Off-Roading vs Track Days
Discussion
I appreciate it's a bit of a, 'how long is a piece of string' type question but I have been day dreaming recently of getting a vehicle purely for a bit of off-roading. There are a couple of relatively local places and even my other half said it would be fun, something the kids would enjoy too. Obvious once Covid restrictions lift!
I like the idea of a track car but in my mind it seems potentially expensive if you're looking at worn tyres, brakes, servicing let alone risk of crashing I suppose. Maybe I'm being naive but is relatively soft-off-roading as much of a strain on a car? I'm not thinking of winches and hardcore stuff but just a bit of fun.
I definitely need to do my homework on the subject. My other half has an ML350cdi but no chance I'll be taking that off road but the old ML270/320cdi seem like a decent and familiar prospect.
Anyone off-road on the cheap or experiences they can share?
I like the idea of a track car but in my mind it seems potentially expensive if you're looking at worn tyres, brakes, servicing let alone risk of crashing I suppose. Maybe I'm being naive but is relatively soft-off-roading as much of a strain on a car? I'm not thinking of winches and hardcore stuff but just a bit of fun.
I definitely need to do my homework on the subject. My other half has an ML350cdi but no chance I'll be taking that off road but the old ML270/320cdi seem like a decent and familiar prospect.
Anyone off-road on the cheap or experiences they can share?
I must admit I do like the look of the Jimny, small fun and light. They look surprisingly capable.
Interestingly I've been on track days albeit as a passenger. I wouldn't want to put the cars I have round a track but a cheap hot hatch would do it. It was a lot of fun I admit. That said, I did an off-roading experience in an L200 and was really impressed. Plus it's technical and methodical which I found really enjoyable. It's certainly not something to be ham fisted about!
Interestingly I've been on track days albeit as a passenger. I wouldn't want to put the cars I have round a track but a cheap hot hatch would do it. It was a lot of fun I admit. That said, I did an off-roading experience in an L200 and was really impressed. Plus it's technical and methodical which I found really enjoyable. It's certainly not something to be ham fisted about!
Thanks for all the helpful replies so far.
You have reiterated what I'd been thinking. Trackdays aren't cheap to do as like you say well over £100 just to be on the track, then you have the wear on the car which is to be expected of course. I'd expect you get through tyres and brake pads as well. I love the idea of it but to enjoy something car related purely for the sake of enjoying it, off-roading seemed more wallet friendly. Muddy but less aggressive on the cars you're using.
The local place to me charges £25 a year membership and then opens one weekend a month for pay and play type days. Seems like fun for the kids and what not, especially in the summer.
sideshowfred said:
I'm a recent convert into off roading having come from a trackday background.
I love the throwing a car around a track, the feeling of being on the limit of grip, etc etc. I built my Clio to a good spec with good buckets seats, full roll cage and all that kind of thing. But it is expensive to do and doesn't get any cheaper, certainly not whilst lockdowns keep shoving trackdays further and further back. Then throw in maintenance of the car as well.
Last summer one of my colleagues decided to start off roading again and suggested I join him. I bought my self a standard Freelander 1 knowing it wouldn't be the best but better than nothing. I chucked a decent set of mud tires on and have done a few pay and play days. It's been phenomenal fun, my wife enjoys it a lot more than trackdays and it's much cheaper.
Where a trackday would have been £130+ to even be allowed on it, the pay and play days I've done have been £30. Even throwing in some repairs on the car (a new driveshaft and some filters) and I have still come out paying less than to even book on a trackday.
It's been souchh fun my track car is now up for sale and I'm planning on getting something much more capable than the Freelander. Add into that grrenlaning and it's hard to go wrong in my eyes.
That's really interesting to read. Funnily enough I had a Clio 172 that I modified with a view to doing track days but kids came along and the car had to go sadly. But if I were tracking a car I'd be back in one in a heartbeat. I love the throwing a car around a track, the feeling of being on the limit of grip, etc etc. I built my Clio to a good spec with good buckets seats, full roll cage and all that kind of thing. But it is expensive to do and doesn't get any cheaper, certainly not whilst lockdowns keep shoving trackdays further and further back. Then throw in maintenance of the car as well.
Last summer one of my colleagues decided to start off roading again and suggested I join him. I bought my self a standard Freelander 1 knowing it wouldn't be the best but better than nothing. I chucked a decent set of mud tires on and have done a few pay and play days. It's been phenomenal fun, my wife enjoys it a lot more than trackdays and it's much cheaper.
Where a trackday would have been £130+ to even be allowed on it, the pay and play days I've done have been £30. Even throwing in some repairs on the car (a new driveshaft and some filters) and I have still come out paying less than to even book on a trackday.
It's been souchh fun my track car is now up for sale and I'm planning on getting something much more capable than the Freelander. Add into that grrenlaning and it's hard to go wrong in my eyes.
You have reiterated what I'd been thinking. Trackdays aren't cheap to do as like you say well over £100 just to be on the track, then you have the wear on the car which is to be expected of course. I'd expect you get through tyres and brake pads as well. I love the idea of it but to enjoy something car related purely for the sake of enjoying it, off-roading seemed more wallet friendly. Muddy but less aggressive on the cars you're using.
The local place to me charges £25 a year membership and then opens one weekend a month for pay and play type days. Seems like fun for the kids and what not, especially in the summer.
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