Which track day car for a beginner
Discussion
I did my first track day at Goodwood a couple of weeks ago in my Jag XKR 4.2. Thoroughly enjoyed the day and already planning the next several but I am thinking of acquiring a car to use just for track days (albeit road legal) through the summer. The XKR, whilst more than quick enough with 420bhp under the toe, handling capabilities well beyond those of its driver and a sublime sound, was far from the perfect car for the track primarily as you feel too remote from the road and it would be frankly eye wateringly expensive if anything goes awry, not to mention cost of tyres, brakes etc. So I am looking for something sub £7k which I can drive to track days, is fun on the track with good acceleration and which feels a bit more raw than the XKR. I have been considering a Westfield, Caterham or other seven style kit or even a TVR wedge (really an excuse to have another TVR). Any thoughts? The more under £7k the better!
A se7en is a good choice, I'd only go Westfield or Caterham so for your budget that means Westfield for the most part.
The good news is that they are staggeringly cheap to run compared to almost any other trackday car, very easy on tyres, brakes and fuel and most stuff is DIYable .
Only recommend I'd have is that you get a proper cage on it, they feel very exposed with just a rear rollbar and some of the standard bars that are fitted double as chocolate fireguards
The good news is that they are staggeringly cheap to run compared to almost any other trackday car, very easy on tyres, brakes and fuel and most stuff is DIYable .
Only recommend I'd have is that you get a proper cage on it, they feel very exposed with just a rear rollbar and some of the standard bars that are fitted double as chocolate fireguards
Mk1 MX5. Depending on what sort of power you're looking for, either std or FI. Great fun, handle superbly and dead cheap to buy and run.
I had a Westfield for a few years which I loved but part of the reason I sold it was it's a bit grim when it starts raining and there isn't much space to take all the bits you need to take with you to a track (jack, fuel cans, tools etc) - being a kit car, you always need to be a bit more prepared than a normal car! They are great fun though!
I had a Westfield for a few years which I loved but part of the reason I sold it was it's a bit grim when it starts raining and there isn't much space to take all the bits you need to take with you to a track (jack, fuel cans, tools etc) - being a kit car, you always need to be a bit more prepared than a normal car! They are great fun though!
a light car such as mx5 or caterfield will save you money on items such as brake pads and tyres as they will be easy on those.
an m3 is heavy, so will use its brakes and tyres much quicker, will also cost more for petrol. would imagine a tvr would be in the same boat as the m3.
get an mx5 as its every day usable as well as great fun on track.
an m3 is heavy, so will use its brakes and tyres much quicker, will also cost more for petrol. would imagine a tvr would be in the same boat as the m3.
get an mx5 as its every day usable as well as great fun on track.
A track day car for a beginner? Simple - someone elses. 
I'd give it a few events either in your normal road car or in a hired track car to work out what you want. That's quite a boring answer though, so let's ignore that for the sake of argument and get on with a spot of 'what car'...
£7k is probably still too little to get a decent S1 Elise or a half decent Caterham. If you're reasonably mechanically competent my recommendation would be the best one of these you can get for the budget:
It's a Sylva Stylus. Also known as (well, very closely related to) the Fisher Fury and linked to the Sylva Phoenix. Underneath the skin it's basically a Sylva Striker - widely held to be the best handling of the Seven-type cars - except this time fitted with a body that doesn't have the aerodynamic properties of a brick. You can get the various different iterations of the design with all manner of car or bike engines and they make an extremely effective track toy.
If you want to go for something on the more mainstream side I'd stick to something cheap with a big track day following for ease and cost of parts; something like a mk2 Golf GTi, Peugeot 205 GTi, Mazda MX5 or E30 BMW.
The issue with TVRs is noise. Sadly circuit noise testers don't tend to share our appreciation of a nice sonorous V8 and you'll have trouble getting onto most days without bolt-on silencers, and some even with them on (depending on the engine/exhaust). Wide tyres aren't cheap, neither are 8 big cylinders rather than four small ones, and even at only a ton or so it's twice the weight of the proper lightweights. If your heart was really set on one I'd ignore the V8s at this price. I'd either go for an ex-Tasmin Challenge car (V6 wedge) if you don't mind trailering it to events or, if it has to be road legal, maybe try and pick up a cosmetically dodgy S. My S3 was great fun on track, but a 4-cylinder Caterfield/Fury/Stylus will be even better and cheaper to run.
I'd give it a few events either in your normal road car or in a hired track car to work out what you want. That's quite a boring answer though, so let's ignore that for the sake of argument and get on with a spot of 'what car'...
£7k is probably still too little to get a decent S1 Elise or a half decent Caterham. If you're reasonably mechanically competent my recommendation would be the best one of these you can get for the budget:
It's a Sylva Stylus. Also known as (well, very closely related to) the Fisher Fury and linked to the Sylva Phoenix. Underneath the skin it's basically a Sylva Striker - widely held to be the best handling of the Seven-type cars - except this time fitted with a body that doesn't have the aerodynamic properties of a brick. You can get the various different iterations of the design with all manner of car or bike engines and they make an extremely effective track toy.
If you want to go for something on the more mainstream side I'd stick to something cheap with a big track day following for ease and cost of parts; something like a mk2 Golf GTi, Peugeot 205 GTi, Mazda MX5 or E30 BMW.
The issue with TVRs is noise. Sadly circuit noise testers don't tend to share our appreciation of a nice sonorous V8 and you'll have trouble getting onto most days without bolt-on silencers, and some even with them on (depending on the engine/exhaust). Wide tyres aren't cheap, neither are 8 big cylinders rather than four small ones, and even at only a ton or so it's twice the weight of the proper lightweights. If your heart was really set on one I'd ignore the V8s at this price. I'd either go for an ex-Tasmin Challenge car (V6 wedge) if you don't mind trailering it to events or, if it has to be road legal, maybe try and pick up a cosmetically dodgy S. My S3 was great fun on track, but a 4-cylinder Caterfield/Fury/Stylus will be even better and cheaper to run.
Edited by Chris71 on Monday 17th May 14:57
As a pure track day car I would think a seven derived car would give the most thrills for the money and although I haven't owned one, the basic simplicity I would guess would make them reasonably reliable/easy to fix. For somthing a little more civilised then a MX5 is good fun on track although you would probably miss the acceleration you are used to, although a turbo'd 5 could make up for that.
I think a TVR would be a good compromise between driver involvement and practicality. As they only weigh around a tonne (the wedges a little more) I don't see why they would be as heavy on consumables as BMW or other saloon car. 7K would get you a very nice condition wedge or a early chim. I have done several track days in the Chim and whilst not the fastest car/driver on track all have been great fun and the car behaved well. However, if I was looking for a car to mainly do track days I think I'd be looking for a Mk1 Mx5 with a blower, probably one that has been tracked before and had brakes/suspension fettled and keeping some cash back for track sessions/driver training/ tyres etc.
I think a TVR would be a good compromise between driver involvement and practicality. As they only weigh around a tonne (the wedges a little more) I don't see why they would be as heavy on consumables as BMW or other saloon car. 7K would get you a very nice condition wedge or a early chim. I have done several track days in the Chim and whilst not the fastest car/driver on track all have been great fun and the car behaved well. However, if I was looking for a car to mainly do track days I think I'd be looking for a Mk1 Mx5 with a blower, probably one that has been tracked before and had brakes/suspension fettled and keeping some cash back for track sessions/driver training/ tyres etc.
Although not RWD.. there is a lot of fun to be had in little front wheel drive hot hatchs. As mentioned above earlier cheap maintenence, tyres, discs pads etc which will last longer than the likley of an M3..
Saxo / AX / Clio / Golf etc
Depending on your mechanical knowledge there are easy cars to work on, and uprated parts are pretty cheap on the grand scale of things.
I know of a few french hot hatches that will keep up with and trouble much much more expensive machinery.
Might be worth a look? would have a lot of change from 7k left for trackdays & tyres
Saxo / AX / Clio / Golf etc
Depending on your mechanical knowledge there are easy cars to work on, and uprated parts are pretty cheap on the grand scale of things.
I know of a few french hot hatches that will keep up with and trouble much much more expensive machinery.
Might be worth a look? would have a lot of change from 7k left for trackdays & tyres
Add £1000 to your budget at get a S1 Elise. You won't need to modify anything for it to work brilliantly on the track, it will be relatively easy on brakes and tyres, and if it's pouring with rain you won't need your waterproofs.
Don't worry overly about head gasket issues - happens less often that the reputation suggests, and many have been sorted by now. Just make sure it doesn't overheat at idle, and oil filler cap is free from white sludge on the underside.
Martin
(Edited for typo.)
Don't worry overly about head gasket issues - happens less often that the reputation suggests, and many have been sorted by now. Just make sure it doesn't overheat at idle, and oil filler cap is free from white sludge on the underside.
Martin
(Edited for typo.)
Edited by Cavey on Tuesday 18th May 13:32
That is an excellent post Chris71. My brother in law has just bought a toyata powered 1.6 Raw Stryker and it is fantastic. I have, since last weekend, been seriously considering doing the Catereham academy. The only reason I even looked at Se7ens was after having a go in the Stryker. My missus has also given the go ahead to do the academy. Having always had TVR's with (theoretically) upwards of 350bhp i was very dubious of smaller sized motors, however the Raw totally changed my mind.
So took out a Caterham on Sat, really liked it but had a niggling feeling that to do the accademy would be great, but the car you're left with at the end will need money spending on it to put a proper motor in to make it feel fast in the real world . But, this thread has changed my mind again - why do a series and spend 25k when you can get a great car and do track days instead and save enough to buy another track star next year too! Mmmm stables
So took out a Caterham on Sat, really liked it but had a niggling feeling that to do the accademy would be great, but the car you're left with at the end will need money spending on it to put a proper motor in to make it feel fast in the real world . But, this thread has changed my mind again - why do a series and spend 25k when you can get a great car and do track days instead and save enough to buy another track star next year too! Mmmm stables
Edited by TOM500 on Thursday 20th May 08:44
Edited by TOM500 on Thursday 20th May 08:45
If you're willing to rough it - driving there / poor weather you simply can't beat a kitcar.
However if you're not then you can't beat a cheap, small, RWD road car like the MX5. Great fun NA but a giant killer with a turbo - many are running around 220 - 250bhp and in track trim are under a ton.
Available way under budget and they are cheap to maintain.
However if you're not then you can't beat a cheap, small, RWD road car like the MX5. Great fun NA but a giant killer with a turbo - many are running around 220 - 250bhp and in track trim are under a ton.
Available way under budget and they are cheap to maintain.
Many thanks for all of the suggestions - quite taken with the idea of a seven style (owned a Robin Hood several years ago) and love the Sylva! Just wondered whether a BMW Z3 would be any good on a track? Seems you can pick them up well under budget and presumably pretty reliable but have never actually driven one...
kailear said:
Many thanks for all of the suggestions - quite taken with the idea of a seven style (owned a Robin Hood several years ago) and love the Sylva! Just wondered whether a BMW Z3 would be any good on a track? Seems you can pick them up well under budget and presumably pretty reliable but have never actually driven one...
I'll sell you a fully prepared E30 325i fresh from Winter rebuild (new tyres, brakes etc) for £2k.I will be in your position next year and although it isnt rear wheel drive this is the next best thing for me:
http://thumbsnap.com/sc/qCB97R5T.jpg[/img]|http://t...
Reliable, fast, LSD, lightweight, proper recaros, about 6-7k now, sound amazing + practicality.[url][img]
http://thumbsnap.com/sc/qCB97R5T.jpg[/img]|http://t...
Reliable, fast, LSD, lightweight, proper recaros, about 6-7k now, sound amazing + practicality.[url][img]
Jessop said:
Although not RWD.. there is a lot of fun to be had in little front wheel drive hot hatchs. As mentioned above earlier cheap maintenence, tyres, discs pads etc which will last longer than the likley of an M3..
Agree.. I was always totally in the 'trackcars must be RWD or 4WD camp' for yearsthen I drove a little Clio 172 cup so show the owner the lines at a trackday!
It was an amazing little thing!
I ended up buying the car. Its GREAT! I had it prepped my Mark Fish motorsport and took it out to Ring 2 weekends ago.
Was AWESOME! I took my F430 out as well... but honestly the Clio was just as much fun to drive!
Pics of the little beasty
and one of the Ferrari... mainly becuase its a cool pic!
So basically... dont totally rule out FWD. You are less likely to crash one as well in my view!
You are welcome to have a test drive of the Clio on track. I also have a Westfield if you wanted a comparison.
I fancy a go in an track prepped MX-5.... heard loads about how good they are!
Edited by Porkie on Thursday 3rd June 09:03
I have a Rover 600ti as a track car, which is joint owned with one of my mates. I bought for £295, standard bhp 198. Good go for the price, since buying it, we have uprated; brakes, suspention, boost levels, lightened it and put race harnesses in.
All in all it's been a blast, taken it round Goodwood, Cadwell park and we are doing Rockingham in December. It's been mechanically sound and has given a fair few "faster" cars a good run for their money.
All in all it's been a blast, taken it round Goodwood, Cadwell park and we are doing Rockingham in December. It's been mechanically sound and has given a fair few "faster" cars a good run for their money.
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