Recommendations for my new track car?
Discussion
I sold my last track car a few years ago (EP3 type r), When I got a replacement I wanted it to be something that I could invest some time and money in to and this winter will be when I'm ready make a purchase.
My criteria does limit me somewhat and rules out a lot of the go to choices, these are as follows;
1. Can't be manual, health issues with my back and knee mean if I did one half track day in a manual car I'd probably be in pain for days afterwards.
So ideally something with a dual clutch gearbox or something that could have the transmission mapped to supply reasonably quick down changes. Needs to have paddle shifters.
2. I want it to be totally standard, I don't want anybody elses project. The plan is to get a standard car and start doing track days with it straight away and modify it over a couple of years to what I want it to be.
3. Performance wise nothing crazy, 200 bhp/tonne at a minimum with a goal of 300 bhp/tonne with light performance modifications. I want to keep it reliable. There'll be no forced induction work been done to a n/a vehicle.
This will be a 100% track car, It will never see the road or be mot'd while I own it. It'll travel everywhere on a trailer and live in my garage.
Budget is £10-12k for the car, with another £5-6k to be spent on parts over the next 2 years. It won't be worked too hard, 5-10 track days a year.
Front runners at the minute are an Audi S3 8P, Mk6 Golf R, F21 BMW M135i.
I’m happy to buy an insurance categorised car so that might bring a couple other things in to budget.
Couple of notes, I have considered Lotus 7 style kit cars. Originally I thought about buying a bike engined MK Indy but decided against it. I definitely want something with an enclosed cabin.
Also I know an E46 M3 fits my criteria but I don't want one.
Thanks
My criteria does limit me somewhat and rules out a lot of the go to choices, these are as follows;
1. Can't be manual, health issues with my back and knee mean if I did one half track day in a manual car I'd probably be in pain for days afterwards.
So ideally something with a dual clutch gearbox or something that could have the transmission mapped to supply reasonably quick down changes. Needs to have paddle shifters.
2. I want it to be totally standard, I don't want anybody elses project. The plan is to get a standard car and start doing track days with it straight away and modify it over a couple of years to what I want it to be.
3. Performance wise nothing crazy, 200 bhp/tonne at a minimum with a goal of 300 bhp/tonne with light performance modifications. I want to keep it reliable. There'll be no forced induction work been done to a n/a vehicle.
This will be a 100% track car, It will never see the road or be mot'd while I own it. It'll travel everywhere on a trailer and live in my garage.
Budget is £10-12k for the car, with another £5-6k to be spent on parts over the next 2 years. It won't be worked too hard, 5-10 track days a year.
Front runners at the minute are an Audi S3 8P, Mk6 Golf R, F21 BMW M135i.
I’m happy to buy an insurance categorised car so that might bring a couple other things in to budget.
Couple of notes, I have considered Lotus 7 style kit cars. Originally I thought about buying a bike engined MK Indy but decided against it. I definitely want something with an enclosed cabin.
Also I know an E46 M3 fits my criteria but I don't want one.
Thanks
Edited by mikemmw on Thursday 30th September 18:00
I would look at Porsche Boxsters. At your purchase budget they would be normal autos (with buttons on the steering wheel) and not dual clutch, but in your shoes I'd prefer a proper sports car with an auto over a hatchback with dual clutch.
They will also be far better out of the box than your hatch options for 5-10 days per year.
Or if you stretch into your mods budget, the dual clutch PDK Boxsters start in the high teens. If you can find a Cat D that would be ideal I would think.
Otherwise, look at Audi TTs - they're usually lighter than the hatchback equivalents I believe (i.e. golf/A3/Leon).
They will also be far better out of the box than your hatch options for 5-10 days per year.
Or if you stretch into your mods budget, the dual clutch PDK Boxsters start in the high teens. If you can find a Cat D that would be ideal I would think.
Otherwise, look at Audi TTs - they're usually lighter than the hatchback equivalents I believe (i.e. golf/A3/Leon).
I've seen a BMW 135i lapping very quickly at a Brands trackday a year or two ago, the driver said it was completely standard except for some semi slicks, his wife's daily driver. He was using the paddles on the semi-auto and I think had done a lot of track driving.
Or a Seat Leon Cupra DSG? I think am early 290/300 might be in budget, only 2 wheel drive but never convinced about 4WD track cars. I had a later one as a road car, the paddles were good but I rarely used them, it was so quick on the road I was happier concentrating on steering and letting the computer do a better job shifting than I ever could anyway.
Or a Seat Leon Cupra DSG? I think am early 290/300 might be in budget, only 2 wheel drive but never convinced about 4WD track cars. I had a later one as a road car, the paddles were good but I rarely used them, it was so quick on the road I was happier concentrating on steering and letting the computer do a better job shifting than I ever could anyway.
mikemmw said:
Needs to be auto so that’s gt86 out, also too slow.
I think it’s going to have to be a turbo’d car as anything na in my budget just hasn’t got the power I’d be looking for.
I was going to suggest the GT86 because half of them seem to be autos...but yes it'll be down on the power if being overtaken is offensive to your ego. I think it’s going to have to be a turbo’d car as anything na in my budget just hasn’t got the power I’d be looking for.
FTW said:
987.2 Cayman/Boxster with a PDK box. Light on consumables, you can fit loads of GT3 bits, DFi engine so no bore scoring.
They are impressively quick with a few mods.
Yep, this all day.They are impressively quick with a few mods.
Tracked my Boxster manual a couple of times this year, (Castle Combe old Cadwell Park) as a change from my track car. I absolutely love it so a PDK 987.2 would definitely be top of my list.
Save your mods money for a decent car with the adjustable suspension option and you will have a car that really flies, is beautifully balanced and have a great feeling of top down when you’re out on track on a good day.
Hard to beat……
Munter said:
I was going to suggest the GT86 because half of them seem to be autos...but yes it'll be down on the power if being overtaken is offensive to your ego.
I didn't realise you could get them with an auto, sorry.But yes my ego is fragile and my ability is poor so need a bit of power to make up for that.
phazed said:
Yep, this all day.
Tracked my Boxster manual a couple of times this year, (Castle Combe old Cadwell Park) as a change from my track car. I absolutely love it so a PDK 987.2 would definitely be top of my list.
Save your mods money for a decent car with the adjustable suspension option and you will have a car that really flies, is beautifully balanced and have a great feeling of top down when you’re out on track on a good day.
Hard to beat……
Thanks, I want to stick pretty firm to the budget and not add mods money to it.Tracked my Boxster manual a couple of times this year, (Castle Combe old Cadwell Park) as a change from my track car. I absolutely love it so a PDK 987.2 would definitely be top of my list.
Save your mods money for a decent car with the adjustable suspension option and you will have a car that really flies, is beautifully balanced and have a great feeling of top down when you’re out on track on a good day.
Hard to beat……
The budget isn't £10-12k because that is what I can afford, I've set it at that because that's the most I feel I could bare to lose in the worst case scenario of a write off.
I guess it depends on what the goal is of the track car, is it just to go and have fun and if you wrap it around a barrier its a case of not worrying too much about it. Or is it that you want to be very competitive and its about times.
Some guys I know bought an old 328 beemer and just ripped everything out, they didnt care if it took some hits, and consumables were dirt cheap to replace. It wasnt breaking any lap records but it was just a good fun day out.
Some guys I know bought an old 328 beemer and just ripped everything out, they didnt care if it took some hits, and consumables were dirt cheap to replace. It wasnt breaking any lap records but it was just a good fun day out.
JP__FOX said:
I looked at 335'is and they can be made very quick in a straight line but they get very very hot and nobody seems to be able to get them to work reliably on track. I soon started looking elsewhere after seeing the amount of issues people were having with them on track.
Cooling them properly should be an easy fix once you know what the issues are, no?Only a limited number of things it can be, do it properly and you could nail all the possibilities fairly quickly. Oil coolers either uprated or added, bigger intercooler if you want more power, stick an air duct and splitter on the front bumper.
Edited by Krikkit on Thursday 7th October 13:27
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