First track day car?
Discussion
Wanting to dabble, we're looking at a cheapie to strip and learn about things.
Thoughts.....Mondeo 2.5 V6 24V?
Pros: Plentiful bits and pieces
Cons: Touring cars of yester year aside, it's not the ideal light/rear wheel car.
We want something cheap as we'll certainly break it at some stage.
Thoughts.....Mondeo 2.5 V6 24V?
Pros: Plentiful bits and pieces
Cons: Touring cars of yester year aside, it's not the ideal light/rear wheel car.
We want something cheap as we'll certainly break it at some stage.
Edited by Elroy Blue on Sunday 10th April 16:32
RH2005 said:
afternoon
I'm in the same boat. Currently thinking of Clio 182, Focus 170 or MX5. Which are best for a run around/occasional track day car? Ideally don't want to spend more than £2k on the car.
Going to struggle to get those for 2k surely?I'm in the same boat. Currently thinking of Clio 182, Focus 170 or MX5. Which are best for a run around/occasional track day car? Ideally don't want to spend more than £2k on the car.
Try a baggy 172 or 306 GTI-6/Rallye.
VX Foxy said:
I can't imagine why you'd choose a mondeo when there are so many e30s & e36s available.
Gotta agree there. Surely a "tatty" E36 coupe, with straight six, would be the way forwards?Strip the interior, 2x bucket seats and harnesses, then launch on some better brakes and some lowering springs, bittov bracing too and replace a few knackered bushes.
It's an E36, so the suspension will be "tired" as standard
We're not discounting anything. The only condition is that it isn't miles away and it's around £500 (with another £500ish for 'bits'). A couple of the people involved aren't petrolheads and they want to see if they like it before we take it further.
We're watching a 325i on e-bay as well as the Mondeo, but anything that will give us a laugh is acceptable.
We're watching a 325i on e-bay as well as the Mondeo, but anything that will give us a laugh is acceptable.
We're not discounting anything. The only condition is that it isn't miles away and it's around £500 (with another £500ish for 'bits'). A couple of the people involved aren't petrolheads and they want to see if they like it before we take it further.
We're watching a 325i on e-bay as well as the Mondeo, but anything that will give us a laugh is acceptable.
We're watching a 325i on e-bay as well as the Mondeo, but anything that will give us a laugh is acceptable.
mgmrw2003 said:
VX Foxy said:
I can't imagine why you'd choose a mondeo when there are so many e30s & e36s available.
Gotta agree there. Surely a "tatty" E36 coupe, with straight six, would be the way forwards?Strip the interior, 2x bucket seats and harnesses, then launch on some better brakes and some lowering springs, bittov bracing too and replace a few knackered bushes.
It's an E36, so the suspension will be "tired" as standard
this is what i'm thinking of doing ......wackojacko said:
this is what i'm thinking of doing ......When I saw him couple of weeks back, was busy converting a non-running 316 compact into a 328 with euro influences, seriously tidy car. Was planning a m3 evo lump in it, but couldnt source one in the right condition/price.
a 3series compact with blown engine but solid car and box cost him £300 quid.... smaller car for track daying? no?
I'd want a saloon or touring...... Bit of a road rocket sleeper and a track shed.
-gut it (upto 200kg's have been seen to come out of an E36 saloon)
-if it's a 323i or 328i I'd do the M50 manifold swap and get it mapped for 200bhp plus
- keep the open diff as they're pretty effective with some ridiculously thick diff oil in them.
-cage
-buckets
-poly carb windows
-AP 6 pots or equivelent
-coilovers with adjustable top mounts
Etc etc
-gut it (upto 200kg's have been seen to come out of an E36 saloon)
-if it's a 323i or 328i I'd do the M50 manifold swap and get it mapped for 200bhp plus
- keep the open diff as they're pretty effective with some ridiculously thick diff oil in them.
-cage
-buckets
-poly carb windows
-AP 6 pots or equivelent
-coilovers with adjustable top mounts
Etc etc
wackojacko said:
I'd want a saloon or touring...... Bit of a road rocket sleeper and a track shed.
-gut it (upto 200kg's have been seen to come out of an E36 saloon)
-if it's a 323i or 328i I'd do the M50 manifold swap and get it mapped for 200bhp plus
- keep the open diff as they're pretty effective with some ridiculously thick diff oil in them.
-cage
-buckets
-poly carb windows
-AP 6 pots or equivelent
-coilovers with adjustable top mounts
Etc etc
Solid plan, only advantage of a compact would be it's reduced weight and size, thus improved handling.-gut it (upto 200kg's have been seen to come out of an E36 saloon)
-if it's a 323i or 328i I'd do the M50 manifold swap and get it mapped for 200bhp plus
- keep the open diff as they're pretty effective with some ridiculously thick diff oil in them.
-cage
-buckets
-poly carb windows
-AP 6 pots or equivelent
-coilovers with adjustable top mounts
Etc etc
Adjustable shockwise, from personal experience, spend money wisely..... cheap = crap. I've had better handling etc out of decent springs on OE shocks, than a set of cheap coilovers.
Nowadays as E36s have a drift following, adjustable arms etc should be easily sourced
wackojacko said:
I'd want a saloon or touring...... Bit of a road rocket sleeper and a track shed.
-gut it (upto 200kg's have been seen to come out of an E36 saloon)
-if it's a 323i or 328i I'd do the M50 manifold swap and get it mapped for 200bhp plus
- keep the open diff as they're pretty effective with some ridiculously thick diff oil in them.
-cage
-buckets
-poly carb windows
-AP 6 pots or equivelent
-coilovers with adjustable top mounts
Etc etc
Odd choices there, a full set of APs would buy 3x my complete track e36! don't need 'em, non m3 are light enough when stripped even stock size stuff with race pads/fluid/cooling is ok, m3 stuff better & cheap but I'm ok with stock at the mo, with proepr pads big brake are not even essential on track m3s really either.-gut it (upto 200kg's have been seen to come out of an E36 saloon)
-if it's a 323i or 328i I'd do the M50 manifold swap and get it mapped for 200bhp plus
- keep the open diff as they're pretty effective with some ridiculously thick diff oil in them.
-cage
-buckets
-poly carb windows
-AP 6 pots or equivelent
-coilovers with adjustable top mounts
Etc etc
Also open dif?? FD ratio is too high & needs lowering, m3 lsd is a good bit lower & lock up nicely....
Not If you your uncle has a front AP 6 pot caliper and disk set In his shed 
but otherwise yes totally agree they wouldn't be worth it, heard before that proper pads and lines are plenty good enough for a stripped E36.
M3 diffs seem to be rising in price day by day. loads of Evo diffs about but they require a new entire rear subframe change. Whereas the 3.0 doesn't but they seem to be rather sparse.
Will be interesting when I start the project in a few months
but otherwise yes totally agree they wouldn't be worth it, heard before that proper pads and lines are plenty good enough for a stripped E36.
M3 diffs seem to be rising in price day by day. loads of Evo diffs about but they require a new entire rear subframe change. Whereas the 3.0 doesn't but they seem to be rather sparse.
Will be interesting when I start the project in a few months
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