Help me pick a track car
Discussion
Evening all, as the title really.
I've been busy doing life things for the last few years, buying a house, renovates, doing work things, having a baby, all that jazz. Things are settling down a bit and after a few days spannering on the family A6 I've remembered how much I miss having something to tinker with and actually I haven't done a track day for 3 years ish.
History of french fwd hot hatch tat, current daily is an M140i. I'm thinking that I'd like something cheap and cheerful ish, so that the value of the car isn't a mental barrier in improving my driving. If I'm afraid to get it wrong because it'll be fortunes to fix there's not much point in that. I've been thinking about my criteria, and I've got it down to this:
1) Reasonably cheap (Ideally sub 3k)
2) Rear wheel drive
3) Small, I want to garage it, but my garage is small. My M140i just fits. So no larger than an M140i.
4) Decent support for mods. I'd like to start out with a suspension overhaul and probably some half decent coilovers.
That's it I think,
I keep coming back to an mx5, which sounds like a simple answer, the only issue is I've had one and hated it. That said, I was using it as a daily driver so I guess it would be different as a track toy only.
Any other suggestions folks?
I've been busy doing life things for the last few years, buying a house, renovates, doing work things, having a baby, all that jazz. Things are settling down a bit and after a few days spannering on the family A6 I've remembered how much I miss having something to tinker with and actually I haven't done a track day for 3 years ish.
History of french fwd hot hatch tat, current daily is an M140i. I'm thinking that I'd like something cheap and cheerful ish, so that the value of the car isn't a mental barrier in improving my driving. If I'm afraid to get it wrong because it'll be fortunes to fix there's not much point in that. I've been thinking about my criteria, and I've got it down to this:
1) Reasonably cheap (Ideally sub 3k)
2) Rear wheel drive
3) Small, I want to garage it, but my garage is small. My M140i just fits. So no larger than an M140i.
4) Decent support for mods. I'd like to start out with a suspension overhaul and probably some half decent coilovers.
That's it I think,
I keep coming back to an mx5, which sounds like a simple answer, the only issue is I've had one and hated it. That said, I was using it as a daily driver so I guess it would be different as a track toy only.
Any other suggestions folks?
d to work on. Snap with the MRSSteve H said:
I’ve got a 106 gti here that could go as-is for £2.5k.
Already got a cage, buckets, coilovers etc but hasn’t been on track for about a year so would benefit from a tinker before doing any Ring trips
.
Pm me if it’s what you’re after
It’s a great ad but it’s very front wheel drive Already got a cage, buckets, coilovers etc but hasn’t been on track for about a year so would benefit from a tinker before doing any Ring trips
.Pm me if it’s what you’re after
I’ve done that I’m afraid, 16v ph1 106 flatarch, satchshift, rallye Boz, 23mm torsion bars, Recaros, pugsport and rallye steels
Great fun though!! Don’t sell it, use it!
Shame an RX-8 won't fit in your garage (are you sure? Must be a tiny garage!) - that's where my 3k would be going for a track car.
Might be able to get hold of a 2ZZ Mk3 MR2 if you keep your eyes peeled on the forums/FB groups. I've found the mk3 quite a bit easier to work on than the mk2.
Way above budget obviously, but a Caterham wouldn't lose you any money over a few years, so actually 'cheaper' than buying something that will inevitably lose money in depreciation. Man-maths is your friend :-)
Might be able to get hold of a 2ZZ Mk3 MR2 if you keep your eyes peeled on the forums/FB groups. I've found the mk3 quite a bit easier to work on than the mk2.
Way above budget obviously, but a Caterham wouldn't lose you any money over a few years, so actually 'cheaper' than buying something that will inevitably lose money in depreciation. Man-maths is your friend :-)
mrtwisty said:
Shame an RX-8 won't fit in your garage (are you sure? Must be a tiny garage!) - that's where my 3k would be going for a track car.
Might be able to get hold of a 2ZZ Mk3 MR2 if you keep your eyes peeled on the forums/FB groups. I've found the mk3 quite a bit easier to work on than the mk2.
Way above budget obviously, but a Caterham wouldn't lose you any money over a few years, so actually 'cheaper' than buying something that will inevitably lose money in depreciation. Man-maths is your friend :-)
It’s more that I didn’t really think about a track car, I’ve built garage units into the garage that fit around the 140 to maximise my space, house my tool cabinets and compressor etc, but they take up quite a bit of the length of the garage.Might be able to get hold of a 2ZZ Mk3 MR2 if you keep your eyes peeled on the forums/FB groups. I've found the mk3 quite a bit easier to work on than the mk2.
Way above budget obviously, but a Caterham wouldn't lose you any money over a few years, so actually 'cheaper' than buying something that will inevitably lose money in depreciation. Man-maths is your friend :-)
D4MJT said:
Mr MXT said:
Try an MX5 on track, they are massive fun.
Sadly I don’t know anyone with one, but that’s sort of what I’m banking on. I had one years ago and hated it, but it was my daily. I think if i only used it for fun it could be good maybe mstrbkr said:
I thought RX8s couldn't be THAT long but I just looked it up - 4470mm /14 feet 8 inches! That's only 120mm shorter than my Civic Tourer but 350mm longer than my S2000.
Wonder if you could get a £3k S2000 as a fixer upper
Bit of a weird one, but MG TF? Mid engine is always cool.
I know, they’re super long!Wonder if you could get a £3k S2000 as a fixer upper
Bit of a weird one, but MG TF? Mid engine is always cool.
I would LOVE an S2000 but at that money it would be an absolute rotter I think.
I have good experience of the MG TF and I actually prefer it (standard) to drive than my MX5 at the time. However now I’d worry about rust and also I’d really like a rwd car as my daily is and I’d prefer to hone my skills a bit.
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