First Track Car/Advice Needed
Discussion
HI
Ive been a member of PH a while now and find the Forums a fantastic source of information.
Right my question: Me and a couple of mates have always been into cars, and had relatively quick road cars,evo, saxo vts, clio sport etc etc. However due to financial situations 2 of my mates have vans / runarounds due to having kids buying houses etc and ive got a company 1 series coupe which isnt particularly quick being a diesel.
We have been looking at going 3 ways on a track car, possible cars considered are a e36 328, a mx5 or possibly a french hatch of some description. phase 1 clio 172 possibly??
We have thought this out and have access to a trailer to tow it to the track days, one of mates works at a garage so weekend access to ramps, tools and a workshop is ok. He also has a fair bit of experience working on tuned cars and has the mechanical know how to fix most problems. Financially we were thinking of a budget of 2k, do PH think this is enough? and then we were going to put a lump of money into a pot for repairs tyres etc.
My questions are:
what are the best track cars sub 2k? any reccomendations?
I was thinking a rear drive would be the best is this what the majority of PH thinks?
Is it best to buy a standard car and strip it etc yourself or buy a track prepped one?
Does the car have to be road legal for use on a track? Road insurance could be a problem for one of the lads! (He has a fruity driving history lol)
Were are the best tracks for beginners to learn the ropes?
Right i think thats all the questions look forward to your responses.
Olly
Ive been a member of PH a while now and find the Forums a fantastic source of information.
Right my question: Me and a couple of mates have always been into cars, and had relatively quick road cars,evo, saxo vts, clio sport etc etc. However due to financial situations 2 of my mates have vans / runarounds due to having kids buying houses etc and ive got a company 1 series coupe which isnt particularly quick being a diesel.
We have been looking at going 3 ways on a track car, possible cars considered are a e36 328, a mx5 or possibly a french hatch of some description. phase 1 clio 172 possibly??
We have thought this out and have access to a trailer to tow it to the track days, one of mates works at a garage so weekend access to ramps, tools and a workshop is ok. He also has a fair bit of experience working on tuned cars and has the mechanical know how to fix most problems. Financially we were thinking of a budget of 2k, do PH think this is enough? and then we were going to put a lump of money into a pot for repairs tyres etc.
My questions are:
what are the best track cars sub 2k? any reccomendations?
I was thinking a rear drive would be the best is this what the majority of PH thinks?
Is it best to buy a standard car and strip it etc yourself or buy a track prepped one?
Does the car have to be road legal for use on a track? Road insurance could be a problem for one of the lads! (He has a fruity driving history lol)
Were are the best tracks for beginners to learn the ropes?
Right i think thats all the questions look forward to your responses.
Olly
Much cheaper to buy a track prepped one - have a look in the ph classifieds. Whatever you buy, you will break stuff as things wear much faster on tracks.
Lighter cars will be less heavy on brakes / tyres etc...
If you're going to build a track car, the 328 is a great RWD option, but may be a bit more of a stretch on your budget - I reckon it's probably nearer 4k to do it properly. No reason you can't add the bits as you go along though.
Lighter cars will be less heavy on brakes / tyres etc...
If you're going to build a track car, the 328 is a great RWD option, but may be a bit more of a stretch on your budget - I reckon it's probably nearer 4k to do it properly. No reason you can't add the bits as you go along though.
Sounds like a good plan and 2k will be plenty for starters. Which car to go for however is a different ball game with everyone having a favorite. Your list includes a good selection and you will enjoy whichever you choose. A FWD car weighing nothing with modest poke will be a huge giggle on track, with some decent tyres and a few suspension tweeks you'll be able to carry lots of speed on the way into the corners. Go the RWD route if you like (or want to learn) to oversteer on the way out of them!
Personally I'd go for the MX5 or even an older E30 BMW - nice and light when stripped, cheap and simple to fix and moddify and nice and neutral so you can get the best out of it.
Doesn't matter which track you choose for your first few days just get used to circuit driving and the new car, be realistic about you abillities and above all, ENJOY!
Personally I'd go for the MX5 or even an older E30 BMW - nice and light when stripped, cheap and simple to fix and moddify and nice and neutral so you can get the best out of it.
Doesn't matter which track you choose for your first few days just get used to circuit driving and the new car, be realistic about you abillities and above all, ENJOY!
Clio 172 is a great little track car,mine cost me just £2500 in total to get ready for the track, Ive just sold it now, but it was a good little track car.
Buy a car ready prepared if you can, Bedford Autodrome is a great 1st track, loads of run off, not much to hit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNvy37kooEs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOhbia0j-p0
Just to add, for a trackday car, you don't require a mot, or insurance, although the car needs to be in a safe road worthy condition.
Buy a car ready prepared if you can, Bedford Autodrome is a great 1st track, loads of run off, not much to hit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNvy37kooEs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOhbia0j-p0
Just to add, for a trackday car, you don't require a mot, or insurance, although the car needs to be in a safe road worthy condition.
Edited by MK INDY on Thursday 21st October 14:44
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