Why no Cossie trackday cars?

[Windymiller]

Just curious really...

There's a fair few E30 M3 track cars about on trackdays, and back in the day, its closest competitor in Touring Cars was the 3-door Cossie... so why don't you see more of these? Surely a cheaper alternative?

[dean100yz]

Think so many have died to death there becoming quite a rare car to find one thats still up to the job without it being either a collectable or spending £££ getting it up to spec. again

My personal thoughts of course :-)

[A.Wang]

I've seen a few on the track days I've done in the past couple of years.

They are either race cars with fully liveries, or (what appeared to be) completely rebuilt jobs from a bare shell.

Completely agree that they are rare cars though, and I tend to start drooling whenever one turns up!

[jackal]

i have some video of one at spa back in 2001

it was very fast in a straight line, big power i think.... as quick as my Caterham SLR that i had at the time

turned into a flintstones car into teh corners though

[Combover]

There was a 400Bhp Saphire Cossie at my last day. Quick on the starights but as Jackal has said, it was all over the place, especially in the chicanes. The owner had spent a decent amount on the suspension and the tyres were good too! An eye opener to say the least!

[RB Will]

So thats why at events like Rallyday they all just park up and show off the chrome engine bays.

[Combover]

Don't get me wrong, over a couple of laps it was bloody quick, but the driver really had his hands full in the corners, just to get it going in the direction he wanted.

I reckon on some slicks or very sticky tyres in the dry, you'd have a damn quick machine, but it did look super tricky to handle.

[Shropshiremike]

Combover said:

Don't get me wrong, over a couple of laps it was bloody quick, but the driver really had his hands full in the corners, just to get it going in the direction he wanted.

I reckon on some slicks or very sticky tyres in the dry, you'd have a damn quick machine, but it did look super tricky to handle.

You do get a few - here's some pics from the Combe trackday a couple of weeks back








With some of the bigger power cars they tend to run a big turbo which can result in a big wodge of torque arriving halfway through the rev range. This can unsettle the car and make them look a handful esp in rwd form.
On decent suspension and tyres and with a decent driver they can be fairly quick although they, like the older M3s, have a fairly basic chassis.
The white 3-door pictured above was giving the EVO a good run round

[Chris71]

A classic or retro track car does appeal but, as mentioned above, once they become collectable the 'what if I put it into the barrier' concerns start to increase. It's a bit different if it's an out and out competition car I guess, but even for a conscientious driver it's no fun being on a track in a sparkling road-going classic you're afraid of scratching.

[Shropshiremike]

Windymiller said:

Just curious really...

There's a fair few E30 M3 track cars about on trackdays, and back in the day, its closest competitor in Touring Cars was the 3-door Cossie... so why don't you see more of these? Surely a cheaper alternative?

Also the 3-door isn't a lot cheaper than an E30 M3 nowadays. You need about 7 or 8k to get a decent one. Witness also the pice of low mileage RS500s compared to low mileage Evolutions/Evolution Sports ....£30k upwards

[onemorelap]

My resolve has been seriously tested recently to not go and snap this up.

Note to self - "Must finish house 1st, must finish house........."

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1005091.htm

[Shropshiremike]

onemorelap said:

My resolve has been seriously tested recently to not go and snap this up.

Note to self - "Must finish house 1st, must finish house........."

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1005091.htm

I wonder what the 'minor details' are?

[swtmerce]

I've had a play with one at Silverstone earlier this year. Comes into view at 2:37. With the kind of car it is, I thought it would have had more engine tuning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbUa14fwqlc

[Windymiller]

Nice. Fair old bit of roll from the old Ford, but it seems pretty quick!

[As_Bo]

2 door is rare and do look good but do prefer a Sapphire. Talking about the Sapphire was this a 2wd or 4x4 that you saw?

[andygtt]

I tracked my cossie twice... 1st time around (on a revs track day) the brakes failed and i rolled in a gravel trap lol

Was quite a machine on track though and handles pretty well for the vintage (had coil overs etc etc... wouldnt use one regularly though as the engine wouldnt take it IMO

[As_Bo]

andygtt said:

wouldnt use one regularly though as the engine wouldnt take it IMO

Realy? I know you have owned one. My mate had one and was regular at cruises back then and he would bounce limiter until the tyre popped.
Although you could be talking about one out of the box and not a strengthened one.

[Shropshiremike]

andygtt said:

I tracked my cossie twice... 1st time around (on a revs track day) the brakes failed and i rolled in a gravel trap lol

Was quite a machine on track though and handles pretty well for the vintage (had coil overs etc etc... wouldnt use one regularly though as the engine wouldnt take it IMO

Was it a blue one with a big spoiler on the rear you rolled by any chance?

Engines if built well should take it easily - they used to use them in things like the Willhire 24 hours remember and they won 3 years on the trot even against the M3s. They covered quite a few more laps than the M3s in that 24 hours as well.

The problems start when people don't look after them or scrimp on setting up

[Combover]

As_Bo said:

2 door is rare and do look good but do prefer a Sapphire. Talking about the Sapphire was this a 2wd or 4x4 that you saw?

I've no idea

[As_Bo]

Combover said:

As_Bo said:

2 door is rare and do look good but do prefer a Sapphire. Talking about the Sapphire was this a 2wd or 4x4 that you saw?

I've no idea

Ok buddy you see I'm not sure if you would be better of with a 2wd saff or 4x4 saff for the track.