Which shared track car? £5k
Discussion
Hi guys,
3 friends and myself are looking for a track car to share and have a budget of around £5k and would love some advice from anyone that has done anything similar.
We all have reasonable road cars, so the classic choice of a stripped out out hot hatch would not really fit the bill. So far we've been looking at either a Subaru sti ra, or an evo 6.
does anyone have any other suggestions? I was originally looking at an e36 m3 but concluded that a track prepped one would cost too much, and the running costs could be higher than a bullet proof rally rep.
Also I was wondering if we will need to pay a higher fee at track days due to 4 people using the car rather than just one?
Any thing else we should think about?!
Thanks.
3 friends and myself are looking for a track car to share and have a budget of around £5k and would love some advice from anyone that has done anything similar.
We all have reasonable road cars, so the classic choice of a stripped out out hot hatch would not really fit the bill. So far we've been looking at either a Subaru sti ra, or an evo 6.
does anyone have any other suggestions? I was originally looking at an e36 m3 but concluded that a track prepped one would cost too much, and the running costs could be higher than a bullet proof rally rep.
Also I was wondering if we will need to pay a higher fee at track days due to 4 people using the car rather than just one?
Any thing else we should think about?!
Thanks.
Some organisers will charge for the extra drivers on a trackday but others don't so I'm sure you will pick accordingly!
In terms of car choice, in my view, the Evo and Scooby would not be nearly as much fun to drive on track as an M3 and I wouldn't count on them being any more bullet proof either, I'd think again on the 4wd kit TBH.
The only other thing to think about is whether you really want to share a car with three other guys, do they all expect to do the same amount of track time as you, have you sorted a repairs fund for when something goes bang and can you all afford to repair the car if you stack it? Not trying to put you off as it could be the cheapest way to trackday but it could also be the fastest way to fall out with your mates.........................
HTH!
In terms of car choice, in my view, the Evo and Scooby would not be nearly as much fun to drive on track as an M3 and I wouldn't count on them being any more bullet proof either, I'd think again on the 4wd kit TBH.
The only other thing to think about is whether you really want to share a car with three other guys, do they all expect to do the same amount of track time as you, have you sorted a repairs fund for when something goes bang and can you all afford to repair the car if you stack it? Not trying to put you off as it could be the cheapest way to trackday but it could also be the fastest way to fall out with your mates.........................
HTH!
DoubleG said:
thanks guys - all good points... but I really think we would struggle to find a Caterfield for £5k??
Sacrifice some running costs for bigger capital outlay. Scooby might cost £500/day to run on track (tyres, brakes, fuel etc) whereas the caterfield will be less than half that. Do 10 track days and you've added £2500 to the capital fund.Jonny
BaT
jonnyleroux said:
Sacrifice some running costs for bigger capital outlay. Scooby might cost £500/day to run on track (tyres, brakes, fuel etc) whereas the caterfield will be less than half that. Do 10 track days and you've added £2500 to the capital fund.
Jonny
BaT
Jonny knows exactly what he's talking about, and I agree wholeheartedly.Jonny
BaT
You may not get a 'Caterham' branded car, but there are plenty of _very_ similar cars without the Caterham badge and they will be less expensive.
Plenty of Westfields available for £5k:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=107&am...
But Caterhams start at about £7k:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=39&...
Will go against the grain here.
I think an impreza sti type-ra would make a great track car. They are lightweight as standard, easily modded in any ways you wanted including power and can even be run rwd. They can easily be modded for oversteer or understeer and be changed back again with some simple tweeks.
They are much easier on tyres than almost all cars of their ilk (obviously not as light on them as a caterham or similar) and they have no problems in the braking department so really dont know where that comes from, unless its an earlier car without the 4pot calipers, but then many imprezas have prodrive or ap racing brake conversions anyway and there are plenty for sale if not.
Yes it would be juicy on fuel compared to a caterham but so would anything else on track.
Its also the sort of car that if you kept the rear seats in could be driven to tracks in Europe such as the ring with all the owners of the car in the car.
I think it would be hard to beat.
A caterham would make for a better track car if you can afford the extra outlay but is obviously not practical if you ever want all the owners in one place in one car. Perhaps this is not something you care about though.
I think an impreza sti type-ra would make a great track car. They are lightweight as standard, easily modded in any ways you wanted including power and can even be run rwd. They can easily be modded for oversteer or understeer and be changed back again with some simple tweeks.
They are much easier on tyres than almost all cars of their ilk (obviously not as light on them as a caterham or similar) and they have no problems in the braking department so really dont know where that comes from, unless its an earlier car without the 4pot calipers, but then many imprezas have prodrive or ap racing brake conversions anyway and there are plenty for sale if not.
Yes it would be juicy on fuel compared to a caterham but so would anything else on track.
Its also the sort of car that if you kept the rear seats in could be driven to tracks in Europe such as the ring with all the owners of the car in the car.
I think it would be hard to beat.
A caterham would make for a better track car if you can afford the extra outlay but is obviously not practical if you ever want all the owners in one place in one car. Perhaps this is not something you care about though.
rb5er said:
A caterham would make for a better track car if you can afford the extra outlay but is obviously not practical if you ever want all the owners in one place in one car. Perhaps this is not something you care about though.
I'd recommend spending £500 on a transit to lug the fuel/tyres/spares about in anyway.jonnyleroux said:
Hmm. don't think so - the impreza is to lightweight sportscars what Josef Fritzel is to good parenting!
"only a fool breaks the 1-tonne rule"
You think 1200kgs is heavy? And even lighter when stripped out?"only a fool breaks the 1-tonne rule"
Perhaps you should tell these guys that they have picked the wrong cars:
http://www.timeattack.co.uk/2011/index.php
They must not have got your memo.
The FACT is that a well sorted evo or impreza can make a devastating track weapon even if some random guy on tinternet said it couldn`t.
Proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiQ6FcyiPag
Edited by rb5er on Tuesday 6th September 15:59
rb5er said:
You think 1200kgs is heavy? And even lighter when stripped out?
1200kg's is very heavy for a track day car and will cost a fortune in consumables. you cannae defy the laws of physics captain!if someone put a gun to your head and asked you to name a "lightweight sportscar" and you said "Subaru Impreza" i'm afraid you'd be shot. lotus/caterham/westfield/vx220/radical are all lightweight. sorry, but a 1200kg subaru is never going to be considered a lightweight car.
that's not to say it's not a very fast, impressive and enjoyable car. it's just *not* lightweight.
rb5er said:
Will go against the grain here.
I think an impreza sti type-ra would make a great track car. They are lightweight as standard, easily modded in any ways you wanted including power and can even be run rwd. They can easily be modded for oversteer or understeer and be changed back again with some simple tweeks.
They are much easier on tyres than almost all cars of their ilk (obviously not as light on them as a caterham or similar) and they have no problems in the braking department so really dont know where that comes from, unless its an earlier car without the 4pot calipers, but then many imprezas have prodrive or ap racing brake conversions anyway and there are plenty for sale if not.
Yes it would be juicy on fuel compared to a caterham but so would anything else on track.
Its also the sort of car that if you kept the rear seats in could be driven to tracks in Europe such as the ring with all the owners of the car in the car.
I think it would be hard to beat.
A caterham would make for a better track car if you can afford the extra outlay but is obviously not practical if you ever want all the owners in one place in one car. Perhaps this is not something you care about though.
I agree, my impreza is used mostly for trackdays, its fairly easy on brakes tyres etc only major outlay is fuel. Its pretty light too being an early 93 model stripped out, far more fun than the previous mx5 i used for the track.I think an impreza sti type-ra would make a great track car. They are lightweight as standard, easily modded in any ways you wanted including power and can even be run rwd. They can easily be modded for oversteer or understeer and be changed back again with some simple tweeks.
They are much easier on tyres than almost all cars of their ilk (obviously not as light on them as a caterham or similar) and they have no problems in the braking department so really dont know where that comes from, unless its an earlier car without the 4pot calipers, but then many imprezas have prodrive or ap racing brake conversions anyway and there are plenty for sale if not.
Yes it would be juicy on fuel compared to a caterham but so would anything else on track.
Its also the sort of car that if you kept the rear seats in could be driven to tracks in Europe such as the ring with all the owners of the car in the car.
I think it would be hard to beat.
A caterham would make for a better track car if you can afford the extra outlay but is obviously not practical if you ever want all the owners in one place in one car. Perhaps this is not something you care about though.
rb5er said:
jonnyleroux said:
Hmm. don't think so - the impreza is to lightweight sportscars what Josef Fritzel is to good parenting!
"only a fool breaks the 1-tonne rule"
You think 1200kgs is heavy? And even lighter when stripped out?"only a fool breaks the 1-tonne rule"
Perhaps you should tell these guys that they have picked the wrong cars:
http://www.timeattack.co.uk/2011/index.php
They must not have got your memo.
The FACT is that a well sorted evo or impreza can make a devastating track weapon even if some random guy on tinternet .
Proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiQ6FcyiPag
Edited by rb5er on Tuesday 6th September 15:59
Totally different demands and expectations on a car.
Jonny, I think you should use this as your sig: "some random guy on tinternet said it couldn't"
jonnyleroux said:
if someone put a gun to your head and asked you to name a "lightweight sportscar" and you said "Subaru Impreza" i'm afraid you'd be shot. lotus/caterham/westfield/vx220/radical are all lightweight. sorry, but a 1200kg subaru is never going to be considered a lightweight car.
that's not to say it's not a very fast, impressive and enjoyable car. it's just *not* lightweight.
I never said anything about "lightweight sportscar".that's not to say it's not a very fast, impressive and enjoyable car. it's just *not* lightweight.
I said it was lightweight, which for a 5 seater awd car it certainly is, in fact i cannot think of a lighter car with awd and 5 seats and all the mod cons.
From wikipedia: This version of the WRX STi was a stripped out car that had no sound-deadening, radio or air-conditioning. It came sparsely equipped as it was to be sold to racing teams that would throw out the cheap parts for racing parts. This version of the WRX came with a Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD). This device was an electromechanical differential that could lock the differential. The DCCD would be beneficial to people who used it in various rally conditions.
No not lightweight compared to a 2 seater car with no roof, doors, windscreen, or much bodywork to speak of, of course not, and I never said it was.
But for what it is it is very lightweight.
tertius said:
rb5er said:
jonnyleroux said:
Hmm. don't think so - the impreza is to lightweight sportscars what Josef Fritzel is to good parenting!
"only a fool breaks the 1-tonne rule"
You think 1200kgs is heavy? And even lighter when stripped out?"only a fool breaks the 1-tonne rule"
Perhaps you should tell these guys that they have picked the wrong cars:
http://www.timeattack.co.uk/2011/index.php
They must not have got your memo.
The FACT is that a well sorted evo or impreza can make a devastating track weapon even if some random guy on tinternet .
Proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiQ6FcyiPag
Edited by rb5er on Tuesday 6th September 15:59
Totally different demands and expectations on a car.
Jonny, I think you should use this as your sig: "some random guy on tinternet said it couldn't"
In the mean time, a comparison to Time Attack is just mental. Yes, an Evo or Scooby make an excellent time attack car... once it's had about £100k or work done to it. However on a budget of £5k the OP would be better with a lightweight.
tertius said:
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Umm, but isn't Time Attack about achieving a single really fast lap? Its not about pounding a car round a track all day with up to four drivers? The wear and tear with four drivers will be immense.
Obviously not familiar with time attack? No they do not just do one lap and give up for the day, they do shakedowns, practices and flying laps.Umm, but isn't Time Attack about achieving a single really fast lap? Its not about pounding a car round a track all day with up to four drivers? The wear and tear with four drivers will be immense.
And do you have 1st hand experience of track wear and tear in an impreza? One of the previos posters does and says fuel is the biggest cost which is something I can second.
Classic imprezas are remarkably easy on tyres and brakes. Also I would expect the owners would drive it with a degree of sympathy as it is their money they are driving.
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