Track and occasional road car options - £5k

[git-r]

Sorry if it's already been covered but rx8 too... I drove one on track not long after they came out and it handled and stopped much better than the skyline gtr I had at the time. You could get a mint low mileage newish one for about 3 k then keep 2k in reserve in case it needs a rebuild.

[CABC]

git-r said:

Sorry if it's already been covered but rx8 too... I drove one on track not long after they came out and it handled and stopped much better than the skyline gtr I had at the time. You could get a mint low mileage newish one for about 3 k then keep 2k in reserve in case it needs a rebuild.

is there an easy way of verify the engine? as in borescope or similar. My understanding is that they are strong engines so long as you keep the oil topped up up, change it regularly and treat engine with respect, ie gentle warm up, even a cool down. A bit like the K series and maybe porsche, much of the issues are really lack of tolerance to abuse.
I ask because one of these has to be on my list...

[C70R]

git-r said:

Sorry if it's already been covered but rx8 too... I drove one on track not long after they came out and it handled and stopped much better than the skyline gtr I had at the time. You could get a mint low mileage newish one for about 3 k then keep 2k in reserve in case it needs a rebuild.

To be honest, while I'm a fan of the RX8 I can't imagine it would be competitive with any of the ones in my original list. If was happy with a slower car, I'd be taking a standard MR2 or MX5 first.

[E-bmw]

iguana said:

C70R said:

• E36 328 - If (BIG IF) it's really possible to get this down to 1200kg, that puts it in the ballpark of the S2000. Tried and tested, but

It's not a big IF at all, sub 1000kg is pos easy, was with a 1030kg caged e36 m3 today, proper cage, proper car & m3 engine & m3 bits are heavier than a 2.8 engine & bits.

My e36 328 coupe was weighed just last week at my local weighbridge, 1370kg with me (102 kg clothed) and a full tank of fuel, also left both helmets on their mount, and that isn't FULLY stripped & has a cage.

[HGFdodger]

Just find and buy a Rover BRM and you'll have three grand left to throw at track days and prep.

[CABC]

E-bmw said:

My e36 328 coupe was weighed just last week at my local weighbridge, 1370kg with me (102 kg clothed) and a full tank of fuel, also left both helmets on their mount, and that isn't FULLY stripped & has a cage.

so around 1200 'empty'.
what i'd have guessed and still a bit heavy for my liking. I'd rather power up a light car than try to fix a heavy car. Iguana should know his stuff, be interested how that 1000kg M3 came about.

[E-bmw]

CABC said:

E-bmw said:

My e36 328 coupe was weighed just last week at my local weighbridge, 1370kg with me (102 kg clothed) and a full tank of fuel, also left both helmets on their mount, and that isn't FULLY stripped & has a cage.

so around 1200 'empty'.
what i'd have guessed and still a bit heavy for my liking. I'd rather power up a light car than try to fix a heavy car. Iguana should know his stuff, be interested how that 1000kg M3 came about.

I wouldn't say it is not possible, but to me it seems unlikely/extreme.

[C70R]

E-bmw said:

CABC said:

E-bmw said:

My e36 328 coupe was weighed just last week at my local weighbridge, 1370kg with me (102 kg clothed) and a full tank of fuel, also left both helmets on their mount, and that isn't FULLY stripped & has a cage.

so around 1200 'empty'.
what i'd have guessed and still a bit heavy for my liking. I'd rather power up a light car than try to fix a heavy car. Iguana should know his stuff, be interested how that 1000kg M3 came about.

I wouldn't say it is not possible, but to me it seems unlikely/extreme.

That's kind of where I was, to be honest. If a part-stripped car is almost 1.4T, I don't see how it's possible to get it under the ton without serious modification, beyond my scope and budget.

[iguana]

E-bmw said:

I wouldn't say it is not possible, but to me it seems unlikely/extreme.

Depends on how you class extreme really, but the 1030kg car was parked 20metres from yours at cadwell the other wk, white saloon ex khumo car.

Will need this-


http://www.convertunits.com/from/lbs/to/kg


But a few on here as examples

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1...

With this one-

http://www.driversmeeting.com/pcarroll/albums/10

Sub 998kg, fairly extensive strip, but still steel wings, steel doors (gutted), and all the rest of the body is steel, stock bumper covers, bumper shocks, aluminum bumpers (trimmed)

[E-bmw]

Well done them, then, like I said for most of us achieving that is unlikely or extreme (as in budget breaking use of CF etc.)

[C70R]

iguana said:

E-bmw said:

I wouldn't say it is not possible, but to me it seems unlikely/extreme.

Depends on how you class extreme really, but the 1030kg car was parked 20metres from yours at cadwell the other wk, white saloon ex khumo car.

Will need this-


http://www.convertunits.com/from/lbs/to/kg


But a few on here as examples

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1...

With this one-

http://www.driversmeeting.com/pcarroll/albums/10

Sub 998kg, fairly extensive strip, but still steel wings, steel doors (gutted), and all the rest of the body is steel, stock bumper covers, bumper shocks, aluminum bumpers (trimmed)

Some of that work is fantastic, but you and I have very different definitions of "easy"!

[DMN]

CABC said:

git-r said:

Sorry if it's already been covered but rx8 too... I drove one on track not long after they came out and it handled and stopped much better than the skyline gtr I had at the time. You could get a mint low mileage newish one for about 3 k then keep 2k in reserve in case it needs a rebuild.

is there an easy way of verify the engine? as in borescope or similar. My understanding is that they are strong engines so long as you keep the oil topped up up, change it regularly and treat engine with respect, ie gentle warm up, even a cool down. A bit like the K series and maybe porsche, much of the issues are really lack of tolerance to abuse.
I ask because one of these has to be on my list...

Most indies will be able to give a compression test on the rotors. This gives an indication of their health.

[C70R]

It must be said, the 2ZZ-converted MR2 is winning me over at the moment. It seems to make a good case for itself, to be honest.
Low weight (sub-1t standard), revvy engine swap (8.5krpm), compliant chassis, and a reliable/robust overall package.
In effect, it's the S2 111R Elise drivetrain in a car that weighs ~100kg more (but has aircon etc.).

Heck, they can even be made to look reasonably mean without too much effort...


Now, to drive a converted one.

[Neil - YVM]

I want a new track car for next year, and one of those is a definite possibility.

I no longer wish to sink £10k's of cash into my toys, but also want something slightly quicker and more fun than my Clio.
Once sorted they should be fun and relatively low cost to run.

[Craikeybaby]

They don't have A/C as standard, but yes, they are cheap to run.

[C70R]

C70R said:

Thoughts so far have centred on:

• S2000 - No idea that these were in budget until today, but very exciting. Wouldn't leave much for modding, which would mean tracking a largely standard car.

* Supercharged mk2 1.8 MX5 - Love the way they drive, but always hated the lack of grunt. Budget gets a well-modded example with 200bhp+.

• MR2 mk3 2ZZ - Bit of an outsider, as I've not got the hugest knowledge of the conversion. Budget seems on point, and who can argue with 200bhp @ 8krpm?

* MR2 mk2 Turbo - Easily faster in a straight line than the others, but is the chassis a match? Does the budget get me something with decent work done?
* E36 328 - If (BIG IF) it's really possible to get this down to 1200kg, that puts it in the ballpark of the S2000. Tried and tested, but does it compare?
* Impreza - Early ones are light enough when stripped, and 250bhp would make them plenty of fun. Are they reliable enough? Are they as much fun as the others?

So, after some thinking, I've rationalised the original list down a little.

I'm also going to throw a 2.7 Boxster into the mix. On-paper figures are very similar to the S2000, and the MR setup makes it feel like a lower-priced, softer Elise. Budget doesn't get me much choice in a 3.2, so the 2.7 would be a compromise. But I wonder whether it lends itself well to the harness/bucket treatment...

Time to get out and drive some.

Edited by C70R on Sunday 11th September 12:23

[Diesel Meister]

986 Box is a great car, but to create a track car for £5k I'd be looking elsewhere. Especially as the running costs will dwarf just about anything else on the list.

The sound advice is a buy a pre-modded car at this level. Either that or prepare to spend £500-1000 on the donor and the rest on parts and prep.

I'd stick with the simplest and lightest thing going (MX5 or similar), give it a spruce and some more hardy key components (a seat / harness, possibly suspension / brakes / wheel and tyres)and spend the rest on tuition / track days. You'll have fun, likely be quicker than most and still be able to eat!

[Furyblade_Lee]

The way to tell if an RX8 is healthy is a compression test, I thinkit costs about £80. A reading of 8 ( bar?) indicates a new or recently rebuilt engine. A reading of 5 or below and it will run but you will start to get some hot / cold staring issues I am told. Ours is in the 6's still and is spanking Type R's for fun??

Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Sunday 11th September 21:42

[Furyblade_Lee]

Boxster? Trackday? Cheap??? Ha ha ha ha ha

[C70R]

Mandalore said:

Are you intending to take 'rear passengers' to the shops in their dual purpose car, because if you don't need 4 doors and a rear seat, then why bother with the extra weight. Get a 2 seater to start with.

Absolutely never.
My car will be used for occasional short trips when the OH's (more sensible) car is not available, and for the infrequent schlep to somewhere like Le Mans or the Ring.