Track car wanted £1500
Discussion
Me and two other mates are looking to purchase a track car and I'm after some advice. Our budget is £1500 (£500 each). All we're looking to do is occasional track days and maybe hill climbs.
I've done a few track days in the past with my old 350z and motorbike so I have a rough idea of costs involved.
This time we don't need the car to be road legal as it'll be stored off road and trailered to the event so it limits costs on tax, insurance etc.
We will only look at doing the basics like stripping out interior, bucket seat, sticky tyres and updated brakes.
My until suggestion is;
Civic type R - reliable, quick, nice engine
Mr2 mk3 - reliable(ish), cheap for tyres, breaks
330i/ Bmw compact - loads of parts, nice creamy engine, more sideways fun?
Ford puma - cheap, cheap parts, ummm cheap
What's your thoughts on the above, or would you consider something else?
Ps. Don't want to go down the French hatchback route.
Looking to buy within the next 2 weeks.
I've done a few track days in the past with my old 350z and motorbike so I have a rough idea of costs involved.
This time we don't need the car to be road legal as it'll be stored off road and trailered to the event so it limits costs on tax, insurance etc.
We will only look at doing the basics like stripping out interior, bucket seat, sticky tyres and updated brakes.
My until suggestion is;
Civic type R - reliable, quick, nice engine
Mr2 mk3 - reliable(ish), cheap for tyres, breaks
330i/ Bmw compact - loads of parts, nice creamy engine, more sideways fun?
Ford puma - cheap, cheap parts, ummm cheap
What's your thoughts on the above, or would you consider something else?
Ps. Don't want to go down the French hatchback route.
Looking to buy within the next 2 weeks.
Out of your list I would pick the Civic Type R if you can find one on your budget. These can be tuned fairly easily to c220 bhp.
Out of interest, why are you discounting French hatchbacks? The Clio 172/182 would be the obvious choice at this price range. I know they are good as I have one which I use for track days - cheap and cheerful and always been reliable. However, if I were to pick a new track day project it would be the Civic but I think you would need to raise the budget slightly.
Out of interest, why are you discounting French hatchbacks? The Clio 172/182 would be the obvious choice at this price range. I know they are good as I have one which I use for track days - cheap and cheerful and always been reliable. However, if I were to pick a new track day project it would be the Civic but I think you would need to raise the budget slightly.
would have to be the civic type r for that money. Get a ratty one with solid mechanicals, as you'll be stripping and thrashing it on track anyway and just go enjoy it.
In time you can also whack a super charger on, fit a set of R888 tyres and will become a whole new beast.
That would be my choice.
In time you can also whack a super charger on, fit a set of R888 tyres and will become a whole new beast.
That would be my choice.
Out of your list, the only thing worth considering is a Puma, expect to garage it up, drop the sub-frames, do plenty of welding, replace EVERY bush, the rest is pretty standard as in make it light & make the suspension & brakes good.
EVERYTHING else in your list will cost much more and require more cost to be added.
EVERYTHING else in your list will cost much more and require more cost to be added.
karl922 said:
French reliability puts me off, I mean if something big goes it'll write off the whole car pretty much. I'm know I'm asking a lot for 1500 pound but I'm trying to limit the potential of big bills.
Type R is probably my favourite but it's difficult finding one close to budget.
On that basis I'd write off the mk3 MR2, the early (cheap) ones have an issue with the pre-cats that effectively lunches the engine.Type R is probably my favourite but it's difficult finding one close to budget.
track days are great.
the cost is manageable, but it is never just the initial purchase cost.
3 way needs a contract - by which i mean at least a pub sheet memorandum of understanding ( if you can't easily phrase it in black&white, you haven't thought it through...).
MX5 is a great answer. BMW is certainly not (for 1500).
good luck.
the cost is manageable, but it is never just the initial purchase cost.
3 way needs a contract - by which i mean at least a pub sheet memorandum of understanding ( if you can't easily phrase it in black&white, you haven't thought it through...).
MX5 is a great answer. BMW is certainly not (for 1500).
good luck.
I think you'll struggle to find a decent type R for £1500, I know as I'm looking for one at the moment as a daily driver and most seam to be £2k ish.
Trouble is if it's going to get used well on track it needs to be a good car otherwise likelihood of spending all day fixing it is quite possible.
IMHO track cars don't need huge power, I have a great laugh in 145bhp E30 320 and will keep up with most stuff.
I bought a 318ti compact for £700, ended up converting it into a compact cup race car but with your remaining budget I think I could have built it into a fun track car. Set of E39 15' wheels to be used with cheap an plentiful used R888's or the alike, some decent pads and a cheap set of coil overs. Mine came with H&R springs which to be fair seamed to work quite well.
As others have said I thick you'd get a better clio 172/182 for you money than civic type R
Trouble is if it's going to get used well on track it needs to be a good car otherwise likelihood of spending all day fixing it is quite possible.
IMHO track cars don't need huge power, I have a great laugh in 145bhp E30 320 and will keep up with most stuff.
I bought a 318ti compact for £700, ended up converting it into a compact cup race car but with your remaining budget I think I could have built it into a fun track car. Set of E39 15' wheels to be used with cheap an plentiful used R888's or the alike, some decent pads and a cheap set of coil overs. Mine came with H&R springs which to be fair seamed to work quite well.
As others have said I thick you'd get a better clio 172/182 for you money than civic type R
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