I just cant justify dumping the money into the V anymore; it was fun for my first track event, but now that I want to do more events, as well as more auto-x, and maybe try W2W in the future, it just wont cut it. This thing eats up consumables, and they arent cheap either. Plus these cars eat up wheel bearings and ball joints for some reason, along with differentials, and not to mention my buddy has been through 2 LS6 motors in his.

Im strongly considering picking up a spec Miata for about 8 grand that is already set up (drivetrain, suspension, safety gear, etc). Looks like tires are fairly cheap (~$600 for 205/50R15s), pads are cheap ($250 front/rear) and so are rotors ($25 /pc). I cant imagine gas mileage is as bad on track as the V (6.0mpg), and I'd assume that the consumables would last longer. Not only that, but I wont be dishing out the $$ on track insurance anymore since it's a vehicle that I could afford losing if something happened.

From the research I have done so far, it seems like I'll be able to get a lot more for my money with this car, and be able to do a lot more events with my budget. I'm also thinking that I will gain more and learn more with this car. Am I right in my thinking?

I would like to do about 6 to 8 track events a year, as well as a bunch of autocross events in between, and then eventually the SCCA drivers school to get my rookie license and run some spec Miata races.

Would the spec miata be any good at auto-x, given a specific auto-x tire is put on the car, and the track rubber is taken off? I'm not worried about what class I'll fall in; I'd be out there just to have fun in whatever class the car puts me in.

Am I on the right track? I would like any suggestions and inputs you all have. Oh, and I already know these things are horrendously slow compared to the vettes and porsches on track; I dont have an ego to maintain at these events. I'd rather learn to drive the car to the point where I'm getting the point-by from the z06 driver, lol.