what cheap stopgap track car (with a bit of road)?
Discussion
OK, for reasons that are too tedious to go into here my Elise is off the road for the next few months and I'm thinking about something fun and (preferably) cheap that I can buy and then (probably) sell in a few months time.
Will want it to do a few trackdays, and by definition they are likely to be cold, wet and greasy between now and April-ish so I'm thinking a ClioSport of some sort, but which one, there are flippin' loads of different ones?
Or should I think of something else? I do like the MINI Cooper but is it too heavy/pricy/nice for track? How would it compare to a ClioSport? I see loads of Clios on track but very few MINIs.
Even though I'm normally a RWD bigot, since I already have an Elise (and an E46) I think this ought to be FWD, and have seats in the back - even for me two 2-seaters would be bonkers, I have kids, and it would be good to have it in reserve now and again.
Budget say 3k but could go to 5k if I had to.
Will want it to do a few trackdays, and by definition they are likely to be cold, wet and greasy between now and April-ish so I'm thinking a ClioSport of some sort, but which one, there are flippin' loads of different ones?
Or should I think of something else? I do like the MINI Cooper but is it too heavy/pricy/nice for track? How would it compare to a ClioSport? I see loads of Clios on track but very few MINIs.
Even though I'm normally a RWD bigot, since I already have an Elise (and an E46) I think this ought to be FWD, and have seats in the back - even for me two 2-seaters would be bonkers, I have kids, and it would be good to have it in reserve now and again.
Budget say 3k but could go to 5k if I had to.
I must say the DC2 is also tempting, though there is something about the way they look that puts me off somehow ... how shallow is that?
Moreover, a quick look through the classified reveals they almost all seem to be modified with de-cats and LOOOOOUD exhausts ... can't imagine those will pass many noise tests. Or MOTs come to that.
Moreover, a quick look through the classified reveals they almost all seem to be modified with de-cats and LOOOOOUD exhausts ... can't imagine those will pass many noise tests. Or MOTs come to that.
What about a Proton Satria GTI (Lotus engineered) you can pick them up very cheap now and are brilliant on the track. A mate and i went splits on 1 a couple of years ago and have sooooooo much fun with it. Only cost us £600 and all we've done is change the pads and tyres twice for about 12 track days. All parts are cheap and strong as it's mostly a Mitsubishi Colt.
they are not the most impressive cars to look at but they do the buisness on the track.
they are not the most impressive cars to look at but they do the buisness on the track.
Geo22 said:
What about a Proton Satria GTI (Lotus engineered) you can pick them up very cheap now and are brilliant on the track. A mate and i went splits on 1 a couple of years ago and have sooooooo much fun with it. Only cost us £600 and all we've done is change the pads and tyres twice for about 12 track days. All parts are cheap and strong as it's mostly a Mitsubishi Colt.
they are not the most impressive cars to look at but they do the buisness on the track.
OK, that was a leftfield suggestion, didn't expect that. But rather cool in a not-cool-at-all way. they are not the most impressive cars to look at but they do the buisness on the track.
Is it a bit under-powered though?yeah that is the the down side to them which is why i'm looking for something with more power. However the engine is from an early lancer or maybe even an Evo and some people add a turbo to them and that sorts the power problem, i have seen a few for sale already done but maybe thats a bit much not sure how reliable they are?
boxsey said:
What about a 944? I know it'll be old and obviously not FWD but it would be practical, fun and you could get a good one for your budget.
I've had one, so I know how good they are, actually i'm a big fan. However, I also know running costs can be on the high side.Really I just fancy an opportunity to get something a bit different ...
tertius said:
I must say the DC2 is also tempting, though there is something about the way they look that puts me off somehow ... how shallow is that?
Moreover, a quick look through the classified reveals they almost all seem to be modified with de-cats and LOOOOOUD exhausts ... can't imagine those will pass many noise tests. Or MOTs come to that.
I agree that the look is a bit marmite.Moreover, a quick look through the classified reveals they almost all seem to be modified with de-cats and LOOOOOUD exhausts ... can't imagine those will pass many noise tests. Or MOTs come to that.
This one has just been listed and on paper it looks good.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3569273.htm
Dan why don't you get an EP3 Civic Type R? Out of the box superb, find an example with the dampers done and jobs a carrot. You could always lift the K20 into the Elise. Being quite tall you may struggle with the older Clio's the driving position always left me cold and I'm a shorty.
The DC2's are getting on a bit now and you need a uk one MY98+ as the JDM can be expensive to insure, as great a car they are it will more than likely need money spending on it at the price you are looking at.
What happend to the Elise?
pm if you prefer.
The DC2's are getting on a bit now and you need a uk one MY98+ as the JDM can be expensive to insure, as great a car they are it will more than likely need money spending on it at the price you are looking at.
What happend to the Elise?
pm if you prefer.
For the price you can't go wrong with a 172 Cup. I did lots of research and looked at lots of other cars before getting mine. Anything like a 944 will be far more costly to run, and something like a Mini won't match the 172 for performance, or be anywhere near as good to drive (I had a Cooper S for a month as a courtesy car). Parts for the Renault are nice and cheap, and it doesn't take much money at all to make it 'track ready'.
I bet you'll end up keeping it too! I miss my Elise and S2000, they were great cars, but 'bang for buck', you can't beat a Clio.
I bet you'll end up keeping it too! I miss my Elise and S2000, they were great cars, but 'bang for buck', you can't beat a Clio.
I've had a DC2 which I tracked and a Clio 172 which I didn't, I've currently got an S1 Elise with a Honda lump in.
The DC2 always felt fragile and never filled me with confidence, the bodies really are cr@p and rust gets everywhere, brackets, etc. As a road car it had great feel and was about as good as a FWD car gets. However, it needed thrashing to go anywhere, returned about 24 mpg and never felt terribly quick. On track (using good Hankook RS2s) it was quite effective, but after running RWD and mid engined cars it was a bit dull. After 5 laps you knew what it would / could do and I never felt it could teach me anything.
The Clio was a much better road car, much more torque, 34 mpg and felt more like a small car with a big(ish) engine in, albeit without the excellent steering feedback that the DC2 gave. I suspect that the lack of an LSD (which all DC2s have) could make the Clio a little frustrating on track, however, the shorter wheelbase might make the chassis more entertaining.
Either way, after the Elise I suspect you'll find either a little benign / boring. If you want 4 seats I'd be looking at a BMW, a 328 should be cheap and offer more adjustable RWD thrills!
The DC2 always felt fragile and never filled me with confidence, the bodies really are cr@p and rust gets everywhere, brackets, etc. As a road car it had great feel and was about as good as a FWD car gets. However, it needed thrashing to go anywhere, returned about 24 mpg and never felt terribly quick. On track (using good Hankook RS2s) it was quite effective, but after running RWD and mid engined cars it was a bit dull. After 5 laps you knew what it would / could do and I never felt it could teach me anything.
The Clio was a much better road car, much more torque, 34 mpg and felt more like a small car with a big(ish) engine in, albeit without the excellent steering feedback that the DC2 gave. I suspect that the lack of an LSD (which all DC2s have) could make the Clio a little frustrating on track, however, the shorter wheelbase might make the chassis more entertaining.
Either way, after the Elise I suspect you'll find either a little benign / boring. If you want 4 seats I'd be looking at a BMW, a 328 should be cheap and offer more adjustable RWD thrills!
Thanks for all he suggestions. To be clear this is not a car for after the Elise but merely a brief interlude while the Elise is off the road.
I think I'm settling to a choice between a Clio 172 Cup and an EP3 CTR. I haven't driven either yet but based on a bit of internet research, which we all know is actually better than the real thing, I suspect I might struggle to fit in the Clio. I'm around 6'3".
I think I'm settling to a choice between a Clio 172 Cup and an EP3 CTR. I haven't driven either yet but based on a bit of internet research, which we all know is actually better than the real thing, I suspect I might struggle to fit in the Clio. I'm around 6'3".
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