Is there a better cheap track car than an MX5?

Is there a better cheap track car than an MX5?

Author
Discussion

ecsrobin

17,016 posts

164 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
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It certainly looks the part, I really need to stop looking at the classifieds and throttle bodies frown

geeks

9,119 posts

138 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
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ecsrobin said:
So a brief look on the classifieds I've found this, is it suitable?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

biggrin
I think i am in love with that, how much does a kidney fetch?

HaylingJag

2,122 posts

147 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
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ecsrobin said:
Cheers smile have you fixed the roof yet?
All done mate, biggrin

BBS-LM

3,972 posts

223 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
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Yes, and Clio 172 or 182.

ecsrobin

17,016 posts

164 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
geeks said:
ecsrobin said:
So a brief look on the classifieds I've found this, is it suitable?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

biggrin
I think i am in love with that, how much does a kidney fetch?
I still don't think it matches that price unfortunately maybe if I sell mine as well we could car share?? And if you get bored they make a roadster body!!

http://www.mevx5.co.uk/gallery.htm

ecsrobin

17,016 posts

164 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
HaylingJag said:
ecsrobin said:
Cheers smile have you fixed the roof yet?
All done mate, biggrin
I hope you still drive with the roof down though!! It feels like I've not been to any meets in a very long time! And I won't be about until Christmas frown

geeks

9,119 posts

138 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
geeks said:
ecsrobin said:
So a brief look on the classifieds I've found this, is it suitable?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

biggrin
I think i am in love with that, how much does a kidney fetch?
I still don't think it matches that price unfortunately maybe if I sell mine as well we could car share?? And if you get bored they make a roadster body!!

http://www.mevx5.co.uk/gallery.htm
Sounds fair. Is there a body part ebay?

ecsrobin

17,016 posts

164 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
geeks said:
Sounds fair. Is there a body part ebay?
I don't think so but ill enquire at the local Chinese takeaway biggrin

geeks

9,119 posts

138 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
I don't think so but ill enquire at the local Chinese takeaway biggrin
Cool, one careful owner, no refunds!

vanman1936

758 posts

218 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
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Herman Toothrot said:
In a decade of track days I'm yet to see a reliable mr2 turbo. If you must go mk2, rev 3 normally aspirated tin top import is the winner - may have trouble finding one mind as they are mostly now used in the mr2 championship and all, the tin top turbo versions the turbo engines flogged off to road car users and the shells had na engines put in to race..
I must be lucky - mine has been great. Got some Carbotech pads, braided hoses, lowered etc all in for £2,200 and it flies - sub 5 sec car, for c£2k. Lethal in the wet though!

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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Holy thread resurrection.....

A slightly different question this time. Assuming I have decided to get an MX5 for the track and a few weekend drives, am I best off buying:

A. The best boggo spec mx5 I can find (hopefully with LSD) for the 1-1.5 k mark.

B. A track prepared Mx5 (Roll bar, Meisers/Coilovers, LSD etc) for say 2-2.5k.

C. A forced induction mx5 with track goodies for 3-4k.

I'm erring on the side of B. so that I can try the Mx5 thing for not much cash and then if I like it swap it for C at a later date. Or might start collecting the bits to achieve C to give me something to do in the garage.

Thoughts?

Thanks

SamR380

725 posts

119 months

Monday 28th July 2014
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If you're considering C, it will almost always be cheaper to save up and buy one someone else has done.

HorneyMX5

5,306 posts

149 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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SamR380 said:
If you're considering C, it will almost always be cheaper to save up and buy one someone else has done.
This. Whilst charging mine has been fun at times it's been eye wateringly expensive. I would have been cheaper to have abought an already charged car with all the uprated bits that fail when you charge them (like clutch) and then swap it all into my shell and sell the charged one as a standard car.

GravelBen

15,654 posts

229 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Topbox said:
A slightly different question this time. Assuming I have decided to get an MX5 for the track and a few weekend drives, am I best off buying:

A. The best boggo spec mx5 I can find (hopefully with LSD) for the 1-1.5 k mark.
B. A track prepared Mx5 (Roll bar, Meisers/Coilovers, LSD etc) for say 2-2.5k.
C. A forced induction mx5 with track goodies for 3-4k.

I'm erring on the side of B. so that I can try the Mx5 thing for not much cash and then if I like it swap it for C at a later date. Or might start collecting the bits to achieve C to give me something to do in the garage.

Thoughts?
I started with A, pushed it slightly towards B with a roll bar and chassis braces but not much else. Then sold it for a C with the work already done (but it turned out a few things not done quite as well as I would have liked).

If I was doing it again given the same question you're asking, I'd go B (or maybe A+).

With standard power I wouldn't bother with sticky tyres like some people do, but the rollbar, bracing and a more supportive seat (ie proper bucket) make the car feel much better.

If you do decide to go for C, make sure that not only is the engine work good, but that all the supporting modifications are up to track use as well. If I'd kept mine longer I would have upgraded the cooling - it was fine on the road but often needed a good rest to cool down between sessions on track, and I ended up running lower boost on track as well to keep temperatures down. The standard one on the other hand you could thrash mercilessly all day and the only things to overheat and complain were tyres.

Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 29th July 09:25

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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I think I'll stick with B or now. That way its cheap enough that I don't mind really going for it on track.

One of the real problems I have with C is that I could get a decent impreza for 4k which, i know is kind of missing the point of the mx5, it would always be nagging in the back of my head, and 4k then becomes 6k and a westfield.

B, definitely B, I think.

Kozy

3,169 posts

217 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
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If you want a cheap Torsen diff, drop me an email. Got an NB (type 2) unit that needs backlash adjustment and new bushes, willing to let it go at about half the going rate for them. smile

Poopipe

619 posts

143 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
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Mx5 will want bracing bolted anywhere itll fit cos they flop around like nobody's business without it.
They benefit from low offset wheels and better suspension as well.

For my money though itd be a 172 - same weight ish, significantly more powerful, much better brakes and more suitable suspension as standard.

Kozy

3,169 posts

217 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
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Poopipe said:
Mx5 will want bracing bolted anywhere itll fit cos they flop around like nobody's business without it.
They benefit from low offset wheels and better suspension as well.
They don't need any of that. Mine is bog standard and drives wonderfully. Sure, it's not rock hard but you don't actually need rock hard suspension to do a trackday. If you don't have rock hard suspension, you don't need loads of chassis bracing, which adds weight.

I fitted spacers to mine to see what low offset wheels were like (all else being equal) and they made the handling worse too.

So I can't agree on any of that advice I'm afraid. Especially the bit about the Clio. tongue out

Risotto

3,926 posts

211 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
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vinnie01

863 posts

118 months

Wednesday 30th July 2014
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what about an MGF? most now will have had the cooling/HG upgrades with the VVC they have about 155bhp surely they would have a good base to start from