Budget car suggestions?

[Ruskie]

Keeping my eyes peeled for some cheap track fun. Budget £500-£750.

List I have so far in order of preference...

Porsche 924 2.0 n/a
E30 320
E36 318/320
E36 318ti Compact

I am looking to have some fun stripping and tinkering. Any other suggestions? Only criteria is RWD.

[carlosvalderrama]

If you do go for an E36, go for one of the bigger engines. 325s and 328s are obtainable for this money, my 328i was £300 with 118k on it.

The E36 is a bit of a weighty thing and even the smaller engined ones are pushing beyond 1300kg. The bigger engines come with larger brakes and both help with this sort of thing.

E30's are lighter, but as they're moving into classic territory the prices are strengthening and sub £1k ones can be very manky, so check carefully.

[Ruskie]

I have not seen a 325/328 go for that money recently on PH/Trader/eBay?

[chris7676]

None of these is really budget in terms of running costs, regardless how cheap you can get them. Go for the MX5 or MR2 mk1.

[Jonleeper]

Mk2 Golf, drives the front wheels but is a great cheap track toy.

[Ruskie]

Plan is to work on it myself, strip it etc and if it goes bang, scrap it or sell it for spares, hence the budget. I don't want to spend £1000+ and lose that much if something big goes.

[robg2]

You could always go a bit unconventional and try something like a Lexus. I'm sure you'd find one worth the effort for a few hundred quid.

Other ideas: 200SX; Sierra (if you can find one); mid 90's Merc C class; cheap kit car.

But the safe money really is on an MX-5.

[MrHanky]

How about something like this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

I bought one of these back in January for £700 and love it. Been on a few track days so far and am really liking the handling. Just needs a bit more straight line speed and I will be very happy with my cheapish track day toy

Mark

[b4bby]

Im a total beginner to trackdays but have decided to have a go soon.

Having a few mx5's already and feeling reasonably confident of their ability's have bought another one for the sole purpose to put on track.

Very cheap to buy and lots and lots of spares about (ive got loads of bits myself) and if you did have a major off you should hopefully be able to break it and get at least your money back.

[Ruskie]

b4bby said:

Im a total beginner to trackdays but have decided to have a go soon.

Having a few mx5's already and feeling reasonably confident of their ability's have bought another one for the sole purpose to put on track.

Very cheap to buy and lots and lots of spares about (ive got loads of bits myself) and if you did have a major off you should hopefully be able to break it and get at least your money back.

An ex of mine had an MX5 and it was ok, main problem is I am 6ft 4 tall and my leg bangs on the transmission tunnel and my head sticks out of the top with the hood down!! Although for an occasionally day that probably would be manageable.

[carlosvalderrama]

For a 325/8 for very low money, you'll need to be patient. I spent a few months watching and waiting, let a few go and then bagged this one with short tax a leaky rad and what looked like shagged rear springs. I wasn't concerned about the springs as they'd be in the bin anyway, and I found a box fresh new rad for £35.

MOT fails are easier in that price band, and for a track car as long as it isn't emissions or rot it's of little consequence as most track hacks will have bushes ball joints and brake bits renewed as a matter of course.

So far my 328 with all the usual trackday mods is standing me at £700 or so. That's without new suspension yet, but with bigger 330i brakes, M3 master cylinder, all polybushes, all new brake lines and OZ super T's.

[brillomaster]

we got a e36 328i for £800, so they are out there! ours also came with the msport bodykit and a slippy diff. we've had great fun stripping it down and embarrassing e90 m3s in the corners

[sniff diesel]

carlosvalderrama said:

If you do go for an E36, go for one of the bigger engines. 325s and 328s are obtainable for this money, my 328i was £300 with 118k on it.

The E36 is a bit of a weighty thing and even the smaller engined ones are pushing beyond 1300kg. The bigger engines come with larger brakes and both help with this sort of thing.

E30's are lighter, but as they're moving into classic territory the prices are strengthening and sub £1k ones can be very manky, so check carefully.

Some 318is go very well, certainly better than a 320i. Worth a look if fuel consumption is a factor (I was getting between 8 and 13mpg out of my 325 on track)

316i and 318i have solid front discs and rear drums (apart from tourings that have rear discs rather than drums)
318is/320i/323i/325i have the same vented front discs, and solid rears.
328i has the same vented front brakes as the above but with the addition of rear vented discs too.

My stripped E36 325i was 1120kgs with a full cage (50kgs) if the car wasn't road legal I could have lost a bit more weight. I reckon I could get a 318is down to around a tonne.

[joe_90]

Ruskie said:

I have not seen a 325/328 go for that money recently on PH/Trader/eBay?

Got my 325 for 500 from pistonheads, it was up for 1K or so, but it has been on a while, was a crap colour and spec. So I just said, will you take 500, I will be there tomorrow at 4pm with the cash.

Done, no harm in asking.

[Evangelion]

I'll post the same suggestions here that I used on a similar thread recently.


Unlimited budget:
Caterfield 7. Full stop.

Limited budget:
MX-5
E36/46
MR2
924/944
106/206/Golf etc, GTi.