Weekend toy/ occasional track car.

[blocko23]

Looking for ideas for a weekend fun car/ occasional track use.

I currently have a nissan 350z but i just cant seem to get on with it.

I think i miss turbo noises after having many Subarus.

What would people recommend? I have a but of 6/7 grand but thats gota include buying upgrades and mods

Needs to be turbo at the minimum

Edited by blocko23 on Saturday 11th June 18:10

[Ian Geary]

The days of cheap jap turbo power have long gone it seems, unless you buy the cheapest out there, and enjoy welding.

How about Renault sport Mégane 225?

Or any VAG 1.8t equipped car, though you did say fun. Same goes for Volvo or Saab barges, which probably won't tick the track day box.

I think you'll struggle to surpass the imprezza drama on that budget personally, but good luck trying!

Ian

[Ian Geary]

Ok, a quick peruse of eBay

S3 quattro
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165525491734?hash=item2...

BMW 335i
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325194733763?hash=item4...

Mégane r26
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203614725240?hash=item2...

Non r26 ones are a lot cheaper.

A lot of Vauxhall's and Subaru's, as expected. Depends how much track Vs weekend driving you want in the mix.

[Funky Squirrel]

Lack of turbo I know but have you thought of an slk, first gen AMG models with supercharged engine are in budget. Budget may be too small for the later model AMG v8.

They are good cars for weekend and track use. Unfortunately the amount of salt in Scotland led mine to terminal rust.

[georgeyboy12345]

How about another Subaru? Here's a blobeye Impreza WRX
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112230...


Renaultsport Megane
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205205...


Abarth 595
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205155...


Abarth Punto Evo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...


Ford Focus ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206016...


Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206036...


Vauxhall Astra VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206066...


VW Golf GTI mk5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206076...


Mitsubishi Colt CZT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206046...


Mazda 3 MPS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205075...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Monday 13th June 23:00

[samoht]

I'm with you on the 350Z, nice car but mine didn't quite excite me enough for a two seater.

You could consider a turbo converted MX-5, you'll need to look very carefully both for the normal MX-5 rust and that the turbo conversion has been done well. That said, the 1.8 in the NA and NB did have a factory turbo version in the 323, so it's an engine that takes boost fairly well I think, do check it has enough cooling.

EG
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334467206811
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175309245504

I just think that with the small size, light weight, balance, and midrange rush of a turbo, it might be the kind of thing that would be exciting in the way you're looking for. It's also crucially in budget in the way that RX-7s, Skylines and Supras aren't.

[cerb4.5lee]

samoht said:

I'm with you on the 350Z, nice car but mine didn't quite excite me enough for a two seater.

I think the problem with the 350 is that it is a heavy car with a NA engine(much like the E92 M3), and if you have experienced either a lighter car previously(or a turbocharged car) then it will definitely leave you disappointed I think.

[cerb4.5lee]

samoht said:

I just think that with the small size, light weight, balance, and midrange rush of a turbo, it might be the kind of thing that would be exciting in the way you're looking for. It's also crucially in budget in the way that RX-7s, Skylines and Supras aren't.

I still really miss my old lightly tuned S14a 200SX in that regard too. Granted it wasn't as light as a MX-5, but with the boost turned up...it didn't half shift for something that weighed around 1200kg.

[samoht]

Yeah, I think I'm just a turbo fan really (hence wanting to agree with the OP). I can make do with a 5+ litre V8 at a push, but I really like boost.

cerb4.5lee said:

I still really miss my old lightly tuned S14a 200SX in that regard too. Granted it wasn't as light as a MX-5, but with the boost turned up...it didn't half shift for something that weighed around 1200kg.

Completely agree, the SX felt weightless when the SR20DET hit boost, just blew forward like a leaf in a gale. Unfortunately for the OP, the 200SX can also be included in the list of "Japanese turbo cars that used to be cheap, but aren't any more".

[blocko23]

Thanks for the advice…

I doo keep looking towards a mk1 tt/ 1.8t s3… previous had an audi tts running 340bhp and whilst i had the car i thought it was abit dull and boring to drive but recently i have started to actually miss the car..

Toying with a mk1 tt 1.8t as there cheap as chips atm see quite a few for around a grand gives me plenty of money for mods

[ninjag]

Maybe not the greatest for the track, but as a weekend toy could a supercharged S5 convertible be fun? If you could haggle the price down a bit then a dual pulley upgrade and remap would put you over 450bhp.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205115...

[ZX10R NIN]

The 350Z is fun but you do have to stoke it.

If you want a very capable weekend/track toy then I'd go for a GTC VXR Astra they come with a very similar set up to the Cup Chassis'd Megane RS250 & are a just behind said Megane in the handling stakes but ahead on day to day running.

You won't have any money leftover for mods but you won't need them if it's for occasional track use:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206016...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206136...

[Xcore]

Gc8 impreza wrx?! Rot less then the later stuff and generally more fun