Looking to buy a track day car - what do you recommend?

[Mazda MPS]

As per the title, I don't really want to take my MPS onto a track for fear of doing it damage, soooo I would like to get myself something to go trackday racing in.

However, I have never raced before so am unsure What I really need to be looking at.

I don't really want to spend more than about 5k in total - this includes getting it setup for the track days.

Cheers,

Andy

[DannyVTS]

There are a lot of options, out of personal preference I would get a french tin can (106/saxo/306)

[Paul Drawmer]

Mazda MPS said:

...I would like to get myself something to go trackday racing in...

Do you mean track days, or racing?

If you mean racing, look at the classes available and choose a car to suit.

If you mean track days, get a 7esque or a Fury or anything that weighs about 500Kg. There is nothing like a lightweight car for track days.

A heavy car is more expensive to run, and just isn't as much fun as something agile.

[Mazda MPS]

Thanks guys - Paul, I mean track days rather than racing. Are those cars available within my price range?

[VeeFour]

MX5, surely...

[Paul Drawmer]

something like this:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2738128.htm
Only a 1.4, BUT it will have a fair bit of performance, and be easy to swop for a VVC later if you wanted to.

[Salgar]

mx5

[Disco You]

The problem is that £5k is scraping the barrel a bit for 7-a-likes.

£2k will get you a really nice mk1 mx-5/ eunos and then you have £3k to spend on getting it to a track spec. Or £4k for a sorted turbo mx-5 which you then have £1k to spend on.

[YBTurbo]

1.7 Puma for about £1000, strip the interior.

Buy 2 nice bucket seats with harnesses.
Remove steering wheel and replace it with a removable one.
Get some nice sticky tyre's and maybe a new set of alloys.
Lower it and stiffen the suspension.
Make sure all brakes are okay, maybe upgrade them so you will have more stopping power.
Give it a full service, maybe add some performance parts - SS Exhaust, Air filter etc....

Maybe paint the mirrors and front splitter a lime green or orange to make it stand out on track.


Should be very easily done for about £3000


Enjoy

[Richair]

If fwd is your bag either an Integra Type-5 (DC2); very capable package out of the box for track work and can offer lots of grin-inducing moments (a decent set of brake pads are the only mod required really!), or a cheapo stripped out french hatch 205/106/306/saxo. All are very light, have good engines and bits are cheap as (including upgrades).

Or if sir would prefer right wheel drive, then either an mx5 or a BMW e36 6-pot of some guise. Both are cheap and both will probably require some maintenance and mods to turn them in to a suitable track weapon. LSD is very desirable on both for the track however...

[jimmyd123]

I recently sold a 106 Rallye, fully prep'd for Stock Hatch, for way under your budget, included the trailer too. It was a great, fun car to drive. Massively recommend something along those lines, the roll cage, etc, gives you a lot more confidence, and if it already has a few battle scars, you'll be less worried about bashing it up.

Unless you've got lots of experience I think it'd be more than enough to have lots of fun.

Something like this? http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/36559/Stock_...

[Mazda MPS]

Thanks guys - I didn't think about either an MX5 or Puma - both are possibles. A turbo MX5 would be fun!