What Track Car?
Discussion
Well after doing a nissan GTR experience at silverstone on saturday i really wanna get on track.... so i was wondering what would be an ideal track car for a begginer? i.e. cheap to run but still fun and has potential?
I was looking at a clio 172, but thought ive got a focus RS so i would be better of using that but i dont think i want to use a FWD car on track would prefer 4WD or RWD.... so been looking at old scoobies for around 2k.....
any other suggestions for half decnt track toy for under £2k?
I was looking at a clio 172, but thought ive got a focus RS so i would be better of using that but i dont think i want to use a FWD car on track would prefer 4WD or RWD.... so been looking at old scoobies for around 2k.....
any other suggestions for half decnt track toy for under £2k?
Loads of things out there for your budget, as above MX5 or MR2 if you want RWD and they are resonably cheap on parts. A Scooby for that price will almost certainly be a dog, that's what I considered at first but after seeing what I could get I changed my mind. Nothing wrong with FWD for track use - if you go down that route then either 306GTi6 or as you say 172. I've got a 172 and they are amazing cheap track toys.
Would reccomend an MR2 or straight six E36. Both have plentiful parts supply's, relatively cheap to repair.
Wouldn't go for an Mr2 turbo as a track car straight off the mark as you really don't need the extra power for starters, 160-170bhp mind engined RWD combined with a great chassis makes it a right laugh. Look on my profile for more details and videos.
MX5's just arn't quick enough IMO, again IMO a track car should be RWD !
Wouldn't go for an Mr2 turbo as a track car straight off the mark as you really don't need the extra power for starters, 160-170bhp mind engined RWD combined with a great chassis makes it a right laugh. Look on my profile for more details and videos.
MX5's just arn't quick enough IMO, again IMO a track car should be RWD !
Edited by wackojacko on Monday 27th February 11:51
RX-8. Not the quickest in a straight line and poor mpg off track but can be bought for cheap, mpg hardly suffers on track and there is very little out there that will be as much fun round the corners.
RWD, LSD, excellent brakes, reasonable DSC (it'll let you get away with a bit of tail out action rather than spoil all the fun).
As a track car I'd even be tempted to pick up one with slightly low compression and poor hot starting for very cheap and run it with pre-mix. If it does go properly pop sell it back on again for little different from what you paid for it...
RWD, LSD, excellent brakes, reasonable DSC (it'll let you get away with a bit of tail out action rather than spoil all the fun).
As a track car I'd even be tempted to pick up one with slightly low compression and poor hot starting for very cheap and run it with pre-mix. If it does go properly pop sell it back on again for little different from what you paid for it...
Try to buy something like the MX5 i sold last year.
Mk2 1.8i S, so had LSD. Stainless exhaust with sport cat. Alloy radiator. Gaz gold pro adjustable suspension and yellow stuff pads. It cost me £1600. It looked totally standard, especially in british racing green.
Toyo decent-enough tyres were £45 each.
It got lots of "blimey that goes well" comments at the only trackday i did in it at Rockingham.
Mk2 1.8i S, so had LSD. Stainless exhaust with sport cat. Alloy radiator. Gaz gold pro adjustable suspension and yellow stuff pads. It cost me £1600. It looked totally standard, especially in british racing green.
Toyo decent-enough tyres were £45 each.
It got lots of "blimey that goes well" comments at the only trackday i did in it at Rockingham.
I faced this problem last year when wanting a cheap trackday car. I found that you can't have it all.
You either have power and light weight, but have high running or purchase costs, or you make sacrifices. Personally i wanted handling and reliability over power, so the MX5 fitted perfectly.
Granted on straights it got mullered by most things, but i seem to remember running with a DC2 integra type-r for a few sessions and yes, it was faster on the straights, but i was hussling him through the corners to the point where he pulled over.
It's a trackday car, so it doesn't really matter whether you're the quickest thing there, just enjoy it.
Otherwise save your money and look at going racing...
You either have power and light weight, but have high running or purchase costs, or you make sacrifices. Personally i wanted handling and reliability over power, so the MX5 fitted perfectly.
Granted on straights it got mullered by most things, but i seem to remember running with a DC2 integra type-r for a few sessions and yes, it was faster on the straights, but i was hussling him through the corners to the point where he pulled over.
It's a trackday car, so it doesn't really matter whether you're the quickest thing there, just enjoy it.
Otherwise save your money and look at going racing...
sounds like an MX5 could be the way fowards / sideways lol will have to look into one, do they have much tuning potental for if after a few track days if felt a bit slow.... i think the main track it will be used on will be silverstone so straight like speed could help down hangers straight etc.....
Ash170990 said:
sounds like an MX5 could be the way fowards / sideways lol will have to look into one, do they have much tuning potental for if after a few track days if felt a bit slow.... i think the main track it will be used on will be silverstone so straight like speed could help down hangers straight etc.....
Supercharge it..... Big money to make a slow car faster when you may aswell buy something quicker to start with. For wide open circuits then I'd rec' an MR2 Turbo.Ash170990 said:
sounds like an MX5 could be the way fowards / sideways lol will have to look into one, do they have much tuning potental for if after a few track days if felt a bit slow.... i think the main track it will be used on will be silverstone so straight like speed could help down hangers straight etc.....
nobody ever really gets 'mad' power out of them..its quite expensive to unlock power from an mx5.. N/A theres not a lot to do and supercharged or turbo charging will get you to about 200bhp for 2-3k depends on what route you take
Everyone suggesting roadster for track should see this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfWjXzvVoL0
No thank you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfWjXzvVoL0
No thank you!
hmmm, been told to stay away from turbo'd cars for track use due to them being more likely to blow and more expensive to repair etc... so just want something which will be fun / fairly nippy on track... i didnt really want FWD but have been looking on here and ebay at 172's and 205GTi's.....
I've had two 172s, though i didn't track either of them. Great cars, but mostly because of the engine. The driving position is a bit peculiar and both of mine had niggles that meant i got rid - nothing major though. For the money you're looking at just be aware that you'll be looking at lots of sheds before finding a good one.
I had a 205 GTI when i was 19. Great fun, but again, electrical gremlins. Finding a good one on your budget will be difficult. Maybe better to look at a Saxo VTS, which is essentially the same, but with more modern-ish. Or maybe a 306 GTI-6? I've driven one on track and it was very playful.
The problem with both of those and generally all FWD options, is that if you're half decent behind the wheel, you'll reach the limit of the car's ability quite quickly and have nothing more to do than provoke oversteer, but in a far less satisfying way than with RWD.
I do agree with the sentiment about roadsters on track though. I only took my MX-5 on track once, and the first thing on my list was to get a cage fitted. You might want to budget £400 or so for one and it's not worth bothering with any of those chrome roll over hoops as they offer little or no protection.
I had a 205 GTI when i was 19. Great fun, but again, electrical gremlins. Finding a good one on your budget will be difficult. Maybe better to look at a Saxo VTS, which is essentially the same, but with more modern-ish. Or maybe a 306 GTI-6? I've driven one on track and it was very playful.
The problem with both of those and generally all FWD options, is that if you're half decent behind the wheel, you'll reach the limit of the car's ability quite quickly and have nothing more to do than provoke oversteer, but in a far less satisfying way than with RWD.
I do agree with the sentiment about roadsters on track though. I only took my MX-5 on track once, and the first thing on my list was to get a cage fitted. You might want to budget £400 or so for one and it's not worth bothering with any of those chrome roll over hoops as they offer little or no protection.
Can see what you are saying to a point, although watch an un roll caged car roll at that speed. The cage did what it was supposed to do though, it was the flailing arms that were the problem. Arm restraints would be a wise move. My friends who race open cars always use them now.
Mike
slepy said:
Everyone suggesting roadster for track should see this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfWjXzvVoL0
No thank you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfWjXzvVoL0
No thank you!
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