New potential Goblin owner

[Chammuel]

Hey guys, I'm looking at the Goblin and similar cars as a potential next step for me in my car ownership journey. Some background on me, I'm currently close to selling my track modified C6 Z06 that I bought last year. I bought it mostly modified and added a cam, but in retrospect I think I was moving too fast, and didn't realize how expensive tracking a larger car would be, and how the anxiety of risking your money saps the fun out of it. Also, while I wanted to modify it more, I didn't want to destroy its value by cutting into it. While it can hang with cars 4x its price on track, I didn't realize that higher capability does not equal more fun. I thought I would keep it longer but it's too expensive to just be a weekend ride for me.

So I'm looking to step down to a much cheaper platform where I gain track experience much cheaper as well as just have more fun in a lightweight, responsive platform. I'm an engineer at heart and by trade, so I would like to explore 3D printing and CAD design to create custom aerodynamics and other pieces.

Currently considering two options; first is buying a completed manual NA Goblin. I dont want too much power so NA would be perfect for me. While building one seems fun and would allow me to touch every part, I think I'd rather have a sorted out car to iterate from. My other option is buying a Miatia, driving that for a bit before going the Exocet route. Couple questions for yall.

1. Any in Houston willing to give me a ride in their Goblin? I've seen that the Houston group is active and well-knit. I will also be going up to Dallas sometime to talk with the Goblin team.

2. What are some differences between a Goblin/Exocet and a Miata? I'm going to rent a MX-5 out soon to feel it out, but I've heard that the lightweight kit cars take the Miata fun formula and dial it up to 11.

 

[Rauq]

Welcome! I would love a C6Z but your concerns are the reason why I'm in a Goblin and not a Corvette. Cheap consumables, and the only thing I have to worry about on the car is running out of gas.

In my (limited) track experience, a Goblin at any power level will hang with most other cars as long as the track's not straight. Adding power only adds to the bit of time on the straights where you don't get passed. In my first track day at stock LSJ power (~200) I kept up with C8s and GT350s at a fairly curvy track. I then added 50% more power and got passed by GTIs and a Hellcat Durango on the long back straight at Road Atlanta.

Handling should be a bit different between a Goblin and an Exocet with the Goblin being rear-engined. I've not driven an Exocet but I have ridden shotgun in one and driven a handful of Miatas. My take was the Exocet handled like a Miata minus a good bit of weight (which, I mean, duh). I'd imagine its acceleration and top speed is more like a Goblin and handling somewhere between the two.

If you want to make extra power, I think it's easier to do in a Goblin than an Exocet.

 

[duthehustle93]

Hi there! I might be able to help out. Sorry in advance for the book.

For cars of relevance, I've driven 2 C5's (sorry, no C6's yet), 3 exocets, 1 goblin, and dozens of miatas (several NA's, a few NB's, 1 NC) on street and track (both time attack and wheel to wheel). ~90% of my seat time is in a miata, so I'll be a bit biased. I'm also an engineer (mechanical) and can appreciate making things, and all of these platforms allow you to express that regardless of stock body or tube frame.

It sounds like you're looking to get lots of seat time, have fun, be safe, and learn as cheaply as possible? Assuming that, I'll start off with a few cons on an exo platform.. hoping that I don't get dragged again, my argument is a big one that applies to all exo cars... safety. Factory bodied, especially caged factory bodied cars, are extremely safe. There's no substitute for a factory crash structure, body panels, a real windshield, crumple zones, and the engineering and scrutiny that goes into factory safety structures. Most people opt for harnesses and not HNR in their exo cars, which exacerbates this concern. Being able to learn and push the limits with a near-zero risk of severe bodily injury is a huge part of improving abilities on track. I know you're not "planning" on crashing, but neither was I the couples times it's happened. Unfortunately (or fortunately? lol) I can't provide actual experience of safety and crashing a tube frame car vs. a stock bodied car, but I still haven't gotten as much as a bruise from crashing a stock body, caged w/ harnesses+HNR car. The second factor is most factory bodied cars are easier to drive, they have better aerodynamics at speed, are less "peaky" at the limit, and typically easier to setup. Third, I guess we all have different definitions of "inexpensive" but you can easily build a miata track car for ~$10k, and you're double that to step into the exo category.

For pros on an exo platform... they're reallllllly fun, unique, light, easy to work on, and smog exempt in CA (this was the selling point for me).


Comparing them (if you've driven other platforms as well, I can probably add them into the comparison):

NA/NB miatas: cheap*, light, forgiving, insane aftermarket support and community, one of the most fun to drive platforms aside from exo cars. However, the NA's have really price hiked a lot lately...they're great and all, but they're absolutely not worth $5-15k, they were $1-3k when I first got into them, but they're not $5-15k good, not even close. NB's haven't seen this as much, so unless you MUST have popups, NB's are the way to go.

NC miatas (you said MX-5, so I'm guessing you mean NC?): Everyone hated them when they first came out because they were "heavy" but the few that showed up on track were dominating heavily modified NAs and NBs. They're starting to gain popularity and they've been going up in price, but they're amazing cars to drive and finally have some usable power. If you're trying to choose which miata chassis to get, I'd go with an NC hands down.

C5 (both were Z06's, one stock, one moderately modified): They're great cars if you want a V8 and power, but as you mentioned repair and consumables cost is magnitudes higher than a miata. I can see why people love them and it's a lot of performance for the price, but I didn't find myself having more fun in it than a miata; the smiles/$ on corvettes isn't too great.

Exocets: They're great... it still retains most of the characteristics of what makes a miata great, but more. All of my experience of these is within the last 2 years, and I just didn't find myself excited by them... I think 10 years of miatas has made me bored of anything miata-adjacent. Nothing against them, I just had no interest in pulling the trigger on something that didn't get my excited.

Goblin: I test drove one and was immediately excited. They have A LOT of character... the rear weight bias, forced induction noises right behind your head, the power to weight ratio, instant torque delivery, and aside from being light, they could not be more different than a miata. That's why I got one... it's a lightweight platform that's a riot to drive, and was a different animal to what I'm used to. However, I wouldn't say it's a "learner" platform... it's much peakier and less forgiving than the other platforms... it reminded me of the MR2 platform, but with a much more aggressive PTW ratio and no crash structure.

 

[Chubbs]

I'll probably make some enemies here, but here's my honest assessment.

I have been tracking and Autocrossing my Goblin (SS, supercharged) for a couple years now. At an autocross, it is a real blast. on a big track, it is downright scary. Since it's mid-engined, lift-off-oversteer is a real concern, always. It will also break the rear tires loose easily under power. Basically, the back end always wants to pass the front end. That is a tremendous amount of fun at autocross speeds, but at 100+ mph approaching a wall at turn 1, it is not fun at all.

On the plus side, it's fast and running costs are cheap. But I don't consider my goblin "fun" at a large track. It's a serious car that is a serious handful to drive, and disaster is always one wrong move away. With a high performance ceiling and somewhat unpredictable nature, I still haven't found the limit to my goblin yet, as the limits are dangerous to approach.

Miatas are friendly and fun. You can yeet them sideways into a corner like a teenager playing with the E-brake handle, and the car will happily oblige. They don't typically bite unless you do something really, really stupid. The chassis is balanced and predictable, and that means you can push them to their absolute limit with mediocre skill. Driving a Miata is the most fun you can have in a car unless you take your clothes off.

If you are looking for a challenge to drive, get a goblin. If you like conversations with random strangers, get a goblin. If you like puzzles, tuning, suspension adjustments, and troubleshooting, get a goblin.

If you want "fun" on a race track, of if you want to learn to be a better driver at the limits, I'd go Miata.

 

[Desert Sasqwatch]

CAUTION! Engineers building a Goblin from scratch can (usually) leads to tinkering, redesigns, fabrication and modifications that typically lead to a lengthy build time - ask me how I know. If you are looking to drive sooner than later after selling your C6, then I recommend opting for a built Goblin. It's almost certain there will be changes you want to make and starting at the 90% mark is far safer than starting at the 0% mark.

 

[Gtstorey]

Goblin at Road Atlanta
DF GOBLIN GRIDLIFE SOUTH (youtube.com)

 

[Chammuel]

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions and advice. One thing I forgot to mention is that me and a buddy are going in together on a Scion FRS to be a gutted and caged track only car. What I'm getting from everyone is that the Goblin is a pure fun platform, but not ideal for at the limit driving or learning on track. I did enjoy the time I spent learning how to work on my 'vette as it was my first car, even with the fustration at times (I know I know, I did say I moved way too fast). Seems like the Goblin is also easier to customize, and is overall a great "memory maker". I had some great experiences meeting and talking with car enthusiasts with my vette, and I'd like that to continue.

What I'm thinking now for my roadmap is sell the vette, buy a Miata and track it some, and then when the FRS starts to come together, swap out the Miata for a Goblin.

 

[Chammuel]

It sounds like you're looking to get lots of seat time, have fun, be safe, and learn as cheaply as possible?

NC miatas (you said MX-5, so I'm guessing you mean NC?): Everyone hated them when they first came out because they were "heavy" but the few that showed up on track were dominating heavily modified NAs and NBs. They're starting to gain popularity and they've been going up in price, but they're amazing cars to drive and finally have some usable power. If you're trying to choose which miata chassis to get, I'd go with an NC hands down.

Yep, I've heard great things about the NC platform as the one to be in nowadays. Need to test drive one here soon before pulling the trigger.

 

[Chubbs]

Yep, I've heard great things about the NC platform as the one to be in nowadays.

I find the reversal on the NC fascinating. It was hated as the fattest Miata for so long....and now it's really turned out to be one of the favorites. I think it fits larger people better, and it was always my favorite for that reason alone (I'm not even huge....6'1" 210lbs).

I'm an engineer as well (lots of engineer goblin builders). In the car world, newer is almost always better. Car engineers attempt to iron out the flaws of the previous version while retaining the good parts, and the result is (usually) a better overall car, even if it's a little chubbier.

 

[Rttoys]

There’s several of us that will take you for a ride. If you want the ultimate experience, catch us at autocross. 4 of us are signed up for May 5th at the police academy near intercontinental airport. I can give you better details if you are interested.

I agree with Chubbs, this thing is sketchy coming off 100, diving into a corner. I do believe the new subframe Df is working on will fix a lot of that though. One big problem with tracks is they don’t like open wheel cars. I have tried to go to some track days, just to be turned down because of being open wheel. Not all turn us down, but most do.

if you do go for a goblin, I would recommend a super or turbo charged version. Coming from a ‘vette, you’ll be disappointed with a na 2.2l. Stock or just above stock charged model will put you where you want to be. If you work all the bugs out on handling, you’ll want to upgrade power and that’s where the ss models shine.