Track toy: MX5 1.8 S or Clio 172 Cup?

[SidewaysSi]

I love the Clio personally. Saying that, MX5s do one thing far far better than the 172/182-rust in a very terminal manner.

[FD3Si]

We've had 3 MX5s and tracked 2 of them, and currently run a 172 cup but haven't tracked it.

It's a tricky one, but I'd go MX5. Track days for me aren't about being the fastest thing there, and I find the MX5 chassis just a bit more 'fun', no idea why.
our MX5s have also been far more reliable, but I accept that may be unfair to the Clio as lots of other people tell me they aren't that bad. The MX5s, however, were all bombproof.
Parts are cheap and widely available for both, but MX5 tuning parts seem a bit more prevalent. Decent tyres are a bit cheaper too (although my Cup has 16s, which doesn't help here)
Speed wise, I'm not sure the Clio is loads faster in a straight line. The '5 is a bit lighter, and if you get a late 1.8, there's only 30bhp or so in it.
However, Clios are newer, and less rusty, which is the main problem with 5's.

[joefraser]

In my experience the clio will leave an mx5 quite a distance behind in a straight line, and in the hands of a competent driver it would do the same on the track...

Depends if you want to be the fastest or you are there for your own thrills

[BenLowden]

Thanks for all the input, great to see such balanced opinions. Like a few have said, I think I definitely need to try both before making any brash decisions.

Probably also worth a costing exercise to see how much it would cost to get both 'track ready' and see if there's much difference on that front. The decision is still a while off as I'm only just getting a Caterham, but I like to plan ahead!

[ryanthescot]

What's your budget? You can get a charged Mx5 for around £4k, I'm pretty sure FI would negate the straight line advantage of a Clio.

[BenLowden]

ryanthescot said:

What's your budget? You can get a charged Mx5 for around £4k, I'm pretty sure FI would negate the straight line advantage of a Clio.

It's probably going to be the £3K mark, but as ever these things can escalate. At least it's easy to start off with the bog standard car and add to it as funds become available!

[DeuxCentCinq]

The boot on the MX-5 isn't that small. We used one as our only car for a year or so.

Of course, the Clio's is bigger, and it's overall a more practical car. I prefer FWD on a track so I'd go for that.

[luckystrike]

joefraser said:

In my experience the clio will leave an mx5 quite a distance behind in a straight line, and in the hands of a competent driver it would do the same on the track...

Depends if you want to be the fastest or you are there for your own thrills

Out of the box I don't think there's much question of the clio being faster, but it doesn't lack thrills - as others have said, they're just different thrills to the MX5

I should add that I have an MX5 - it's a brilliant, brilliant road car and having the roof down is one of life's joys. If you wanted a road car for occasional track use rather than the other way round I'd say MX in a heartbeat.

Thinking about it, I might be recommending the clio as a track car as I've already got an MX5 and don't need two of them

[BenLowden]

The Clio won the battle in the end, although I upped my budget and snapped up a 182 Trophy. First PH Fleet article here: http://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-fleet/renau...

Thanks again for all of the advice!

[GrumpyTwig]

Good choice