What Track Car To Buy?
Discussion
There regularly seems to be posts on this forum from people wondering what track car to get. I've knocked up a handy reference chart for anyone in this position. I realise it may be slightly biased towards the Caterham rental and i'm hoping that's not going to make it fall foul of the advertising rules as I believe it could be invaluable to a great number of people.
Jonny
BaT
Jonny
BaT
Edited by jonnyleroux on Friday 19th April 22:25
That is pretty sensible but you have perhaps over simplified things a little. The budget of running a half decent Caterham assumes 10k a year I think. I have had four in the last 12 years, never lost more than 2k on selling and rarely spent more than 1.5k a year running them and doing between 8 and 15 track days a year.
I can do basic servicing myself and know people who can do cambelts etc so that does help of course. You also exclude owning a Caterham I think if you are planning to drive it to the circuit, again whilst not always fun in the early cold morning or when tired after a long day it is totally doable. I have never had to walk home so far!
I have also spent a couple of years without mishap using Lotus Elise(nearly as good) and not lost my shirt either.
Someone also mentioned MX5, I had a nicely prepared mk2 and that was fun for a season and a half, again lost only 1k in the year including track tyres.
Renting is quite a good idea and would make getting to and from the track easier but I would be missing out on my occasional blats as well.
I can do basic servicing myself and know people who can do cambelts etc so that does help of course. You also exclude owning a Caterham I think if you are planning to drive it to the circuit, again whilst not always fun in the early cold morning or when tired after a long day it is totally doable. I have never had to walk home so far!
I have also spent a couple of years without mishap using Lotus Elise(nearly as good) and not lost my shirt either.
Someone also mentioned MX5, I had a nicely prepared mk2 and that was fun for a season and a half, again lost only 1k in the year including track tyres.
Renting is quite a good idea and would make getting to and from the track easier but I would be missing out on my occasional blats as well.
What a load of twaddle. I havent got a load of money, a garage etc , but in a couple of weeks am about to do my 11th and 12th track day in the last year. I paid £800 for my car ( a 14 year old 150 bhp hatchback ) and spent a little money getting it track capable ( part worn 888,s off e bay, yellowstuffs and 2nd hand coilovers ). I,m having a load of fun , not parting with a fortune and still use my car to do the shopping and go to work in. I also do my own maintainence when possible to save money on mechanics bills. Trackdaying can be done easily on a budget, and I,m afraid this does look like an advert for Caterham hire, I,m afraid.
I am also not against car hire, if you do a trip to the Ring , by far the best way to enjoy it is to Rent a car from one of the local companies which are thriving there now.
I am also not against car hire, if you do a trip to the Ring , by far the best way to enjoy it is to Rent a car from one of the local companies which are thriving there now.
"Cornwall" ???
Surely you mean Somerset if that was a reference to taking an Atom to the factory near Yeovil to get it serviced - and it's actually a pretty good trip down past Stonehenge - first light coming up over the downs , mist hanging close to the ground - almost makes we want to get out in the Atom......oh wait a minute ......I am off out in it ........;0)
Not a bad first post Jonny to drive a debate which you seem to have done !
Surely you mean Somerset if that was a reference to taking an Atom to the factory near Yeovil to get it serviced - and it's actually a pretty good trip down past Stonehenge - first light coming up over the downs , mist hanging close to the ground - almost makes we want to get out in the Atom......oh wait a minute ......I am off out in it ........;0)
Not a bad first post Jonny to drive a debate which you seem to have done !
One thing is missing with the rental for me. Once you leave the track you are left with nothing.
It doesn't matter if you own a GT3 or a £500 track car it's still your pride and joy. You love taking care of it and when you can afford it you love adding to it some go faster bits.
Some may prefer the " One day stand" some may prefer a longer relation
Eduardo.
It doesn't matter if you own a GT3 or a £500 track car it's still your pride and joy. You love taking care of it and when you can afford it you love adding to it some go faster bits.
Some may prefer the " One day stand" some may prefer a longer relation
Eduardo.
flobalob said:
What a load of twaddle. I havent got a load of money, a garage etc , but in a couple of weeks am about to do my 11th and 12th track day in the last year. I paid £800 for my car ( a 14 year old 150 bhp hatchback ) and spent a little money getting it track capable ( part worn 888,s off e bay, yellowstuffs and 2nd hand coilovers ). I,m having a load of fun , not parting with a fortune and still use my car to do the shopping and go to work in. I also do my own maintainence when possible to save money on mechanics bills. Trackdaying can be done easily on a budget, and I,m afraid this does look like an advert for Caterham hire, I,m afraid.
I am also not against car hire, if you do a trip to the Ring , by far the best way to enjoy it is to Rent a car from one of the local companies which are thriving there now.
Top tip there flobabob. I've seen a few youngsters who club together and buy a cheap GTI have have a great time on track days, share the driving and all the costs. Also they get to know a bit about how cars work, what works on a track and what does not. Cheapest example I can think of is a Pug 106 1.0litre with skinny tyres, 2 lads finding out for themselves how to drive on a track, marvellous. As for hiring a Catering van, that is expensive, other 7 type cars are available and a more realistic cost.I am also not against car hire, if you do a trip to the Ring , by far the best way to enjoy it is to Rent a car from one of the local companies which are thriving there now.
GT4EDS said:
One thing is missing with the rental for me. Once you leave the track you are left with nothing.
It doesn't matter if you own a GT3 or a £500 track car it's still your pride and joy. You love taking care of it and when you can afford it you love adding to it some go faster bits.
Some may prefer the " One day stand" some may prefer a longer relation
Eduardo.
Well said.It doesn't matter if you own a GT3 or a £500 track car it's still your pride and joy. You love taking care of it and when you can afford it you love adding to it some go faster bits.
Some may prefer the " One day stand" some may prefer a longer relation
Eduardo.
I think that if you don't own a car, but wake up and say "I'd like to do some trackdays", then yes as Mr BaT is always quick to point out, hiring a car would make most sense. However most of us come at it from the other angle, we already have a car we enjoy driving on the road, and want a few opportunities to drive that same car on a track.
Apart from anything else, after a couple of trackdays you learn how your car behaves on the limit, which them makes it more enjoyable on the road because you have more confidence to work the car hard within its limits.
I think some people have missed the point that the OP was about comparing two cars that would lap most circuits in a similar time but with very different initial outlay and running costs. I guess it was a cheeky dig at GT3RS owners meant in good humour. I'm sure the owners of such cars can take it. 
boxsey said:
I think some people have missed the point that the OP was about comparing two cars that would lap most circuits in a similar time but with very different initial outlay and running costs. I guess it was a cheeky dig at GT3RS owners meant in good humour. I'm sure the owners of such cars can take it.
Not so much a dig to be honest Steve. The RS is an awesome "one-stop-shop" bit of kit and would be my #1 choice for a road and track car had I got the budget to run one. Porsches are also statistically the most reliable cars on our database (based on 13 years of red flag stats). Jonny
BaT
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff