Would a BMW 530i be any good for a track car?
Discussion
Are far better choices, assuming an e39? Or e34 with a Six pot or the v8?
No rocket ship but wouldn't be too silly slow, but will always be pretty lardy even after a good strip so brakes will take a pounding & need sorting, will need a lot of stiffening & not sure what aftermarket suspension stuff is around unlike a 3 series where is tons of choice.
No rocket ship but wouldn't be too silly slow, but will always be pretty lardy even after a good strip so brakes will take a pounding & need sorting, will need a lot of stiffening & not sure what aftermarket suspension stuff is around unlike a 3 series where is tons of choice.
.Depends on how you define "Good"
It would probably be "fun", (big old wallowy boat sliding about the place, while you laugh your head off inside)
But would probably not be that quick, so you may find yourself frustrated getting left behind by a bunch of Clio 182's and MX-5's. Also, not too nimble, so you may find yourself feeling like you are piloting an oil tanker round a boating lake on some of the tighter circuits in the country.
It would probably be "fun", (big old wallowy boat sliding about the place, while you laugh your head off inside)
But would probably not be that quick, so you may find yourself frustrated getting left behind by a bunch of Clio 182's and MX-5's. Also, not too nimble, so you may find yourself feeling like you are piloting an oil tanker round a boating lake on some of the tighter circuits in the country.
If it's going to be any sort of ongoing project, then the cost of parts/work costs so much more than the base car in most cases. The best budget track car is picking the best base car to begin with. A 530i would be a long way from the best. Unless it's a throwaway car for a few fun blasts I wouldn't bother.
Thanks guys, cheers for the advice. I think the analogy of driving an oil tanker round a boating lake is probably what i suspected, would be hilarious fun but very frustrating especially after the scooby. I think I'll give it a miss and let it go to banger track as i know for sure it would be good at the. Lol.
What reasonable priced cars would you recommend? The Renault sport looks good value but it's a Renault and the m3 seems popular but again heavy.
What reasonable priced cars would you recommend? The Renault sport looks good value but it's a Renault and the m3 seems popular but again heavy.
I've been out on track with an E60 M5 and it needed to come in every few laps due to brake fade, whether this was down to maintenance (old fluid/cheap pads etc...) or not I don't know but if you were to track a regular one you'd probably have to spend quite a bit sorting out the handling and brakes.
For a cheap left field trackday car I'd look at a well sorted decade old Megane 225 RS or an RX8 for a couple of grand, both very capable cars and probably at the lowest part of the depreciation curve.
For a cheap left field trackday car I'd look at a well sorted decade old Megane 225 RS or an RX8 for a couple of grand, both very capable cars and probably at the lowest part of the depreciation curve.
This was 10 years ago (next month). Probably the fastest thing round Combe that day. Mainly because it was a Ferrari day, and they didn't want to play. Managed endless laps to myself.....
If it was dry, then the car is too heavy, underpowered, and you'll fade the brakes in 2/3 laps. Oh and the standard diff will just spin a wheel when exiting slow corners.
Great fun this day though....
jj
If it was dry, then the car is too heavy, underpowered, and you'll fade the brakes in 2/3 laps. Oh and the standard diff will just spin a wheel when exiting slow corners.
Great fun this day though....
jj
Surely it depends on what you are trying to achieve?
A few track days over the summer, or a weapon for tracking every week?
Do you want to be limited by the car, or by your driving ability?
Do you want to be someone who turns up at a track day but only manages 30 mins on track because the car is being temperamental, or someone who just plods on regardless with each session getting quicker?
If you think the most important issue is that the car might be a bit sluggish, then perhaps you need to be renting BaT Caterhams instead.
A few track days over the summer, or a weapon for tracking every week?
Do you want to be limited by the car, or by your driving ability?
Do you want to be someone who turns up at a track day but only manages 30 mins on track because the car is being temperamental, or someone who just plods on regardless with each session getting quicker?
If you think the most important issue is that the car might be a bit sluggish, then perhaps you need to be renting BaT Caterhams instead.
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