8k car for winter track work
Discussion
I've been running a mk1 Focus RS for 6 years now. In that time I've done a number of track days, the last being Spa.
I now want a car that will be good on track in the winter weather eg rain. The Focus has been utterly reliable and goes well on a dry day, but in the wet it can be a bit frustrating.
So now I am predominantly looking at 4wd.
The reasons why I want to go on track in the winter months are as follows...
1. Most summer track days are during the week and are ridiculously priced, averaging £300
2. In the winter months there are plenty of track days on a weekend, they are also reasonably priced.
3. I am now self employed and if I take a day off in the week then I don't get paid.
I need a car that has a strong gearbox, engine and cooling system. Big brakes as standard would be preferable. A short ratio box is out as it would just do my head in.
So, with a budget of around 8k what would you go for. This is probably going to be a choice between Subaru and Evo and maybe Audi, but which year, model would best suit my needs.
I now want a car that will be good on track in the winter weather eg rain. The Focus has been utterly reliable and goes well on a dry day, but in the wet it can be a bit frustrating.
So now I am predominantly looking at 4wd.
The reasons why I want to go on track in the winter months are as follows...
1. Most summer track days are during the week and are ridiculously priced, averaging £300
2. In the winter months there are plenty of track days on a weekend, they are also reasonably priced.
3. I am now self employed and if I take a day off in the week then I don't get paid.
I need a car that has a strong gearbox, engine and cooling system. Big brakes as standard would be preferable. A short ratio box is out as it would just do my head in.
So, with a budget of around 8k what would you go for. This is probably going to be a choice between Subaru and Evo and maybe Audi, but which year, model would best suit my needs.
I've ran a classic shape scooby for two years as a track car for all 3 reasons you've given and its been amazing. Not sure if we've just been lucky with the car but we've out paced the newer models running much bigger bhp countless times. Evos are a lot more money to initially buy for comparable cars and I've seen a lot more evo engine fail than scoobys over the last two years although they do seem to be running more mods and bhp. On evo side though they have a much larger following and the mlr forum is massive with them even running there own race series so if you're into that then they worth considering. We've just bought a Westfield to replace the scooby to improve our driving skills if anything as the four wheel drive can be abit safe if you get what I mean but safe can be good and I got a feeling I'm going to miss it when it goes. In fact I know for a fact I will when we do our first wet track day.from my experience I would say consider spending less than that 6 grand if you go scooby way as the older cheaper cars seem just as good if not better. Duncan
winshent said:
McWigglebum4th said:
A caterfield 7
You won't be the fastest but you'll be laughing like a drain
And some waterproof trousers
No thanks. Not keen on stuffing a hot water bottle down my vest just to go out on track lolYou won't be the fastest but you'll be laughing like a drain
And some waterproof trousers
You sit next to the gearbox and you feet are in the engine bay
Yo'll end up sweating like a pig
McWigglebum4th said:
Thats where you couldn't be more wrong
You sit next to the gearbox and you feet are in the engine bay
Yo'll end up sweating like a pig
Fair enough although I have seen plenty of guys in Sevens using hot water bottles.You sit next to the gearbox and you feet are in the engine bay
Yo'll end up sweating like a pig
Also I would prefer a 4 seater so it can double up as a 2nd car when needed.
Herman Toothrot said:
Sounds like you want a car that's easy to drive rather than fun, 4wd and long gears for a track car - sounds boring.
Agree with this. Go RWD and have some fun. P.S. I have been to about 30 race weekends with Caterhams, and countless trackdays and test days, I have also frequented discussion forums for years, and not once have I witnessed or heard about a Caterham driver using a hot water bottle on track!
McWigglebum4th said:
winshent said:
McWigglebum4th said:
A caterfield 7
You won't be the fastest but you'll be laughing like a drain
And some waterproof trousers
No thanks. Not keen on stuffing a hot water bottle down my vest just to go out on track lolYou won't be the fastest but you'll be laughing like a drain
And some waterproof trousers
You sit next to the gearbox and you feet are in the engine bay
Yo'll end up sweating like a pig
james_gt3rs said:
Surely the point of a wet track day is to do a bit of drifting? Some kind of MR2 or MX5 for me.
That usually results in being black flagged doesn't it? Anyway, as I stated in a previous post I would prefer a 4 seater so it can double up as a 2nd car when needed.
So, it looks like its between an Evo or Impreza. So if anyone can help as the choice of models and versions is huge. Is an Evo 8 better than a 7, is a Bugeye just as strong mechanically as the later models... Etc etc..
I'm not completely ruling out an E46 M3 btw, but with the possibility of returning to Spa a few more times as well I think 4wd would be a safer bet.
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