All-

Just finished my second track day in the G, and the bug has bitten me! First time I went out, I was all stock (08 sport sedan, so it's got the slightly stiffer shocks with the 18s). Second time out, I had the sport coupe 19s (225/45 245/40 with stock Potenza RE050a rubber), with the Eibach pro-kit springs (1.4/1.3 inch drop, and front and back camber kits and a proper alignment). Much improved, but the GT2s and such were still killing me in the curves! Don't know if the G could ever hit that level to begin with , but looking for the next step up.


What's my weakest link here, or am I all pretty evened out (what I'm asking is, can one piece be replaced, and get a big boost without replacing everything?).

Tires? Better rubber? Wider as well? The wheels are 8.5" in the front, 9" in the rear. Looking for suggestions on tire model here, and, I'm thinking I could at least get away with 10-20 mm wider without new wheels (is that correct?).
Springs/shocks/coilovers? Sway bars?

Limitations- would rather not go much lower, or roll fenders. And would rather not spend more than $1000-$1500 here, not including tires (parts alone, I'll install). I'll be dropping a grand to 1200 or more on tires no matter what within 6 months.

Realize this post is all over the place, but looking for a good suggestions on the next step in the upgrade path.

Thanks!

 

sways

 

Full coilovers,

 

Driving instruction then lighter wheels, sways and CO's.

Although, i'm surprised you managed to exceed the limits of what the car is capable of after just two sessions. I would suggest not going all out too fast or your car will come back and bite you when you least expect it. (It's akin to not using slicks until you're completely comfortable on the track... which takes time.)

 

I hear ya on the driving instruction. Each of the sessions was actually 4, 25-minute runs, with some instruction and feedback. As I built up confidence in what the car could do and getting used to the track, spent the last 2 runs with the VDC off (and it did come back to bite me), and playing around with trail braking to account for the understeer. Definitely plan on continuing with the track time paired with the instruction. Yes, instruction alone will take me very far, but patience isn't my virtue- modding is

 

In order:

1) Driving instructions

2) This goes without saying of course but lighten up the car. Remove the spare and accessories, all the floor mats and anything you got in the car and anything you can take out.

3) Tires will play the biggest role in traction and cornering. Semi slicks/Slicks would give you the best traction but will require good driving skill. Street tires such as Michlen PS2's are very nice on the track IMO (Tried them out at Bahrain International Circuit on a modded 350Z)

4) I highly recommend Hotchkis sway bars. You can adjust the rears to play with oversteer and understeer characteristics and they're priced well.

5) Sell your springs and run full CO's. CO's will give you much better damping characteristics over the stock struts. Plus, you can adjust bound/rebound on some of them. Also, i believe those Eibach springs are progressive, personally I find linear type springs to be more predictable on the track.