What Car - Track Car!

[JayTee94]

Hi,

I was talking to a mate (Allokazam) the other week and we thought of buying a car just for track use. As of yet, it is still an idea but I was hoping that PH'ers would offer some suggestions we didn't think of.

Criteria.

• Manual

Well we wouldn't want Auto.

• £1000 max

Going 50/50.

• RWD

We would prefer RWD as our Daily Drivers would be FWD.

The Cars.

- E36 BMW 323i
- Toyota MR-2
- Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6 (maybe ex-police)
- Mazda RX-8*

We wouldn't be looking seriously until later this year. We hope to visit every track in the UK, and maybe the 'Ring later down the line..

NOTE: * The RX-8 is above budget now, but hopefully when we look it will be within budget.

[NickXX]

Don't bother with the 323. Go for a 318iS, 325 or 328.

[hyperblue]

You have an Omega barge on the list, but no MX-5?

[V8mate]

NickXX said:

Don't bother with the 323. Go for a 318iS, 325 or 328.

Why's that?

[caprirob]

V8mate said:

NickXX said:

Don't bother with the 323. Go for a 318iS, 325 or 328.

Why's that?

323i is OK if you put the 325i Inlet on it.
328i Is much better and better again if you do the 325i inlet upgrade

Wouldnt bother with an E36 325i now unless its uber-cheap - too old and not many left anyway, and the 318is just doesnt have the poke.

[JayTee94]

hyperblue said:

You have an Omega barge on the list, but no MX-5?

How could I forget an MX-5. This is Pistonheads.

[wackojacko]

NickXX said:

Don't bother with the 323. Go for a 318iS, 325 or 328.

318is


323i in the E36 is the same engine as the 325i M50 apart from the manifold restriction. M50 manifold on a 323 and you have a 325i.


Don't bother with a 4pot E36.

[V8mate]

caprirob said:

V8mate said:

NickXX said:

Don't bother with the 323. Go for a 318iS, 325 or 328.

Why's that?

323i is OK if you put the 325i Inlet on it.
328i Is much better and better again if you do the 325i inlet upgrade

Wouldnt bother with an E36 325i now unless its uber-cheap - too old and not many left anyway, and the 318is just doesnt have the poke.

Sure. Doesn't really explain Nick's dismissive comment though.

[m444ttb]

wackojacko said:

323i in the E36 is the same engine as the 325i M50 apart from the manifold restriction. M50 manifold on a 323 and you have a 325i.

No it isn't! It's the same capacity though and an M50 manifold conversion will get you on par power wise.

[wackojacko]

JayTee94 said:

Hi,

I was talking to a mate (Allokazam) the other week and we thought of buying a car just for track use. As of yet, it is still an idea but I was hoping that PH'ers would offer some suggestions we didn't think of.

Criteria.

• Manual

Well we wouldn't want Auto.

• £1000 max

Going 50/50.

• RWD

We would prefer RWD as our Daily Drivers would be FWD.

The Cars.

- E36 BMW 323i
- Toyota MR-2
- Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6 (maybe ex-police)
- Mazda RX-8*

We wouldn't be looking seriously until later this year. We hope to visit every track in the UK, and maybe the 'Ring later down the line..

NOTE: * The RX-8 is above budget now, but hopefully when we look it will be within budget.

Rx8, honestly don't go there... I actually hate them They are st IMHO they handle ok, just that fking engine !

Mr2 ..... any need to ask question ?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNYFrgqNFm8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDU9EcD-6l8

I'm being honest though fella, if you havn't/can't drive, powerslide etc a RWD car comfortably then an MR2 will have you going backwards alot, they do snap quite quickly... just ask PHer Kovac (the guy I share the '2 with)

Omega - awesome motors, I learn't to drift in one when I was 15 However I wouldn't have one as a track car as they are so so heavy which means they cain tyres, brakes and petrol for not getting anywhere very quickly.


For a grand you'll need to chuck another grand at any car for , suspension, tyres and safety equipment which I know is a personal thing but I'd want a cage straight off.
I don't know what your financial situation is but trackdays can and do get expensive, we do one a month and it costs us around £200ish each plus servicing, tyres, brake pads and other consumables which are up for renewal at the moment.

This month we are having a break due to other commitments but... we need to buy a set of tyres for spare wheels - £200ish
Brake pads-£80
Oil and filter change -£50
That's £330 without going near a track, I know it's around £165 each but I think actual costs get over looked when choosing track cars and looking into trackdays on forums so that was just a little bit of info for you

It also takes a fair amount of your time working on the car which is fun but it does take a while to do things if you want to save money such as servicing, clutches etc yourself.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Edited by wackojacko on Sunday 25th March 11:29

[JayTee94]

It was you that gave me the idea for a Track Car.

MR2 - When I suggested it, he (my mate) just laughed. I want to take on that sort of challenge in a strange sort of way.

Omega - It was a slightly odd choice, I was thinking of an ex police and then I thought of a 2.5 V6 Elite with no interior. My mate also found an old Jag 4.0 V8 engine on eBay.

RX-8 - What is soo bad with the RX-8? Serious Question.

BMW 3'er - The reason I picked the 323i was not for any fancy reason, but just because it was £610.

I know it will be expensive but we plan on spreading the cost in half (ie: 50/50) on the car and any mods/trackdays we do. I don't think we would go quite as much as you but we would try and go as often as we could.

One question at the moment: Is your MR-2 road legal or is it track only?

Thanks!

[V8mate]

I run a 323 track car. Admittedly, it comes into th 'well sorted' category, but it's a sterling performer on track. The good thing about them is that they often have less wear and tear as the car park drift brigade covet the 328.

[wackojacko]

JayTee94 said:

It was you that gave me the idea for a Track Car.

MR2 - When I suggested it, he (my mate) just laughed. I want to take on that sort of challenge in a strange sort of way.

Omega - It was a slightly odd choice, I was thinking of an ex police and then I thought of a 2.5 V6 Elite with no interior. My mate also found an old Jag 4.0 V8 engine on eBay.

RX-8 - What is soo bad with the RX-8? Serious Question.

BMW 3'er - The reason I picked the 323i was not for any fancy reason, but just because it was £610.

I know it will be expensive but we plan on spreading the cost in half (ie: 50/50) on the car and any mods/trackdays we do. I don't think we would go quite as much as you but we would try and go as often as we could.

One question at the moment: Is your MR-2 road legal or is it track only?

Thanks!

Aha, yeah it's great fun just thought I'd outline the costs as many threads I see generaly over look the realistic expenditure.

Mr2 will be the most satisfying when you get it right but get it wrong and it will wrong a lot quick than say an E36 if you're not confident in it.

Omega- as I say, Wouldn't go there as it won't be that fun and be expensive on consumables.

Rx8 - You have to understand this is my opinion as I know Militant Rotary enthusiasts get very upset but I hate Rotary engines in general, from fuel consumption to power output ratio, lack of torque and the way every Rotary fan bangs on about it being a 1.3 when it just isn't. Then again I'm very particular as they say you if you hate the Rx8 you love the 350Z which I don't but that's another story.

Any Six pot E36 will be a laugh and to be honest if you just want to have fun, a little sideways fun but generally predictable and consistant in what it does I'd suggest an E36. We only bought the Mr2 because it was cheap.

Going 50:50 is what we do it is brilliant fun for an average cost of say £300 each per month. The Mr2 is road legal and my dad drives it to and from circuits under his trade insurance policy, this does mean we have to drop £118 tax on it every 6 months but it beats arsing about with a trailer and worrying about towing weight.

I tell you what would be epicly cool ...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3746341.htm

[JayTee94]

Thanks for info Jack.

I am leaning towards the E36 at the moment. Any specific engine you would go for?

[varsas]

JayTee94 said:

Thanks for info Jack.

I am leaning towards the E36 at the moment. Any specific engine you would go for?

I don't know of any reason to not go for the M52 328i engine, yes the cars are a bit more expensive but we are talking a few hundred here. Not a lot in track car money. I run a 328 track car and it's great. You always have the option of fitting an M50 inlet manifold and big bore throttle body which gives perhaps as much as 20bhp extra.

[JayTee94]

Thanks.

As I say, I chose the 323i as it was £610. I will look into the 328i

[JayTee94]

Any more suggestions?

[wackojacko]

JayTee94 said:

Thanks for info Jack.

I am leaning towards the E36 at the moment. Any specific engine you would go for?

No problem

I'd go for a 2.8 with an M50 inlet manifold (the less restrictive manifold) which should give over 200bhp.
Get a big bore throttle body and you look at around 220bhp with exhaust mods.

[SlimRick]

Come up with another £500 and you can have mine

[JayTee94]

Looks very nice Rick.

Sadly, we wouldn't be looking till late 2012/2013 now.