Project Car Opinons Please

[M1KEY]

Guys, been thinking about getting a cheap (very cheap!) project car which I can use to learn a bit more about mechanics etc.

One of the options I'd thought of was something like a cheap 3 series (E36) which I could modify & use for some cheapish trackdays without worry. A friend has now got a '98 328 coupe for sale which I can get for about £500. The idea is that I could then strip it, fit a couple of race seats, refresh suspension, brakes etc as & when funds/time allow.

My mate has owned the car for about 10 years, it's done about 200K but has been serviced regularly, just passed it's MOT and think it's more or less sound (some rust patches on the arches but nothing major I don't think).

Providing it's more or less structurally sound I'm tempted to get it as a track toy - good idea or potential money pit?? Worse case senario, something expensive goes wrong & I either break it or just right off a few hundred quid?

What do you reckon? Any advice appreciated!

Cheers,
Mike.

[amccan10]

Are all cars not money pits? Sounds fun, go for it

[OlberJ]

Excellent choice of track car - see EVO's 8 min ring master for inspiration.

Any help you need with it, just give us a shout, be happy to chuck some advice/spare hands at it.

[More Steam]

Why not go for something like an MK Indy and build it yourself. That's always been one of my ambitions, but I don't think I'd be allowed by SWMBO.

[steelej]

Hi Mike,

Just to put things in perspective, on my 12 year old 528i with 78K on the clock, i've spent around 1500 quid on it since january just fixing things, doesn't even include brakes and servicing, throttle body first, then the front shocks and just today the rear air springs and the parts are a bit pricey even from eurocar parts, definately good for learning about working on cars and i've enjoyed every minute of fixing these things myself but i've spent more on the beemer this year in repairs than i have on the Ferrari in the last 2 years. The beemers are also pretty easy to work on, if you can get a haynes manual for it then your sorted.

John.

[Dinoboy]

If you go for something over 20 years old you can get it on classic insurance.I pay about £100 a year for my 74 2002.

[M1KEY]

Part of what puts me off is the idea of spending too much money on it rather than going towards the purchase/running of a decent car. But then I'd rather learn stuff on a car that I don't have to use on a regular basis.

Haven't had a insurance quote yet but don't think that will be much at all.

[naetype]

£500 for a 328i with rust round the arches seems a good deal. Easy to work on and plenty of forums around for advice. Get the car basically sound then stick some BC Racing coilovers on it, some Sparco SPrint race seats and some scaffolding courtesy of Chizfab and you've got a great cheap basic track car.

Then when you've got your skills and confidence up, or just got bored with the e36 looks, simply transfer all the bits onto one of these: http://www.gkdsportscars.com/overview.html

[CO2000]

328 sounds a very good shout but also look at Honda ATR's.

[M1KEY]

Looks like this might not be an option now. My insurance co won't mirror by NCD on an additional car due to a fault claim last year so it's probably not cost effective. Never mind, means I can save more money for the proper car!

Olie - Thanks for the help offer.

Cheers,
Mike.

[Dinoboy]

M1KEY said:

Looks like this might not be an option now. My insurance co won't mirror by NCD on an additional car due to a fault claim last year so it's probably not cost effective. Never mind, means I can save more money for the proper car!

Olie - Thanks for the help offer.

Cheers,
Mike.

You could still try and go down the classic insurance route though, phone and get a quote for something like an 88 E30 325i.

[Andrew[MG]]

Something like this would be ideal http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3005521.htm

[jith]

We're building a track car from this :-





The beauty of using an older car is you are not caught up in the monstrous cost of parts utilising modern technology. You can have so much fun with something like this without emptying your pockets.

And it looks bloody terrific!

J

[CO2000]

jith said:

We're building a track car from this :-





The beauty of using an older car is you are not caught up in the monstrous cost of parts utilising modern technology. You can have so much fun with something like this without emptying your pockets.

And it looks bloody terrific!

J

I Agree

Did you ever see Colin Gallies one at Knockhill, it was very nice

[Dinoboy]

jith said:

We're building a track car from this :-





The beauty of using an older car is you are not caught up in the monstrous cost of parts utilising modern technology. You can have so much fun with something like this without emptying your pockets.

And it looks bloody terrific!

J

Thats my one.

[slipstream 1985]

sell you my track car for £400

[craig2003]

slipstream 1985 said:

sell you my track car for £400

A very able track car too the stroen, went well at Golspie if it's the same car of course

[slipstream 1985]

craig2003 said:

slipstream 1985 said:

sell you my track car for £400

A very able track car too the stroen, went well at Golspie if it's the same car of course

the very same, though the car hasnt moved for a year now still needing the exhaust reattached for the mot. though it now has the original 15" wheels 2 of which have super sticky michelin pilot sport exhalto 2s on them.

[Ian974]

slipstream 1985 said:

the very same, though the car hasnt moved for a year now still needing the exhaust reattached for the mot. though it now has the original 15" wheels 2 of which have super sticky michelin pilot sport exhalto 2s on them.

Laps quicker than a gently driven elise too!

[OlberJ]

Slipstream, is it purely a track car or you got it on the road?