Track/road car under 3k to buy...
Discussion
Evil.soup said:
There is this but not sure how happy I would be with a car that has already been used as a track car, but it does save money on parts etc. Description is rubbish though and gives you little to go on...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103059...
Worth a punt at £1500 maybe.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103059...
Evil.soup said:
There is this but not sure how happy I would be with a car that has already been used as a track car, but it does save money on parts etc. Description is rubbish though and gives you little to go on...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103059...
That was for sale in early 2020 as well, I remember seeing it and having a chucklehttps://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103059...
Evil.soup said:
There is this but not sure how happy I would be with a car that has already been used as a track car, but it does save money on parts etc. Description is rubbish though and gives you little to go on...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103059...
Sorry to join the pile-on, poor thing does need saving- but there is nothing to suggest that this is a thoughtful track prep. Directional tyres on the wrong way, filthy inside, obviously no info about maintenance or mechanical mods... none of the visible modifications which have been made to it are worth retaining. Seats, belts, induction kit, tyres- all needs re-doing. The belts especially are lethal. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103059...
Don’t buy an MX5, after three track days you’ll be bored. I speak from experience. They handle very well, they are fun, cheap and easy on consumables and maintenance…..but they are just too slow. Yes you can modify them, add forced induction etc etc but then it’s not a £3k car, it’s a £5k+ car in which case you’re better off saving for longer.
pablo said:
Don’t buy an MX5, after three track days you’ll be bored. I speak from experience. They handle very well, they are fun, cheap and easy on consumables and maintenance…..but they are just too slow. Yes you can modify them, add forced induction etc etc but then it’s not a £3k car, it’s a £5k+ car in which case you’re better off saving for longer.
Even for 5k what comes close to the fun of a turbo mx5? S2000 or an Elise is 2x-3x the price pablo said:
Don’t buy an MX5, after three track days you’ll be bored. I speak from experience. They handle very well, they are fun, cheap and easy on consumables and maintenance…..but they are just too slow. Yes you can modify them, add forced induction etc etc but then it’s not a £3k car, it’s a £5k+ car in which case you’re better off saving for longer.
Completely disagree. Its way more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. My MX5 is 90% of the fun of my 250bhp Westfield at 10% of the cost. On a road, maybe, where breaking speed limits is an issue, driving a slow car 'fast' is more fun than having a fast car, but having to stick to speed limits/ other slower road users.
However, on a track there are no limits, and therefore, id rather drive a fast car fast.
If you did a trackday with only mx5s, then sure, itd be a hoot. But on a general open pitlane day, a standard mx5 will be the slowest thing there. Everyone else will see you as a rolling chicane, and you'll spend the entire day looking in you mirrors as even renault clios and ford fiestas are pestering you to get past.
However, on a track there are no limits, and therefore, id rather drive a fast car fast.
If you did a trackday with only mx5s, then sure, itd be a hoot. But on a general open pitlane day, a standard mx5 will be the slowest thing there. Everyone else will see you as a rolling chicane, and you'll spend the entire day looking in you mirrors as even renault clios and ford fiestas are pestering you to get past.
Mr MXT said:
pablo said:
Don’t buy an MX5, after three track days you’ll be bored. I speak from experience. They handle very well, they are fun, cheap and easy on consumables and maintenance…..but they are just too slow. Yes you can modify them, add forced induction etc etc but then it’s not a £3k car, it’s a £5k+ car in which case you’re better off saving for longer.
Completely disagree. Its way more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. My MX5 is 90% of the fun of my 250bhp Westfield at 10% of the cost. brillomaster said:
On a road, maybe, where breaking speed limits is an issue, driving a slow car 'fast' is more fun than having a fast car, but having to stick to speed limits/ other slower road users.
However, on a track there are no limits, and therefore, id rather drive a fast car fast.
If you did a trackday with only mx5s, then sure, itd be a hoot. But on a general open pitlane day, a standard mx5 will be the slowest thing there. Everyone else will see you as a rolling chicane, and you'll spend the entire day looking in you mirrors as even renault clios and ford fiestas are pestering you to get past.
I did mention I'd already had a few MX5s so was after something different. The idea of them being rolling chicanes is really not true at all - unless either the car is a nail or the driver can't pedal. For the price I'd favour something low-power, simple and lightweight. I will let you know how I get on with this silly mission! Still, even if I am a rolling chicane, I've never done Angelsey before and that will be enough of a break from weekend childcare :-)However, on a track there are no limits, and therefore, id rather drive a fast car fast.
If you did a trackday with only mx5s, then sure, itd be a hoot. But on a general open pitlane day, a standard mx5 will be the slowest thing there. Everyone else will see you as a rolling chicane, and you'll spend the entire day looking in you mirrors as even renault clios and ford fiestas are pestering you to get past.
TREMAiNE said:
Suzuki Swift Sport
£1,500 for a decent example.
£500 for some used bucket seats and harnesses
£300 for some good discs and pads
£300 for some track tyres
£400 left over for a couple of track days.
Good example, but £1500 won't buy you a sport at all these days, even a high miler. A good example is more like 3 grand now. Used market is insane!£1,500 for a decent example.
£500 for some used bucket seats and harnesses
£300 for some good discs and pads
£300 for some track tyres
£400 left over for a couple of track days.
Evil.soup said:
Good example, but £1500 won't buy you a sport at all these days, even a high miler. A good example is more like 3 grand now. Used market is insane!
Really? I didn't realise they'd shot up so much in 6 months!We bought ours for £1,400 back in June, after a weekend of test driving about 8 examples between £1,000 and £2,000.
It had done 88k and had a full-service history.
It's done nearly 1,500 track miles now and is still going strong!
TREMAiNE said:
Evil.soup said:
Good example, but £1500 won't buy you a sport at all these days, even a high miler. A good example is more like 3 grand now. Used market is insane!
Really? I didn't realise they'd shot up so much in 6 months!We bought ours for £1,400 back in June, after a weekend of test driving about 8 examples between £1,000 and £2,000.
It had done 88k and had a full-service history.
It's done nearly 1,500 track miles now and is still going strong!
There may be the odd ST and Swift sport come up now and again in private terms now and again, but they seem to be slim pickings now...
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