£20k Track Day car - also good for the drive there
Discussion
Did a track day yesterday. Guy planning on buying a cheap track car came with me, did two sessions in my passenger seat, then did the rounds of the other cars in the paddock, asking questions and blagging rides, with my car's speed (or lack of it) for comparison. After full research he settled on a Subaru Impreza STi as the most likely car to combine his budget and need for speed (after 15 years of bike track days).
Not saying that would be the OP's choice, but he could do worse than go on the Javelin website, look down the list of TDs, click "book" on one of them and then click "view attendees". That gives a full list of the drivers and cars. Look at all the upcoming TDs and choose the one with the most suitable cars list. Then rock up at the track on theday in long sleeves and long trousers, hire a helmet (£10), sign on as a passenger (£5) and do the rounds of the cars in the paddock, explaining that he is looking to buy a track car, blagging passenger rides and asking questions.
Not saying that would be the OP's choice, but he could do worse than go on the Javelin website, look down the list of TDs, click "book" on one of them and then click "view attendees". That gives a full list of the drivers and cars. Look at all the upcoming TDs and choose the one with the most suitable cars list. Then rock up at the track on theday in long sleeves and long trousers, hire a helmet (£10), sign on as a passenger (£5) and do the rounds of the cars in the paddock, explaining that he is looking to buy a track car, blagging passenger rides and asking questions.
What is more important the drive there or the trackday?
You say the SC Elise isn't quick enough, but on a track there is few cars are as much fun or much quicker. The great thing about the Elise is you have to work at it to get the most out of it. I appreciate it isn't for everyone and after 12 years owning them may be bias.
The Evora S is great but not a great choice for a trackday car, I think the Noble may be better fit for you or a Cayman S which is brilliant at both.
Matt
You say the SC Elise isn't quick enough, but on a track there is few cars are as much fun or much quicker. The great thing about the Elise is you have to work at it to get the most out of it. I appreciate it isn't for everyone and after 12 years owning them may be bias.
The Evora S is great but not a great choice for a trackday car, I think the Noble may be better fit for you or a Cayman S which is brilliant at both.
Matt
this would be great fun! Thinking it may not be the op's cup of tea though
Not considered the noble, I will take a look if any near by.
Yes I know what you mean with the Elise SC, though I guess I just like high powered cars now and have got quite used to them and 500bhp+ cars provide instant gratification in a way a smaller car can't. I fully appreciate spending time, learning the car and getting good at driving it (and at driving on track in general) will yield fantastic results in the Elise, but at this stage im just looking for something I can get in, turn the key and get the adrenaline pumping - regardless of how good I am at driving. Hence loving the f430 experience more than the rest I've looked at.
On a side note re the 'comfy drive there'.. We just visited Warwickshire this weekend and like the area, might look at moving here for a couple of years - nice and close to a few tracks and lots of nice country roads !
Thanks for all the advice.
Yes I know what you mean with the Elise SC, though I guess I just like high powered cars now and have got quite used to them and 500bhp+ cars provide instant gratification in a way a smaller car can't. I fully appreciate spending time, learning the car and getting good at driving it (and at driving on track in general) will yield fantastic results in the Elise, but at this stage im just looking for something I can get in, turn the key and get the adrenaline pumping - regardless of how good I am at driving. Hence loving the f430 experience more than the rest I've looked at.
On a side note re the 'comfy drive there'.. We just visited Warwickshire this weekend and like the area, might look at moving here for a couple of years - nice and close to a few tracks and lots of nice country roads !
Thanks for all the advice.
Exige S 240pp. I've had one for 5 years now. As an arrive and drive trackcar you really can't fault them.
I've also got a F430 spider and take the roof off the Lotus (you CAN on S2 Exige!) and it feel feels like the Ferraris little and more manic brother.... they have the same kinda balance. I often take the Lotus and the Ferrari to same trackdays. Its surprising how close they are in performance on shorter tracks. Although the Donkey runs normal road tyres and my Lotus Toyo888's... had some fun battles around brands hatch with my mate in my lotus and me in the donkey. The Lotus is as quick as the Ferrari to 120mph.
VERY cheap to run on track compared with the bigger stuff I've had like M3's 911's etc... tyres and brakes just seem to last forever in comparison. It doesn't eat bushes and suspension parts like the bigger road cars do either.
Another thing about the Lotus is that its great in the wet. Post 2008 cars have adjustable TC as well. So you can let you mates have a go without fear of them binning it. You can also learn the car with it on... then gradually turn it down or off if you like sliding around a bit more.
Cheap to run. Nice to drive on road. Loads of feel and feeback, ,massive corner speed. EPIC brakes and 'enough' performance in a straight line...
Its what you want
(apart from s
tting 3rd gear at about 20k miles, its been SUPER reliable as well)
I've also got a F430 spider and take the roof off the Lotus (you CAN on S2 Exige!) and it feel feels like the Ferraris little and more manic brother.... they have the same kinda balance. I often take the Lotus and the Ferrari to same trackdays. Its surprising how close they are in performance on shorter tracks. Although the Donkey runs normal road tyres and my Lotus Toyo888's... had some fun battles around brands hatch with my mate in my lotus and me in the donkey. The Lotus is as quick as the Ferrari to 120mph.
VERY cheap to run on track compared with the bigger stuff I've had like M3's 911's etc... tyres and brakes just seem to last forever in comparison. It doesn't eat bushes and suspension parts like the bigger road cars do either.
Another thing about the Lotus is that its great in the wet. Post 2008 cars have adjustable TC as well. So you can let you mates have a go without fear of them binning it. You can also learn the car with it on... then gradually turn it down or off if you like sliding around a bit more.
Cheap to run. Nice to drive on road. Loads of feel and feeback, ,massive corner speed. EPIC brakes and 'enough' performance in a straight line...
Its what you want
(apart from s
tting 3rd gear at about 20k miles, its been SUPER reliable as well) Edited by Porkie on Tuesday 26th May 15:14
Edited by Porkie on Tuesday 26th May 15:17
I'd go with a well sorted E46 M3 as previously suggested. 15k will get you a very good low ish mile example at the moment and allow you plenty of spending money to modify fit for purpose.
The other option might be one of the 996 CSR conversions:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/general-pistonhead...
Seemed to get a glowing review!
Enjoy!
The other option might be one of the 996 CSR conversions:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/general-pistonhead...
Seemed to get a glowing review!
Enjoy!
Mine is for sale here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
Fantastic track car and fully road legal. I used to have a 700bhp R34GTR and this knocks spots off it for trackday fun. A lot of car for the money, very reliable and replacement aftermarket quality parts are readily available at sensible prices courtesy of the drift scene... http://www.driftworks.com/
Synopsis on why I bought it and my shortlist etc is on my garage page if its of interest.
Latest video here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52R3G7DSEcg
Regards
Nito
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
Fantastic track car and fully road legal. I used to have a 700bhp R34GTR and this knocks spots off it for trackday fun. A lot of car for the money, very reliable and replacement aftermarket quality parts are readily available at sensible prices courtesy of the drift scene... http://www.driftworks.com/
Synopsis on why I bought it and my shortlist etc is on my garage page if its of interest.
Latest video here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52R3G7DSEcg
Regards
Nito
Edited by NITO on Tuesday 2nd June 12:21
Porkie said:
Exige S 240pp. I've had one for 5 years now. As an arrive and drive trackcar you really can't fault them.
I've also got a F430 spider and take the roof off the Lotus (you CAN on S2 Exige!) and it feel feels like the Ferraris little and more manic brother.... they have the same kinda balance. I often take the Lotus and the Ferrari to same trackdays. Its surprising how close they are in performance on shorter tracks. Although the Donkey runs normal road tyres and my Lotus Toyo888's... had some fun battles around brands hatch with my mate in my lotus and me in the donkey. The Lotus is as quick as the Ferrari to 120mph.
VERY cheap to run on track compared with the bigger stuff I've had like M3's 911's etc... tyres and brakes just seem to last forever in comparison. It doesn't eat bushes and suspension parts like the bigger road cars do either.
Another thing about the Lotus is that its great in the wet. Post 2008 cars have adjustable TC as well. So you can let you mates have a go without fear of them binning it. You can also learn the car with it on... then gradually turn it down or off if you like sliding around a bit more.
Cheap to run. Nice to drive on road. Loads of feel and feeback, ,massive corner speed. EPIC brakes and 'enough' performance in a straight line...
Its what you want
(apart from stting 3rd gear at about 20k miles, its been SUPER reliable as well)
Awesome garage, love the little Clio cup tucked in the corner.I've also got a F430 spider and take the roof off the Lotus (you CAN on S2 Exige!) and it feel feels like the Ferraris little and more manic brother.... they have the same kinda balance. I often take the Lotus and the Ferrari to same trackdays. Its surprising how close they are in performance on shorter tracks. Although the Donkey runs normal road tyres and my Lotus Toyo888's... had some fun battles around brands hatch with my mate in my lotus and me in the donkey. The Lotus is as quick as the Ferrari to 120mph.
VERY cheap to run on track compared with the bigger stuff I've had like M3's 911's etc... tyres and brakes just seem to last forever in comparison. It doesn't eat bushes and suspension parts like the bigger road cars do either.
Another thing about the Lotus is that its great in the wet. Post 2008 cars have adjustable TC as well. So you can let you mates have a go without fear of them binning it. You can also learn the car with it on... then gradually turn it down or off if you like sliding around a bit more.
Cheap to run. Nice to drive on road. Loads of feel and feeback, ,massive corner speed. EPIC brakes and 'enough' performance in a straight line...
Its what you want
(apart from s
tting 3rd gear at about 20k miles, its been SUPER reliable as well) Edited by Porkie on Tuesday 26th May 15:14
Edited by Porkie on Tuesday 26th May 15:17
Do you still track it with the other cars you have to use ?
OP. I have a friend with an f430 spider and he struggled with noise limits on track too. He ended up using the f430 to get to the track and use the bookatrack r300 on track with the BAT guys dealing with setup, fuel etc and then driving home in the 430. Best of both worlds.
Have you thought about just hiring the track car?
Have you thought about just hiring the track car?
Edited by MR2_SC on Saturday 6th June 09:14
MR2_SC said:
OP. I have a friend with an f430 spider and he struggled with noise limits on track too. He ended up using the f430 to get to the track and use the bookatrack r300 on track with the BAT guys dealing with setup, fuel etc and then driving home in the 430. Nest of both worlds.
Have you thought about just hiring the track car?
Very good point. Factor in fuel, ins, tax, maintenance and the real cost of BaT is around half of the 750 hire.Have you thought about just hiring the track car?
20k gets you 60 track days.
And the 430 stretches its legs in the countryside
egor110 said:
Awesome garage, love the little Clio cup tucked in the corner.
Do you still track it with the other cars you have to use ?
I used to love it... I'd drive it ahead of the Lotus at any trackday I took them both to. but it became a proper money pit... cost more than the Ferrari and Lotus combined to run! I kept spunking silly money on engines and stuff that really weren't needed! Do you still track it with the other cars you have to use ?
I am currently breaking it. With the money I bought a Genuine Renaultsport 200Cupracer and its been FABULOUS fun! Proper factory built race cars are just amazing as trackcars because they were built to do it and developed by proper teams!
Last Photo before it was taken apart
Me and my mate bought an identical pair. They have been just sensational fun. Proper things.... if you can handle trailering cars to events. These make FABULOUS trackcars. Mine the blue one
The Sadev sequential is SOOOO good to use
We have been using them loads. Did brands and Bedford last week alone with them. They are around £20k as well... but obviously you cant drive there and back so no good for the OP
Edited by Porkie on Monday 8th June 11:49
Agreed but the OP is badge sensitive (see comments about Porsche making unworthy cars), so you'll struggle to get him in a Renault. OP, I would rent track cars, get instruction for a while and your entire perspective will be totally different. I just saved you a lot of money. You might just end up in a DC5 then.
NITO said:
Mine is for sale here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
Fantastic track car and fully road legal. I used to have a 700bhp R34GTR and this knocks spots off it for trackday fun. A lot of car for the money, very reliable and replacement aftermarket quality parts are readily available at sensible prices courtesy of the drift scene... http://www.driftworks.com/
Synopsis on why I bought it and my shortlist etc is on my garage page if its of interest.
Latest video here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52R3G7DSEcg
Regards
Nito
A bit off topic.http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
Fantastic track car and fully road legal. I used to have a 700bhp R34GTR and this knocks spots off it for trackday fun. A lot of car for the money, very reliable and replacement aftermarket quality parts are readily available at sensible prices courtesy of the drift scene... http://www.driftworks.com/
Synopsis on why I bought it and my shortlist etc is on my garage page if its of interest.
Latest video here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52R3G7DSEcg
Regards
Nito
Edited by NITO on Tuesday 2nd June 12:21
but are you the same NITO who made the carbon interior panels and gear knob for my Impreza back in 2000?
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff