Track car: DC2 vs E36
Discussion
Okay, I've had two DC2s and one E36. I have been driving for two years and always had FWD since June this year, until I bought my current daily E36 because my teg ended up in a sorry state after hitting a deer.
I'm looking to get myself a track car and these are two of my current top contenders. (E36 would have to be a 2.8)
For the track, which is best?
E36s can be had for pennies these days, condition and mileage dependant (although this can be said for many cars lol). Parts are easy to come by and aren't overly expensive from my POV. The integra on the other hand can be expensive, particularly for a good 1998 spec JDM (the model I'd want).
The E36 I believe can be tuned a lot easier too, easily achieve 230bhp whereas with an integra it costs quite a bit. For the money, I could have a well equipped E36 track toy for the money I'd pay for an Integra.
Can anyone help me out lol?
Put forward potential contenders as well.
I'm looking to get myself a track car and these are two of my current top contenders. (E36 would have to be a 2.8)
For the track, which is best?
E36s can be had for pennies these days, condition and mileage dependant (although this can be said for many cars lol). Parts are easy to come by and aren't overly expensive from my POV. The integra on the other hand can be expensive, particularly for a good 1998 spec JDM (the model I'd want).
The E36 I believe can be tuned a lot easier too, easily achieve 230bhp whereas with an integra it costs quite a bit. For the money, I could have a well equipped E36 track toy for the money I'd pay for an Integra.
Can anyone help me out lol?
Put forward potential contenders as well.
ikarl said:
If you've had both, you're probably best placed to decide. Which did you prefer?
And for a contender......mx5 or mr2
Not had track experience, I love the steering and feedback from the dc2 but I feel the E36 could produce the same feedback and steering feel with mods like the quicker rack from a z4 and stripped out coilovers? I feel the argument is best down to someone who knows these cars better than I.And for a contender......mx5 or mr2
dsme94 said:
Not had track experience, I love the steering and feedback from the dc2 but I feel the E36 could produce the same feedback and steering feel with mods like the quicker rack from a z4 and stripped out coilovers? I feel the argument is best down to someone who knows these cars better than I.
Would it not be possible to try your cars out on the track, one of those 'own car track days'? See which is better, decision made.
Despite its FWDness, the DC2 is an astonishing track car. I owned mine for 8 years and did many, many track miles in it without any issue.
The E36 has a softer, but beautifully balanced chassis. Without mods, all but the M3 will likely be slower on a lap than a DC2 (if that matters).
The DC2 is also likely to be cheaper to run and more reliable.
The E36 has a softer, but beautifully balanced chassis. Without mods, all but the M3 will likely be slower on a lap than a DC2 (if that matters).
The DC2 is also likely to be cheaper to run and more reliable.
Alex said:
JDMDrifter said:
The dc2 will cost abit more to run, but they are appreciating.
Why do you say that? I would say the exact opposite. DC2 parts aren't easy to come by due to being a little rarer, tuning parts are also a lot more expensive for less gains.
DC2's are rarer and well cared examples are going up in value. They certainly aren't going down!
Unless your heart is set on one of these two and its for track use why not Westfield or other rear drive kit car, 2.0 Zetec on carbs will get you just shy of 170BHP and car weighs in under 600kg.
Rear wheel drive, LSD available, if the engine is stock all you need to do if it blows is ARP conrod bolts and swap it over.
Baffled sump is necessary (lots come secondhand with these already fitted) but same is true for all cars to avoid oil pick up issues.
Commonly brakes are from sierra but are designed to stop a car weighing 3 times as much with 4 passengers and caravan so brake fade not usually an issue (change of pads all that usually required)unlike some saloons with standard brakes.
15" rims are standard with Toyo R1R or R888 not being rediculously expensive. 13" rims (ford RS 4 spokes) with renault slicks 2nd hand give a good cheap set of dry options. Bestr bit because the cars are light mates with R888 on 200bhp westfields have done 5 track days and some road driving before tyres get to the ware blocks.
Basicly a very cheap way to track and with the exception of the circuits with lots of long straights (Castle Coombe, Thruxton etc) will beat most saloons that haven't had a fortune spent on them.
Rear wheel drive, LSD available, if the engine is stock all you need to do if it blows is ARP conrod bolts and swap it over.
Baffled sump is necessary (lots come secondhand with these already fitted) but same is true for all cars to avoid oil pick up issues.
Commonly brakes are from sierra but are designed to stop a car weighing 3 times as much with 4 passengers and caravan so brake fade not usually an issue (change of pads all that usually required)unlike some saloons with standard brakes.
15" rims are standard with Toyo R1R or R888 not being rediculously expensive. 13" rims (ford RS 4 spokes) with renault slicks 2nd hand give a good cheap set of dry options. Bestr bit because the cars are light mates with R888 on 200bhp westfields have done 5 track days and some road driving before tyres get to the ware blocks.
Basicly a very cheap way to track and with the exception of the circuits with lots of long straights (Castle Coombe, Thruxton etc) will beat most saloons that haven't had a fortune spent on them.
Isn't a DC2 about 200kg or so lighter than an e36 (genuine question)?
I would expect the Honda engine and ancilleries to be more reliable and any dc2 to have covered less mileage than a 328. To counter that, the Hinda gearboxes are a weak point.
As for handling, the Integra is sublime out of the box (though either that or e36 will likely need a refresh by now), whereas the BMW will likely need fundamental change to be decent on track (stiffening, better brakes etc.).
I'd probably go for an early e46, which will be more common at breakers now than the e36, which will be disappearing fast.
I would expect the Honda engine and ancilleries to be more reliable and any dc2 to have covered less mileage than a 328. To counter that, the Hinda gearboxes are a weak point.
As for handling, the Integra is sublime out of the box (though either that or e36 will likely need a refresh by now), whereas the BMW will likely need fundamental change to be decent on track (stiffening, better brakes etc.).
I'd probably go for an early e46, which will be more common at breakers now than the e36, which will be disappearing fast.
E36 all the way.
I've got one so am biased but the main point as mentioned earlier is it's RWD.
As a dedicated track toy why on gods earth would anyone choose a FWD unless they can't drive?
E46's will be cheaper soon but the shell's a bit heavier that the E36.
If you do the work yourself it can be stripped and prepped for little outlay then add bits as you go.
For me I started with a solid E36 328 for £900, added a set of good coilovers, LSD and fully poly bushed. All done I think total outlay was just over 2k and it's superb. Not the outright quickest thing but sideways fun.. oh yeh.
I've got one so am biased but the main point as mentioned earlier is it's RWD.
As a dedicated track toy why on gods earth would anyone choose a FWD unless they can't drive?
E46's will be cheaper soon but the shell's a bit heavier that the E36.
If you do the work yourself it can be stripped and prepped for little outlay then add bits as you go.
For me I started with a solid E36 328 for £900, added a set of good coilovers, LSD and fully poly bushed. All done I think total outlay was just over 2k and it's superb. Not the outright quickest thing but sideways fun.. oh yeh.
The Integra makes a fantastic track car, you don't even need to change anything just drive it as Honda intended - on the track.
I kept one of my DC-2's for years and it was used on many track days, the only non standard parts were uprated brake pads and Yokohama AO48's semi slick tyres.
At tracks like Lydden, Brands and Cadwell it was fantastic, the handling is great and the balance is superb and allows you to play with oversteer on corner entry.
A 3 series will need a lot of money spent to make it handle anything like as good and it will never give you the feedback you get from an Integra, but being RWD and having 6 cylinders are tempting, how much are you prepared to spend on fitting LSD, track focused suspension, and tuning parts to get more bhp/ton than you already have in the DC2.
I kept one of my DC-2's for years and it was used on many track days, the only non standard parts were uprated brake pads and Yokohama AO48's semi slick tyres.
At tracks like Lydden, Brands and Cadwell it was fantastic, the handling is great and the balance is superb and allows you to play with oversteer on corner entry.
A 3 series will need a lot of money spent to make it handle anything like as good and it will never give you the feedback you get from an Integra, but being RWD and having 6 cylinders are tempting, how much are you prepared to spend on fitting LSD, track focused suspension, and tuning parts to get more bhp/ton than you already have in the DC2.
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