Track Car Options
Discussion
Afternoon all,
Another one of these threads, but I am genuinely torn and need advice/inspiration....
I am selling a JDM Impreza STI shortly, and the plan is to get a track car and a road car. Been dipping my toe in the water with track days for too long, and now is the time to get a dedicated car for track duties.
Hoping to have a budget of circa £5 - 7k for a track toy, so looking for recommendations... Could stretch perhaps a little above this for something mega. The car would need to be cheap enough to spend remaining on making it track friendly, or be ready to track. Preferably something road legal, but will consider factoring a trailer in to the budget.
Usual stuff springs to mind,
EP3 Type R (getting pricey now for good ones)
FN2 Type R
Clio 1*2/197
Mk 2 Megane RS (owned Mk3's before, and sadly out of budget)
E36 328i (Getting rare and pricey)
E46 330ci (too heavy?)
Mk5 Golf GTI
I'm 6ft 4, so MX5/Mk3 MR2 etc are out the window unfortunately.
RWD/4WD/FWD options all welcome.....
Another one of these threads, but I am genuinely torn and need advice/inspiration....
I am selling a JDM Impreza STI shortly, and the plan is to get a track car and a road car. Been dipping my toe in the water with track days for too long, and now is the time to get a dedicated car for track duties.
Hoping to have a budget of circa £5 - 7k for a track toy, so looking for recommendations... Could stretch perhaps a little above this for something mega. The car would need to be cheap enough to spend remaining on making it track friendly, or be ready to track. Preferably something road legal, but will consider factoring a trailer in to the budget.
Usual stuff springs to mind,
EP3 Type R (getting pricey now for good ones)
FN2 Type R
Clio 1*2/197
Mk 2 Megane RS (owned Mk3's before, and sadly out of budget)
E36 328i (Getting rare and pricey)
E46 330ci (too heavy?)
Mk5 Golf GTI
I'm 6ft 4, so MX5/Mk3 MR2 etc are out the window unfortunately.
RWD/4WD/FWD options all welcome.....
Trackdayer said:
Hello OP I'll give my opinions on the following
EP3 Type R - great option. Really needs a BBK and LSD to shine properly.
FN2 Type R - Cheaper / easier to find than the above but not quite as track focused. Nice on the road.
Clio 1*2/197 - 172 cup, yes, absolutely wonderful on small / medium tracks. 197 isn't as good.
E36/E46 - would be my first choice. Wonderful chassis and engines.
Mk5 Golf GTI - Good cars but not as good as the above selection
ps - If you did go for a Mk1 TT, the 3.2 is the one to have. More power, bigger brakes, thicker ARB and the option of DSG. Only real advantage of these is the Quattro system will let you dominate wet track days.
On balance I'd get a E46 330ci, BBK, decent wheels/suspension and you'll love it
Thanks for your input. Owned a 330ci many years ago and was a decent car. I was probably too young to appreciate it properly thinking back. I imagine with weight loss and a decent set up, it would be brilliant. Will add to the shortlist.EP3 Type R - great option. Really needs a BBK and LSD to shine properly.
FN2 Type R - Cheaper / easier to find than the above but not quite as track focused. Nice on the road.
Clio 1*2/197 - 172 cup, yes, absolutely wonderful on small / medium tracks. 197 isn't as good.
E36/E46 - would be my first choice. Wonderful chassis and engines.
Mk5 Golf GTI - Good cars but not as good as the above selection
ps - If you did go for a Mk1 TT, the 3.2 is the one to have. More power, bigger brakes, thicker ARB and the option of DSG. Only real advantage of these is the Quattro system will let you dominate wet track days.
On balance I'd get a E46 330ci, BBK, decent wheels/suspension and you'll love it
brillomaster said:
Ive tracked an e36 328, e46 328 and an e85 z4 3.0. The z4 was by far the best, all it needed was some track tyres and some decent brake pads and it was good for multiple 200-odd mile trackdays. No need for a BBK in my opinion.
5-7k should get a very tidy 3.0i, or even maybe a 3.0si with a peach of a straight six.
Plus its surprisingly spacious, seat goes really low and it has enough comfort to drive itself to and from trackdays too.
I shall bare it in mind then, the car will certainly be stripped/caged etc. so comfort/practicality isn't really a factor.5-7k should get a very tidy 3.0i, or even maybe a 3.0si with a peach of a straight six.
Plus its surprisingly spacious, seat goes really low and it has enough comfort to drive itself to and from trackdays too.
Wh00sher said:
If you are looking for a ready to go track car, I'd suggest taking a close look at this.
I know the owner, who is on here actually. I've been on track with it many times and it's a well setup car.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11548074
Saw this one, currently top of my list. Hoping it is still available when I've shifted my STI...I know the owner, who is on here actually. I've been on track with it many times and it's a well setup car.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11548074
ZX10R NIN said:
Looks decent, but 330 engine is a must at the very least for an E46, it isn't a light car.HustleRussell said:
I like lightweights so some kind of low volume kitcar. Sylva, MK etc etc. Or get £11k together for a Caterham. No need to end up with something weighing a ton or more with the associated tyre, brake costs etc.
Would consider an open wheel kit car, but might struggle with my height and stature....ZX10R NIN said:
True but once you gut the interior it won't be far off the 328i above, also it doesn't say but it may well be a 3.0 325i which gives more scope for BHP & it has a better chassis base point than the E36.
Fair point, and I imagine swapping E46 engines isn't a huge job either.HustleRussell said:
I don’t think you would. I know a few people your height who drive standard Caterhams. I bet the other sevenesques offer more space than a Caterham too. It is the only type of car in your consideration where you can do away with the seat assembly altogether and mould a custom bag seat which would sit you on the floor. No windscreen to obstruct your view. Formula driving position, RWD, 600kg- quicker than anything else you’re looking at.
You have my attention, I'll make some enquiries into this, thanks!Hol said:
I ran road going JDM STI Impreza's with decent coilovers and other mods as daily/track cars from 2001 to 2009. The later one being a Blobeye STI Twin Scroll with 400bhp.
They were great but heavy, hard on tyres and brakes and I went through a few wheel bearings.
After moving on, I initially went for a 182 Clio cup (my wife's old car, that was only 5yo at the time) which was great, and I currently have an R26 that I bought for going to/from the train station, which was also used as a temp track car twice and that was very-very good.
Major second hand parts for the Megane 225/R26/Cup are relatively cheap at present and should stay so, for the next 7 years or so, before things like LSD gearboxes, Engines, and wheels will start to become rarer, so now is a good time to run one cost wise,
Parts like cages and relatively cheap and available at present, if you were going for a lightweight R26r clone.
Thanks, I've had 3 x 250's, so I am a bit of a Renaultsport fan. R26 does make sense for the money.They were great but heavy, hard on tyres and brakes and I went through a few wheel bearings.
After moving on, I initially went for a 182 Clio cup (my wife's old car, that was only 5yo at the time) which was great, and I currently have an R26 that I bought for going to/from the train station, which was also used as a temp track car twice and that was very-very good.
Major second hand parts for the Megane 225/R26/Cup are relatively cheap at present and should stay so, for the next 7 years or so, before things like LSD gearboxes, Engines, and wheels will start to become rarer, so now is a good time to run one cost wise,
Parts like cages and relatively cheap and available at present, if you were going for a lightweight R26r clone.
Edited by Hol on Monday 14th June 09:47
Far Cough said:
I ran a Caterham R400D for 2 years and I am 6`3. Mine was the wider body but plenty of room. Road legal and still enough room with the roof up for when it was chucking it down. Road legal and peanuts to run. Not much could stick with it on a dry trackday but you have to be committed else its not for you !!!
Other than that , probably the most popular car on trackday is the BMW 3 series in all its various guises. Been a round for ages , loads of spare parts , aftermarket parts and bolt on goodies. A stripped out ( but road legal ) M3 with a few bits on is a potent toy on track.
Good to know, always just write off open wheel stuff.Other than that , probably the most popular car on trackday is the BMW 3 series in all its various guises. Been a round for ages , loads of spare parts , aftermarket parts and bolt on goodies. A stripped out ( but road legal ) M3 with a few bits on is a potent toy on track.
M3 at this budget will be a money pit I imagine.
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