[drewksmracer]

I haven't read the entire thread due to length, but I'm a long time Porsche guy, track rat, and club racer.

Personally, as much as I love Porsches, I don't like PDK's/SMG's/fakenshiften transmissions for anyone with significant track experience like the OP because they tend to overheat. For similar reasons, I prefer a normally aspirated engine over a turbo/supercharged one because, at least in my experience, forced induction engines have problems dissipating heat and overheat or have big power loss.

For an occasional track car, PDK and forced induction is great, but it isn't what I would choose for a car that I'm going to take to the track frequently. Or if you're relatively new to the track, you probably won't push the car hard enough to cause issues. But the OP is pretty quick and I suspect would make any weak points in a car show themselves.

Or the short version: 1LE sounds like a great choice, and with a warranty that Chevy says they'll stand behind even with track usage.

[backeddy]

Yep.....the price looks good to me! Here is my dilemma 2012 Spyder with CF seats, Sport chrono, exhaust etc....8k miles $56K, 1LE $45k. What do I have to do to the 1LE?, brake fluid and pads (and probably f1g2 tires due to $$$ of Camaro specific G3's) and probably not much else....And in 2 years it will be worth $32k (history shows us). The Spyder will require the 3rd cooler ($1100) and maybe pads.....Has cheap tires (19") and brakes available. In 2 years, the spyder will be worth $48K (MINIMUM). The question is what is the 1LE warranty worth??

[backeddy]

Here is the battle

[Nick S]

Originally Posted by backeddy

Here is the battle

Well I think only you can truly answer that question for yourself at this point. Yes the depreciation will be the normal GM depreciation.

Question for you though. Can you actually service the Porche yourself or is everything sealed up and you need special Porche tools/machines to work on it? At least with the 1LE if you are a mechanically inclined person you can pretty easily work on it yourself with pretty basic tools. I know after finally building my own shop to work on my cars in I hate having to take my car to the dealership for things like warranty work, recalls, or free oil changes. The hours are never very convenient and they take forever even for a simple oil change anymore.

Just something I consider when buying a vehicle. But ultimately you have to be the one to be happy with whatever decision you come to. Doesn't look like there is a "bad" decision. Just need to make the one you won't regret and ask yourself what if you would have chose the other car.

Maybe you need to look at it this way. When you park the car in a parking lot and start walking away from it, which one of the two cars will make you turn around and look back more often? The one that keeps your attention longest is probably the one for you!

[drewksmracer]

Since I'm spending your money, if depreciation is a big concern and you're looking for a great track car, do what I did: 997 GT3. Or 996 GT3 for a little less money. Not quite a serious answer because they're both a step up in price over the cars you're considering.

[evanescent03]

Originally Posted by drewksmracer

Since I'm spending your money, if depreciation is a big concern and you're looking for a great track car, do what I did: 997 GT3. Or 996 GT3 for a little less money. Not quite a serious answer because they're both a step up in price over the cars you're considering.

I like this idea.

[backeddy]

I would love a GT3.....Except: Remember the most crashed car at Laguna in my experience = Corvette. The car most often leaving on a flatbed with mechanical issues = 911 variants (especially FI ones).

[WhyUMad1LE]

GT3 is N/A.. parts and labor will certainly cost more than for the Camaro though. They are also more money to turn the same lap times but the balance is supposed to be perfect. Caranddriver actually likened the 5th gen 1LE to the GT3.

[drewksmracer]

Originally Posted by WhyUMad1LE

GT3 is N/A.. parts and labor will certainly cost more than for the Camaro though. They are also more money to turn the same lap times but the balance is supposed to be perfect. Caranddriver actually likened the 5th gen 1LE to the GT3.

I've never seen any direct lap time comparisons between a GT3 and Camaro, but I'm seriously considering the new 1LE, so hopefully I'll get to find out first hand On paper, I predict they'll be pretty close, except that the GT3 will feel just as good on the 1st lap as does on its 20th. Except for the GT3, every car I've tracked degrades as the laps pile on, but hopefully the new 1LE has the cooling capacity to withstand long track sessions.

The balance in the GT3 is actually kinda strange IMO because of the rear weight. They tend to push on corner entry more than a typical RWD car, but once you set the nose, you can get on the gas really early to power out of a corner. In other words, it drives like a 911.

[fzr100098]

Originally Posted by backeddy

In 2 years, the spyder will be worth $48K (MINIMUM).

Find that a little hard to believe, especially with the GT4 Cayman out, which makes it look slow

Love Porsches but don't want to work on them. I still think the best track car bang-for-the-buck is a stripped down, 2600-2700 lb FD RX-7 (single turbo with all the emissions crap deleted and stand alone ECU). They can be had for mid 20s and they haul serious ass (400 rwhp minimum). Nothing else in the price range is as fun

[49North1LE]

Good one "where are the Porsche fans" probably most will be in Europe. Talking Camaro & ok GT350 here will get a pass by nearly all, but going anything non American muscle. I think you forgot what audience you were playing to and what we really care about.

[fzr100098]

Plenty of Porsche fans in the US - tons of people track them

[Rich J]

Have you driven both cars, at least on the street? Any Porsche and a Camaro are night and day different to drive.

[mjk3888]

Originally Posted by backeddy

Here is the battle

Originally Posted by Rich J

Have you driven both cars, at least on the street? Any Porsche and a Camaro are night and day different to drive.

Rich J,
I don't think many will argue that the driving experience is likely night and day, but that doesn't mean they aren't both excellent and right on top of each other regarding lap times. Keep in mind, 5 years ago, if you told anyone that the 6th gen Camaro would be in the same league as an M3/M4 you would have been checked into a psych ward. Now the base model SS is dead nuts even (numbers wise) and subjectively a better driver's car. The gen 6 is light years better in the chassis department than the gen 5 ever was and look what they turned the Z/28 into! Don't be shocked if this car breaks a lot of the old Camaro sterotypes. It's going to be extremely impressive! I heard that Carlos Lago of Motor Trend was claiming that the 1LE exits turns better than the GT350R! If that's even close to accurate I'll be extremely happy. Go back an watch the H2H on Motor Trend between the Z/28 and GT350R. Randy was RAVING about the way the GT350R put power down exiting a turn!

Backeddy,
I actually think the closer comparison as far as track times are concerned will bet the GT4. If you aren't looking to purchase ASAP, I will probably be able to give you feedback on how these two compare on the street and the track early next year. A colleague of mine owns a GT4 and we will likely hit a track day and blast through the mountains occasionally.

GT4 vs 1LE

From what we know so far the GT4 suffers from excessively long gearing and bit of understeer. I think based on the reviews of the SS the 1LE will also suffer from some long gearing complaints, but we'll have to wait to hear about the balance.