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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 07-24-2006, 07:51 PM
teamsketch's Avatar
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Last Question - Fear of Track Damage?

After many nights of pulling my hair out over which car to buy I think I finally settled on the Cayman. With the deals available on 06's now it is just too tempting to pass up. However I do have one final question for everyone out there that has spent time at the track.

Recently I have gotten into taking my E46 M3 to the track and have been going about every 3 weeks. It is a blast but I always have the thought in the back of my mind about possibly wrecking the car. Every track day I am at, at least someone has had an "incident". I have seen one car totalled, and few others with body and minor mechanical damage.

I plan on continuing to spend about the same amount of time at the track, but I am concerned with having a major accident and being out $60-70k. Currently my M3 is only worth about $30K so that makes me feel a little better about tracking it. Also, one of the main reasons I would be getting the Cayman is for track use so it makes no sense if I am going to have another dedicated track car and use the Cayman as a daily driver.

Other considerations are that I don't plan to modify the car beyond intake and exhaust. Also, I am wondering if I can get away with using PSM in the sport mode? I always turn off traction control now but I have never had a car with a system that has not been totally intrusive. Can you really drive close to the limit and still have fun with PSM?

I know it is a calculated risk, I also know this is a very broad question but it would be great to get the opinions of experienced track junkies.
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Old 07-24-2006, 08:46 PM
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Check with K-Man S. Faster track times are possible with PSM on. That really is old news, as that was how the 'ring times were best.



You will have a better chance at having more track fun without an incident with the Cayman than any BMW (mods or not). The handling is amazing.
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Old 07-24-2006, 10:42 PM
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teamsketch



PSM is far less intrusive than BMW's system, but unless you're in the lowest run groups, you'll likely want to turn it off for track use. I've yet to track my CS (only 250 mi on it), but I drove a student's 987S for a session last April. Driving w/PSM on at maybe 75%, it would not let me throttle steer. So, if your question is can you 'drive close to the limit and still have fun with PSM' turned ON, IMO, the answer is NO.



However, turning PSM 'off,' as I'm sure you already know, really doesn't turn it completely off, but rather raises the intervention level. PSM 'off' + SC sport raises the level higher still. Thus, the system will always jump in to provide a safety net if you get far out of sorts. Of course, it can't change physics & an OTE with or without impact is still possible. While there's always risk tracking a car, in a non-competitive event the driver has a great deal of control over the level of risk. From reports of those whose opinions I trust, I don't expect to reach the car's limits anytime soon, if ever, for my DE use. I have to admit, having PSM backup for a major screwup is comforting.



Like you, tracking is a hobby for me. If it weren't fun, I wouldn't do it. I tracked my 993 & originally risked a greater financial loss (which reduced over the years w/depreciation) in a car not as easily replaced. My CS insurance covers DE use although crunching it would still be quite upsetting. Driven sensibly within my limits, I feel safer on the track than when sharing the road w/mini-vans & SUVs driven by inattentive, cell phone distracted twits. If my CS were not covered for DE use, I'd feel differently.

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Old 07-24-2006, 10:55 PM
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Quote:
teamsketch



PSM is far less intrusive than BMW's system, but unless you're in the lowest run groups, you'll likely want to turn it off for track use. I've yet to track my CS (only 250 mi on it), but I drove a student's 987S for a session last April. Driving w/PSM on at maybe 75%, it would not let me throttle steer. So, if your question is can you 'drive close to the limit and still have fun with PSM' turned ON, IMO, the answer is NO.



However, turning PSM 'off,' as I'm sure you already know, really doesn't turn it completely off, but rather raises the intervention level. PSM 'off' + SC sport raises the level higher still. Thus, the system will always jump in to provide a safety net if you get far out of sorts. Of course, it can't change physics & an OTE with or without impact is still possible. While there's always risk tracking a car, in a non-competitive event the driver has a great deal of control over the level of risk. From reports of those whose opinions I trust, I don't expect to reach the car's limits anytime soon, if ever, for my DE use. I have to admit, having PSM backup for a major screwup is comforting.



Like you, tracking is a hobby for me. If it weren't fun, I wouldn't do it. I tracked my 993 & originally risked a greater financial loss (which reduced over the years w/depreciation) in a car not as easily replaced. My CS insurance covers DE use although crunching it would still be quite upsetting. Driven sensibly within my limits, I feel safer on the track than when sharing the road w/mini-vans & SUVs driven by inattentive, cell phone distracted twits. If my CS were not covered for DE use, I'd feel differently.

STLPCA, If you don't mind, who are you using for coverage? Also, are you going on the assumption that the policy doesn't explicitly deny coverage for DE events or is their actual language about DE in the policy?
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Old 07-24-2006, 11:21 PM
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<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr id="quote" noshade="noshade" height="1" />
STLPCA, If you don't mind, who are you using for coverage? Also, are you going on the assumption that the policy doesn't explicitly deny coverage for DE events or is their actual language about DE in the policy? <hr id="quote" noshade="noshade" height="1" />






I have State Farm. At least in my state, usage is covered unless specifically excluded. DE use is not included in the policy's exclusionary language. I know of several on track DE claims covered by SF, including my insurance agent's.


Although I've never had a claim (&amp; don't expect to), SF's DE coverage is why it now covers my cars, home, business, &amp; personal liability. If SF changes its policy to exclude DEs, as have some companies, I'll move ALL my policies elsewhere.



</blockquote>

Edited by - STLPCA on 07/24/2006 5:26:46 PM
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Old 07-24-2006, 11:22 PM
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<blockquote id="quote">


Sorry - double post.



</blockquote>

Edited by - STLPCA on 07/24/2006 5:25:32 PM
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Old 07-24-2006, 11:44 PM
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In my experience, even sport mode PSM interferes quite a bit. I personally do not mind it at this point in time, until I get very comfortable with the car, which will take couple more autocrosses and track days. By next season, I should able to run without the safety net. However, just know that PSM interferes.
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Old 07-24-2006, 11:56 PM
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Quote:
I know it is a calculated risk, I also know this is a very broad question but it would be great to get the opinions of experienced track junkies.
Obviously there is no right answer to your question. I am no track junky, but I do play pretty hard.



If you wanna to play, you gonna to pay, one way or other. If you don’t have carnage on the track, you didn’t drive hard enough. If you prepare the worst, you always come out happy. If I were you, I would build a track car, and have a lot of fun. Or bring your new Cayman, and pretend to drive fast on the track (probably less fun thou)

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Old 07-25-2006, 12:20 AM
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I am going through the same crisis. I love my car and want to keep it pristine, but want to drive it and am now addicted to the track. I have had 5 track days in 2 months.

Re PSM - in some circumstances and on some tracks I have been faster with PSM on, especially at the start of the day. PSM forces you to drive smoothly, otherwise it cuts in and you loose a heap of time. I think when I have been faster it is probably just due to more confidence in faster sections of the track.

The professional drivers who have driven my car have definately been faster with PSM turned off. As I have become more confident I have started turning PSM off, and you really do need it off to throttle steer around corners at the limit. But you can drive very quickly still with PSM on, you just need to be very smooth feathering the throttle on coming out of corners.

On a couple of tracks in very tight harpins where understeer is a big issue, you can feel PSM working the whole way through the corner like ABS. On these tracks I always turn PSM off as I worry that it is going to overuse the brakes which are already cooking...

In case you missed it in another thread heres a lovely pic of me