[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by Trevorr

That’s great. You’re definitely the exception, not the rule though. I do 3-4 sessions per year with another car that I own because tires and track fee/ insurance are expensive.

I’ll probably do 1-2 with the g80 this year, I have CCBs, gotta make them last…

Originally Posted by Trevorr

I’m sure the car would be up to the task. But geez… 10-15 sessions per year is a lot though. Love to hear how often you’re replacing brakes/tires..

I think that for many on here the g80 is their primary car. One thing I’ve noticed about track enthusiasts is that they typically have other daily drivers in addition to their toys.

I don’t daily my G80 or my track toy. Also since the track is an expensive hobby, it excludes a lot of people because getting on the track is what, $600? Then add in track insurance which is another $500? Then factor in you might burn through a set of tires as well.

3-4 track events a year and you have a track toy. Ok. The thing about an M3 has always been that it’s a great all arounder. Use it as a family car then go out with the BMW CCA or other group and enjoy its performance. A GT500 or GT350 (I did DD mine for the year I owned it) pretty much suck at a DD but are great on a track.

It’s not the cost that keeps the average M3/M4 owner from taking their cars to the track. It’s more that the M3/M4 owner is from a broader mix of people - many/most of whom aren’t interested in track days. No different than who buys GT3s and the percentage of those that see the track. Back in the day, I occasionally tracked an M3, S4 and S2000 but a son and every weekend sports became a higher priority so track time (and golf) were put on the shelf.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by Trevorr

I’m sure the car would be up to the task. But geez… 10-15 sessions per year is a lot though. Love to hear how often you’re replacing brakes/tires..

I think that for many on here the g80 is their primary car. One thing I’ve noticed about track enthusiasts is that they typically have other daily drivers in addition to their toys.

I don’t daily my G80 or my track toy. Also since the track is an expensive hobby, it excludes a lot of people because getting on the track is what, $600? Then add in track insurance which is another $500? Then factor in you might burn through a set of tires as well.

Yeah, going to the track isn’t cheap. By my math, including prorating consumables, it’s about $1k per day on the E90. While the car itself is cheaper, parts aren’t because it’s still paying an M tax.

That said, given we’re still talking about a group of people dropping 80-100+k on a trim level of a 60k 3 series, I’d imagine it’s not so much the cost as it is what BryanCO said — time and desire. Nothing wrong with that, just funny to watch all the people pile into a track post that don’t track.

[Trevorr]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

3-4 track events a year and you have a track toy. Ok. The thing about an M3 has always been that it’s a great all arounder. Use it as a family car then go out with the BMW CCA or other group and enjoy its performance. A GT500 or GT350 (I did DD mine for the year I owned it) pretty much suck at a DD but are great on a track.

It’s not the cost that keeps the average M3/M4 owner from taking their cars to the track. It’s more that the M3/M4 owner is from a broader mix of people - many/most of whom aren’t interested in track days. No different than who buys GT3s and the percentage of those that see the track. Back in the day, I occasionally tracked an M3, S4 and S2000 but a son and every weekend sports became a higher priority so track time (and golf) were put on the shelf.

Having a track toy isn't defined by how many events per year you attend. I do 3-4 on an actual track and dozens of drag strip passes per year. Other than that, it sits in the garage, its not my DD. I have a 2021 LX570 that I daily drive. My G80, I occasionally drive. I work at the Pentagon, not gonna drive a GT500 in our shitty DC roads and ruin my carbon fiber wheels.

Cost IS a huge factor. Just ask any street racer why they don't do their racing on a track, most will say it's because of it being expensive but to be fair, many will probably say its time related as well. Brakes, tires, fuel, $600 per event, $500 in track insurance per event.

[christianb5s4]

One thing the G8X deserves credit for is out of the box, it is perfectly happy pounding around a track. So kudos to BMW for engineering that in.

[Humdizzle]

I went to the ring last week and had a great time. But the cost of that or even regular track days here in US is super expensive and time consuming.

I have a sim rig at home and it delivers 90% of the fun.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

I went to the ring last week and had a great time. But the cost of that or even regular track days here in US is super expensive and time consuming.

I have a sim rig at home and it delivers 90% of the fun.

It's an extremely expensive hobby, and using a sim rig is increasingly appealing to me, however I do enjoy the social aspect of it. I like meeting people at the track and seeing all the different builds and what they can do.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Trevorr

That’s great. You’re definitely the exception, not the rule though. I do 3-4 sessions per year with another car that I own because tires and track fee/ insurance are expensive.

I’ll probably do 1-2 with the g80 this year, I have CCBs, gotta make them last…

Regardless, you insinuated that X-Drive performance on track doesn’t matter because the G8X are only good for 1-3 track events a year. Your reference data didn’t include people like me and the many members in the track subforum that go more often than you suggested.

[Trevorr]

Originally Posted by jmg

Regardless, you insinuated that X-Drive performance on track doesn’t matter because the G8X are only good for 1-3 track events a year. Your reference data didn’t include people like me and the many members in the track subforum that go more often than you suggested.

I mean… the g8x can handle dozens of track sessions, I’m not talking the durability aspect. I think you are misunderstanding what I’m talking about. I’m talking about having it as a full blown dedicated track vehicle. The g8x wasn’t really built as a full on dedicated track vehicle. IMO more so a “weekend warrior”. Terminology that is actually used by certain automakers.

BMW made the CS as a more track focused, dedicated track vehicle. It weighs less, better aerodynamics/downforce, etc. I guess you could do similar modifications to the g8x but stock for stock the CS is more track focused and better suited for dozens of track sessions.

Let me ask you, If you’re going to be doing 10-15 sessions per year, why didn’t you get the CS? That one is better suited for track duty.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by Trevorr

I mean… the g8x can handle dozens of track sessions, I’m not talking the durability aspect. I think you are misunderstanding what I’m talking about. I’m talking about having it as a full blown dedicated track vehicle. The g8x wasn’t really built as a full on dedicated track vehicle. IMO more so a “weekend warrior”. Terminology that is actually used by certain automakers.

BMW made the CS as a more track focused, dedicated track vehicle. It weighs less, better aerodynamics/downforce, etc. I guess you could do similar modifications to the g8x but stock for stock the CS is more track focused and better suited for dozens of track sessions.

Let me ask you, If you’re going to be doing 10-15 sessions per year, why didn’t you get the CS? That one is better suited for track duty.

Not sure if that’s aimed at me or not but I’ll answer, esp since I took a hard look at the m4 cs and had an allocation. Very simply it’s not worth it in my mind. At 130-140k, I can get a 991.1 gt3 (yes yes, engines) or even turbo s, and am starting to reach 991.2s. I just don’t think the CS rates at that level. Esp since I can get a used g8x with buckets for 80k or less.

[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by kolosy

Yeah, going to the track isn’t cheap. By my math, including prorating consumables, it’s about $1k per day on the E90. While the car itself is cheaper, parts aren’t because it’s still paying an M tax.

That said, given we’re still talking about a group of people dropping 80-100+k on a trim level of a 60k 3 series, I’d imagine it’s not so much the cost as it is what BryanCO said — time and desire. Nothing wrong with that, just funny to watch all the people pile into a track post that don’t track.

Guilty

But with my son in college now I’m looking at getting back out this summer. Not sure which car to take…. Probably will chicken out and take the e92.

[kolosy]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

Guilty

But with my son in college now I’m looking at getting back out this summer. Not sure which car to take…. Probably will chicken out and take the e92.

Don’t track != aren’t tracking at the moment.

The e92 at full throttle is such a riot. Do it.

[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by Trevorr

Having a track toy isn't defined by how many events per year you attend. I do 3-4 on an actual track and dozens of drag strip passes per year. Other than that, it sits in the garage, its not my DD. I have a 2021 LX570 that I daily drive. My G80, I occasionally drive. I work at the Pentagon, not gonna drive a GT500 in our shitty DC roads and ruin my carbon fiber wheels.

Cost IS a huge factor. Just ask any street racer why they don't do their racing on a track, most will say it's because of it being expensive but to be fair, many will probably say its time related as well. Brakes, tires, fuel, $600 per event, $500 in track insurance per event.

Sure, it’s expensive. But cost is an excuse. Not sure a street racer is a reliable source.

Feel free to define track toy however you want to.

[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by kolosy

Not sure if that’s aimed at me or not but I’ll answer, esp since I took a hard look at the m4 cs and had an allocation. Very simply it’s not worth it in my mind. At 130-140k, I can get a 991.1 gt3 (yes yes, engines) or even turbo s, and am starting to reach 991.2s. I just don’t think the CS rates at that level. Esp since I can get a used g8x with buckets for 80k or less.

Makes sense.

Guys are posting that they are getting extended warranties that cover the ff issue for $1.5k/yr. If so, that would be huge for the 991.1 desirability (assuming PDK is fine).

[Trevorr]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

Sure, it’s expensive. But cost is an excuse. Not sure a street racer is a reliable source.

Feel free to define track toy however you want to.

LOL and time isn’t an excuse?…


Also, only a small percentage of m3 owners are on forums. So forums aren’t exactly representative of the general BMw population. Hence, forums aren’t exactly reliable as well.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Trevorr

I mean… the g8x can handle dozens of track sessions, I’m not talking the durability aspect. I think you are misunderstanding what I’m talking about. I’m talking about having it as a full blown dedicated track vehicle. The g8x wasn’t really built as a full on dedicated track vehicle. IMO more so a “weekend warrior”. Terminology that is actually used by certain automakers.

BMW made the CS as a more track focused, dedicated track vehicle. It weighs less, better aerodynamics/downforce, etc. I guess you could do similar modifications to the g8x but stock for stock the CS is more track focused and better suited for dozens of track sessions.

Let me ask you, If you’re going to be doing 10-15 sessions per year, why didn’t you get the CS? That one is better suited for track duty.

The CS didn’t exist when I got the Comp. I’ve tracked a F80 M3 CS for 3 years. Yes, it has advantages, but you can modify a Comp to be just as capable. In fact, my stock G82 Comp has faster lap times than my modified F80 M3 CS. That being said, just because the CS is better suited doesn’t mean the non-CS is unsuited for track days.

[m4ml]

Originally Posted by jmg

It's an extremely expensive hobby, and using a sim rig is increasingly appealing to me, however I do enjoy the social aspect of it. I like meeting people at the track and seeing all the different builds and what they can do.

For the price of essentially one track day (i.e., consumables, travel, hotel - I live pretty far from any track, gas, etc.) you can pick up a Fanatec CSD DD w/8nm boost kit, a ClubSport wheel (I picked up the BMW GT2 V2 wheel because it is closest to my stock wheel), a quick release, and the CSL Elite Pedals. With shipping and an at-the-time discount of $162 for the boost kit, it came out to just over $1k.

Any track that I've gone to I've watched in-car YouTube videos and ran the sim for many hours before going. It's not perfect, by any stretch, but it definitely helps get familiar with the track before spending all of those consumables.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

a more fair comparison would be the 992 GTS rwd with the lightweight package (carbon buckets and rear seat delete). both cars are rwd 2 seaters and around the same price.

that car is still 180 pounds less than the CSL

Agreed, but still substantially smaller given the dimensions. The GTS makes the CSL look like a downright bargain in comparison too.