Which track car? Classic Impreza WRX or E36 M3 Evo?
Discussion
I'm at a bit of a crossroads so after an unbiased opinion here. I need help! I have my M3 Evo but the shell is very rusty and won't be sorted anytime soon.
I also have a Version 1 Impreza WRX import (yes I know only STIs are officially "versioned"
). The Impreza is great, but I compete in hillclimbs as well as track day fun and the problem I have with the Subaru is that you need a mega budget to be competitive in its class. Not the end of the world but I certainly haven't got said mega budget.
Which brings me back to the M3. Good M3 shells are just not coming up anymore, and with values on the rise why would anyone break a good one? It seems my most realistic option would be to reshell and put the M3 Evo shell away and do bits on it over the longer term, with no pressure to finish it in a certain timeframe.
If I'm keeping the Evo shell and restoring it properly, I won't feel bad about reshelling into a non Evo as it wouldn't be forever. Just needs to be solid. But the M3 is quite a heavy car. I'll do what I can though and reduce weight as much as possible. I do believe the M3 would be more rewarding on track and would be more competitive within its respective class, but as I say, I'm after opinions here as I'm prone to impulsive, irrational thought trains and decisions....
I also have a Version 1 Impreza WRX import (yes I know only STIs are officially "versioned"
). The Impreza is great, but I compete in hillclimbs as well as track day fun and the problem I have with the Subaru is that you need a mega budget to be competitive in its class. Not the end of the world but I certainly haven't got said mega budget. Which brings me back to the M3. Good M3 shells are just not coming up anymore, and with values on the rise why would anyone break a good one? It seems my most realistic option would be to reshell and put the M3 Evo shell away and do bits on it over the longer term, with no pressure to finish it in a certain timeframe.
If I'm keeping the Evo shell and restoring it properly, I won't feel bad about reshelling into a non Evo as it wouldn't be forever. Just needs to be solid. But the M3 is quite a heavy car. I'll do what I can though and reduce weight as much as possible. I do believe the M3 would be more rewarding on track and would be more competitive within its respective class, but as I say, I'm after opinions here as I'm prone to impulsive, irrational thought trains and decisions....
Just re shell into a lesser spec shell, you see really clean low spec e36s still for not much dosh.
If you are starting from a bare shell you could build a really light 36 for your purposes, or for lighter still use a compact.
Financially its a bit mad at current prices to turn an m3 into a competition car tho tbh, a regular 36 or compact with an s54 implant makes more sense.
If you are starting from a bare shell you could build a really light 36 for your purposes, or for lighter still use a compact.
Financially its a bit mad at current prices to turn an m3 into a competition car tho tbh, a regular 36 or compact with an s54 implant makes more sense.
Given that you haven't made significant inroads into restoring this M3 in the many years that you've had it (and been posting here about it), what makes you think that you'd do it when you have yet another car to focus your attention on?
Why not just reshell the mechanicals (assuming that they are in good enough condition) into something like a E36 Compact to track/race, sell the shell to someone who has the talent/time/energy to make the most of it, and get on with enjoying a car. Otherwise I can easily see the M3 shell ending up as an albatross, rotting away under a tarp in someone's front garden, and eventually getting sold for little more than scrap. The romance of restoring a car is almost always better than the reality unless you have the time, skills and funds to do it properly.
Why not just reshell the mechanicals (assuming that they are in good enough condition) into something like a E36 Compact to track/race, sell the shell to someone who has the talent/time/energy to make the most of it, and get on with enjoying a car. Otherwise I can easily see the M3 shell ending up as an albatross, rotting away under a tarp in someone's front garden, and eventually getting sold for little more than scrap. The romance of restoring a car is almost always better than the reality unless you have the time, skills and funds to do it properly.
Yeah I agree. Time has been the biggest challenge really. I don't know, I just feel it would be a better car and give me more chance of being competitive than the Impreza and I'm very attached to it.
Not seen much about in the way of clean non M E36s below the £3k mark though, and I have been looking. Unless I buy an auto. They seem a bit cheaper. Haven't looked into the complexities of that swap over yet. Probably nothing too difficult since the M clocks would go into the reshell.
Not seen much about in the way of clean non M E36s below the £3k mark though, and I have been looking. Unless I buy an auto. They seem a bit cheaper. Haven't looked into the complexities of that swap over yet. Probably nothing too difficult since the M clocks would go into the reshell.
TroubledSoul said:
Yeah I agree. Time has been the biggest challenge really. I don't know, I just feel it would be a better car and give me more chance of being competitive than the Impreza and I'm very attached to it.
Not seen much about in the way of clean non M E36s below the £3k mark though, and I have been looking. Unless I buy an auto. They seem a bit cheaper. Haven't looked into the complexities of that swap over yet. Probably nothing too difficult since the M clocks would go into the reshell.
Ask yourself honestly - will you really have the time/talent/money to reshell the E36 drivetrain and repair the E36 shell?Not seen much about in the way of clean non M E36s below the £3k mark though, and I have been looking. Unless I buy an auto. They seem a bit cheaper. Haven't looked into the complexities of that swap over yet. Probably nothing too difficult since the M clocks would go into the reshell.
I'm going to say "no", and assume you will end up with two non-working cars. If you weren't so attached to the M3, it would just be a simple case of selling it and buying a pre-built E36 328 (or similar).
C70R said:
Ask yourself honestly - will you really have the time/talent/money to reshell the E36 drivetrain and repair the E36 shell?
I'm going to say "no", and assume you will end up with two non-working cars. If you weren't so attached to the M3, it would just be a simple case of selling it and buying a pre-built E36 328 (or similar).
The welding work on the M3 shell will be the hard part, but enough talent to reshell it? Absolutely. This isn't my first rodeo. I've just lost my focus and let it drag on. I've built Imprezas from almost the gorund up, reshelled an MR2 turbo, engine swapped MR2 Roadsters etc. I'm going to say "no", and assume you will end up with two non-working cars. If you weren't so attached to the M3, it would just be a simple case of selling it and buying a pre-built E36 328 (or similar).
Can't see it being that hard to pull the engine and box from the M3 and put them into the other car, seeing as the rear axle and everything else is already all off the car to be honest.
You are, of course, entitled to a different view to me
iguana said:
Just re shell into a lesser spec shell, you see really clean low spec e36s still for not much dosh.
If you are starting from a bare shell you could build a really light 36 for your purposes, or for lighter still use a compact.
Financially its a bit mad at current prices to turn an m3 into a competition car tho tbh, a regular 36 or compact with an s54 implant makes more sense.
I was looking at the Compact but I can't put the M3 rear axle onto one of those so how would that work?If you are starting from a bare shell you could build a really light 36 for your purposes, or for lighter still use a compact.
Financially its a bit mad at current prices to turn an m3 into a competition car tho tbh, a regular 36 or compact with an s54 implant makes more sense.
TroubledSoul said:
C70R said:
Ask yourself honestly - will you really have the time/talent/money to reshell the E36 drivetrain and repair the E36 shell?
I'm going to say "no", and assume you will end up with two non-working cars. If you weren't so attached to the M3, it would just be a simple case of selling it and buying a pre-built E36 328 (or similar).
The welding work on the M3 shell will be the hard part, but enough talent to reshell it? Absolutely. This isn't my first rodeo. I've just lost my focus and let it drag on. I've built Imprezas from almost the gorund up, reshelled an MR2 turbo, engine swapped MR2 Roadsters etc. I'm going to say "no", and assume you will end up with two non-working cars. If you weren't so attached to the M3, it would just be a simple case of selling it and buying a pre-built E36 328 (or similar).
Can't see it being that hard to pull the engine and box from the M3 and put them into the other car, seeing as the rear axle and everything else is already all off the car to be honest.
You are, of course, entitled to a different view to me
I suspect you already knew the answer to your question, and you'll plough on with 'fixing' it. This time next year, it will still be under a tarp on someone's front lawn. Just my $0.02.
C70R said:
If it's not that hard, why haven't you done it yet?
I suspect you already knew the answer to your question, and you'll plough on with 'fixing' it. This time next year, it will still be under a tarp on someone's front lawn. Just my $0.02.
Actually I'm genuinely in two minds. My focus has been elsewhere and buying another E36 wasn't where it was at I suspect you already knew the answer to your question, and you'll plough on with 'fixing' it. This time next year, it will still be under a tarp on someone's front lawn. Just my $0.02.
This year has been mostly dominated by a marriage breakup.I actually won an eBay auction for one about two months ago but then found out upon checks that it was a previous write off. Track car or not, I don't want that.
It would actually be easier to carry on with the Impreza because the house is on the market and I have no idea when I will have to move, so starting a reshell isn't exactly the wisest choice. My heart doesn't want to let the Evo go though. My head says get rid and let someone else have a crack at it.
Of course the third option would be to get it rolling again and move it to a mate's garage for the time being. Keep the Impreza for now and keep the M3 locked away until everything is settled.
So a bit of an update, I've bought some more Impreza parts
It's occurred to me that I might be better off continuing with my Impreza track car and selling the 62 plate STI I run as a daily. Once sold, put aside say £3k and send the M3 off to someone who genuinely can do the work it needs.
Perhaps that's not the worst idea in the world?
Would mean smoking around in a crappy daily for a while though... But sometimes the juice is worth the squeeze.
It's occurred to me that I might be better off continuing with my Impreza track car and selling the 62 plate STI I run as a daily. Once sold, put aside say £3k and send the M3 off to someone who genuinely can do the work it needs.
Perhaps that's not the worst idea in the world?
Would mean smoking around in a crappy daily for a while though... But sometimes the juice is worth the squeeze.
TroubledSoul said:
I was looking at the Compact but I can't put the M3 rear axle onto one of those so how would that work?
Z3M rear end is what you need. Not easy to find though.Rear end from 2.8 version of the z3 does NOT fit though. Ask me how I know
Proper "Carlos Fandango" job which I only realised when I tried to fit the rear wheels the night before MOT was booked
HTH
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff