Advice wanted (post searching and reading a lot)
 

I'm looking for a toy. I have quiet boring cruiser and wife has a decent midsize SUV; typical suburban young professional family inventory. We also have a 911 that I love - will be a car I keep forever. It really is the perfectish car in every way it is supposed to be. Before the 911 I had a 550hp/500tq(stock power) convertible that weighed as much as an SUV and was stupid fast in a straight line, super luxurious and scary to turn in wet, cold or less that perfect roads. Perfect for road trips but unsafe to have fun in the mountains with.

I'm a long term modder and have sorted my 911 quite a bit with it near completion. Past cars were heavily modded. It's(911) the USDA Prime of beef. Italians are the kobe and dry aged but not as good all around and not for everyone.

Sometimes we all just want a good cheap burger (think five guys, Whataburger or "in and out" for the left coast liberals). I've looked at old Lotus, used Cayman S, Miata, Z's and some other outliers. I've about made up my mind on a Subaru(toyota if a '17). I want all analog without the computer in the dash like the new Subarus. The 17s have some improvements like suspension, brakes, LSD and manifold which are appealing. I don't care about the styling. I just want a fun car to drive and track.

Here's where I need help... I would immediately strap on a Cosworth stage 2.0 (or as soon as it comes out for the 17) so the eliminating the improved tuning and manifold improvements of the 17. Coilovers, sways and full suspension ASAP and if a first gen get an LSD. Definitely some lightweight wheels and better rubber day one. With that being said, is worth getting the new model since the updates would all be replaced or is there some other compelling reasons to get a 17? I'd likely replace the radio at some point but they also suck in the new cars.

Thanks. Please respond with your thoughts or heckling if you so desire.

All US models (pre and post 2017) use the same Torsen LSD, so don't let that be the deciding factor. If you're going to replace the suspension anyway, the updates to the 2017 suspension won't matter. The two reasons to go for the 2017 model would be the shorter gearing and Brembo brake upgrade in your case.

That said, if you just want a cheapish sports car to throw around and track, I'd save a few thousand dollars and get a first gen. Put that money towards good coilovers, camber adjustment, tires, BBK and a track-proven SC (like Jackson Racing) and supporting mods (clutch, cooling, pads, exhaust, safe tune, etc.) You may want a clutch-type LSD as well, depending on your preference and driving style.

I've had a rotrex sc on a past car and replaced with a twin screw. The twin screw is superior in every singe way.

With boost [supercharger] would the shorter gearing or longer be more advantageous? On a turbo - longer gearing; no question but I'm not so sure on a supercharger.

Why? What do you want and/or expect out of the car?

Previous car a GT500 or a F-type R?

Why was the twin screw superior for you?

Previous car was a jaguar XKR-S.

Twin screw is far more linear and torquier than a centrifugal. It's almost like simply adding displacement and having no boost sans turbine sound. (consequently the Jags have a factory twin screw also.) Rotrex 38 is not linear and you can feel the lag in any turbo as well as unnatural tq in the boost. Twin screw runs cooler and is more robust in every way. The only negative to a twinscrew is that it won't have the huge power potential of a turbo set up.

There is a reason why OEM's use twinscrew/roots vs centrifugal - Mustang, Jag, Mini, AMG.... and the list is long for factory supercharged engines.

Well... they've all ditched their twin screws for turbos now...

There are pros and cons to every setup, but you still haven't answered the most important question: What do you want out of this car?

I'l expand on what I wrote in the original post. I want a fun, cheap, lightweight, RWD car with great aftermarket support so I can tinker and have a project. Will get tracked, pick up milk and eggs and go to the mountains - although the deterrent is the shitty ride to the mountains - ha!

Get a corvette instead. For the money you'd have in this car you could easily buy a clean vette that would outperform the modified twin and it is easily one of the most supported platforms currently. Unless you absolutely need a new car, but that doesn't seem to be the case with plans to immediately void the warranty.

Have you driven a stock one yet? Pretty long list of "day one" changes when you may not even have enough seat time to know what you need to change to get what you want out of the car.

You'd replace the RADIO?!?!?

It's a great car right out of the box. Buy a clean used one from an enthusiast who hasn't randomly thrown mods at it and take some time deciding where you want to put your money. I visit a lot of old sports car sites and I feel a close relationship to those owners when I get it my BRZ. It's well balanced and honest.

Hope the mountains are within range of your tow service.

Why not just buy a car that is what you're looking for? While there's a lot of aftermarket support, if your modification list is that long without even owning the car, this may not be the right car for you unless you specifically like modifying cars.

Have you considered a 987 Cayman, a Miata, Alfa, or S2000? Why did you cross some of the cars you listed off the list?

What exactly do you have done to your 911, and would you consider it superior to a carefully modified GT3 or Turbo-S?