Starter track day cars
Discussion
Hi all, I'm considering getting my first track day car in the next couple of months which must be road legal as I have no tow car.
Whilst I currently drive a T350 I don't want to put her on track as any scratch or dent and I'd probably cry.
As such I'm looking at an old car I don't mind getting a few knocks on but that I can drive home afterwards. Heres where I want some advice - Do I want FWD or RWD? And secondly would I be better off getting a standard car and doing it up in the knowledge it won't yet have been caned on track or do I go for an already track prepped car?
I can get an early 90s 325i for a couple of grand but how much would I need to then spend to ensure a decent amount of fun? Alternatively something like this really appeals - http://pistonheads.com/sales/1390419.htm as I wouldn't need to do anything. However, how likely am I to get bored with the power of a Saxo or similar?
Any advice from when you all bought your first track cars and how you decided would be appreciated...
Whilst I currently drive a T350 I don't want to put her on track as any scratch or dent and I'd probably cry.
As such I'm looking at an old car I don't mind getting a few knocks on but that I can drive home afterwards. Heres where I want some advice - Do I want FWD or RWD? And secondly would I be better off getting a standard car and doing it up in the knowledge it won't yet have been caned on track or do I go for an already track prepped car?
I can get an early 90s 325i for a couple of grand but how much would I need to then spend to ensure a decent amount of fun? Alternatively something like this really appeals - http://pistonheads.com/sales/1390419.htm as I wouldn't need to do anything. However, how likely am I to get bored with the power of a Saxo or similar?
Any advice from when you all bought your first track cars and how you decided would be appreciated...
fiveoclockhero1 said:
Mark UB said:
Griff or Chim with nitrons and R888.
Not for £1500 - £2000Edited by Mark UB on Saturday 16th January 18:03
I've been doing track days for years.
I'd go for that Saxo, it's a good starter for 10
And if you get some driving tuition you'll soon be over-taking faster cars
(Trust me, the upgrade that will get your lap times down the most, is driving properly, I'd be tempted to go on 2 or 3 of these courses so it all seeps in)
Yes, eventually you'll want a faster car, when you find that the numpties that haven't got tuition are holding you up because they have a faster car on the straights (You can over take the closer ones by carrying more speed in the corners & timing it right to slingshot past them... as long as the straight isn't tooo long)
Hopefully by that time you will have your skill down & it will be an easier transition to RWD
And of course, it mean you get to try different cars if you don't go straight for the big RWD monster
Good Luck
Mark
I'd go for that Saxo, it's a good starter for 10
And if you get some driving tuition you'll soon be over-taking faster cars
(Trust me, the upgrade that will get your lap times down the most, is driving properly, I'd be tempted to go on 2 or 3 of these courses so it all seeps in)
Yes, eventually you'll want a faster car, when you find that the numpties that haven't got tuition are holding you up because they have a faster car on the straights (You can over take the closer ones by carrying more speed in the corners & timing it right to slingshot past them... as long as the straight isn't tooo long)
Hopefully by that time you will have your skill down & it will be an easier transition to RWD
And of course, it mean you get to try different cars if you don't go straight for the big RWD monster
Good Luck
Mark
go for a cheap golf mk2/3 gti, when stripped out,they can upset some exspensive metal.
Cheap to buy and run, all parts,tyres,etc on fleebay very cheap so budgeting for the year on spares/running very cheap.
Everything is bolt on/bolt off so maintenance straight forward too.
Cheap to buy and run, all parts,tyres,etc on fleebay very cheap so budgeting for the year on spares/running very cheap.
Everything is bolt on/bolt off so maintenance straight forward too.
Edited by whiteonyx on Sunday 17th January 06:58
I'd go for something light weight and cheap to maintain.
I've always enjoyed using by previous clio 172 on track although having none half a dozen now they're getting a bit boring in FWD so I'm thinking of looking at maybe going for a RWD car, I've used my E30 M3 and E36 M3 on the track I never felt I got anywhere near the cars limits.
I'd suggest something like an MX5, E30 325, clio 172 or 205 gti and good fun track cars which are within budget.
I've always enjoyed using by previous clio 172 on track although having none half a dozen now they're getting a bit boring in FWD so I'm thinking of looking at maybe going for a RWD car, I've used my E30 M3 and E36 M3 on the track I never felt I got anywhere near the cars limits.
I'd suggest something like an MX5, E30 325, clio 172 or 205 gti and good fun track cars which are within budget.
Thanks guys - I'm a couple of months away from being in a position to purchase but you're comments have been a great help. I do keep coming back to that Saxo - very cheap to run and parts readily available BUT a couple of posts above mentions an MX5 so I may well try and find a 1.8 Eunos (keep costs down) and do it up bit by bit. That way I can keep with my favourite RWD but not have too much power for a track novice - despite driving a 350bhp car on the road track driving is a totally different skill set.
I've had use of my mates Elise S1 a few times on track but it's too expensive a car for me to consider buying myself. Finaly question - is it worth considering a CAT D car at all? If repaired properly I may be able to pick up a bargain.
I've had use of my mates Elise S1 a few times on track but it's too expensive a car for me to consider buying myself. Finaly question - is it worth considering a CAT D car at all? If repaired properly I may be able to pick up a bargain.
Zippee said:
Thanks guys - I'm a couple of months away from being in a position to purchase but you're comments have been a great help. I do keep coming back to that Saxo - very cheap to run and parts readily available BUT a couple of posts above mentions an MX5 so I may well try and find a 1.8 Eunos (keep costs down) and do it up bit by bit. That way I can keep with my favourite RWD but not have too much power for a track novice - despite driving a 350bhp car on the road track driving is a totally different skill set.
I've had use of my mates Elise S1 a few times on track but it's too expensive a car for me to consider buying myself. Finaly question - is it worth considering a CAT D car at all? If repaired properly I may be able to pick up a bargain.
I'd go for an early (or Jap) 1.6 as they are a stronger engine. You can also get the head ported/skimmed for around £400 to take it to around 135bhp. I also wouldn't bother with a Cat D as good cars are plenty cheap enough alreadyI've had use of my mates Elise S1 a few times on track but it's too expensive a car for me to consider buying myself. Finaly question - is it worth considering a CAT D car at all? If repaired properly I may be able to pick up a bargain.
This dilemma sounds strangely familiar! I sold my TVR as I didn't want to devalue it with track mods (it's unfair that buyers take a dim view of track'd cars, but does seem to be the case...)
If you're looking at a lowish budget I'd concentrate on something with a big tuning/track day following and cheap consumables (small wheels, cheap brakes, not too many cylinders...) My first thoughts would be a 205 GTi, 106 GTi/Rallye/Saxo of some description, 306 GTi6, mk2/3 Golf or an MX5. There are plenty of very effective, very smart BMW 3-Series and Porsche 924/44 track cars going around, but I suspect they're not quite as cheap to buy (a good one) or run.
If your budget could be stretched a little I'd consider a kit of some description. For about £5k you can get things like Westfields, Fisher Furys and Sylva Strikers, which will cost absolutely peanuts to run. At 600kg brake and tyre wear are minimal and smallish, low stressed 4-cylinder production engines will still make it very rapid and people expect them to be driven rather than polished so you don't need to worry about 'dry use only, never been on track'.
If you're looking at a lowish budget I'd concentrate on something with a big tuning/track day following and cheap consumables (small wheels, cheap brakes, not too many cylinders...) My first thoughts would be a 205 GTi, 106 GTi/Rallye/Saxo of some description, 306 GTi6, mk2/3 Golf or an MX5. There are plenty of very effective, very smart BMW 3-Series and Porsche 924/44 track cars going around, but I suspect they're not quite as cheap to buy (a good one) or run.
If your budget could be stretched a little I'd consider a kit of some description. For about £5k you can get things like Westfields, Fisher Furys and Sylva Strikers, which will cost absolutely peanuts to run. At 600kg brake and tyre wear are minimal and smallish, low stressed 4-cylinder production engines will still make it very rapid and people expect them to be driven rather than polished so you don't need to worry about 'dry use only, never been on track'.
I can't imagine owning a T350 and then choosing to do a trackday in another car. I fully understand you not wanting to damage it on track but you will learn a huge amount about your car and how it can be driven by taking it on track. Trackdays do not have to be driven at ten tenths constantly, on most days there will be others that are new to trackdays too driving their road car which they care about as much as you care for yours. Nobody wants to daamage their P&J and, as most trackday organisers stress, 'it is not a race'.
Find an organiser that offers some instruction, take it easy to begin with and drive within yourself and you will have as little (or as much) chance of harming your car on track as you would on the road. After all, at least cars on a track are all heading in the same direction, the drivers are not being distacted by kids in the back, answering thier mobiles, checking their Sat Navs or looking for that junction that they missed last time.
Go on give it a try in the T350, the car cna handle it if you can.
Find an organiser that offers some instruction, take it easy to begin with and drive within yourself and you will have as little (or as much) chance of harming your car on track as you would on the road. After all, at least cars on a track are all heading in the same direction, the drivers are not being distacted by kids in the back, answering thier mobiles, checking their Sat Navs or looking for that junction that they missed last time.
Go on give it a try in the T350, the car cna handle it if you can.
I know what you mean about my T350 but it is my P&J and I wouldn't want to risk it, especially as a track day novice (I've done 2). I probably would run it on track once in a while - when weather & conditions are perfect, but I do want a more dedicated track car. One I won't mind hoofing about in the rain, not worrying too much if I do get it wrong and go off.
I'm in no way worried about resale - a tracked car would not put me off buying as long as it was properly maintained - it's more about me worrying and not being able to fully enjoy it all the time.
I'm in no way worried about resale - a tracked car would not put me off buying as long as it was properly maintained - it's more about me worrying and not being able to fully enjoy it all the time.
Zippee said:
I'm in no way worried about resale - a tracked car would not put me off buying as long as it was properly maintained - it's more about me worrying and not being able to fully enjoy it all the time.
If you're not worried about resale I'd go for it.I know it's not quite the same end of the scale as a T350, but I had a lot of fun in my (comparitively humble) TVR on track. I would have kept it if it wasn't for noise test issues and all the numpties insisting that a well maintained car that occasionally went on track was somehow worth less. That and the cost of big tyres and brake pads on a comparitively heavy car (by track standards!) and servicing an engine with 6 old cylinders rather than 4 newer ones.
If in doubt do some car control type days beforehand where you can spin to your heart's content without any risk of damage - Car Limits at North Weald (Essex/Herts border) are well regarded if you happen to be in the South East.
I've seen several Sagaris on track, along with numerous Tuscans and Speed 6 Cerbs. If you can justify the outlay of keeping a reasonably exotic car in good nick under track conditions then go for it.
Failing that get a track prep'd 205 GTi or an MX5.
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