every-mans everyday track car
Discussion
So since doing the track taster day at the PH silverstone Sunday Service in my brothers ST220 estate it got me thinking what would make the perfect affordable everyday car that would be good on the track.
My thoughts are thus:
Petrol, obviously
Lightweight, less wear and tear on all consumables and more fun on track
Small-ish wheels, tyres won't be too expensive to replace.
relatively economical, 11.4 mpg meant 2/3rds of a tank in about 50 minutes. This would also be good for the everyday use of the car. >30mpg for everyday use would be a good target.
Preferably RWD, but this does massively restrict choices.
<10 years old, anything much older has the potential to be getting on a bit and therefore not the best choice for a car that will be depended on and driven hard.
<10k purchase price, your average joe doesn't have loads of cash to spare! This would also reduce the total amount invested in a car that will be driven hard on track.
Some concessions to everyday use (no stripped out track specials etc)
ETA: no soft-tops, don't fancy rolling one on track!
My main two thoughts are Mini Cooper S (not RWD but good fun) or Toyota GT86 in 4-5 years
any thoughts?
My thoughts are thus:
Petrol, obviously
Lightweight, less wear and tear on all consumables and more fun on track
Small-ish wheels, tyres won't be too expensive to replace.
relatively economical, 11.4 mpg meant 2/3rds of a tank in about 50 minutes. This would also be good for the everyday use of the car. >30mpg for everyday use would be a good target.
Preferably RWD, but this does massively restrict choices.
<10 years old, anything much older has the potential to be getting on a bit and therefore not the best choice for a car that will be depended on and driven hard.
<10k purchase price, your average joe doesn't have loads of cash to spare! This would also reduce the total amount invested in a car that will be driven hard on track.
Some concessions to everyday use (no stripped out track specials etc)
ETA: no soft-tops, don't fancy rolling one on track!
My main two thoughts are Mini Cooper S (not RWD but good fun) or Toyota GT86 in 4-5 years
any thoughts?
Edited by jimmy156 on Saturday 22 March 17:13
If I where to track my car regular I would have a roll cage in either a fixed head car or convertiable wouldn't want to roll in either without it.
Mx5s are made for this btw don't need 10k to spend on a track car 1-1.5k will get you a good mk2.5 spend 1-2k on mods and spend the rest on trackdays and tuition. Even the mk1 are spot on for track days.
Mr2 is another good option.
Mx5s are made for this btw don't need 10k to spend on a track car 1-1.5k will get you a good mk2.5 spend 1-2k on mods and spend the rest on trackdays and tuition. Even the mk1 are spot on for track days.
Mr2 is another good option.
jimmy156 said:
danp said:
Facelift mr2 mk3, can get a nice one for under 3k
The mx5 lot will be along in a minute ;-)
Good call, although i should have added that a soft top is out! Without adding a roll-cage i wouldn't fancy risking an open top car on track!The mx5 lot will be along in a minute ;-)
You'll still need a roll cage in a hardtop car if you plan to use a bucket seat and harness. And to me a bucket and harness are essential items for a trackday.
JQ said:
jimmy156 said:
danp said:
Facelift mr2 mk3, can get a nice one for under 3k
The mx5 lot will be along in a minute ;-)
Good call, although i should have added that a soft top is out! Without adding a roll-cage i wouldn't fancy risking an open top car on track!The mx5 lot will be along in a minute ;-)
You'll still need a roll cage in a hardtop car if you plan to use a bucket seat and harness. And to me a bucket and harness are essential items for a trackday.
p.s wouldn't recommend using a track car as a daily driver too, what happens when you have a shunt at a track day and cant get to work the following day because of it.
Not RWD but my RS200 Clio Cup is great on a track, especially for the less experienced track attacker like myself, fast enough, fun to drive, pointy in the corners and it's hard to get into trouble but easy to get out of it. Sure, if I really get into track days and want something more focused I'll swap it out, but as a starting point - excellent!
On a track day most people leave a margin of safety, seeing someone roll must be very rare (I've done about 4 trackdays in the last year and the only cars crashed I've seen are stripped out race cars and they were minor shunts). I drive my MR2 (mk3) every day, and it's great on track (even on standard brakes, suspension tyres etc). I bought new tyres, have done 2 trackdays in the mean time, few thousand road miles and I still have 5-6mm of tread.
MX5 the other option of course!
MX5 the other option of course!
Integra seems a good shout!
as someone said above once you start adding rolecages and modifying cars its a slippery slope.
I know using your daliy on track is not ideal, but i'm not talking about a regular track car. I was thinking of a car for your average pistonhead who might want to go on the occasional track day, without the potential for big bills.
I just had a look at clio 197's , didn't realise these were around the 5k mark now. That could be a good choice, although i feel a bit 'grown up' for a clio. Mind you this isn't a what car thread! I was just thinking of opinions!
as someone said above once you start adding rolecages and modifying cars its a slippery slope.
I know using your daliy on track is not ideal, but i'm not talking about a regular track car. I was thinking of a car for your average pistonhead who might want to go on the occasional track day, without the potential for big bills.
I just had a look at clio 197's , didn't realise these were around the 5k mark now. That could be a good choice, although i feel a bit 'grown up' for a clio. Mind you this isn't a what car thread! I was just thinking of opinions!
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