Is there a better cheap track car than an MX5?
Discussion
Alex said:
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...
When I first started tracking mine the only mod it had was the gold Brembos from a Blobeye. The car has been pretty good, I have only had to replace one wheel bearing that went after a combined trip to the Ring and Spa. It has been running over 400bhp for the last few track outings and still not set a foot wrong despite being on standard chassis and running gear. The only thing I have done now is upgrade the brakes further to a set of AP Racing ones as the Brembos were struggling with a bit of fade now the thing moves a bit quicker.
My older scoob a 96 STI just had the Alcon 4 pot brakes and anti roll bar/ bump steer kit on it and that didn't require anything other than consumables in about 4 years worth/ about 20 track days/ Ring trips + daily road use.
I'm not suggesting the Impreza is the best track car ever, certainly not on a tight budget but I think to call it rubbish is a bit harsh, maybe just not suited to your driving style. Its quick enough, lasts and the handling fun very much depends on model and mods but its generally quite good.
ecsrobin said:
Through reading 5 pages of "only BMW track cars are good", I've decided I might need an mx5 anyone tell me what the comfort levels are like for a gent over 6foot?
Get yerself over to Hayling, Robin, your more than welcome to "experience" mine!D,
Edited by HaylingJag on Thursday 24th October 14:41
Synchromesh said:
No way! I'm going to be there in my 328i, so we must compare notes. Can we swap pax laps?D
Mx5 great car to teach rwd, ideally need to have an lsd & its criminal to put sticky rubber on stock power ones, need to feel it moving under you.
I've only tracked supercharged ones, have driven na on track but bit too slow & frustrating for me, but check the lap times of the racers, really respectable, but a front running mx5 racer is a long long way from a 2k build.
Weight mx5 vs 328 not as massive as you'd think on the same corner weight scales 100kg dif between my track prepped & caged 328 (but still with sunroof & all glass & steel panels & full fat loom vs my supercharged mk1, with hard dog half cage, but with full trim.
Race 328s can get within 50kg of what my mx5 was, but then a full race lightened na mx5 will take 150kg off that.
328 far easier to driver hard, nota fraction of the steering feel of the mx5- which when with decent track geo is really only rivaled by Caterhams/Elises & a few, but not all- Porsches, the bmw is little bit numb & easy to drive in comparison really, mx5 far far more alive, but vs newer stuff is still pretty involving, 328 is a lot quicker than stock power mx5, a considerably lighter one with approx 170bhp tho was a great match with mine with just the m50 manifold & the remap= 220 on a conservative dyno, I'd say thats the 235-240 that many claim on more optimistic dynos.
With Mx5s the 1.6 is a far sweeter & freer revving lump than the more poky 1.8, the supercharged 1.6 I had was great.
My mx5s were a tad above mateys price bracket tho 1.6 sc cost £2.5k tho but on stock chassis, was £3.5k when sold as track sorted with half cage & coilies & my 1.8 was sorted track wise, cage, coilies, proper torsen lsd etc, but again a £3.5k car, my turbo one was i think £4k, the cheaper fi mx5s tend to be pretty ropy.
I've never had issues with stock 328 brakes even running slicks, naturally + race pads & fluid, I like that I can still run 15 inch wheels, so cheaper tyres & a lot lighter.
Thruxton vid, I'm in front, build cost of my car just a bit above the 2k of this thread but only 2.5k or so tho, usual sots of mods- buckets & harnesses, full cage, budget coilies, m3 3.0 lsd, but would be under 2k it if not caged, cam car Golf running decent aero, 2.0 on tbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9AvixJipr0
I've only tracked supercharged ones, have driven na on track but bit too slow & frustrating for me, but check the lap times of the racers, really respectable, but a front running mx5 racer is a long long way from a 2k build.
Weight mx5 vs 328 not as massive as you'd think on the same corner weight scales 100kg dif between my track prepped & caged 328 (but still with sunroof & all glass & steel panels & full fat loom vs my supercharged mk1, with hard dog half cage, but with full trim.
Race 328s can get within 50kg of what my mx5 was, but then a full race lightened na mx5 will take 150kg off that.
328 far easier to driver hard, nota fraction of the steering feel of the mx5- which when with decent track geo is really only rivaled by Caterhams/Elises & a few, but not all- Porsches, the bmw is little bit numb & easy to drive in comparison really, mx5 far far more alive, but vs newer stuff is still pretty involving, 328 is a lot quicker than stock power mx5, a considerably lighter one with approx 170bhp tho was a great match with mine with just the m50 manifold & the remap= 220 on a conservative dyno, I'd say thats the 235-240 that many claim on more optimistic dynos.
With Mx5s the 1.6 is a far sweeter & freer revving lump than the more poky 1.8, the supercharged 1.6 I had was great.
My mx5s were a tad above mateys price bracket tho 1.6 sc cost £2.5k tho but on stock chassis, was £3.5k when sold as track sorted with half cage & coilies & my 1.8 was sorted track wise, cage, coilies, proper torsen lsd etc, but again a £3.5k car, my turbo one was i think £4k, the cheaper fi mx5s tend to be pretty ropy.
I've never had issues with stock 328 brakes even running slicks, naturally + race pads & fluid, I like that I can still run 15 inch wheels, so cheaper tyres & a lot lighter.
Thruxton vid, I'm in front, build cost of my car just a bit above the 2k of this thread but only 2.5k or so tho, usual sots of mods- buckets & harnesses, full cage, budget coilies, m3 3.0 lsd, but would be under 2k it if not caged, cam car Golf running decent aero, 2.0 on tbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9AvixJipr0
Edited by iguana on Thursday 24th October 15:00
ecsrobin said:
Through reading 5 pages of "only BMW track cars are good", I've decided I might need an mx5 anyone tell me what the comfort levels are like for a gent over 6foot?
Fine I'm 6ft 4, pal is 6 ft 6 all ok, need to fit a dished steering wheel tho or knees hit the wheel & you will never be able to heel & toe it. doogz said:
What was the noticeable difference? Other than looks, and an increase in unsprung mass?
Were you experiencing fade before?
Just general braking confidence was improved. I went from worn out brakes which possibly weren't BMW to brand new, bigger breaks with OEM Brembo pads. Felt good man. And looked betterWere you experiencing fade before?
I'll get the same setup on my E36 if some come up.
E36 318ti Compact stripped bare with two seats, harnesses, ABS removed and remap to delete the ABS and raise the rev limit. Great fun with some E39 wheels, sticky tyres and Coilovers and will surprise alot of people when driven well. Cheaper and lighter than the 328 Coupe and will produce a comparitive lap time. Can be done for less than 2k
Clio 182 also great fun with the right tyres as a stock car can also be done for under 2k
MR2's the NA version can be sorted for less than 2k as long as you choose carefully but they look tricky on the limit but i could be wrong having not driven one on track.
Pug 306 GTi-6? Would be a hoot on track with the right tyres and maybe a suspension upgrade?
Clio 182 also great fun with the right tyres as a stock car can also be done for under 2k
MR2's the NA version can be sorted for less than 2k as long as you choose carefully but they look tricky on the limit but i could be wrong having not driven one on track.
Pug 306 GTi-6? Would be a hoot on track with the right tyres and maybe a suspension upgrade?
DanielJames said:
With a 2ZZ conversion? 
With the 2ZZGE I was happily quicker than an E46 M3 fully prepared (in the APs all round, stripped, caged, CSL panels(I'm assuming it wasn't a real cel) etc way) and advertising a race preparation company on my last track day ;-)Even with a 1ZZFE the mk3 goes well, 975kg as standard before the stripping commences, the Championship cars where in the main you are not allowed non Toyota parts so no light panels, glass replacement etc the weight limit including driver and fuel is 1000kg, so damn light remember adding the 6 point cage will have added a fair bit of weight as well.
Engine should be looked at carefully when buying and ideally a baffled sump.
Handling is the best of any car I have ever driven.
I just dropped my car into BBR today to have a large turbo bolted onto it and Neil showed me the 2 MX-5 engines he had which were also getting a Turbo, with 0.6bar you can have 268bhp, or if you're brave he does a 305bhp conversion.
When i finally blow up my MPS and buy a sensible derv i'll be looking at an MX-5 for a fun car, if funds allow with a turbo, as a light RWD good handling car with all the modern creature comforts with a 300bhp engine is quite appealing.
When i finally blow up my MPS and buy a sensible derv i'll be looking at an MX-5 for a fun car, if funds allow with a turbo, as a light RWD good handling car with all the modern creature comforts with a 300bhp engine is quite appealing.
braddo said:
dapearson said:
I just bought a mk1 mx5 with TR Lane roll bar, Gaz adjustable suspension, MOMO wheel, hard top, full history (apart from needing a cambelt and oil change right now), a spare set of wheels, for £1k.
Remarkable. 
(Unless the sills are completely shot!)
HaylingJag said:
ecsrobin said:
Through reading 5 pages of "only BMW track cars are good", I've decided I might need an mx5 anyone tell me what the comfort levels are like for a gent over 6foot?
Get yerself over to Hayling, Robin, your more than welcome to "experience" mine!D,
Edited by HaylingJag on Thursday 24th October 14:41
have you fixed the roof yet?iguana said:
ecsrobin said:
Through reading 5 pages of "only BMW track cars are good", I've decided I might need an mx5 anyone tell me what the comfort levels are like for a gent over 6foot?
Fine I'm 6ft 4, pal is 6 ft 6 all ok, need to fit a dished steering wheel tho or knees hit the wheel & you will never be able to heel & toe it. So a brief look on the classifieds I've found this, is it suitable?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
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