Cheap Track Car
Discussion
So, my VX220 Turbo may soon be leaving, but I'd like to get some track time in over winter before, perhaps, upgrading to an Exige in the spring.
I'd be looking to spend about £3k - £4k and am looking at the usual suspects (Clio, Mazda MX5, Celica 190, R53 Cooper S etc etc.) What do others think? Is there a diamond out there I'm overlooking?
I'd ideally like a car that I can sell on easily, with minimal loss, in the spring. I don't have a trailer or space for one so it must be capable of getting to the track under its own power. My local tracks are Snett and Bedford so a bit of poke would help on those long straights...
Any thoughts?
ETA: Right now I'm favouring the Cooper S simply as there are quite a few of them, along with the Celica as I always wanted one and I imagine that Toyotas will break less?
I'd be looking to spend about £3k - £4k and am looking at the usual suspects (Clio, Mazda MX5, Celica 190, R53 Cooper S etc etc.) What do others think? Is there a diamond out there I'm overlooking?
I'd ideally like a car that I can sell on easily, with minimal loss, in the spring. I don't have a trailer or space for one so it must be capable of getting to the track under its own power. My local tracks are Snett and Bedford so a bit of poke would help on those long straights...
Any thoughts?
ETA: Right now I'm favouring the Cooper S simply as there are quite a few of them, along with the Celica as I always wanted one and I imagine that Toyotas will break less?
Edited by Actus Reus on Thursday 3rd September 14:25
Your best option would be EP3 Type R. These are going up in value each month it seems.
I've heard mixed reviews with the Mini. I don't like them. Pedals are too close together for me when I've drove them.
A ClioSport would be another good shout. If you get the Cup version.
Don't bother with an MX5 it will depreciate a lot. Maybe look at a MR2 instead either a Mk2 or MK3 (see if you can find one of the later models).
If you want a Celica then the Celica GT is the top one to get. There are some of these going around the £3k-4K mark.
Maybe a VAG 1.8T car like a Leon Cupra or Golf GTI
I've heard mixed reviews with the Mini. I don't like them. Pedals are too close together for me when I've drove them.
A ClioSport would be another good shout. If you get the Cup version.
Don't bother with an MX5 it will depreciate a lot. Maybe look at a MR2 instead either a Mk2 or MK3 (see if you can find one of the later models).
If you want a Celica then the Celica GT is the top one to get. There are some of these going around the £3k-4K mark.
Maybe a VAG 1.8T car like a Leon Cupra or Golf GTI
Ankh87 said:
Your best option would be EP3 Type R. These are going up in value each month it seems.
I've heard mixed reviews with the Mini. I don't like them. Pedals are too close together for me when I've drove them.
A ClioSport would be another good shout. If you get the Cup version.
Don't bother with an MX5 it will depreciate a lot. Maybe look at a MR2 instead either a Mk2 or MK3 (see if you can find one of the later models).
If you want a Celica then the Celica GT is the top one to get. There are some of these going around the £3k-4K mark.
Maybe a VAG 1.8T car like a Leon Cupra or Golf GTI
Thanks for that.I've heard mixed reviews with the Mini. I don't like them. Pedals are too close together for me when I've drove them.
A ClioSport would be another good shout. If you get the Cup version.
Don't bother with an MX5 it will depreciate a lot. Maybe look at a MR2 instead either a Mk2 or MK3 (see if you can find one of the later models).
If you want a Celica then the Celica GT is the top one to get. There are some of these going around the £3k-4K mark.
Maybe a VAG 1.8T car like a Leon Cupra or Golf GTI
EP3s seem thin on the ground - but yes, they're on the list and if a good one came up I could be interested.
MR2 is out coz no space and mid-engine, and I fancy something easier to drive hard in tricky conditions. The VAG 1.8T cars are an interesting thought. I'll have a look at Leons on the train in a minute. Bit worried about weight and consumables with these, though.
Actus Reus said:
Thanks for that.
EP3s seem thin on the ground - but yes, they're on the list and if a good one came up I could be interested.
MR2 is out coz no space and mid-engine, and I fancy something easier to drive hard in tricky conditions. The VAG 1.8T cars are an interesting thought. I'll have a look at Leons on the train in a minute. Bit worried about weight and consumables with these, though.
There are a load of 1.8T cars out there. Like Audi TT 225 and Octavia VRS. Pretty much get the lightest one and you should be OK. Personally even the 2.0T are cheap these days.EP3s seem thin on the ground - but yes, they're on the list and if a good one came up I could be interested.
MR2 is out coz no space and mid-engine, and I fancy something easier to drive hard in tricky conditions. The VAG 1.8T cars are an interesting thought. I'll have a look at Leons on the train in a minute. Bit worried about weight and consumables with these, though.
197's are heavier, have more complex suspension setup which is costly to fix, bigger brakes which are more expensive, bigger wheels which mean tyres are more expensive, hence why 172s/182s are seen smashing round tracks across the land because they are cheap to run and fix. There are still bargains to be had in 172/182 land, join the FB groups or Cliosport and keep an eye out. Belts and rot are the main things on 172/182s now, belts 650 quid upwards, rot around rear sills or jack points. Phase 1 172s are the ones creeping up in value now, phase 2 172s can be had cheap still, 182s still cheap if you look hard enough.
I have some experience in this department as I love cheap track cars.
Clio182 is the obvious choice but that said they are becoming really thin on the ground now, I think the cheap ones have already been bought up as track cars and have been killed or people are still running them but I couldn't find a decent cheap track project whenever I've looked.
So the one's I've owned-
Mk6 Fiesta ST, that was a pretty good solid car, never failed me in the 18 months I used it on track, pretty slow in the straights but great in corners and mine was just on lowered springs with Yokohama AD08R tyres.
Mk2 MX-5, This again was absolutely bomb proof for reliability, rear wheel drive fun, again slow in a straight line but a lot of fun in corners.
Current car- R53 Mini Cooper S, the fastest track car I've owned, still not amazing on straights but it keeps up with others pretty well and is probably the best of the three in my experience round the bends, mine is pretty much standard apart from Nankang NS2-R tyres and a reduced pulley and it's brilliant and the cheapest of all the cars when I bought it but I have put it's purchase value in again on tyres, race seat, pulley, general maintenance etc. If you get a well maintained one they are brilliant, get a badly maintained one and it will cause you pain but the same goes for most cars.
I'm seeing a lot more Mini's on track days now and I do think that's because Clio prices have gotten silly.
Always fancied a EP3 Type R but the cheaper end ones appear to be rougher than sandpaper or have moon like mileage.
Clio182 is the obvious choice but that said they are becoming really thin on the ground now, I think the cheap ones have already been bought up as track cars and have been killed or people are still running them but I couldn't find a decent cheap track project whenever I've looked.
So the one's I've owned-
Mk6 Fiesta ST, that was a pretty good solid car, never failed me in the 18 months I used it on track, pretty slow in the straights but great in corners and mine was just on lowered springs with Yokohama AD08R tyres.
Mk2 MX-5, This again was absolutely bomb proof for reliability, rear wheel drive fun, again slow in a straight line but a lot of fun in corners.
Current car- R53 Mini Cooper S, the fastest track car I've owned, still not amazing on straights but it keeps up with others pretty well and is probably the best of the three in my experience round the bends, mine is pretty much standard apart from Nankang NS2-R tyres and a reduced pulley and it's brilliant and the cheapest of all the cars when I bought it but I have put it's purchase value in again on tyres, race seat, pulley, general maintenance etc. If you get a well maintained one they are brilliant, get a badly maintained one and it will cause you pain but the same goes for most cars.
I'm seeing a lot more Mini's on track days now and I do think that's because Clio prices have gotten silly.
Always fancied a EP3 Type R but the cheaper end ones appear to be rougher than sandpaper or have moon like mileage.
this thread highlights some issues being discussed elsewhere. we're running out of simple, light cars to take on track!
Clios, EP3s and R53s are great, but getting a good one now will be difficult. their successors are heavier and more remote.
i'm biased, but i'd still go MX5 as they stayed light right up to today. There're plenty around and have great aftermarket support.
Alternatively get any of the above that have been prepped for track and check carefully for underlying problems being the cause for sale! Track cars often get well looked after and tracking highlights any issues quickly. one way or another, there's rarely a way to a 'cheap track car'. less expensive than others is a better phrase.
Clios, EP3s and R53s are great, but getting a good one now will be difficult. their successors are heavier and more remote.
i'm biased, but i'd still go MX5 as they stayed light right up to today. There're plenty around and have great aftermarket support.
Alternatively get any of the above that have been prepped for track and check carefully for underlying problems being the cause for sale! Track cars often get well looked after and tracking highlights any issues quickly. one way or another, there's rarely a way to a 'cheap track car'. less expensive than others is a better phrase.
This is the issue. Light cars are now few and far between. Cars from 2005 all seem to have got heavier and to counter this they added power.
Personally if you are just getting a car to take on track the condition should not be something you think of especially if you are going to sell it on. You can get a rough EP3 for £2000 and in 6 months to a year you could sell it for the same price.
I've got a MK3 MR2. Light, mid engine but it is slow in a straight line. I didn't buy it for speed though.
If it were me I'd look for the best condition cheap car so you don't take a bit hit if you lose money. I'd probably got for a 182 or 197.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007221...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009023...
Personally if you are just getting a car to take on track the condition should not be something you think of especially if you are going to sell it on. You can get a rough EP3 for £2000 and in 6 months to a year you could sell it for the same price.
I've got a MK3 MR2. Light, mid engine but it is slow in a straight line. I didn't buy it for speed though.
If it were me I'd look for the best condition cheap car so you don't take a bit hit if you lose money. I'd probably got for a 182 or 197.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007221...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009023...
Thanks - I keep coming back to Clio, R53 and MX5 with a side order of Celica 190.
Ultimately I think an amount of this will come down to what is for sale, near to me, the week after next. If the VX goes I'll want to buy something quite quickly as I have a sprint in October and it'd be fun to enter lower down the field for once. My feeling is that the R53 would be easiest to sell on and probably easier to extract a few hp from if I wanted to.
MR2 I've thought about, but dismissed as I think I said above because I've done the mid-engine thing a LOT and I fancy something that I can lean on more on track and get sideways. A Peugeot 306 GTI would also be amazing, but I don't think any good ones will be in budget these days.
Or, finally, I blow the budget and buy a nice Integra R as I have always wanted one.
ETA: and then I looked on Autotrader at 986 Boxsters...hmmm....
Ultimately I think an amount of this will come down to what is for sale, near to me, the week after next. If the VX goes I'll want to buy something quite quickly as I have a sprint in October and it'd be fun to enter lower down the field for once. My feeling is that the R53 would be easiest to sell on and probably easier to extract a few hp from if I wanted to.
MR2 I've thought about, but dismissed as I think I said above because I've done the mid-engine thing a LOT and I fancy something that I can lean on more on track and get sideways. A Peugeot 306 GTI would also be amazing, but I don't think any good ones will be in budget these days.
Or, finally, I blow the budget and buy a nice Integra R as I have always wanted one.
ETA: and then I looked on Autotrader at 986 Boxsters...hmmm....
Edited by Actus Reus on Friday 4th September 11:37
If you can find a 306 GTI then you deserve a medal. Such a good car but they are either rotten or rarely come up for sale.
If you want a Celica 190 then I have plenty of experience with them. The problem is keeping it in Lift. You have to change gear very fast and practically redline it or rev up a little whilst changing. They also do not have a baffled sump and oil starvation is a known issue with these. The seats are OK but you do move around a little. As I say mastering lift takes a while to get use to and not a lot of people can do it. What you will notice is the huge difference between Lift and i-Vtec. i-Vtec is progressive and you don't feel it kick in hardly, plus it is a wider band. Lift you feel it jump up and give you that boot. Issue is it runs from 6000rpm - 8200rpm. Which is why I say keeping it in Lift is difficult but it a hell of a lot of fun.
I owned a Corolla T Sport (Facelift) so with the heavier car it were just as difficult. My mate has a Celica T sport and has the same Lift problems as my Corolla.
If you want a Celica 190 then I have plenty of experience with them. The problem is keeping it in Lift. You have to change gear very fast and practically redline it or rev up a little whilst changing. They also do not have a baffled sump and oil starvation is a known issue with these. The seats are OK but you do move around a little. As I say mastering lift takes a while to get use to and not a lot of people can do it. What you will notice is the huge difference between Lift and i-Vtec. i-Vtec is progressive and you don't feel it kick in hardly, plus it is a wider band. Lift you feel it jump up and give you that boot. Issue is it runs from 6000rpm - 8200rpm. Which is why I say keeping it in Lift is difficult but it a hell of a lot of fun.
I owned a Corolla T Sport (Facelift) so with the heavier car it were just as difficult. My mate has a Celica T sport and has the same Lift problems as my Corolla.
When I bought my R53 I wasn't particularly looking for a Mini, I went on Autotrader and filled in the criteria of range within 20 miles, max budget 2k, 0-60 under 8 seconds, petrol and manual gearbox, I think I selected hatchback too and I sat on the sofa going through listings till something jumped out at me.
I'm sure it's the type of activity loads of people on here do with varying criteria when bored (maybe?).
I'm sure it's the type of activity loads of people on here do with varying criteria when bored (maybe?).
TBH, I think the cars mentioned above are good, but given the age of them they will be projects and if you start tracking them a lot they're gonna need bits of maintenance, unless you pay more for a nice one. Sadly I think the days of £1000 Clios, MX5s and E36s are long gone and I never got round to buying 
Jamescrs said:
When I bought my R53 I wasn't particularly looking for a Mini, I went on Autotrader and filled in the criteria of range within 20 miles, max budget 2k, 0-60 under 8 seconds, petrol and manual gearbox, I think I selected hatchback too and I sat on the sofa going through listings till something jumped out at me.
I'm sure it's the type of activity loads of people on here do with varying criteria when bored (maybe?).
That's exactly what I have done so far and I think I need to stick to those criteria as well, or budget creep happens and I find myself in a 986.I'm sure it's the type of activity loads of people on here do with varying criteria when bored (maybe?).
Begall said:
£3-4K will get you a good condition S1 RX-8, if it’s not rotting and the engine is compressing well then it shouldn’t cost you too much to run. People try to sell crap for too much all the time so you’ve just got to be picky.
RX8s scare me to be honest as I'd like to see the investment back, so I'll probably avoid them.Scanning through locally the most common cars are the R53 and MR2...having said I don't want an MR2 they do have some appeal now as they look nimble and fun, and I've never owned one before.
Having owned a 172, several celicas and a corolla t sport and been a track passenger in the 197 I would go for either of the clios or an older Celica.
In a group with a 3.2 Audi TT, nissan 350z, Celica, 197, Impreza and a legacy at track only the Clio and the TT ran without issue.
Having had various celicas I feel the older gen 6 version (mine was a 1995) with the 2.0 is the better track car, mine kept a standard Impreza WRX in check at donnington.
If I were buying now I'd go: 172/82, 197, Celica in that order.
In a group with a 3.2 Audi TT, nissan 350z, Celica, 197, Impreza and a legacy at track only the Clio and the TT ran without issue.
Having had various celicas I feel the older gen 6 version (mine was a 1995) with the 2.0 is the better track car, mine kept a standard Impreza WRX in check at donnington.
If I were buying now I'd go: 172/82, 197, Celica in that order.
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