What track car?
Discussion
I'm sure that this topic has been done to death but i'm looking to get a car to do some track days in and looking for a bit of advice as to what to get. I’ve currently got three cars, none of which i really want to use as track cars for various reasons –
996 turbo, too costly on consumables and costly if i have an off
E46 M3, as above really
Ford puma, my getting to work car so would rather keep it as is, too slow i feel anyway
This is the criteria i’m going to work towards –
Budget – 3k (to include car and prep so either 1k car and spend 2k to track prepare or a buy a 3k track car) – May stretch the budget a bit if required
Preferably RWD
Enough power to not be a sitting duck at track days
Road legal – don’t fancy going down the trailer route or want a towbar on any of my cars
Think that’s pretty much all i can think of, look forward to your thoughts/suggestions...
996 turbo, too costly on consumables and costly if i have an off
E46 M3, as above really
Ford puma, my getting to work car so would rather keep it as is, too slow i feel anyway
This is the criteria i’m going to work towards –
Budget – 3k (to include car and prep so either 1k car and spend 2k to track prepare or a buy a 3k track car) – May stretch the budget a bit if required
Preferably RWD
Enough power to not be a sitting duck at track days
Road legal – don’t fancy going down the trailer route or want a towbar on any of my cars
Think that’s pretty much all i can think of, look forward to your thoughts/suggestions...
The kit car route does appeal to me if i could find one for the right price - certainly something i'll look into
E36 with M3 conversion...would need to find one that was already built as that is beyond my comfort zone of DIY
MX5 - did think about one of these but was unsure if one would be quick enough - understand the handling is excellent and they are great cars but feel it may not be quick enough for me. Could possibly look for one with FI but have no idea where to start if i'm honest and not sure how reliable they would be?
E36 with M3 conversion...would need to find one that was already built as that is beyond my comfort zone of DIY
MX5 - did think about one of these but was unsure if one would be quick enough - understand the handling is excellent and they are great cars but feel it may not be quick enough for me. Could possibly look for one with FI but have no idea where to start if i'm honest and not sure how reliable they would be?
Langy996TT said:
MX5 - did think about one of these but was unsure if one would be quick enough - understand the handling is excellent and they are great cars but feel it may not be quick enough for me. Could possibly look for one with FI but have no idea where to start if i'm honest and not sure how reliable they would be?
My MX5 turbo has been very reliable - it managed three seasons of competitive drifting (which is harder on engines than track days) and then another couple of years of track/drift days including being used for some driver training. All the time being driven to and from every event as well as often being my commuter too. Not bad for a £500 second hand turbo install built in a shed.As for "not quick enough" - how quick do you need it to be? Mine makes enough power to hold massive slides at motorway speeds, and I'm only using 6psi of boost.
I've just bought a Caterham 7, in 1.6 Supersport spec (i.e. not even a particularly hot one). The speed you can carry in corners is breathtaking.
I honestly have no idea why, up until now, I used anything else for trackdays. Absolute hoot on my favourite hoons - can't wait to get it on track.
If £3k gets you any sort of 7-esque kit car, just do it.
If not, go for rwd, so MX-5 with a cage, MR2 or similar.
I honestly have no idea why, up until now, I used anything else for trackdays. Absolute hoot on my favourite hoons - can't wait to get it on track.
If £3k gets you any sort of 7-esque kit car, just do it.
If not, go for rwd, so MX-5 with a cage, MR2 or similar.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 25th June 11:58
How many track days are you going to do in it?
Will it be exclusively for trackdays and will you trailer it there or does it have to be road legal and will it get used for odd weekends away and occasional Sunday morning thrashes?
Do you want to work on the car yourself and add upgrades over time or not?
Is it important to you to have the fastest car on track or do you want one that rewards better driving techniques?
Will it be exclusively for trackdays and will you trailer it there or does it have to be road legal and will it get used for odd weekends away and occasional Sunday morning thrashes?
Do you want to work on the car yourself and add upgrades over time or not?
Is it important to you to have the fastest car on track or do you want one that rewards better driving techniques?
PaulHogan said:
How many track days are you going to do in it?
Will it be exclusively for trackdays and will you trailer it there or does it have to be road legal and will it get used for odd weekends away and occasional Sunday morning thrashes?
Do you want to work on the car yourself and add upgrades over time or not?
Is it important to you to have the fastest car on track or do you want one that rewards better driving techniques?
Probably looking to do one/two track days a month during the good months so about 6/12 a year.Will it be exclusively for trackdays and will you trailer it there or does it have to be road legal and will it get used for odd weekends away and occasional Sunday morning thrashes?
Do you want to work on the car yourself and add upgrades over time or not?
Is it important to you to have the fastest car on track or do you want one that rewards better driving techniques?
Has to be road legal and i would drive it to and hopefully back from the track day
No problem working on the car myself but couldn't do engine/gearbox out kind of stuff myself, would add upgrades to the car as i go along
No need to have the fastest car on track and would prefer to have a well sorted handling car and have the enjoyment out it. Could always take the 996TT out if i was feeling brave and needed to be one of the quicker cars on track - just can't justify the cost of tyres/brakes/etc of the Porsche and with it being effectively uninsured on track couldn't take the risk of someone hitting it/me hitting something
If you drive it properly even a Fiesta 1.25 won't be a sitting duck at trackdays.
I've never owned one but seen MX5 1.8s run rings around much faster cars. Stick a cage in it though as there's no roll over protection, it will stiffen the chassis nicely too as you get faster.
Failing that MG TFs and MR2s are very good (owned MR2, currently have the MG). The MG handles far better but the '2s got a better driving position. Both are relatively difficult to service and have bigger, more expensive tyres.
The Locosts and Westfields are a good choice, fast, easy to maintain and very cheap tyres that last a long time. Steer clear of Locusts though.
I've never owned one but seen MX5 1.8s run rings around much faster cars. Stick a cage in it though as there's no roll over protection, it will stiffen the chassis nicely too as you get faster.
Failing that MG TFs and MR2s are very good (owned MR2, currently have the MG). The MG handles far better but the '2s got a better driving position. Both are relatively difficult to service and have bigger, more expensive tyres.
The Locosts and Westfields are a good choice, fast, easy to maintain and very cheap tyres that last a long time. Steer clear of Locusts though.
Well there are things like this Tiger Cat advertised for £4200:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4004322.htm
and this Fisher Fury for £4000:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3911072.htm
You might be able to beat either down close to the 3k mark. Both should be fine on the track out of the box and have healthy scope for upgrades in the future.
They're both Pintos, so hardly going to be blistering in a straight line, but both will be quite light.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4004322.htm
and this Fisher Fury for £4000:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3911072.htm
You might be able to beat either down close to the 3k mark. Both should be fine on the track out of the box and have healthy scope for upgrades in the future.
They're both Pintos, so hardly going to be blistering in a straight line, but both will be quite light.
CDP said:
If you drive it properly even a Fiesta 1.25 won't be a sitting duck at trackdays.
Do you do many trackdays?Many of the drivers are beginners, but many have also been trackdaying for several years. So saying that you can make up for lack of power and grip by using "talent" is a bit misleading, because you're not driving with grannies out there. Even a very experienced driver in a standard 1.25 Fiesta will be in the way a lot of the time for the other drivers.
Langy996TT said:
I'm sure that this topic has been done to death but i'm looking to get a car to do some track days in and looking for a bit of advice as to what to get. I’ve currently got three cars, none of which i really want to use as track cars for various reasons –
996 turbo, too costly on consumables and costly if i have an off
E46 M3, as above really
Ford puma, my getting to work car so would rather keep it as is, too slow i feel anyway
This is the criteria i’m going to work towards –
Budget – 3k (to include car and prep so either 1k car and spend 2k to track prepare or a buy a 3k track car) – May stretch the budget a bit if required
Preferably RWD
Enough power to not be a sitting duck at track days
Road legal – don’t fancy going down the trailer route or want a towbar on any of my cars
Think that’s pretty much all i can think of, look forward to your thoughts/suggestions...
Robin Hood 2b or maybe a Locost would seem to fit perfectly.996 turbo, too costly on consumables and costly if i have an off
E46 M3, as above really
Ford puma, my getting to work car so would rather keep it as is, too slow i feel anyway
This is the criteria i’m going to work towards –
Budget – 3k (to include car and prep so either 1k car and spend 2k to track prepare or a buy a 3k track car) – May stretch the budget a bit if required
Preferably RWD
Enough power to not be a sitting duck at track days
Road legal – don’t fancy going down the trailer route or want a towbar on any of my cars
Think that’s pretty much all i can think of, look forward to your thoughts/suggestions...
The Robin Hoods run mostly Ford Sierra running gear, but look like a Se7ven. Ok they aren't as good or as light, but they are still a lot lighter than most cars and can be had from £2k. Most run Pinto motors, so quite tunable, even Cossie power if you really wanted. Quite few are Rover T series powered and even a few T-series turbos.
mrmr96 said:
CDP said:
If you drive it properly even a Fiesta 1.25 won't be a sitting duck at trackdays.
Do you do many trackdays?Many of the drivers are beginners, but many have also been trackdaying for several years. So saying that you can make up for lack of power and grip by using "talent" is a bit misleading, because you're not driving with grannies out there. Even a very experienced driver in a standard 1.25 Fiesta will be in the way a lot of the time for the other drivers.
The only times we've found power to be a major handicap was a 1.0 Mini City E (40bhp) and the Locost 1300 with F5000 and 60's/early 70s F1 and F2 cars. Utterly terrifying, never doing that again...
A few years ago I wanted a some tuition and as my track car only had one seat used my diesel Vectra. With coaching it became quite easy to pass much "faster" (i.e. MR2s, hot hatches) etc out of the corners.
The 1.25 Fiesta was my brother against his friend in a 348 (IIRC). The Fiesta eventually got past and was returned to Hertz with three bald tyres. This was at one of the airfield days in Oxfordshire. Not totally responsible but I gather it was a lot of fun. The Ford's advantage was entirely predictable handling.
The real pain is when you've got somebody in something fast in a straight line that holds everybody up in corners; Japanese turbo coupes being particularly bad. I've certainly seen 911's holding up Mazdas and (low spec) 7's on plenty of occasions.
Provided everybody is sensible quite mixed cars and abilities can be perfectly safe on most circuits.
The Crack Fox said:
Some seriously shonky shyte at that price level from that lot, not sure I'd trust some home spannered shed special when driven hard on a track
They ain't exactly complex though. And if you plan to mod/maintain yourself I don't really see the problem. It pretty much is just nuts and bolts.That said I'm sure there are some truly awful ones. But when you're on a budget you sometimes can't get everything for your money.
300bhp/ton said:
They ain't exactly complex though. And if you plan to mod/maintain yourself I don't really see the problem. It pretty much is just nuts and bolts.
That said I'm sure there are some truly awful ones. But when you're on a budget you sometimes can't get everything for your money.
Make sure it's a professionally built chassis and it's got an SVA/IVA then you can do any rectification work yourself quite cheaply and easily. That said I'm sure there are some truly awful ones. But when you're on a budget you sometimes can't get everything for your money.
Concentrate on the safety stuff first, performance and cosmetics can come later. Sevens are among the simplest "modern" cars you could ever find and working on them is even pleasurable. (When you're warm, dry and there's no pressure).
How about this BMW 330 Coupe?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Do a couple of familiarisation days.
Then strip it completely and see what it's like.
Then you can start to add/replace parts for better handling/more power.
Even stripped you'll be able to keep it outdoors (forgot to ask if you have garaging for your toy/s)
Don't forget to declare the mods, as you make them, to the insurance company.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Do a couple of familiarisation days.
Then strip it completely and see what it's like.
Then you can start to add/replace parts for better handling/more power.
Even stripped you'll be able to keep it outdoors (forgot to ask if you have garaging for your toy/s)
Don't forget to declare the mods, as you make them, to the insurance company.
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