Track car auto / dsg

[Snowyjones]

Hi

I am new to this forum. I like the idea of getting a car to use for track days. I am a complete novice and have had surgery on my left leg which means I can't drive a manual (i.e. a car with a clutch).

Any ideas on a car to buy which is road legal and would be a good track car?

Thanks

[Steve H]

Welcome to PH!

Give us an idea of your budget and I'm sure the suggestions will come flooding in

[Snowyjones]

Thanks for your reply. I guess £5 - 15k?

[hbwold]

My first thought is an E46 M3 SMG. Pretty good gearbox and a great road and track day car.

[Paul_M3]

hbwold said:

My first thought is an E46 M3 SMG. Pretty good gearbox and a great road and track day car.

+1.

I love my e46 M3 SMG both on road and track. For a heavy comfortable car it can really hold it's own on track. Even more so with a couple of choice modifications.

[Steve H]

M3 sounds like a good call.

You could also look at a tiptronic 964 Porsche, it's possibly a bit less track-focused but a very nice thing to own.

[GreigM]

Do you need it as a day to day car also? If not you could get something like a Westfield with motorbike engine and hand clutch - only needed for setting off in 1st gear.

I wouldn't run a DSG box on track - VERY expensive to fix if it breaks.

[wackojacko]

Another vote for the SMG E46 ..... good one for 13k and 2k for "trackday" bits.

[XTR2steve]

i'd be careful using a standard m3. my first outing in my e46 m3 cost me the best part of £2500 ... and it was over by 10am! the new tyre's which i had fitted the previous week (£800) were totally 'gone' on the outer edges and needed to be replaced and all the discs got warped as well as eating the semi worn pads - another 800 plus the new tyres! i used it for one more track day ... to give you an idea of wear on a standard m3 brake system: pads that would normally last 18 odd months of road use are finished by lunchtime. so, new pads for the afternoon and new pads for the next day lol. i inquired about a brake mod by brembo and ap racing - both best part of £3500 plus fitting. you'll also need the Cup tyres (£1600) + wheels. i bought a purpose made track car, a westfield xtr2 - the running costs are a joke because it's so light (420kgs) and it does 22/24 mpg during track use lol; my m3 and all those scoobies etc etc are lucky to get 8mpg! and just a reminder of how much an M3 engine costs to replace - £10000 plus vat and fitting ... i know because my e36 m3 'popped' after some track use. tough call tbh, but road cars aren't 'made' for track use ... get something already modified with tyres/wheels and brakes, or go for a 'lightweight' which has plenty of aftermarket options available, i.e. caterham, westfield, lotus ... hope this helps!

[XTR2steve]

oh yes ... and just one more point: you won't get over 4th gear at any uk track in an m3 and you'll get 2nd maybe once or twice. so it's all 3rd and 4th which gets pretty boring tbh.

[Snowyjones]

Thanks for the ideas - really appreciated

Seems the M3 is quite popular! I don't need it for day to day use really only need it to drive to the track and back. I was thinking of a light car maybe a lotus but they only do them in manual I think. Also need two seats as will have passenger....

[Munter]

You can get Auto MX5s. No idea what they are like using the auto on track though.

I'd think the M3 suggestion is better.

[XTR2steve]

... you can get a semi-auto mod for most lotus', caterhams, etc.; its about £2500 to £4000. m3 is nice; i always wondered why the m3 was so iconic (during my regular road use) ... you'll never realise just how finely balanced these cars are until you hit the track

[XTR2steve]

Munter said:

You can get Auto MX5s. No idea what they are like using the auto on track though.

I'd think the M3 suggestion is better.

i watched an on-board video on youtube of a radical going around the nurb'ring ... it looked like it was being driven well tbh ... and then comes past this modified mazda mx5 and disappears into the distance lol - i've heard good things about these cars as track vehicles aswell.

Edited by XTR2steve on Saturday 9th April 10:22