Three approaches to accessible, fun motoring. Which one?

[JayPee]

So here's the situation. You have space for one car only. It will do 6-8k miles a year and it isn't vital for commuting, though desirable. Practicality in terms of boot space is the same. Will do mechanic work but may go down service route if it helps residuals. Very modest income, cars as main hobby. Here are the options-

A-Cheap Track Slag, for arguments sake say something like an MX-5, E36 6-pot etc. Tough enough, but will inevitably need a few mods for regular track work, along with the usual wear and tear. Not too compromised for road use however.

B-£4-5k Performance Car, E36 M3, Impreza RB5, 944 S2 etc. Possibly very very occasional track use but predominantly a car to be enjoyed every day. Possibly getting leggy and big bills on the horizon. You have to save for say 6 months for one of these.

C-£8-9K VX220, S2000, Boxster S etc. Newer, more refined and if a decent example maybe less heavy on running costs? Or possibly much worse when bills do come up. Barely any track use, but a nice luxury to have. A year or so to save up for this one.

I post this has always been three different options in my position, and I am curious to see what people think, in terms of performance, usability, and the general enjoyment you gain from vehicles in different price ranges.
Cheers.

[CDP]

If it's for track I'd suggest getting something as easy to service and repair as possible with plentiful secondhand or cheap spares.

I've never owned one but the MX5s and 3 series don't look that complicated and there are loads of them about. MGFs and MR2s are just too inaccessible for easy DIY.

I've seen enough MK2 Golf GTIs sliding through The Mountain at Cadwell on three wheels to suspect they might be a good bet, despite front wheel drive.

Of course a seven clone is probably the best cheap trackday car. Fast, cheap (especially this time of year) and as easy to repair as anything you're likely to find. The downside is needing a second car for daily use and possibly a trailer, but if you've got space pretty much unbeatable. There are race ready Locosts for sale around £4K and racing is far more fun than trackdays. They are of course eligible for most trackdays too.

Boxsters are tempting but even worse than the '2 and 'F for engine access.

[slomax]

For category B and C i'd recomend going down the kit car route. you really can't get more performace for your money.

[JayPee]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Umm, shirley it is down to how much you want to spend ?

Not necessarily, you might try and get the best value for money in terms of fun and performance, but that may not always be by spending more and more money. Equally cheaper track cars and older performance cars can hide a lot of maintenance costs too, so it's quite hard to judge how much you will actually end up spending.

In terms of kit cars, they are great, but as a daily car that will occasionally make trips across the country and do the frosty start practicality of others?

[300bhp/ton]

JayPee said:

So here's the situation. You have space for one car only. It will do 6-8k miles a year and it isn't vital for commuting, though desirable. Practicality in terms of boot space is the same. Will do mechanic work but may go down service route if it helps residuals. Very modest income, cars as main hobby. Here are the options-

A-Cheap Track Slag, for arguments sake say something like an MX-5, E36 6-pot etc. Tough enough, but will inevitably need a few mods for regular track work, along with the usual wear and tear. Not too compromised for road use however.

B-£4-5k Performance Car, E36 M3, Impreza RB5, 944 S2 etc. Possibly very very occasional track use but predominantly a car to be enjoyed every day. Possibly getting leggy and big bills on the horizon. You have to save for say 6 months for one of these.

C-£8-9K VX220, S2000, Boxster S etc. Newer, more refined and if a decent example maybe less heavy on running costs? Or possibly much worse when bills do come up. Barely any track use, but a nice luxury to have. A year or so to save up for this one.

I post this has always been three different options in my position, and I am curious to see what people think, in terms of performance, usability, and the general enjoyment you gain from vehicles in different price ranges.
Cheers.

I'm not sure I fully understand the question(s)?????

If you want to do track days, would you not entertain them with option B or C?

I agree with another poster about how much you want to spend, but also I'd add, what do you really want it for?

1 car that does everything is great. But lets face it, even the TARDIS can't be small and big, fast and economical, comfy and fun all at the same time. And no car will either.

Also if you plan to track something regular, then expect it to break or even worse. Nobody wants to stack it, but should it happen you'll have no car at all.

So for these reasons if track work is a true consideration then multiple cars have to be considered. Ok you'll pay more insurance and road tax, but that's just part of it. But you seem to have scope for £9000 worth of car, so why not say have 2 at a total of £6k or something, even if you have to hire a garage somewhere to keep car number 2.


While on the topic of track days. How many do you plan to do? I mean they aren't cheap yet you say about modest income. Most track days I've seen are £80-300 depending on venue and setup. Doing 1 a month will seriously affect most peoples motoring running costs.

Are track days the only thing you'd want to do? There's a raft of grass roots motorsport available from auto tests, auto solos, gykhana, nav rallys, sprints and hill climbs. A lot of them are far cheaper than a track day and others no more costly. But some types of cars are not suitable or are not allowed at some events.

Afraid I also don't agree with your assumption than £8-9k will buy you a car with lower running costs. Any car that is 8 years old+ is very likely to need bits doing to it. New shocks, brakes, bushes and so on. Arguably an older sorted car that might have had many of this bits already done may well have lower running costs. This isn't always the case, but I just wouldn't fool yourself into thinking you could pick up an £8k Boxdter or S2k and have little or no issues with it at all.

[varsas]

£2k on a 328i and then £500 odd on mods to make it track suitable (although all I did on mine was brakes/tyres and it's been fine). Keep it for a few years, do a few track days and maybe in a few years move up to something different. I suppose it depends on how experienced you are, if you can crack an 8 min Nurbugring time in your 911 GT3 RS then a 328i won't get your blood racing, on the other hand if your last car was a diesel Vectra the BMW will feel like a super car.

[Mr2Mike]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Umm, shirley it is down to how much you want to spend ?

And also how often you want to do track days. Bit of a daft post really, if all options were affordable the vast majority will be going for the decent cars.

[900T-R]

It all depends on how many track days you are actually going to make it to. At least over here, it's something that requires forward planning (or subjecting yourself to the free-for-all style events) which may not always align with schedules and finances, while you can use a nice road car when-and whereever the mood takes you.