944S2, MX5, S2000, Something else?

[Dakkon]

Another what car thread, sorry, but I am going round in circles weighing up pro's and con's.

I am in a fortunate position to be able to run a fun car for occasional track days, maybe five a year?

Now whilst I have had Z4M's and VX220 Turbo's etc in the past I have never been a good enough driver to extract their true potential so I am looking for something where chassis dynamics are a little forgiving.

MX5 3.5 Sport Tech - has the LSD and the stronger bottom end should I ever wish to take it to BBR, cheap running costs, nice, balanced chassis.
944S2 - slightly heavier, but more power and very well balanced, more practical than an MX5, but will be more costly to run, getting on for 30 years old, need to be careful of rusty sills.
S2000 - A more grown up MX5 with more power, but more weight and a slightly twitchy chassis, although this is more the early models

Head says MX5, heart says 944, budget is around £7k

Thanks in advance

[baronbennyt]

MX5 all the way. You could modify it over time with BBR, for example, which would be half the fun.

BBR Mazda MX5 GT270 on board footage | evo TCOTY - have a watch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq7HgtS50ro

[edh]

I run a track 944S2 - for me it's a great compromise.
Enough power, good handling, reasonably comfortable (no soundproofing but kept the carpets, sparco seats & 3 point belts). Spa/ring trips are no problem
Standard brakes are fine with decent pads, car is easy on tyres. 4 pot sounds a bit dull though.
Looks great as well (to me..).





but

Decent standard cars are getting a bit more expensive, so 7k might not get you the car + suspension, brakes, tyres + the inevitable remedial work. Unless you can find one already prepped. (an ex-racer might just creep in budget but would need a bit of work to make it road-legal and habitable)

How about a Boxster? a cosmetically poor 3.2S would well be under £5k, sure it would also need suspension etc (plus sump baffles).. but they can make a good track car. I used mine for a year while I was fixing my S2.

[baronbennyt]

Porsche 944S2 is also a great choice

See another video of the MX5 BBR on EVO track car of the year - makes me smile also

Watch 8mins 25 secs in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxNf8V50Ja4

[edh]

270bhp in an MX-5 makes it a quick car! Even a fairly standard one should be decent once fettled a bit with suspension. Paul Roddison's your man I think?

BRZ/GT86 would be another option but they aren't cheap enough yet. Pretty good as a standard car.

[brillomaster]

lol, of those it'd be an s2000! a 9k redline is a chore on the road, but would be great on track. and has a decent turn of speed.

personally i wouldnt worry about twitchy handling as standard, suspension, tracking and decent tyres will sort that out.

IMO, porsche 944 too old, MX5 too slow (unless you turbocharge it)

[Darryl H]

I own a 944 Turbo so a bit biased but 944 or S2K would be my vote

Edit: I do like MX5's as well - I'd just be more inclined with a bit more power going by your previous experience

[chrisr29]

S2 for 7k. Good luck. Decent 8 valves are around that. I look after one for a chap, he bought it cheap but he's spent that in the last couple of years trying to make it reliable. It's just been one thing after another and parts prices are high. Its pretty now though.

I've owned an s2k that I tracked loads and it was faultless. Can you buy them for 7k anymore?

[Steve H]

Of those choices I like the 944 but it could get painful on costs.

I know it's dull and everyone has got one but there's a reason an E36 is the default RWD choice for trackdaying.........

[chrisr29]

Steve H said:

Of those choices I like the 944 but it could get painful on costs.

I know it's dull and everyone has got one but there's a reason an E36 is the default RWD choice for trackdaying.........

Yup. Got one of those at the moment. Bought cheap as an mot failure last year and have done the ring, spa and Goodwood in it and am off to the ring in April. It owes me less than a grand, it's a touch scruffy but a great track car. Tricky thing these days is finding a good one.
More predictable than 944 and s2k and cheaper to maintain and modify.

[edh]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...

[chrisr29]

Steve H said:

Of those choices I like the 944 but it could get painful on costs.

I know it's dull and everyone has got one but there's a reason an E36 is the default RWD choice for trackdaying.........

Yup. Got one of those at the moment. Bought cheap as an mot failure last year and have done the ring, spa and Goodwood in it and am off to the ring in April. It owes me less than a grand, it's a touch scruffy but a great track car. Tricky thing these days is finding a good one.
More predictable than 944 and s2k and cheaper to maintain and modify.

[Dakkon]

edh said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...

I have emailed then for the price

[james_gt3rs]

MR2 mk3 is good to learn mid engined handling, they are nicely balanced.

[CABC]

Dakkon said:

edh said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...

I have emailed then for the price

that's no shed. they haven't given full spec, but prob more than 7k

[Craikeybaby]

james_gt3rs said:

MR2 mk3 is good to learn mid engined handling, they are nicely balanced.

Whilst the mk3 would be my normal suggestion, the mk3 MX-5 is more forgiving - which is what the OP asked for. I'd be looking at the 2.0 SE, rather than the sports model though.

[Furyblade_Lee]

I love MX5s but off the shelf I would go for the S2000 and get as much weight out of it as possible, decent tyres and suspension if funds allow.

[Dakkon]

The car with Strauss is £7,500, they are selling on behalf on a well known customer and prepared it and a sister car for racing so know it well and potentially a deal can be done, which is all very tempting. Car is not road legal, so I need to think how focused a car do I want.

[braddo]

Dakkon said:

The car with Strauss is £7,500, they are selling on behalf on a well known customer and prepared it and a sister car for racing so know it well and potentially a deal can be done, which is all very tempting. Car is not road legal, so I need to think how focused a car do I want.

That sounds like a very good price assuming it's in appropriate condition. Do you want a dedicated track car though?

I would steer clear of the S2000 - numb steering and whatever anyone says, even if you can make them less snappy they never call them forgiving cars!

I'd be inclined to start with a Mk3 MX5 on the factory Bilstein suspension and quality road tyres, and go from there - you can get to grips with throwing around a nice progressive road setup on track and have some fun. If you want to sharpen it and add power from there, it's easy. My profile pic is of a similar theme.

[edh]

Dakkon said:

The car with Strauss is £7,500, they are selling on behalf on a well known customer and prepared it and a sister car for racing so know it well and potentially a deal can be done, which is all very tempting. Car is not road legal, so I need to think how focused a car do I want.

That is an excellent price

May not need too much to make it road legal (if it has a V5) - lights, washers, horn (check MOT requirements)
Also decent roll cage padding & maybe carpets to keep the noise down.

KWv3 is remarkably comfy even with stiff springs (mine has ~500lb fronts)