Where to buy a track day car?

[dojo]

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?

[dojo]

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

[dojo]

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

[dojo]

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]

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 😢

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?!?