Where to buy a track day car?
Discussion
Me & a mate are looking to buy a track day car. We want to do it on a budget (who doesn't) we where looking at about grand each (could stretch).
It seems the best bet is a Clio 172 - stripped out, cage, racing wheels & tyres, uprated brakes, and maybe some coilovers??
I think it would be good fun to do the work ourselves but time and space might dictate it cheaper and easier to buy a already spec'd car plus would have more fun on the track than kitting it out!!!
The idea is to find a farm with a barn and store it there & hire a trailer when we take it on track days.
So the question is where is the best place to buy a trackday car, seem to be a few on ebay is that the best route?
Also any ideas is 2k a realistic price for spec'd clio?
It seems the best bet is a Clio 172 - stripped out, cage, racing wheels & tyres, uprated brakes, and maybe some coilovers??
I think it would be good fun to do the work ourselves but time and space might dictate it cheaper and easier to buy a already spec'd car plus would have more fun on the track than kitting it out!!!
The idea is to find a farm with a barn and store it there & hire a trailer when we take it on track days.
So the question is where is the best place to buy a trackday car, seem to be a few on ebay is that the best route?
Also any ideas is 2k a realistic price for spec'd clio?
on where to by one, here, auto trader, owners forums , racecarsdirect but they can be expensive, uphill racers is another place
As to what you can get for £2k
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=us...
As to what you can get for £2k
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=us...
Great thanks for the advice guys, still need to convince my mate on the Clio, can't think of much else you get the BHP/Tonne for that kind of money esp when stripped out!!!
We were looking at 2k all in, so either 1k on car and 1k on mods or 2k all in on a fully spec'd car (or to our spec)...
To be honest even sourcing 2nd hand parts we'd be lucky to kit it out for 1k (not inc coilovers) and unless we find a MOT failure a 172 its going to be £1200+ we could sell the parts we take off but don't think that'll amount to much!!
All the ones in AT or on here seem to be road cars, I was wondering if there were any sites where people traded track cars other than ebay.
I looked on racecars direct but that was only top end stuff from what I could see, I'll look at uphill racers now
Thanks
We were looking at 2k all in, so either 1k on car and 1k on mods or 2k all in on a fully spec'd car (or to our spec)...
To be honest even sourcing 2nd hand parts we'd be lucky to kit it out for 1k (not inc coilovers) and unless we find a MOT failure a 172 its going to be £1200+ we could sell the parts we take off but don't think that'll amount to much!!
All the ones in AT or on here seem to be road cars, I was wondering if there were any sites where people traded track cars other than ebay.
I looked on racecars direct but that was only top end stuff from what I could see, I'll look at uphill racers now
Thanks
QBee said:
Looks like a bargaindojo said:
No reason - If there are any suggestions that give me BHP/Tonne, easy to maintain, not likely to blow up and have relatively cheap parts then I'm all ears
I think I will sign up to Clio.net and maybe head down to a couple of days and see if anyone is selling
Thanks for all the input
I have recently purchased a Clio 182 for the odd track day, good fun cheap cars. I am a member of Clionet and it well worth it. Think it's £12 to join but discount on Insurance, parts and garages makes it worthwhile. I think I will sign up to Clio.net and maybe head down to a couple of days and see if anyone is selling
Thanks for all the input
The only other cars worth considering at this price point are E36 BMW's or a decent MX5.
Speedy300 said:
The only other cars worth considering at this price point are E36 BMW's or a decent MX5.
That's what i had figured but figured the beemer will eat tyres and parts will be expensive and plus its a lard arse and storing it will be harder. The MX5 doesn't offer the same Power to weight ratio unless turbo'd and that will be out of budget... plus being a soft top would be more nervous about getting a car without a cage. I know you have to so some to roll a MX5 but you haven't met my mate dojo said:
Speedy300 said:
The only other cars worth considering at this price point are E36 BMW's or a decent MX5.
That's what i had figured but figured the beemer will eat tyres and parts will be expensive and plus its a lard arse and storing it will be harder. The MX5 doesn't offer the same Power to weight ratio unless turbo'd and that will be out of budget... plus being a soft top would be more nervous about getting a car without a cage. I know you have to so some to roll a MX5 but you haven't met my mate You sensibly started IIRC by saying you wanted to buy a car already prepared for the track, for £2k. Good call. As with all these things, it is always cheaper to buy something ready prepared. So far it has cost me £500 for the roll hoop, £150 for harnesses and fittings, £350 for a baffled sump, £50 for a better air filter, £200 for coil overs inc fitting (second hand, they would have been £800 new), £500 for wheels and track tyres, £600 for bigger brakes (standard ones fade after a few laps), £145 for bolt on track silencers.......and that's just the things that come to mind.
Stick to your guns and buy something track ready. I meant it about that Saxo......looks well prepared and a bundle of fun.
QBee said:
You've only got to slide into a gravel trap completely sideways.......I know you are young, but even your head/neck/life must be worth more than £500? After a couple of track days in my TVR soft top (nah, it won't happen to me), I got a roll hoop installed just behind my head. Not made use of it (yet!) but there may come a time.
You sensibly started IIRC by saying you wanted to buy a car already prepared for the track, for £2k. Good call. As with all these things, it is always cheaper to buy something ready prepared. So far it has cost me £500 for the roll hoop, £150 for harnesses and fittings, £350 for a baffled sump, £50 for a better air filter, £200 for coil overs inc fitting (second hand, they would have been £800 new), £500 for wheels and track tyres, £600 for bigger brakes (standard ones fade after a few laps), £145 for bolt on track silencers.......and that's just the things that come to mind.
Stick to your guns and buy something track ready. I meant it about that Saxo......looks well prepared and a bundle of fun.
Not that young 😢You sensibly started IIRC by saying you wanted to buy a car already prepared for the track, for £2k. Good call. As with all these things, it is always cheaper to buy something ready prepared. So far it has cost me £500 for the roll hoop, £150 for harnesses and fittings, £350 for a baffled sump, £50 for a better air filter, £200 for coil overs inc fitting (second hand, they would have been £800 new), £500 for wheels and track tyres, £600 for bigger brakes (standard ones fade after a few laps), £145 for bolt on track silencers.......and that's just the things that come to mind.
Stick to your guns and buy something track ready. I meant it about that Saxo......looks well prepared and a bundle of fun.
Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it. I like the look of the saxo, just think at 1.4 it might be wanting a little in the go department?!?
I would buy a non track ready car, Clio 172 is a good choice as you don't need to do any special mods, just drive it as it is.
A couple of important things to mention though before you take it on track.
1. Make sure the cam belt is a recent change and done by someone who knows what they are doing.
2. Go over the brake system, change the fluid to a good dot 4 fluid and renew all brake pads to at least Renault OE or better.
Drive it for one track season as it is then think about what improvements you can make for the future. As mentioned before, Cliosport is the forum you need for help and advice.
Stay safe and don't waste money on boy racer upgrades, it really isn't necessary, your money is better spent on trackdays and fuel.
A couple of important things to mention though before you take it on track.
1. Make sure the cam belt is a recent change and done by someone who knows what they are doing.
2. Go over the brake system, change the fluid to a good dot 4 fluid and renew all brake pads to at least Renault OE or better.
Drive it for one track season as it is then think about what improvements you can make for the future. As mentioned before, Cliosport is the forum you need for help and advice.
Stay safe and don't waste money on boy racer upgrades, it really isn't necessary, your money is better spent on trackdays and fuel.
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