Track day car for a young road user
Discussion
Morning all.
I'm trying to be a bit different here with the topic, as I'm looking at a car and feeling a bit stretched for ideas. So it's my first car, but I waited until I'm 19, because financially I'm better off and insurance goes down a bit.
I've been looking mainly at MG ZR's because of insurance, but recently the realisation hit me that the MG's K-Series engine is about as reliable as a chocolate fireman so I'm wanting to branch out. Yes I've looked at many car's but after recently reading another PH'ers post about kit cars it got me thinking.
I really don't know much about kit cars, in-fact I hardly know anything. So I need your help. So if you had 2 grand for a kit car with a relatively small engine what would you suggest? I'm thinking about something that looks a bit like Ariel Atom (Aesthetically obviously), if you get what I mean?
Any suggestions welcome.
I'm trying to be a bit different here with the topic, as I'm looking at a car and feeling a bit stretched for ideas. So it's my first car, but I waited until I'm 19, because financially I'm better off and insurance goes down a bit.
I've been looking mainly at MG ZR's because of insurance, but recently the realisation hit me that the MG's K-Series engine is about as reliable as a chocolate fireman so I'm wanting to branch out. Yes I've looked at many car's but after recently reading another PH'ers post about kit cars it got me thinking.
I really don't know much about kit cars, in-fact I hardly know anything. So I need your help. So if you had 2 grand for a kit car with a relatively small engine what would you suggest? I'm thinking about something that looks a bit like Ariel Atom (Aesthetically obviously), if you get what I mean?
Any suggestions welcome.
kambites said:
2k doesn't buy you much on the kit-car market - they tend to hold their values very well.
If you liked the idea of the ZR but are worried by the K-series head gasket, how about a ZS V6? Or is the insurance prohibitive?
Looked at the ZS, couldn't insure the V6 but could insure the 1.8. If you liked the idea of the ZR but are worried by the K-series head gasket, how about a ZS V6? Or is the insurance prohibitive?
What price would I be looking at spending for a decent kit-car?
I know it's not a kit car, but you could do a lot worse than a Ford Puma as a road/track car. A couple of friends and I purchased one for £400, insurance was reasonable for 2x 22 year olds (£600 all mods declared).
There are loads around, and providing you avoid the rot, there isn't much else to go wrong with them. Ours has now done 6 trackdays and 7k miles since April last year, and hasn't missed a beat.
There are loads around, and providing you avoid the rot, there isn't much else to go wrong with them. Ours has now done 6 trackdays and 7k miles since April last year, and hasn't missed a beat.
MX5. Once the body starts rotting away, it's a fairly straighforward conversion into a MEV Exocet
idibbers said:
kambites said:
2k doesn't buy you much on the kit-car market - they tend to hold their values very well.
If you liked the idea of the ZR but are worried by the K-series head gasket, how about a ZS V6? Or is the insurance prohibitive?
Looked at the ZS, couldn't insure the V6 but could insure the 1.8. If you liked the idea of the ZR but are worried by the K-series head gasket, how about a ZS V6? Or is the insurance prohibitive?
What price would I be looking at spending for a decent kit-car?
The MEV Exocet is meant to be pretty easy to build, so you could go down that path.
kambites said:
Your best bet is probably something Sevenish. I guess you'd be looking at £4-5k for something of decent quality? MEV make some budget Atom-alike type kits but they're relatively new and hence rare and not particularly cheap.
The MEV Exocet is meant to be pretty easy to build, so you could go down that path.
They look damn cool! I'll have a look thanks! The MEV Exocet is meant to be pretty easy to build, so you could go down that path.
Corpulent Tosser said:
I wouldn't discount the K-Series engine completely.
They were used extensively in Caterhams for years, I used one (1600) for sprints and hillclimbs with no cyl head problems.
The ZR is still my main option, the problem was just a worry but some people don't have any problems, so I'm not sure. They were used extensively in Caterhams for years, I used one (1600) for sprints and hillclimbs with no cyl head problems.
So essentially you want a car for trackdays, which you can get insured on reasonably in order to drive it there and back?
Might I suggest a Civic? More specifically the 96-00 Ek4 1.6 vti model. Can be had for under 2k and with a few choice upgrades, is very capable indeed. I bought mine when I was 19 and insured it for 1k.
Might I suggest a Civic? More specifically the 96-00 Ek4 1.6 vti model. Can be had for under 2k and with a few choice upgrades, is very capable indeed. I bought mine when I was 19 and insured it for 1k.
n90acc said:
So essentially you want a car for trackdays, which you can get insured on reasonably in order to drive it there and back?
Might I suggest a Civic? More specifically the 96-00 Ek4 1.6 vti model. Can be had for under 2k and with a few choice upgrades, is very capable indeed. I bought mine when I was 19 and insured it for 1k.
I will check it out. Thanks for the recommendation. Might I suggest a Civic? More specifically the 96-00 Ek4 1.6 vti model. Can be had for under 2k and with a few choice upgrades, is very capable indeed. I bought mine when I was 19 and insured it for 1k.
You need to think sideways, look at cars that are not driven exclusively by your age group. Almost any car can be fun on a track, especially with a little tweaking.
I might get slated for this, but have you considered a track bike instead of a track car? You'll get way more for your money, and even a little 125 is going to fly in race spec.
I might get slated for this, but have you considered a track bike instead of a track car? You'll get way more for your money, and even a little 125 is going to fly in race spec.
Rotary Madness said:
You need to think sideways, look at cars that are not driven exclusively by your age group. Almost any car can be fun on a track, especially with a little tweaking.
I might get slated for this, but have you considered a track bike instead of a track car? You'll get way more for your money, and even a little 125 is going to fly in race spec.
Definitely have. Love the idea of bikes, just not sure I've got the guts to put a decent lap time in on one, or a lap time at all; if you get what I mean. I might get slated for this, but have you considered a track bike instead of a track car? You'll get way more for your money, and even a little 125 is going to fly in race spec.
idibbers said:
Rotary Madness said:
You need to think sideways, look at cars that are not driven exclusively by your age group. Almost any car can be fun on a track, especially with a little tweaking.
I might get slated for this, but have you considered a track bike instead of a track car? You'll get way more for your money, and even a little 125 is going to fly in race spec.
Definitely have. Love the idea of bikes, just not sure I've got the guts to put a decent lap time in on one, or a lap time at all; if you get what I mean. I might get slated for this, but have you considered a track bike instead of a track car? You'll get way more for your money, and even a little 125 is going to fly in race spec.
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