential headaches. But...what are your goals? Driver improvement? Time attack? Just for fun? Fast laps? - Andrew

02-09-2018, 12:03 PM	#14
FirstWinter Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Drives: Car Location: Location Posts: 646 Thanks: 374 Thanked 422 Times in 254 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Miata

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Summary of model year changes?	Double_Clutch	Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 GT86 General Forum	4	08-12-2014 03:27 PM
2014 model year?	topazsparrow	Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 GT86 General Forum	15	09-12-2012 02:33 AM
1st Model-Year Jitters?	suprachica79	Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 GT86 General Forum	55	09-13-2011 09:55 AM
Would you get the first year production model?	Desire1314	Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 GT86 General Forum	6	01-16-2011 06:42 PM
FT-86 Competition / Track model mentioned in EVO Car Of The Year Issue	Axel	Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 GT86 General Forum	132	03-07-2010 10:33 PM

User Name		Remember Me?
Password