20k Track car budget , What would you buy ??

[guestGTR]

Im thinking of selling my R35 and getting a more track friendly car ..the consumables are getting very expensive , would like something that's road legal , however I do have access to a trailer if needed ..
one more thing im 6ft 4 and the wrong side of 16st so fitting into something v small may be a problem

Your thoughts please fellow PHers.

thanks in advance.

J.

[Harry Flashman]

Caterham.

[guestGTR]

thank you , but which one?

[GTR Cook]

guestGTR said:

Im thinking of selling my R35 and getting a more track friendly car ..the consumables are getting very expensive , would like something that's road legal , however I do have access to a trailer if needed ..
one more thing im 6ft 4 and the wrong side of 16st so fitting into something v small may be a problem

Your thoughts please fellow PHers.

thanks in advance.

J.

Imprezza/EVO/M3 all make good track cars.

[wackojacko]

Dax rush turbo's are mental.

Caterham academy race car or R300

Various tasty things in the Race car / track car classifieds on here.

Nice M3 Evo race car for 15k etc ...... Take a look.

[guestGTR]

thanks..ill do just that .

[CatMatt7]

Lots of different Caterham's to choose from - have a trawl through the classifieds. There are some great looking track biased Caterham's and if you could stretch the budget a little closer to £25k, you could get something fabulous and mighty fast.

As for fitting into something small, you can get the floor lowered or have foam seats, which means I have seen some big people comfortably fit into small cars.

Plus the running costs on a Caterham can be fairly small, with used slicks being available from around £15 a corner, delivered.

If I were doing it again, I would get something with a Duratec engine, possibly a 2.3, that way you can get big power without stressing it, combined with plenty of torque. Iw oudl suggest buying used and getting something that someone else has added all the necessary bits to - it will be much cheaper than doing it yourself.

Enjoy the looking

Matt

[joe_90]

so you want to buy one out the box? Or build one from scratch? Or get a car and modify it to be a pure track machine?

There are a few race spec machines on the 'for sale' section.

[guestGTR]

defiantly out the box or used ...the only spanner im familiar with is the one that looks back at me in the mirror every morning .

[joe_90]

guestGTR said:

defiantly out the box or used ...the only spanner im familiar with is the one that looks back at me in the mirror every morning .

haha. fair enough..

What about this.. and leaves you cash for tyres
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2272132.htm

[Harry Flashman]

guestGTR said:

thank you , but which one?

Good point!

I wouldn't go for a particularly hot one, as thney are a bit of a handful and pricey. A good 1.8 in Superlight spec. Excellent on (cheap) consumables, awesome on track, and great fun for summer evenings.

[Harry Flashman]

My track slag is a 306 GTi - slow enough that you really have to learn how to carry speed. Great little car - but a Caterham would be more fun. Although a Caterham wouldn't have cost me £1000...

[Munter]

Would Sir fit in a Noble?


http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2684335.htm

[Porkie]

Caterham or S2 ExigeS

The later is much more usable in all conditions, the Traction control and ABS brakes are amazing on the ExigeS. Mines really really impressed me. So much better and faster on track than I was expecting. might need to slightly stretch budget

Caterham rawer and more fun for summer and dry days and will depreciate less as well...

both pretty light and designed with track use in mind, so are easy of brakes, tyres and all the normal consumables...

[guestGTR]

Noble ??? ummmmmm not really a fan (only based on looks) but never been in one so will reserve judgement

i liked the evo but i think ive narrowed it down to ..

Caterham R300/R400 (used) ......is there a massive difference between the two??
Radical (SR3 used)
Atom (blow the budget, used)

thoughts??

J.

[guestGTR]

Porkie said:

Caterham or S2 ExigeS

The later is much more usable in all conditions, the Traction control and ABS brakes are amazing on the ExigeS. Mines really really impressed me. So much better and faster on track than I was expecting. might need to slightly stretch budget

Caterham rawer and more fun for summer and dry days and will depreciate less as well...

both pretty light and designed with track use in mind, so are easy of brakes, tyres and all the normal consumables...

unfortunatly its too tight for me in a Lotus

[Alex]

GTR Cook said:

Imprezza/EVO/M3 all make good track cars.

M3, yes. 4WD Turbo Nutter Barge, no.

[mrmr96]

I think the Caterhams have a chassis called the "SV" which is designed to accommodate people with larger frames.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterham_Cars#Series_...

[guestGTR]

mrmr96 said:

I think the Caterhams have a chassis called the "SV" which is designed to accommodate people with larger frames.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterham_Cars#Series_...

Great info , thank you !

[shaun fulcrum]

Given the choice of the three you mentioned, I would go for the radical, though upkeep can get quite pricey for those so next in line for me would be caterham then the atom (pay a lot for not a lot)(no offence to any owners or lovers, my opinion).

I use a bike powered kit car and most deffinately the best bang for buck