Best track car for my newly qualified son...
Discussion
Hi, am thinking of buying my son a track toy for his 17th birthday so he can dick around on track and then drive sensibly on the road. I am thinking rear wheel drive, E30 2.5 or E36 328 sport. I think manual with rear wheel drive and well built (i.e. safe...) I would probably fit cage, harness and buckets in there and leave everything else as standard. Any other candidates? Did think of an MX5 but not as easy to store on the street outside?
spad78 said:
Hi, am thinking of buying my son a track toy for his 17th birthday so he can dick around on track and then drive sensibly on the road. I am thinking rear wheel drive, E30 2.5 or E36 328 sport. I think manual with rear wheel drive and well built (i.e. safe...) I would probably fit cage, harness and buckets in there and leave everything else as standard. Any other candidates? Did think of an MX5 but not as easy to store on the street outside?
wish my dad did this for me!!! i would also uprate suspension & brakes if its going to be track car, you also want to think about fitting an oil cooler kit. You should call some company's that do track prep and see what they recommend thoughHopefully he wont 'dick around' on the track either. The last thing Id want on a track day is an inexperienced seventeen year old cocking about around me.
Id suggest not fitting a rollcage or seat. Feeling vulnerable will help him to develop; but a false feeling of invulnerability is likely to speed along the inevitable...
Id suggest not fitting a rollcage or seat. Feeling vulnerable will help him to develop; but a false feeling of invulnerability is likely to speed along the inevitable...
Of course, I don't mean literally be a dick on track! I just mean that he could satisfy his 17 year old urge to thrash a car in relative safety rather than wrapping a car round a lamp post like most, inlcluding me.
I know what you mean about the cage and seats but as I am going to be sat next to him a lot of the time, I think I would do it as much for my own safety as my peace of mind that he was safe!
I know what you mean about the cage and seats but as I am going to be sat next to him a lot of the time, I think I would do it as much for my own safety as my peace of mind that he was safe!
If you do fit a cage then you need to ensure that you both have a securely floor-mounted (not simply bolted to or through the floor) race seat and properly installed belts. Im not going to repeat the usually drivel about strap angles, but you do need to keep them short for them to work.
Thge only thing I would say is that assuming the intention is for a track car and then another everyday car, is to make sure they are both have the same driven wheels.
There's little point learning how to lift to control a RWD powerslide when his everyday car is a FWD hedgefinder in the event of lifting...
There's little point learning how to lift to control a RWD powerslide when his everyday car is a FWD hedgefinder in the event of lifting...
My son passed his test earlier this year and I picked up an E36 323i (which we've set about tweaking) for our joint use. He was out on track two weeks after passing his test and a couple of months before he'd got himself a road car 
I made sure he got some tuition on his first day and he took to track driving very well. Thankfully he's a level-headed chap though!
Just beware of the budget running away with you!
I made sure he got some tuition on his first day and he took to track driving very well. Thankfully he's a level-headed chap though!
Just beware of the budget running away with you!
groomi said:
Thge only thing I would say is that assuming the intention is for a track car and then another everyday car, is to make sure they are both have the same driven wheels.
There's little point learning how to lift to control a RWD powerslide when his everyday car is a FWD hedgefinder in the event of lifting...
The other aspect is as soon as he has a big spin on track or an off he'll realise how bad that would have been on a narrow b road surrounded by trees and other motorists.There's little point learning how to lift to control a RWD powerslide when his everyday car is a FWD hedgefinder in the event of lifting...
Agreed, my plan is that he will realise the extents of his driving prowess on the track and will avoid smacking up anything that I own or that he gets his mitts around on a public road. You can but only try.
Mind you, I remember when I got my first car, a white XR2i with trispoke alloys and a trick cream sticker on the back window, MDF parcel shelf with some wicked speakers etc. Hoyed it into a lamp post after 3 months (in the ice...) and nearly had my head taken off by the bass tube as it passed through the front windscreen.
Mind you, I remember when I got my first car, a white XR2i with trispoke alloys and a trick cream sticker on the back window, MDF parcel shelf with some wicked speakers etc. Hoyed it into a lamp post after 3 months (in the ice...) and nearly had my head taken off by the bass tube as it passed through the front windscreen.
spad78 said:
Agreed, my plan is that he will realise the extents of his driving prowess on the track and will avoid smacking up anything that I own or that he gets his mitts around on a public road. You can but only try.
Mind you, I remember when I got my first car, a white XR2i with trispoke alloys and a trick cream sticker on the back window, MDF parcel shelf with some wicked speakers etc. Hoyed it into a lamp post after 3 months (in the ice...) and nearly had my head taken off by the bass tube as it passed through the front windscreen.
Amateur. I spun my car off when power-sliding on ice ten days after passing my test. Luckily with ice it's at a very low speed and only the bumper was damaged.Mind you, I remember when I got my first car, a white XR2i with trispoke alloys and a trick cream sticker on the back window, MDF parcel shelf with some wicked speakers etc. Hoyed it into a lamp post after 3 months (in the ice...) and nearly had my head taken off by the bass tube as it passed through the front windscreen.
MX5 is a good option, easy enough to find one with a hard-top if you're worried about that for storage. Cheap to buy/run, reliable, fantastic handling/feedback, standard brakes in good condition are easily up to track work.
Alternatively an MR2 is also good cheap fun but being mid-engined less forgiving to slide around, and a bit trickier to work on.
As said full cages should only be used together with helmets and properly mounted race seats + harnesses. A half cage or solid rollbar is fine though as long as its behind the seats where heads can't hit it in an (unhelmeted) road crash.
Alternatively an MR2 is also good cheap fun but being mid-engined less forgiving to slide around, and a bit trickier to work on.
As said full cages should only be used together with helmets and properly mounted race seats + harnesses. A half cage or solid rollbar is fine though as long as its behind the seats where heads can't hit it in an (unhelmeted) road crash.
Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 12th December 11:02
GC8 said:
edh said:
Porsche 924 - v cheap, not too fast, & great handling. Pretty solid shell as well...
Further to what Ed says here: a 924S will be better still. Newer, better brakes and possibly cheaper for a better car.Though I reckon a 944 isn't so much more expensive that it's not worth considering.
As mentioned previously there's quite a big club racing scene for these cars and a ready caged example won't be too pricey. It should have the right springs and dampers too. A proper cage will make the MX5 look ugly while it won't be noticed in a closed car.
The other big advantage with the Porsche is it's rust proofing is much better than the Mazda and you might be able to get a spare set of wheels in the back.
The MX5's not a bad idea though.
Alternatively get a seven and a trailer.
eyebeebe said:
I'd love to add something more constructive, but the first thing that entered my head when I read your post was: modified car for a 17 year old. You might want to invest in some lube as the insurance company won't provide any!
I read the op as this car is for track only, therefore no need for the son to be insured on it. Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff