cheap track day ideas??

[callywally18]

Hi all,

Me and a mate got chatting the other day and said we would go halves on a track car with each other.

Looking at a 1000 each so the car must be 2000 or less.

We have thought of the usual options such as 106s, 3 series, clios etc but we fancied something a bit different.

So far we have come up with:

Mazda RX8
Honda Prelude 2.2
Toyota MR2
Ropey Honda Integra
Fast Volvo of some sort
Mate has a Clio sport selling cheap so considering that.

Any other suggestions or experiences with these greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Mr AJ]

How about something like a Saxo VTS? They're dirt cheap to pickup now which leaves plenty of spare change for a roll cage/bucket seats. Fuel and tyres will be cheap too (And you'll use plenty of them!). Once you're driving the VTS to it's limits you can always sell up and upgrade to something else?.

[300bhp/ton]

callywally18 said:

Hi all,

Me and a mate got chatting the other day and said we would go halves on a track car with each other.

Looking at a 1000 each so the car must be 2000 or less.

We have thought of the usual options such as 106s, 3 series, clios etc but we fancied something a bit different.

So far we have come up with:

Mazda RX8
Honda Prelude 2.2
Toyota MR2
Ropey Honda Integra
Fast Volvo of some sort
Mate has a Clio sport selling cheap so considering that.

Any other suggestions or experiences with these greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I'd have thought something like this would be a better bet:


http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/k...

Very easy to maintain and very easy to upgrade. Spend a little more and you are likely to find one in track prepped condition already.

[Chris71]

Go with something that can be brought in decent condition for £2k with plentiful spares and tuning parts:

Clio 172
MX-5
MR2
E36 328 Sport (particularly if you're happy to gut it for weight saving)

The RX8 might not be such a bad call if you can afford the risk of it going pop. I doubt you'll get one with an engine rebuild for that sort of price, but it's an adequately quick RWD coupe with a limited slip diff and lots of tuning potential.

On the whole, though, I'd go for something small, light, simple and well supported with by rest of the track day crowd. Either a Clio if you're into FWD or whatever the most powerful naturally aspirated iteration of the mk2 MR2 happens to be.

[kambites]

I think MX5s are popular for this sort of thing for a reason. Very simple to work on, reasonably light and with a huuuge amount of performance and handling upgrades available. You'll probably want a full roll cage if you're going to track one, though.

[valverguy]

I run a clio 1.8 16v, can be had for under your budget. Standard they are better than a vts/106 gti modded they are as quick and in some cases quicker than 172/182's around the track. A very special little car most people see overshadowed by the williams. However they are no different on track.

[Tuvra]

How about a stripped out, manual one of these:

or:

[ILoveMondeo]

Mark 1 MR2 would be a good shout, if you can find one without too much tin worm.

Although if you were looking for something unusual to track, these are pretty popular as track slags so you won't stand out!

300zx would be a hoot, but its ultimately a GT so not best suited.

A doddle to work on though, I had one and did loads of maintenance and performance work myself.

I reckon you could get a ratty or cat D s2000 for that budget...

If you can, get it bought! It would be ace!

[sparkyhx]

French and hatch, as long as it stops and goes the rest of the car can be a pile of sh*te

[Chris71]

300bhp/ton said:

I'd have thought something like this would be a better bet:


http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/k...

Very easy to maintain and very easy to upgrade. Spend a little more and you are likely to find one in track prepped condition already.

I'm a kit car fan, but personally I'd steer clear of the early Robin Hoods. They are just a lardy old Sierra with less crash protection and the same nasty old Pinto engine up front. At this budget I'd be following the herd towards an MX-5, MR2 or a gallic hot hatch of some description.

(In fairness, the later Robin Hoods are a very different prospect, but so is their price tag...)

[Passeyfier]

Besides the usual suspects of French hatches...maybe a Golf Mk2 with whatever engine tickles your fancy. I suppose there's always the Nissan 200SX for reliable RWD fun or even a cheap Impreza Turbo. I guess it all comes down to whatever floats your boat.

[300bhp/ton]

Chris71 said:

I'm a kit car fan, but personally I'd steer clear of the early Robin Hoods.

Did the 2B Robin Hood change much over the years then?

Chris71 said:

They are just a lardy old Sierra with less crash protection and the same nasty old Pinto engine up front.

But they aren't, as they weigh a lot less. No idea how light they are, 700-800kg maybe I'd have thought. Don't recall a Seirra weighing in at this, or even an MX-5.

As for the Pinto, true it's old, but it's easy to tune for a bit more poke, certainly as much or more than most of the cars suggested so far. It also formed the basis of the Cosworth 16v engines, so can't be all that bad.

Not too mention if you want more speed then you could probably drop in a later Zetec/Duratec motor I'd have thought.

Chris71 said:

At this budget I'd be following the herd towards an MX-5, MR2 or a gallic hot hatch of some description.

(In fairness, the later Robin Hoods are a very different prospect, but so is their price tag...)

I'm happy to lean on your experience of this, but I'd be interested to know a little more. Ta.

[QBee]

Look at what you are used to driving and feel comfortable chucking about, and go for that. Remember it has to be taxed and insured, and have a current MOT, unless you are going to go to the expense of a tow car, a trailer and passing your towng test.

I track day a 300 bhp TVR, but would be just as happy in a Clio or an MX5. It's not about thrashing everyone else on the track, you will never even get close to that on your budget, it's about having some cheap fun. And blag passenger rides in the fast machinery when your mate is driving - track dayers are a friendly bunch. On my last one there were several Lotuses, Caterhams, an Ariel Atom, several Porsche GT3s, a Ferrari California and a McLaren MP4-12C. And several TVRs.

Don't get hung up on F1 race circuits. Airfield circuits are just as much fun. And try half days or evening events. Every full day I have been to, people start departing an hour after lunch.

[JQ]

OP - aren't you the chap who's having to get rid of his current car because at 18yrs old and with no NCD you can't afford the insurance? If you've, got a tow car, a trailer and somewhere to store a track car then great. But if you and a mate are looking to insure a track car on the road, I would imagine half the cars recommended in this thread will be almost uninsurable (cost based) considering your age.

If you are looking to insure the car then that's a massively relevant factor to the question you've asked as it will alter what cars people recommend. I would dread to think the cost of two 18yr olds being insured on an RX8.

So, is it a track only car or a car that two 18yr olds can be insured on?

[callywally18]

JQ said:

OP - aren't you the chap who's having to get rid of his current car because at 18yrs old and with no NCD you can't afford the insurance? If you've, got a tow car, a trailer and somewhere to store a track car then great. But if you and a mate are looking to insure a track car on the road, I would imagine half the cars recommended in this thread will be almost uninsurable (cost based) considering your age.

If you are looking to insure the car then that's a massively relevant factor to the question you've asked as it will alter what cars people recommend. I would dread to think the cost of two 18yr olds being insured on an RX8.

So, is it a track only car or a car that two 18yr olds can be insured on?

Yes I was that chap, but I have now luckily insured the car on a family fleet policy.

And it would be solely a track car we had no intentions of running it on the road, insuring it etc.

My dad has a Mitsubishi barbarian which I think would be a suitable tow car.

We just need a trailer once we have decided on the car.

So yes, it is solely a track car.

[andye30m3]

My E30 320i race car is a great laugh on track but could ideally do with a little more power so as a track car the 325 might be a better idea.

Other than that I'd look at something like the MX5 or clio 172/182 as they both light so go reasonably well but are also lighter on consumables such as fuel, tyres and brakes.

[flobalob]

Clio 172, track tyres, track pads ,you,re good to go. Then if...ok when you get the trackday bug and start wanting to improve it , you,ll have talked to enough people at the tracks themselves to know what the next stage is. A 172 is quick enough that you wont get bored with it too quickly.

[QBee]

callywally18 said:

Yes I was that chap, but I have now luckily insured the car on a family fleet policy.

And it would be solely a track car we had no intentions of running it on the road, insuring it etc.

My dad has a Mitsubishi barbarian which I think would be a suitable tow car.

We just need a trailer once we have decided on the car.

So yes, it is solely a track car.

So who exactly is towing the trailer? Had better be your Dad. You need to pass the B+E trailer test to do that yourself, as the car and loaded trailer will weigh more than 3.5 tonnes. And don't think you can get away with towing with a lighter car - if the whole towed load exceeds the towing capacity of the car, VOSA can and will impound the whole lot....saw it happening only at Wednesday on the A17.

Also, a decent car trailer will cost around £1000. If you just do a few track days a year, hiring a trailer for the day £50 ish might be your answer.

Edited by QBee on Tuesday 9th July 19:50

[ILoveMondeo]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-JDM-Honda-S2000-/32...

quick, get bidding.

[vanman1936]

Have done exactly the same as you - MR2 Turbo - goes like stink unlike most 2k options. Handling actually very good in the dry - lethal in the wet. Have some mods going on it this week.