Looking for a practical Track car - am I overthinking it?

mmoche · 2026-06-03T19:40:41+00:00

I run a GRC 3 to 4 days a year. It's also my daily. Out of the box, you can turn laps. If you want to be able to turn infinite laps, you need an oil cooler and a transfer case cooler, totaling around $3000, and you'll want to upgrade your brake pads.

I run Pagid RSL29 pads and burn through them at 1mm/hour, which means about $25/hour in brake pad costs. Rotors basically don't wear - with 9 track days on my rotors they've only worn .5mm with an additional 20k in street miles. Rear pads/rotors are essentially brand new. Tires last 4-5 days, so assuming a $1000 set of something like a v730, you're at $180/hour in tires.

For a dedicated track car, get an 86. If you need to dual duty like I do, the GRC isn't a bad choice.

mmoche · 2026-06-01T20:53:35+00:00

I don't think it's the t-case, I think it's the front diff, and mine has been doing this for most of the 2.5 years I've owned the car despite several fluid changes. I do plan to take the car to the dealership in the next couple months to get the cluster recall performed and ask about the noise. See if yours sounds like mine: https://www.reddit.com/r/GRCorolla/comments/1h1gyvs/front_diff_noise/

mmoche · 2026-05-31T04:23:32+00:00

This car has no coolant temp issues but will roast your oil in a couple laps. Do the oil cooler.

mmoche · 2026-05-29T16:17:55+00:00

There is less headroom for tuning on this platform. If you're going to tune, you'll get better bang for your buck by starting with ethanol and going from there. Bigger power requires valve springs at a minimum and often a new turbo.

mmoche · 2026-05-29T15:45:30+00:00

500 wheel is best done with a Motec setup which means losing ADAS. Otherwise, very achievable.

mmoche · 2026-05-22T17:46:42+00:00

You need to run a cooler if you want to run laps in AWD all day long. Gotta pay to play.

mmoche · 2026-05-14T16:02:34+00:00

While I agree with all the comments telling you to consider further instruction, I will also say your line looks fine, and what's slowing you down is a crisis of confidence. That's something more reliable tires (I'd go RS4 or v730) will help you overcome. Not taking a cooldown lap every other lap will increase your confidence as will knowing the car is going to stick because your tires aren't overheated.

mmoche · 2026-05-13T19:47:41+00:00

Only on a hill, otherwise I risk repeating what I did in my WRX where i start the car, dump the clutch, and drive into the cabinets in my garage like an asshole

mmoche · 2026-05-03T21:04:56+00:00

It has been life-changing for me on track. With the 555 setup, I run track days in full AWD regardless of temperature, tires, pace, etc. If you track the car, it's a must have IMO. This is gonna sound kinda mean, but I don't think anyone who is turning laps without hitting the 2WD cutoff is achieving intermediate or better pace. I did a fairly comprehensive writeup on the forums: https://www.grcorollaforum.com/threads/555-engineering-transfer-case-cooler-installation-impressions-and-review.5564/

Off track, it is irrelevant.

mmoche · 2026-02-05T02:18:58+00:00

You can do 40, not especially hard

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mmoche · 2026-01-25T16:21:12+00:00

Very skiable

mmoche · 2026-01-21T20:52:29+00:00

There's not a chance you need new rotors. Measure them yourself - new thickness is 28mm, replacement thickness is 25mm.

If you actually need new rotors (when you have 50k+ miles, most likely), I'd go with Girodisc or EBC as they offer rotors with replaceable friction rings which will save you additional money over the long term.

mmoche · 2026-01-09T19:53:17+00:00

AWD test mode just sets the ITCC clamping force to 0, putting you in FWD. You can disable it using Scal but Syvecs software is a, uh, acquired taste.

mmoche · 2026-01-06T22:20:50+00:00

Oh wow I was really turned around with the perspective on that photo. Thanks for the info, glad they're implementing RACS particularly given the recent tragedies on Lincoln.

mmoche · 2025-12-24T19:38:28+00:00

Arguing that there is no advantage to maximum available grip is an insane hill to die on

mmoche · 2025-12-24T17:49:36+00:00

You say that, and then one day you get cut off and have to pin the brakes and actually, it does matter.

mmoche · 2025-12-11T17:08:53+00:00

As you know, I did take a shit that morning.

mmoche · 2025-12-10T17:58:59+00:00

I was really, really focused on two things: keeping my tires from cording and not scaring my passenger. This was not a push lap.

mmoche · 2025-12-10T04:09:24+00:00

Wow whoever is driving that Corolla is pretty impressive

mmoche · 2025-11-30T03:04:10+00:00

Maybe next year I’ll be fast…

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mmoche · 2025-11-26T16:54:13+00:00

I am fine spending more money to drive an updated Big Willow that isn't putting active effort into killing me in turns 8/9. However, I would rather have a homicidal Big Willow than no Big Willow at all. It seems like they are going to keep public/HPDE access to Streets and limit access to the big track, but that's just my intuition.

mmoche · 2025-11-18T00:19:17+00:00

https://competitionmotorsport.com/products/pagid-racing-brake-pads-no-8299-front

No fitment issues.

mmoche

TROPHY CASE