What would you choose?

[Phil Dicky]

I'm looking for a track car for my missus, son and me to use.
I want rwd, manual, and something with a little poke. This will be track days only have 2 other cars for everyday use. Budget around 5-6k, intend to drive to and from the tracks.
I've got it down to the following but not sure which to go for.

1) Mazda RX8 231...had one before 6 years ago. Light well balanced car. Decent on track in standard spec. However the engine is an issue and thus reliability, but they are cheap. Rust appears to be a problem and loads of chav'd dogs about.

2) Boxster 3.2S or 2.7.... again good track car in standard spec. Parts etc not the cheapest but pretty reliable. In 3.2S spec a quick car. No apparent rust issues.

3) Nissan 350Z.....A quick car and less of an issue that than RX8. As quick as the Boxster but a heavy car and I'm guessing then heavy wearing on brakes etc. Rust appears to be an issue.

Any advice is welcome

[mat205125]

For that budget, its be an MX5 or E46 330 manual, with some simple reliability and performance modes... brake fluid, lines, discs and pads, and a good quality budget suspension set (not a Chinese coil over crap)

Don't be too blinkered by the RWD purity nonsense, and dismiss a Mk5 golf GTI, bread van type R or Megane 225. Just as much fun and challenge

[Phil Dicky]

mat205125 said:

For that budget, its be an MX5 or E46 330 manual, with some simple reliability and performance modes... brake fluid, lines, discs and pads, and a good quality budget suspension set (not a Chinese coil over crap)

Don't be too blinkered by the RWD purity nonsense, and dismiss a Mk5 golf GTI, bread van type R or Megane 225. Just as much fun and challenge

Personal preference but I don't like MX5s and don't fancy an 330. Did my ARDS in a Clio Renaultsport, which was good fun. But I've raced TVRs and want to stick to RWD.

[anonymous-user]

I wouldn't choose any of those as a track car. Maybe the RX8 at a push.

350Z too heavy (?) and Boxster probably expensive to modify and maintain. Go on a track day and have a look what RWD cars are in the paddock around your budget, suspect a BMW 325/330 will be quite prevalent for good reason.

[Voldemort]

MG TF if you can find a rust free example... are much better than people credit and have a lot of upgrade potential.

[anonymous-user]

As said, all too heavy for fun on track. Get a mk3 MX5 sport, fit some coil overs, a set of PS4s and have fun.

[Phil Dicky]

I'm not an MX5 fan tbh, or older E46, would go M3 route but they are expensive.

[Zumbruk]

I sprinted and hillclimbed a 350Z for a couple of years. TBF, I wouldn't bother with one because they're much too heavy and they handle like a blancmange.

[SpudLink]

I don’t often see any variety of MR2. That would seem like the obvious mid-engined alternative to the MX-5.

[Cambs_Stuart]

The only other suitable cheapish RWD I can think of is an MR2, which will be fun and cheap on consumables but not massively fast. Unless you swapped the engine with the 190hp version.

[Phil Dicky]

Zumbruk said:

I sprinted and hillclimbed a 350Z for a couple of years. TBF, I wouldn't bother with one because they're much too heavy and they handle like a blancmange.

That's what I was thinking so 350Z is out, RX8 or Boxster now, leaning towards a Boxster.

[brillomaster]

BMW Z4?

i had a E85 3.0i as a track car, and i loved it. picked up a high miler for £3k, only mods i made were £400 track tyres, and the same on better brake pads. had loads of bmw 3 series in the past and the z4 felt a lot more special. plus, roof down action is great.

[brillomaster]

though, of the 3 you've listed, i'd have the boxster. which is what i have now. makes a glorious noise, and handles decently. get one on 17s and tyres are pretty cheap too.

my mate has an RX8 which he races, and to be honest, it felt a bit flat in a straight line, like the torque was tailing off.

had a 350z previously, though never took it on track. but it is a bit of a bruiser, quite heavy, will work brakes and tyres very hard. definitely more of a sports gt than an out and out sports car.

[phazed]

Phil Dicky said:

That's what I was thinking so 350Z is out, RX8 or Boxster now, leaning towards a Boxster.

Tracked my 987.1 Boxster S twice this summer, (Cadwell TVR TD and Combe). Absolutely brilliant car, I can't recommend it highly enough.

I bought a spare set of wheels with a set of nearly new Triple 8's off the bay and the car really flies........

Just to add. I usually track my vRS but if the weather is good, the Boxster comes out to play!

[4.7]

Boxster out of the three for me. Tracked a 2.7 occasionally and also TVR so probably similar preferences. Consumables won't be cheap but you will be used to that with TVR ownership.
Definitely go 3.2 or like me you will always wish you had. Lots of them spec for racing so the homework and research is already out there and done for you for track prep.

[Xcore]

Mx5 turbo. Or boxster S

[Phil Dicky]

Looking at a RX8 tomorrow and one Saturday. Think I need to keep to the cheaper end of my budget. Although I've plenty of track time in the past. I'm not happy about committing too much money into this. The car will be 100% track only so can't justify having too much money sat around.

[Zumbruk]

Phil Dicky said:

Looking at a RX8 tomorrow and one Saturday. Think I need to keep to the cheaper end of my budget. Although I've plenty of track time in the past. I'm not happy about committing too much money into this. The car will be 100% track only so can't justify having too much money sat around.

Don't RX8's have chocolate engines? [Not taking the piss, genuinely interested if their rep is deserved.]

[Phil Dicky]

Zumbruk said:

Phil Dicky said:

Looking at a RX8 tomorrow and one Saturday. Think I need to keep to the cheaper end of my budget. Although I've plenty of track time in the past. I'm not happy about committing too much money into this. The car will be 100% track only so can't justify having too much money sat around.

Don't RX8's have chocolate engines? [Not taking the piss, genuinely interested if their rep is deserved.]

Yeah they do....however Saturday's example has had a rebuild by Rotary Revs..one of the best rotary engine builders. So will be trouble free for a few years yet. I've had one before so well aware of their issues.

[Zumbruk]

Phil Dicky said:

Zumbruk said:

Phil Dicky said:

Looking at a RX8 tomorrow and one Saturday. Think I need to keep to the cheaper end of my budget. Although I've plenty of track time in the past. I'm not happy about committing too much money into this. The car will be 100% track only so can't justify having too much money sat around.

Don't RX8's have chocolate engines? [Not taking the piss, genuinely interested if their rep is deserved.]

Yeah they do....however Saturday's example has had a rebuild by Rotary Revs..one of the best rotary engine builders. So will be trouble free for a few years yet. I've had one before so well aware of their issues.

Kewl. Good luck!