Conned my flatmate to go halves on a track day toy - MX5??

[vanman1936]

OK so my foolish car indifferent flat mate has agreed to going halves on a cheap track day toy, criteria:

RWD
Cheap to buy (<£2k)
Cheap to run and repair and reliable
Fun on track and road but not some stripped out knackered 944 or similar that crashes around and breaks

So MX5 is the natural - especially after the recent EVO buyers guide - 1.8 Mk1 sounds ideal. MR2 MK3??

What else?

Thoughts appreciated................

Edited by vanman1936 on Thursday 19th January 21:52

[GravelBen]

vanman1936 said:

OK so my foolish car indifferent flat mate has agreed to going halves on a cheap track day toy, criteria:

RWD (ideally...MK2 MR2 tempting though)
Cheap to buy (<£2k)
Cheap to run and repair and reliable
Fun on track and road but not some stripped out knackered 944 or similar that crashes around and breaks

So MX5 is the natural - especially after the recent EVO buyers guide - 1.8 Mk1 sounds ideal.

What else?

Thoughts appreciated................

Er, MR2s are RWD too. Or did I misunderstand what you meant there?

Between MX5 and MR2 I'd say MX5 for sideways fun and easier to work on, MR2 if you prefer the mid-engined feel (Mk1 and Mk3 are both lighter and more focussed than Mk2, but Mk2 turbo has the extra grunt). Both are great cars.

[Mastodon2]

vanman1936 said:

OK so my foolish car indifferent flat mate has agreed to going halves on a cheap track day toy,

I can't see how this could end in tears at all!

[Codswallop]

MGFs are fun and cheap.

Get an E36 if you want a (rightly) ubiquitous track slag.

Or, for some more unusual suggestions;

Old Merc C Class or CLK


or a Turbo brick (740/940/960/240...)

Best bet would be something light however, (cheaper on brakes, tyres etc) so Mk1 MX5 it is

[iva cosworth]

Mastodon2 said:

vanman1936 said:

OK so my foolish car indifferent flat mate has agreed to going halves on a cheap track day toy,

I can't see how this could end in tears at all!

This was discussed about a week ago along the lines of....."i have smashed the shared

car up ,please pay half of the repair cost"

[Mastodon2]

iva cosworth said:

This was discussed about a week ago along the lines of....."i have smashed the shared

car up ,please pay half of the repair cost"

Even worse when one of them is indifferent about cars. I can see this going awry, when less interested flatmate starts to feel like he is financing the other's tyre, brake and suspension parts habit.

[FreeLitres]

[troll] Cant afford your own flat, but you want a track toy? [/troll]

[slipstream 1985]

FreeLitres][troll said:

Cant afford your own flat, but you want a track toy? [/troll]

bloody peasants!

id go mr2 turbo route for some lairy fun!

[vanman1936]

Firstly - corrected the post - MR2...FWD....I am an amateur.

As to not being able to afford a flat by myself - well he has his uses - mainly taking abuse from me and me conning him out of cash for stupid ideas such as these....brilliant!

[Carfiend]

FreeLitres][troll said:

Cant afford your own flat, but you want a track toy? [/troll]

Heh "Flat".

[vanman1936]

Aha..............

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[varsas]

Leaving nothing for brakes, tyres or a fluid change. Unwise imho.

I'd buy a BMW 328i, stick some decent tyres and perf. Friction zero brake pads all round, change oil/brake fluid and coolant and see how you get on. Personally I am reluctant to go on track in a soft top in case it rolls.

[Spanna]

My mate was selling a good condition 1.8 Eunos on eBay. Never sold with start price of £950. One of these with money spare for repairs is the best bet IMO. Plus the imported Eunos come with LSD.

[New POD]

On a related point I run a one man engineering/design/lean/manufacturing/improvement consultancy which is a ltd company, and wondered whether a Matt Black Mx5 with Chrome Advertising Logos for my company, the petrol, any repairs, could be justified to the HMRC as a 'combined marketing and engineering test budget', as well as allowing me to test prototype 'design mods'

I mean track days are full of rich business owners, with their super cars, and I thought a little networking would be acceptable.

I'm not bothered whether it brings in much work, because it would allow me to showcase my designs.

My wife is convinced I'm an idiot.

[Baryonyx]

slipstream 1985 said:

bloody peasants!

id go mr2 turbo route for some lairy fun!

Same here, definitely the best thing for track work. MX5's are great (I've owned one of those too) but they're a little slow for track driving. Great for B roads though, where their lack of outright pace isn't as noticeable. Mind you, having owned both I'd prefer to take the MR2 Turbo on the B roads too, much more fun. Faster, cooler and more challenging.

Doubt you'll get a great MR2 Turbo for £2000 but I could be wrong. OTOH, you won't get a mk3 MR2 for that either. Even the earliest, pre-cat burning models go for over £2000. It's a great car though it is very underpowered. A great handler, but the engine is as flat as fk and it will seem pretty dull next to the MR2 Turbo. It's quite an equal to an MX5 though, if you prefer mid engined handling dynamics.

[acf8181]

MR2 mk2 n/a over an mx5 anyday....don't rust as much, more power, stiffer, better responsiveness, better stopping (i had 3 mr2's and ex had 2 mx5's, albeit mk2's, so have experienced both)...a grand will get you a good early mr2 (better than later ones as non ABS), believe some imports have an lsd as well!.