Track Day Fun~on the cheap?

[davidif]

I’m keen to start doing the odd track day, probably 3/4 a year on a fairly minimal budget. Would also like the car for the odd B road blast.

Budget to buy around £2k maybe a little bit more. Absolute max of £3k all in to include any preparation. (A good service disks and pads as a minimum)

I’m struggling to look past a Suzuki Swift Sport or maybe an Ignis Sport as a left field option.

Any thoughts,comments,suggestions? Be gentle.


ps I have tracked various cars in the past including a Caterham although that was a very long time ago!!

[BlindedByTheLights]

Leon Cupra R 225?

[ZX10R NIN]

Focus ST170 is a very good shout:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205236...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204154...

Leftfield

Corsa VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205316...

[Nickp82]

MX-5 2.0 Sport (NC) , just allow space for some lowering springs in the budget if not already fitted.

[n3il123]

Should be able to get a diesel audi estate for that budget...

[M.F.D]

Started reading and Swift Sport immediately came to mind, so very good shout imo.

Cooper S R53 or a Clio 172/182 or even a cheap 197 may be in budget. Celica 190 and 325ti Compact are also decent options.

[Belle427]

Clio 172 or an Mx5 would be ideal.
The Mx5 would be my choice but it is difficult finding a good one.

[anonymous-user]

Hard to find a 172/182 at that money which isn’t a total basket case now.

Good ones are commanding twice that and are selling.

[romeodelta]

If you had a Caterham, would you prefer RWD?

For that budget, I would find a cosmetically ropey MGTF, strip it out and uprate it with used suspension/brakes/buckets.

[davidif]

The Caterham was 15 years ago! I’ve tracked other RWD cars and some front wheel drive cars. I’m not looking to win any track days, just to have fun on a budget.
I’ve had quite a few MX5s and tracked an NA(again many years ago)
I fairly recently sold an NC 2.0 sport tech and whilst I enjoyed it along the back roads, I found the engine to be lacklustre and characterless. I think my ideal MX5 would be an NC with a Honda S2000 engine although I digress!!
My son had an early Swift Sport (31s??) and I recall it being a lot of fun. My daily at the time was Mk7.5 GolfR which was fast but fairly numb by comparison.

[davidif]

Well, on Saturday I bought a 2013 Swift Sport. So far so good. I’ll put some pictures up or maybe start a Reader’s Ride’s thread when I’ve given it a good clean and going over.

[soad]

Budget somehow creeped upwards?

[Cambs_Stuart]

I didn't realise you could get a VXR corsa for that price...