Drift / track / fun on the cheap...
Drift / track / fun on the cheap...
Author
Discussion

minerva

Original Poster:

756 posts

233 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
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I had an e36 M3 track car which was great fun, used to be able to drift when asked and was pretty quick on a track. It ended up too focused and uncompromising for road use, though. That was before the engine broke. So; I am on the look out for another car, which has to be rear wheel drive and able to be tracked, perhaps without yet losing its road going nature.

I was looking for another e36 M3 when I thought that maybe e46 was a step up. Then I saw a 2004 645ci on ebay for around £6000. I used to have one of these in 2005 and ran it for a year as a new car. It was pretty quick, fairly economical, but not that light on its feet.

The weight is listed at around 1600kg. The body panels were aluminium or plastic, so where is all the weight? The v8 is aluminium, too.

Why do I not see more of these at drift events? I thought that they would be ideal, with no real major problems reported with that engine...

With coilovers, interior removed, weight down to 1200kg, manual gearbox, unstressed V8, 330 bhp, this surely has to be the best idea I have had all day?!

McWigglebum4th

32,414 posts

233 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
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It will be worth smudge over bugger all once you have finished playing with it

Also to add decent suspension etc you are heading towards £10K down the swanny


So buy something that is track friendly

An ex race caterham can be had for that and they cost less to run then you would believe

minerva

Original Poster:

756 posts

233 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
quotequote all
I agree, every roundabout argument I have with myself about a new track car, I come back to the fact that a caterham or ariel atom would be cheaper to run and still be worth something at the end of it all... But I am just not keen on a car with no protection from the elements.

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
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It will make zero sense financially, but would be awesome!!

Get the man maths out and get it done smile

McWigglebum4th

32,414 posts

233 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
quotequote all
minerva said:
I agree, every roundabout argument I have with myself about a new track car, I come back to the fact that a caterham or ariel atom would be cheaper to run and still be worth something at the end of it all... But I am just not keen on a car with no protection from the elements.
Buy a jacket you big girl

A decent jacket and a good helmet and you don't notice the weather.


If you look at the running costs of a caterham they are hilarious

Thought i did run mine extra cheap

Remoulds are awesome for auto testing and the caterham race series came to knock hill and i filled the boot of my landrover with 1 race old tyres.

If you are extra formula ford tyres also fit

minerva

Original Poster:

756 posts

233 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
quotequote all
"A decent jacket" ?! In Britain; in the winter?! Pah!

Another thought occurred to me..... what about a Lexus is200.... for buttons ..... with a turbo / supercharger? That would be £2500 for a 220 bhp drift/track car.... Already rides too harshly for road use... would be better on a track.

MG CHRIS

9,322 posts

196 months

Sunday 18th May 2014
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May as well get a mx5 and fit a turbo or supercharger or buy when already converted can get one for under 3k. 250bhp without internal engine mods, lightweight can be easy get down to under 900kg, great handling and the only thing that will be quicker are cars costing 3x as much or kit cars.