Budget Track Car suggestions

Budget Track Car suggestions

Author
Discussion

CaterhamJoy

Original Poster:

165 posts

172 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
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Hey All!

Looking to do some track days next year so I am thinking about a budget track car. It will need to MOT'd and on the road as I don't have a trailer (or the requisite license), and it may be used on the road occasionally.

My main car is a TVR Chim 4.5. I don't want to use this on track as I see it as more a GT car and to be honest if I pranged it on track it would not be cheap to repair (and I am a little precious about it to be honest).

The obvious choices are MR2, MX5 or E36. I might want to do the occasional drift day as well (have done a few in the past and really enjoyed it), so I guess FR is my prefence, RWD is a must for me. I am slightly reluctant to get an MX5 as I have had a few in the past and I fancy a change, plus having two 2 seater convertibles seems a little pointless, but it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Which I guess leaves me with an E36, I could even leave the rear seats in and have a 4 seater car for the odd occasion I need it (I could borrow the Family XC90 if I really need the space). I wouldn't want to crazy on the mods as I want to keep insurance down. I want to spend as little as possible as it is a first track car so it doesn't need to be anything amazing, I would like to be all in for £2000.

So what do people think. E36 Coupe? Mx5? RX8?

Thanks

nick1275

1,272 posts

169 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
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6cyl e36 would fit the bill nicely. Plenty about for shed money, and a wealth of mods out there to do.

4340BB

853 posts

207 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
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I bought an E36 M3 saloon in the summer and have stripped most of the weight out of it.
They are reliable enough and sturdy enough to cope with a thrashing on track as long as the obvious issues are dealt with.
Decent pads and fluid
Strip the weight out of it
Make sure the suspension and bushes are fit
Job done.

The added bonus is that with the E36 getting to be a modern classic whatever you strip out of it you can sell on line to make some money back.

Dont rule out the Nissan 200SX S14.
Absolutely brilliant cars and very well balanced.
The only reason I did not choose this was that I have already done that one so fancied a change.

HaylingJag

2,122 posts

147 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
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How about this one,

very well set up for road and track and currently surplus to requirements,


PM me if your interested


Darren

therevday

374 posts

208 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
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Darren why don't you bring the MX5 to the Blandford Slalom? Checkout the BDCC website. I will be driving an MX5 and its great fun. £20 to enter and £5 to join the club for the day! Great crowd of people and cheap fun motorsportdriving We drive down there race around then drive home.

HaylingJag

2,122 posts

147 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
quotequote all
Hi Chris,

ive already doing to the Goodwood Trackday with the Turbo on the 13th and committed the SS on the 14th, but would be interested in future events and maybe meeting up to discuss other "options"!! I never get bored of throwing gallons and gallons of unleaded to the causethumbup


D

LouD86

3,278 posts

152 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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E36 are a great budget track/drift toy!

I would look at the Saloon over the Coupe though. Cheaper to purchase, and I believe due to the rear bulkhead, slightly stiffer bodied aswell. 328i would be a lovely machine, nice balance, and not too expensive to purchase a few choice parts to have fun with!

CaterhamJoy

Original Poster:

165 posts

172 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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Darren

I have sent you a PM, thanks!

Thanks for the suggestions, e36 looks like the winner! No votes for the RX which doesn't surprise me, I guess I have just always fancied one!

S14 was a thought but they suffer from massive JDM/Drift tax currently (as e36's do also as well to be fair!)

Will keep an eye out for an e36!

TheDoggingFather

17,089 posts

205 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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What about a Z3 2.8i? I think they all have an LSD too, which would be a bonus!