Is there a better cheap track car than an MX5?
Discussion
Alex said:
doogz said:
I much prefer my 140 bhp MR2 on track to my 320ish bhp Impreza. The MR2 is more challenging to string a properly good lap together in.
Having done a few trackdays in my Impreza P1, I have come to the conclusion that Imprezas are rubbish track cars.DanielJames said:
Jesus homie relax, I'm just giving my opinion on what a good £2k track car would be. I haven't put any research into it, but I know it can be done. Like I said earlier I have a DC2 for track!
I follow this guys thread on Cliosport about his track 328i, he's on here too but not sure if he's reposted the thread. Might be worth a read http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?7177...
A cursory look at that thread indicates a time consuming build and a budget beyond £2k, which makes it irrelevant to this thread. I follow this guys thread on Cliosport about his track 328i, he's on here too but not sure if he's reposted the thread. Might be worth a read http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?7177...
In contrast, this MX5 listed at £1600 looks like it is ready to pound around a circuit all day. But, it depends on whether the build phase is part of a person's track day hobby.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
Off topic, but what's a bog standard DC2 like as a track toy?
I am much more a fan of cars where you just get on and drive the thing rather than spending time tinkering before/during/after track days.braddo said:
Off topic, but what's a bog standard DC2 like as a track toy? I am much more a fan of cars where you just get on and drive the thing rather than spending time tinkering before/during/after track days.
As good as it gets I'd say. I am much more a fan of cars where you just get on and drive the thing rather than spending time tinkering before/during/after track days.They were designed to be the car where a man could drive to the track Sunday and still drive to work Monday morning.
I wonder if anyones going to claim a MX5 is more fun than a DC2
braddo said:
Off topic, but what's a bog standard DC2 like as a track toy? I am much more a fan of cars where you just get on and drive the thing rather than spending time tinkering before/during/after track days.
I had one, briefly, and did a trackday in it. I am much more a fan of cars where you just get on and drive the thing rather than spending time tinkering before/during/after track days.Less fun than a 306 GTI-6. It needed 6 gears to keep the revs in the vtec zone. It wasn't that fast. I got overtaken by a C320 CDI, and i'm not slow.
The LSD actually made it less fun IMO.
DanielJames said:
I was referring to the Toyo 888/Federal RSR tyre, not full on slicks, just decent trackday rubber. The RSRs in my size for my BMW are £95 each from Camskill.
Quick maths
E36 328i - £700-1000
Decent used coilovers - £3-400 - heck you can get HSDs for a little over £600 brand new
Track wheels/tyres- £4-500
E46 330i brake upgrade - £50-200 depending on how good a deal you can get
LSD from a 3.0 M3- £150-300
M50 manifold - £100-200
So yeah, it can be done.
My car has the M3 LSD, from the 3.0 M3 and the M50 manifold. Great upgrades.
What difference do the e46 brakes make? I have new set lying around.Quick maths
E36 328i - £700-1000
Decent used coilovers - £3-400 - heck you can get HSDs for a little over £600 brand new
Track wheels/tyres- £4-500
E46 330i brake upgrade - £50-200 depending on how good a deal you can get
LSD from a 3.0 M3- £150-300
M50 manifold - £100-200
So yeah, it can be done.
My car has the M3 LSD, from the 3.0 M3 and the M50 manifold. Great upgrades.
james_gt3rs said:
DanielJames said:
I wonder if anyones going to claim a MX5 is more fun than a DC2
It certainly would be on a wet circuit!Not even going to bite on the DC2 remark, I can't be that guy, not today.
DanielJames said:
I wonder if anyones going to claim a MX5 is more fun than a DC2
My EK4 was pretty close to stock EK9 spec (very similar suspension setup, Quaife, B16B engine) and while it was good fun, I still got bored by lunchtime.I haven't tracked the MX5 yet, but given how much fun I can have on a Monday morning on the way to work, I doubt it will disappoint...
RB Will said:
Would be interested in your opinion on why. Also how standard is your P1?
My P1 is standard except for uprated pads and a remap (309bhp).Most of the time the handling is mostly like a very grippy FWD car. In corner exits, you have to learn to give it plenty of throttle early, to get the turbo spinning and to get the diff to lock up to send some power to the rear wheels.
This requires quite a brutal driving technique which doesn't suit my style. Also the level of grip and traction available place huge demands on the car and without mods, I don't think the standard car is up to it.
I think I'm going to buy a BRZ...
Like everone else said, MX5 are great fun on track.
I tracked a cheap, tired Mk1 that was standard apart from a rollbar. It wasn't fast in a straight line, it was on budget road tyres so it didn't have that much grip, but it still gave some much faster machinery on good tyres a bit of a hustle in the corners. I hammered it all day long (clocking up well over 100 track miles each day as well as driving there and back) and it never missed a beat.
Then I started thinking naughty thoughts about modifying, and decided to skip all the hassle and buy one that was already done. So I bought a 250rwhp turbo Mk1 with decent suspension, Mk2.5 brakes etc. It was setup terribly (way too low etc) but that was easily sorted, rollbar + semislicks and it was a weapon. Brilliant to drive, felt more at home on a track than it did on the road.
I think I had just as much fun driving the first one though to be honest, even if the fast one was more impressive for passengers and spectators. If I was doing it again I'd go for a standard engine and hard-wearing road tyres, but a good bucket seat and less roly-poly suspension.
I tracked a cheap, tired Mk1 that was standard apart from a rollbar. It wasn't fast in a straight line, it was on budget road tyres so it didn't have that much grip, but it still gave some much faster machinery on good tyres a bit of a hustle in the corners. I hammered it all day long (clocking up well over 100 track miles each day as well as driving there and back) and it never missed a beat.
Then I started thinking naughty thoughts about modifying, and decided to skip all the hassle and buy one that was already done. So I bought a 250rwhp turbo Mk1 with decent suspension, Mk2.5 brakes etc. It was setup terribly (way too low etc) but that was easily sorted, rollbar + semislicks and it was a weapon. Brilliant to drive, felt more at home on a track than it did on the road.
I think I had just as much fun driving the first one though to be honest, even if the fast one was more impressive for passengers and spectators. If I was doing it again I'd go for a standard engine and hard-wearing road tyres, but a good bucket seat and less roly-poly suspension.
Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 24th October 13:27
A thousand pounds gets you an awful lot of fun. I bought this back in december with adjustable Koni's, lsd, lightweight alloys shed with T1r's and roll bar and what a great car!!! Ive done Abingdon, Castle Combe twice and Cadwell along with a holiday to the south of France without any hiccup whatsoever. The reliability is unbelievable! on track it is not the fastest overall but the fluidity of the chassis is sublime. i hardly use brakes as you can just have a little dab on, for confidence, then let the car take you through the bends. I have had my XJR on track, and yes i know its a barge, but with 400bhp and stiffer springs still fun but nowhere near as much fun as the Eunos. Power out of the corners to the next one, great, but then hard on the brakes and start again. too much on and off. I have had pads and a new set of tyres, but hey, there consumables. My next intention is a supercharger to give it a bit.....a lot more power. The downfall with the 115bhp engine is the straights. This could still leave my "outlay" at the 2 grand mark!
looking at this thread there are comparisons between 200horse BMW's, Clio sports and turbo charged MR2's, can anyone tell me how a 316 coupe or a Clio RT compares, given a level playing field?
I was ignorant of the MX until a mate got me interested whilst p*ssing all over my sons VXR on a trackday. After driving his i went out next day and bought mine, one of the best cars ive ever had.
As for the "Hairdressers" tag, well, in for a penny!! My Mrs is a very highly respected stylist/colour master so why not advertise her business, i can take the ribbing, softened by the rewards her business brings
Abingdon on the 15th Nov, if anyones there the car will be running all day, come and say hello
D
Edited by HaylingJag on Thursday 24th October 13:33
DanielJames said:
joe_90 said:
What difference do the e46 brakes make? I have new set lying around.
E46 330 brakes are a direct bolt on for the E36, larger diameter discs for more stopping power.I must admit the 328i's standard brakes are a bit poo when pushing.
joe_90 said:
Ahh.. is it much better though?..I mean I have std e36 + new ferodo ds2500 + blue dot brake fluid, it is worth the cost of getting new discs/pads and will it arse up the brake bias etc?
I've never done it on an E36 but I did that upgrade on my E46 and yeah, it made a noticeable difference. The best thing was how much the disc filled the wheel though IMO.Standard discs are 286mm on the 328i aren't they? The 330 will be 325mm.
No way! I'm going to be there in my 328i, so we must compare notes. Can we swap pax laps?My vote would be for the Saxo VTS / 106 GTi.
I've had a mk1 MX5, and I just couldn't get away with it. Sure they handle well, and it was really good fun having the roof off, but in all honesty the engine was just totally underwhelming. I had the 1.6 Eunos import which was rolling roaded at 115bhp.
The Saxo VTS I have now should be around the 120bhp mark, but it flies in comparison to the Eunos. It's not in my head either, my friend has a UK 1.8 130bhp MX5 and that can't touch the VTS either. It could be gearing or anything, but they just feel far too slow for my own preference. I suspect the VTS isn't actually that much faster, despite being able to show the MX5's I've driven it against a clean pair of heels, but it really feels so much more alive and revvy than the MX5 lumps.
As far as a cheap track car goes, they're cheap enough. The real bonus I can see over an MX5 for someone concerned with a budget, is the space. MuZiZZle and I recently attended FCS at Castle Combe in his track ready VTS. We set off from Alnwick, and covered 1,000 miles in the day, arriving back at 10pm that night. In the car we were able to stash a set of 4 track wheels and tyres, which let us cover the 600 miles to and from track on road steelies with budget tyres, keeping the A048's for track, as well as helmets, food, clothing, and a jack and basic tools. Try getting that lot in an MX5 lol.
I've had a mk1 MX5, and I just couldn't get away with it. Sure they handle well, and it was really good fun having the roof off, but in all honesty the engine was just totally underwhelming. I had the 1.6 Eunos import which was rolling roaded at 115bhp.
The Saxo VTS I have now should be around the 120bhp mark, but it flies in comparison to the Eunos. It's not in my head either, my friend has a UK 1.8 130bhp MX5 and that can't touch the VTS either. It could be gearing or anything, but they just feel far too slow for my own preference. I suspect the VTS isn't actually that much faster, despite being able to show the MX5's I've driven it against a clean pair of heels, but it really feels so much more alive and revvy than the MX5 lumps.
As far as a cheap track car goes, they're cheap enough. The real bonus I can see over an MX5 for someone concerned with a budget, is the space. MuZiZZle and I recently attended FCS at Castle Combe in his track ready VTS. We set off from Alnwick, and covered 1,000 miles in the day, arriving back at 10pm that night. In the car we were able to stash a set of 4 track wheels and tyres, which let us cover the 600 miles to and from track on road steelies with budget tyres, keeping the A048's for track, as well as helmets, food, clothing, and a jack and basic tools. Try getting that lot in an MX5 lol.
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