cheap track car

Author
Discussion

jackal

Original Poster:

11,248 posts

283 months

Sunday 23rd November 2008
quotequote all
guys, whats the best MX5 to get for about 2k for a trackcar ?

sorry, i dont know much about them

cheers

R

DennisTheMenace

15,603 posts

269 months

Sunday 23rd November 2008
quotequote all
1.8 mk2 with high miles , dose'nt matter if you kill it then smile

ther was a mk2 with front end damage on ebay that went for £700 so you should be able to pick one up cheaply .

Cafe Racer

166 posts

186 months

Monday 24th November 2008
quotequote all
£2K will get you a nice Mk1 for track use.

I'd go for a Mk1 Eunos as they're a bit lighter than the later cars but have the Torsen diff, which is good.

Or for £600 you could buy this one and Turbo it with whatever you have left.


GravelBen

15,703 posts

231 months

Monday 24th November 2008
quotequote all
yes You want a Mk1, preferably a late 1.8 as thats gives you bigger brakes and some extra chassis bracing as standard, though its not hard to add bits to an earlier car.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

220 months

Monday 24th November 2008
quotequote all
I'd go for a Mk1. Either a 1.6 with 114bhp (89-93 but avoid the earliest ones) or a very early 1.8.
Try to get one for under £1k (it's getting much easier now) and spend the rest on servicing, uprated suspension (shocks & springs), geometry, exhaust upgrade and a drivers bucket seat. If you have a bit of extra to spend on it add roll-bars and harnesses.

205gtinut

952 posts

198 months

Monday 24th November 2008
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
I'd go for a Mk1. Either a 1.6 with 114bhp (89-93 but avoid the earliest ones) or a very early 1.8.
Try to get one for under £1k (it's getting much easier now) and spend the rest on servicing, uprated suspension (shocks & springs), geometry, exhaust upgrade and a drivers bucket seat. If you have a bit of extra to spend on it add roll-bars and harnesses.
Why do you say avoid the earliest ones Lazza? Not having a pop, just interested wink

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

220 months

Monday 24th November 2008
quotequote all
Some of the earliest 1.6s (89-90?) had a Lightweight Sports Crankshaft otherwise known as the Short-nose Crank. This is weaker than later cars and can suffer from worn or broken key slots. It's almost impossible to tell this is happening unless you take the pulley off unless it's already bad enough to be a problem (i.e. wobbly pulley, bad idle, rough running, unwilling to rev cleanly through lower rpms). It's much easier to avoid them unless you know the engine is sound.

205gtinut

952 posts

198 months

Monday 24th November 2008
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
Some of the earliest 1.6s (89-90?) had a Lightweight Sports Crankshaft otherwise known as the Short-nose Crank. This is weaker than later cars and can suffer from worn or broken key slots. It's almost impossible to tell this is happening unless you take the pulley off unless it's already bad enough to be a problem (i.e. wobbly pulley, bad idle, rough running, unwilling to rev cleanly through lower rpms). It's much easier to avoid them unless you know the engine is sound.
Oh I see, as mine is a 1990 was a bit concerned, but haven't got any worries on that front so happy days! On a different note, I've got the chance of a second hand Larini cat back exhaust for £135, worth buying??

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

220 months

Monday 24th November 2008
quotequote all
205gtinut said:
MX-5 Lazza said:
Some of the earliest 1.6s (89-90?) had a Lightweight Sports Crankshaft otherwise known as the Short-nose Crank. This is weaker than later cars and can suffer from worn or broken key slots. It's almost impossible to tell this is happening unless you take the pulley off unless it's already bad enough to be a problem (i.e. wobbly pulley, bad idle, rough running, unwilling to rev cleanly through lower rpms). It's much easier to avoid them unless you know the engine is sound.
Oh I see, as mine is a 1990 was a bit concerned, but haven't got any worries on that front so happy days! On a different note, I've got the chance of a second hand Larini cat back exhaust for £135, worth buying??
As long as it's in good condition then yes it's worth buying. I have no idea if that's a good price or not though. Anyone else?

jackal

Original Poster:

11,248 posts

283 months

Monday 24th November 2008
quotequote all
thanks fellas

all good info... ill get looking

Cafe Racer

166 posts

186 months

Monday 24th November 2008
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
205gtinut said:
MX-5 Lazza said:
Some of the earliest 1.6s (89-90?) had a Lightweight Sports Crankshaft otherwise known as the Short-nose Crank. This is weaker than later cars and can suffer from worn or broken key slots. It's almost impossible to tell this is happening unless you take the pulley off unless it's already bad enough to be a problem (i.e. wobbly pulley, bad idle, rough running, unwilling to rev cleanly through lower rpms). It's much easier to avoid them unless you know the engine is sound.
Oh I see, as mine is a 1990 was a bit concerned, but haven't got any worries on that front so happy days! On a different note, I've got the chance of a second hand Larini cat back exhaust for £135, worth buying??
As long as it's in good condition then yes it's worth buying. I have no idea if that's a good price or not though. Anyone else?
Yes. Usually double the price. Go for it if it's decent.