another new track car.... NCs cheap now

[Robert Elise]

i want to source/build a track car over the winter. No fixed budget, but under 5k total.
MX5 is the tool of choice - i had an NA for 11 years and an NC for a couple which i tracked. I have no experience of NBs. The NC had its 'SUV' geo and springs 'corrected' by WIM, fantastic job too!

We are now at the end of 2014, which means that NA are getting long in the tooth (rust) and prices for goods ones are firm (classic!). So for a track car my thoughts shifted to NB. Thing is, NCs are now just over 3k and i guess more will be at that level over winter. With NC you get a car that's obviously a newer base to add costly mods. Plus Rodders does a sub-2k mod (exhaust & remap) on the 2L to make 185bhp in N/A form which sounds appealing - anyone any experience of that?

So i'm thinking that adding mods to a 1k base car is probably less wise than a much newer 3k model long term. NC isn't so much heavier without air con and some other bits.
Any thoughts?

My thoughts on mods, your comments appreciated:
- beefing up the 2l and keeping it N/A appeals. I have no experience of older MX5 turbos - for track you want clean and progressive response over 4k revs, not just a low down shove. Buying an older car where someone has done the work is good so long as it's been done well and isn't falling apart. I'm looking at classifieds but not much available - maybe too early and more will be sold over winter?
- suspension: back to WIM for track set up. Even their basic £300 refresh was very good.
- seats: i want a bucket for support and to feel "in" the car not "on" it. I guess a harness follows from this, but i'm not necessarily sure for track days (ok it looks good, but really much difference?
- roll cage is unnecessary weight I think. It's track days not racing, and I seek to avoid trouble.... (we all know some dont) Be good if there was a simple roll bar? And I'll need a bar for harnesses if I wanted those.
- LSD maybe retrofit rather than seek out the rare factory fit
- what can i strip out? (it will be a road legal too, just to get me to track and back)

Some good tyres and I'll enjoy this. The previous NC held its own at most tracks, no point having a Radical on a (general) track day.

Thanks for your input.

Edited by Robert Elise on Tuesday 28th October 15:02

Edited by Robert Elise on Tuesday 28th October 15:13

[Robert Elise]

roddo said:

Yes you will get a high milage n/c for just over 3k
If your on a tight budget my money would go on
Suspension (meisterR)
Tyres
Seat/belts
Steering wheel

Paul,
i hear you and trust your views. My question is: if i delivered a car to you what would the above cost me?
Whilst it's with you, i'd probably want some power enhancement too. My old 2L with WIM Eibach set up was great, but both the car and the nut behind the wheel deserved a little more. You can PM me if you wish.

PS what do you mean by Seat/belts?
I feel the driver's seat needs to be a bucket to be at one with the car. is that harness or belt with it?

PPS
the main check i need to make i think is on the engine. These Ford units don't like low oil - what do i look for to ensure i'm getting a solid engine?

Thx

[Robert Elise]

Paul
what can be done to an NB engine? manifold & remap??? S/C i know can be done, but NB mods look rare.

Seems that the NC will be hard (impossible?) to change to bucket seats and keep road legal.
So my next thought was an NB Sport (146bhp and LSD). Change seats, suspension and get a little more grunt....

[Robert Elise]

i hear that's the case....mmm
So with an NC, i can try a CG Lock
You mentioned seats in an earlier post for NC, is there a solution or do you swap originals back in for MoT?

[Robert Elise]

dragonheart said:

As long as any seat you choose to fit is fitted properly and the seat belt/harness is in working order then i dont see a problem at mot time unless i am missing something??

as i understand things, if a car comes fitted with seat air bags then they must be present at the MoT. What you can now change in a car is becoming more limited...