Cheap track car - not 4 cylinder!

[braddo]

I would be looking at an early 2.5 Boxster. 1250ish kg, 17 inch wheels, smaller brakes mean manageable running costs and nice flat 6.

For a cheap track car that needs minimal mods I think the RX8 is compelling but I'm not a fan of the rotary sound.

[QBee]

Another benefit of the MX5 is one you don't think of until you are doing track days on your own.

I find track days on my own a bit lonely and boring. I usually go with a gang of up to 10 good friends with their TVRs, but trying to persuade them to risk frostbite and come oop north to Cadwell Park, my favourite circuit, is a losing battle. By lunchtime I am bored on my own.

There are always at least 6 MX5s on any track day - 6 ready made friends to exchange notes with, discuss mods and improvements with, ride shotgun with, and generally brighten your day. Just park amongst them on arrival and bury your normal reticence.

I even made friends with an MX driver once - nearly got drummed out of the TVR Car Club!

https://youtu.be/xAZCOXpZCWY

[Fishy Dave]

Well within your budget, how about an E46 325ti?

2.5 straight six, 192bhp and a number of improvements as standard over some other E46: stiffer arbs, shorter final drive, quicker steering rack. As an added bonus these seem to suffer less from tin worm too.

I use mine as a wet weather daily driver/winter car and it's quite fun and sounds good with a Ram Air induction kit.