Tumbo
RPM Ruler
Source:
Junior Varsity Track Stars: TT 3.2 vs. BMW Z4 3.0 and Porsche Cayman
It happens all the time; a guy starts out with a practical but sporty new car, then takes it to the track and becomes addicted to the smell of burning brakes and rubber. Thousands of dollars later, he's modified his car to the point where it's no longer habitable on a daily basis, has virtually no warranty coverage, and has actually lost value along the way. To make matters worse, underneath all of the expensive upgrades lies the chassis of a basic sedan. The smart money is on a true sports car out of the box. What we've assembled here is a collection of three cars that are not only drivers' machines but also civil enough to live with on a daily basis - as long as you don't go in and start wrenching around.
The idea wasn't to pick the wildest and woolliest rides on the planet, but rather those that could segue a blossoming track enthusiast from his tuner-mobile and all-out cruise missile. They had to be priced within the range of the cost of a new sport sedan plus a bundle of go-faster modifications. And lastly, they had to be supported by established national clubs who host sanctioned motorsport and performance driving events. In the end it came down to three German sport coupes: BMW's Z4 3.0si, Audi's new TT 3.2 quattro, and Porsche's Cayman....
