£30k - what track day car would you buy?

[james22]

After a 15 year hiatus (well, on 4 wheels at least) and a recent JP sport day at Bedford I've decided to get back on track.

I'm really interested in people's views on what might be the appropriate metal for this.

My budget is around £30k and it needs to be able to be driven there and back (can't be bothered with a trailer right now) and I'd also like a roof over my head (so Caterham's, Atoms etc are not on the cards). I'll probably do 8 to 10 t'days a year and maybe a road trip.

I 'think' I want a S2 Exige S 240 (used to track a S1 111S many years ago) but aware that I may be Lotus biased.

What else should I be considering??

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

Fiesta ST or Hyundai I20N

[Krikkit]

Ginetta G40R?

It sounds like you've pretty much nailed on the best option tbh, an S2 Exige will be pretty cheap to run on track and great fun.

[PH User]

You can have a roof with a Caterham, so that would be my suggestion.

[Royal Jelly]

Is the car going to be pretty much only for track days?

Naturally, other cars will be more liveable/less of a compromise than an Exige if you need it to do other duties.

If it’s just for track, I’d be going Exige. If not, perhaps 987.2 Cayman S.. assuming in both instances that you want a car with a roof.. Mid-engine, manual gearbox, RWD.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

I know you said no Caterhams, but for that money you could race for a year in the Caterham Academy which I bet is more exciting than normal trackdays.

[NIgt3]

E46 m3

[james22]

90% track work - have other stuff for road but want "light" for track work for lots of reasons (handling, consumables, etc) but with a reasonable budget.

Done racing in the past - just want to do track days for now

Maybe I should reconsider Caterhams.....

Edited by james22 on Monday 20th September 17:26

[upsidedownmark]

You should.

They don't need to be trailered. I drove mine to spa, thrashed it around the track, and drove it home. OK, the slog back in the rain was a bit like hard work, but still plenty doable.

[England87]

M2

[Scho]

I’ve seen a lovely s2 exige for that sort of money on Seloc

[anonymous-user]

If you have other stuff for road work, just get the Caterham, choose spec wisely though but there are plenty of good cars for under £20k, I’d buy this though

https://www.ptsportscars.com/car/2003-caterham-r40...

210bhp in 500kgs, hell yeah cleetus….

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 20th September 20:56

[PH User]

pablo said:

Chainsaw Rebuild said:

I know you said no Caterhams, but for that money you could race for a year in the Caterham Academy which I bet is more exciting than normal trackdays.

Possibly…… but it’s also a huge logistical undertaking, there are meetings at Anglesey, Croft, Snetterton and Brands so you’re towing it up and down the country at the weekend, as well as the midweek track/test days if you want half a chance of being competitive…. And at the end of the year you have spent £30k on a 125bhp Caterham….

personally I’d get a 987 Cayman S or a Z4M coupe, fit some good aftermarket coilovers, track focused tyres and save the rest.

Sounds like a very exciting year though.

[nickfrog]

England87 said:

M2

I track mine but that's 10% of its use. For 90% it's not the right tool, particularly from a running cost POV. Too heavy.

[loggyboy]

10 clios.
Or 1 and shed loads of fuel, tyres, trackdays and spares.

[Chuck328]

Leftfield suggestion if not too bothered about age or image.

Evo 8/9 ?

Plenty of space for that road trip to and as good on the track as any 4 door.

[james22]

Scho said:

I’ve seen a lovely s2 exige for that sort of money on Seloc

Gone - unsurprisingly

[braddo]

Krikkit said:

Ginetta G40R?

It sounds like you've pretty much nailed on the best option tbh, an S2 Exige will be pretty cheap to run on track and great fun.

I think these are the best options out of the box.

Then cayman/boxster with some mods, or more modified - Mk3 MX5 or GT86 with extra power added.


I would think a Caterham will soon wear thin for getting to and from 8-10 track days a year, unless all the days are quite local (say less than 90 minutes away). Based on what i've seen only a very tiny number of owners drive Caterhams long distances to track days. I was one of them.

[Krikkit]

braddo said:

I would think a Caterham will soon wear thin for getting to and from 8-10 track days a year, unless all the days are quite local (say less than 90 minutes away). Based on what i've seen only a very tiny number of owners drive Caterhams long distances to track days. I was one of them.

If I had room then £30k would be a slick-shod Caterfield, diesel L322 Range Rover and a decent trailer to tow, then you've got something to tow without fuss, sleep in the night before, thrash round the track, then drive home in comfort.

[upsidedownmark]

braddo said:

I would think a Caterham will soon wear thin for getting to and from 8-10 track days a year, unless all the days are quite local (say less than 90 minutes away). Based on what i've seen only a very tiny number of owners drive Caterhams long distances to track days. I was one of them.

I never really understood why - unless because many of them are actually race cars/not road registered/just have to bring the kitchen sink/???

The thing that most surprised me when I got mine was how comfortable it is on the road - given it doesn't weigh so much, it doesn't need to be jarringly harsh to keep the body under control, consequently it's a surprisingly compliant road ride. Earplugs are the only thing I've found a necessity.