328i coupe or MR2 for track slag ?
Discussion
Have narrowed it down to either the BMW or MR2 for a fun rear wheel drive track day car, my budget is around £1500 and have discounted the mx5 as rust issues have really put me off, especially now the mx5 mk2+ has serious issues with chassis rail rust.
Any pointers ? Favouring the MR2 as lighter and maybe a bit more fun to drive and if the engine blows can always drop in a 3.0 v6.
Any pointers ? Favouring the MR2 as lighter and maybe a bit more fun to drive and if the engine blows can always drop in a 3.0 v6.
V8RX7 said:
One is found in huge numbers on track days and one is not.
The one that is:
Is easy to work on
Has loads of cheap / available parts
Is forgiving of mistakes
The other is a pig to work on and due to it's engine position more likely to spin rather than let you play with the back
HTH
Indeed - the access to the MK2 MR2's engine bay is excellent, parts are dirt cheap, and grip at the rear gives it wonderful balance, particularly on the limit. You really have to be driving like a mong to lose it. Full-time drifting isn't really on the cards, but how many track days let you get away with more than a little wiggle anyway?The one that is:
Is easy to work on
Has loads of cheap / available parts
Is forgiving of mistakes
The other is a pig to work on and due to it's engine position more likely to spin rather than let you play with the back
HTH
On the other hand, rust can be an issue.
I never found my MR2 to be a pig for access. I changed the steering rack, bushes, ball joints etc on it. All was ridiculously easy! I never thought the parts were that expensive either, although I admit that spares for the BMW may be had cheaper.
One of my regrets is never taking it on a track. I think the handling aspect is constantly overstated.
One of my regrets is never taking it on a track. I think the handling aspect is constantly overstated.
Even the tidiest of mr2 can hide rust so check floor of boots. Handling is great fun amazingly I preferred the handling on the rev 1 witch was panned by the car reviews for being to side ways so they dialled it out in further revisions that basically changed a car that was predictable in going side ways to a car that would snap over steer when pushed a lot harder. I added spax suspension and strut braces to mine and it feels almost as rigid as an Elise. Loads of cheap parts to be had. Dedicated mr2 stores on eBay and the web selling second hand and new. The engine bay is hardly cluttered as the op said they put v6 in without any mods to the bay.
One thing to watch out for is getting to carried away here is a list
TRD beams red top engine
Paddle clutch
Big brakes
Spax suspension
Lightened fly
De cat
Light wheels
Federal z01
Roll bar
Stripped
Race seat
4 point harnes
Plumbed fire exting
LSD
Turbo gear box
Turbo drive shafts
Ect
One thing to watch out for is getting to carried away here is a list
TRD beams red top engine
Paddle clutch
Big brakes
Spax suspension
Lightened fly
De cat
Light wheels
Federal z01
Roll bar
Stripped
Race seat
4 point harnes
Plumbed fire exting
LSD
Turbo gear box
Turbo drive shafts
Ect
Sorry I forgot to answer your question. What car ?. I have owned a BMW 323 and found it to be great fun side ways and in a straight line. The mr2 will go side ways but your reactions do have to be much quicker and presise to deal with it ( which I prefer) so it boils down to your personnel preference both are reasonably quick the main difference is the way they handle one is a sports saloon one is a little nimble sports car has to be your choice you have to live with it. Il be at castle combe on the 13th red mr2 il be with the stoner motor sport crew feel free to come and have a look at the car.
Is the MR2 actually much lighter once you've track prepared it? Yes it's lighter in standard form, but there's considerably less you can take out of it.
How about an MGTF? They can be made to handle really quite well with a bit of work (and handle better than the mk2 MR2 out of the box, IMO) and it's a chunk lighter than either. Head gasket shouldn't be a problem on a track car because you'll be properly warming it up before thrashing it anyway. All the random bits of trim that fall off will only serve to make it lighter.
If you can stretch to it, the mk3 MR2 is also a very nice driver's car.
How about an MGTF? They can be made to handle really quite well with a bit of work (and handle better than the mk2 MR2 out of the box, IMO) and it's a chunk lighter than either. Head gasket shouldn't be a problem on a track car because you'll be properly warming it up before thrashing it anyway. All the random bits of trim that fall off will only serve to make it lighter.
If you can stretch to it, the mk3 MR2 is also a very nice driver's car.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 8th May 09:12
rs4al said:
Sorry mk2 mr2 n/a as seems the best availability at the moment, thought about mk3 but a passenger and two helmets driving to the circuit might be a space issue with the mk3
Two helmets fit in the behind seat cubby holes no problem on a mk3, then there's space in the front boot for a squashy bag also. The Mk3 is the better handler out of the box. Also you don't actually need to do anything to it to make it solid on track as they just are as they come. Great fun car that's nice and light and handles properly. Nip on to MR2ROC though and read up on gutting the pre-cats (if it's not already been done), it's a well known 'feature' of the car that can lunch the engine if you don't.kambites said:
Is the MR2 actually much lighter once you've track prepared it? Yes it's lighter in standard form, but there's considerably less you can take out of it.
How about an MGF? They can be made to handle really quite well with a bit of work and it's a chunk lighter than either. If you can stretch to it, the mk3 MR2 is also a very nice driver's car.
Agreed by the time you have ditched the passenger seet and carpets then added a roll bar probably not much atall. If you wanted to go crazy there are a few companies who build fibre glass bonnets, boots, and wings but this may be a bit over the top for a track day car.How about an MGF? They can be made to handle really quite well with a bit of work and it's a chunk lighter than either. If you can stretch to it, the mk3 MR2 is also a very nice driver's car.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 8th May 09:10
WeirdNeville said:
kambites said:
Don't BMW list their weights with nominal driver and luggage though?
I googled people who've put their cars on the weighbridge.The BMW weight tallies roughly with my 328i touring - that was 1550kg with me and a half a tank of fuel in it. (100kg extra). The convertibles are heavier still.
The Z3 might be worth considering too. It's a poor handling car in standard form but I think that's mostly because it's so floppy and you'd need to stick a cage in it for track use anyway, which would add considerable structural rigidity.
juansolo said:
Two helmets fit in the behind seat cubby holes no problem on a mk3, then there's space in the front boot for a squashy bag also. The Mk3 is the better handler out of the box. Also you don't actually need to do anything to it to make it solid on track as they just are as they come. Great fun car that's nice and light and handles properly. Nip on to MR2ROC though and read up on gutting the pre-cats (if it's not already been done), it's a well known 'feature' of the car that can lunch the engine if you don't.
If you put track tyres on then a baffled sumps needed for the mk3. I always thought the mk2 was a bit crap 328i's people who have them always rate them and even if not that fast they always seem to be having fun and never a bad thing to say about them thats got to be an indication they are ok.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Wednesday 8th May 09:39
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