£10k -£15k track day car (road legal)

[Mankers]

I have between 10-15k for a track day car. It would be a dedicated track day car but needs to be drivable to/from track in all weather (needs a tin top!)

Something relatively standard (OEM) would be my preference (for resale). But would do suspension, brakes, tyres etc to optimise.

Also needs to be reliable as I would keep in Uk and fly in to use it (I live offshore). So needs to be reliable enough to just go to track day straight from trickle charger!

I could up budget potentially for something interesting. For context I have done a few track days over the years but want to do more going forward, I would consider myself an intermediate level track driver. My daily is a B8 RS4 and my fun euro road trip car is currently a comfort spec 991 GT3.

Thanks!

[M.F.D]

Megane RS250 Cup.

[Lastmin]

I was just about to say if you are after a FWD car then an RS Megane and someone beat me to it.

Budget wise loads of money left for upgrades £8k car, then suspension / brakes / stage 1 intercooler/map so roughly 290bhp safely, maybe oil cooler and still under budget.

its an obvious choice but a good one.

[mko9]

I used an e46 330i sedan for about 10 years as a daily driver and part time trackday machine. Not a whole lot required to stand up to a trackday, but lots performance mods available. With the sedan body style you can fit 4x 255 width r-compund tyres across the back seat. Trunk easily holds tools, floor jack, jack stands, etc. The biggest drawback was be the lack of speed/acceleration. I was only making ~120mph on straights. Unfortunately, e46 M3 was not available as a sedan. Turbo-charging is stupid expensive. Supercharging might be more economical?

[PGNSagaris]

One of my old track prepped E46 M3’s might be available for £15k. Friend of mine owns it now but is going racing and needs the funds.

PM me if interested. It’s a brilliant car

[FTW]

BRZ/GT86?

Can be had within budget, reliable (assuming so given the brands involved), RWD, LSD, shed loads of aftermarket parts available.

Failing that, as mentioned the Megane RS 275 Cup S. They really are the Porsche GT product of the FWD world.

[M.F.D]

FTW said:

BRZ/GT86?

Can be had within budget, reliable (assuming so given the brands involved), RWD, LSD, shed loads of aftermarket parts available.

Failing that, as mentioned the Megane RS 275 Cup S. They really are the Porsche GT product of the FWD world.

This actually. I would seriously consider a GT86 with money for improvements. Ultimately the Megane would be quicker, but I can see me having one of these at some point.

[Mankers]

Thanks for all the input so far, some interesting ideas. Not considered anything French! Although I started with a 205GTI and 2x R5 Turbos back in the day.

What’s the French build quality like these days? I’ve had German cars for years now. Used to be poor from memory.

Part of me wants something rear drive and light. Lotus Elise? Although might have to up budget…

[Derek182]

I currently own a 2006 Boxster 2.7 and a 2010 Megane 250 Cup, both similar mileage and well maintained, the Boxster feels well engineered but the Megane is considerably less rattly and feels very well put together. I'm also more concerned about potentially expensive problems with the Porsche.
I'll be trackdaying the Megane this year but if it's purely a toy car for trackdays I would want something a bit more special, an Elise sounds ideal as long as it isn't one of the lowest power ones or £15K should buy a decent VX220 Turbo, maybe even one with a bit of suspension, brake and engine work already done.

[FTW]

Mankers said:

Thanks for all the input so far, some interesting ideas. Not considered anything French! Although I started with a 205GTI and 2x R5 Turbos back in the day.

What’s the French build quality like these days? I’ve had German cars for years now. Used to be poor from memory.

Part of me wants something rear drive and light. Lotus Elise? Although might have to up budget…

I have a lovely S1 Elise which does the odd trackday. It is very good fun but does require a constant trickle of money spending on it although parts are cheap. Early Elise's are getting on a bit now so I'd go for something more modern based on your need to park it up in storage whilst you're offshore, that way it will be more likely to turn on and work out the box.

[M.F.D]

Mankers said:

Thanks for all the input so far, some interesting ideas. Not considered anything French! Although I started with a 205GTI and 2x R5 Turbos back in the day.

What’s the French build quality like these days? I’ve had German cars for years now. Used to be poor from memory.

Part of me wants something rear drive and light. Lotus Elise? Although might have to up budget…

Things have moved on considerably since then...

The Megane RS250/265/275 is a solid car. I have had 3 and covered well over 100k miles between the 3. Tracked them all, used them all well as intended. None cost me any great deal of money and were mega dependable. The MK3 Megane's engine was much stronger than the previous gen F4RT too. For a FWD weapon, look no further.

Mid engined, RWD and budget friendly option..... Mk3 MR2 with the Ceilca 2ZZ 190 engine. These drop right in (replacing the factory 1ZZ) and can be done for not alot of money. Usually some converted cars for sale for about a third of your budget.

[Tommie38]

Anything RWD!

LSD desirable but you can drive around the lack of one.

BRZ great but you need to be comfortable with the handling over power argument. I don’t imagine them to be very quick and you might get frustrated on the straights.

Many people spend lots modifying track cars. If you are one of those people, but the one you want now, rather than upgrading in 12M.

If road use as well, M3 or Boxster/Cayman (do your research on engines). If purely track go crazy!

[Tommie38]

Apologies, I have just re-read your post.

PPF and good insurance and then take the GT3!

Edited to say that if a gen 1 car I’d be taking full advantage of the extended engine warranty.

Edited by Tommie38 on Thursday 17th February 09:20

[coldel]

You could get a supercharged VX220 for sub £15k They do have hard tops too. For all intents and purposes its an S2 Elise with extra grunt. And you get much more a #racecar feeling when driving it vs a hot hatch.

Edited by coldel on Thursday 17th February 09:51

[anonymous-user]

M.F.D said:

Megane RS250 Cup.

+1. Even in standard form it will outperform a wide range of other cars.

[DodgyGeezer]

Bloke on pistonheads bought a high mileage C5 Corvette as his track car (well under your budget). Reliable, quick, quirky (for the UK), lovely soundtrack, lots of modification potential....

[M.F.D]

Mr Spoon said:

+1. Even in standard form it will outperform a wide range of other cars.

I remember my first time taking mine on track. Fully OEM with uprated brake fluid and some AD08R tyres. I was blown away, and had a proper battle with a track spec 182 which was highly modified/corner weighed etc and there was nothing between the two. Epic cars.

[carl_w]

DodgyGeezer said:

Bloke on pistonheads bought a high mileage C5 Corvette as his track car (well under your budget). Reliable, quick, quirky (for the UK), lovely soundtrack, lots of modification potential....

I heard one of those pounding round Snetterton in the summer. Glorious noise.

[DodgyGeezer]

DodgyGeezer said:

Bloke on pistonheads bought a high mileage C5 Corvette as his track car (well under your budget). Reliable, quick, quirky (for the UK), lovely soundtrack, lots of modification potential....

I was wrong - it was a C6 (even better!)

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[snotrag]

VX220 definitely.