Buying my first track day car

[matthewiiv]

Hey guys,

I've been to a few track days and rented some cars and absolutely loved every second of it, so I've decided to buy buy own track day car.

From what I've read people seem to recommend an MX-5 or E36, both of which I'd be very happy with however I just can't seem to find many for sale.

Maybe it's just the millennial in me expecting there to "be an app for it", but where would you guys start looking for a track day car that already has all the necessary mods installed?

I've tried racecarsdirect.com, ebay, gumtree, and pistonheads, but there seem to be very few recent listings. I've also tried autotrader but there doesn't seem to be any track ready cars on there at all!

Budget is up to £4000, any pointer at all would be much appreciated!

[Dave.]

You don't need any mods for a track car, that's kinda the point, especially early on.

Take whatever you have, or buy something you fancy and just drive it.

Evaluate what it needs, focus on improving yourself rather than throwing shiny st at the car.... Make you faster, not the car.

Just make sure you have decent tyres/brakes/etc and learn the limits of you and the car and go from there, basically.

[Zarco]

Join Track Time Classifieds on Facebook or one of the other groups. Loads of track cars for sale.

[F12 Josh]

Certainly with an MX5 they're good enough standard, I've done a few evening sessions in mine with no problems. Just made sure it had decent tyres and away it went, though already had lowered suspension.

There's likely more cars available towards the end of the year when events are further between them and people change things up.

[matthewiiv]

Dave. said:

You don't need any mods for a track car, that's kinda the point, especially early on.

Take whatever you have, or buy something you fancy and just drive it.

Evaluate what it needs, focus on improving yourself rather than throwing shiny st at the car.... Make you faster, not the car.

Just make sure you have decent tyres/brakes/etc and learn the limits of you and the car and go from there, basically.

That's super helpful thanks! So you could just take a stock MX-5, make sure the brakes and tyres are okay and head to the track?

I guess my thinking is that people seem not to get the money back that they spent on mods when they sell the car, so would be worth buying one already kitted out, since you get a massive discount on the mods?

[matthewiiv]

Zarco said:

Join Track Time Classifieds on Facebook or one of the other groups. Loads of track cars for sale.

Will do! Much appreciated.

[matthewiiv]

F12 Josh said:

Certainly with an MX5 they're good enough standard, I've done a few evening sessions in mine with no problems. Just made sure it had decent tyres and away it went, though already had lowered suspension.

There's likely more cars available towards the end of the year when events are further between them and people change things up.

Did you have any trouble with the brakes? Good shout about timing, would you say sort of October time or later?

[Wh00sher]

If you are looking for an E36, this one fits the bill nicely.

I have driven against it on track and know the owner well. For a RWD, coupe track car it ticks loads of boxes.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13388749

[Kellerman]

E36 is great, E46 is better I'd say.

Because:
- It can run wider wheels much more easily
- It's less rusty
- It has less cooling problems
- It has more power
- It's cheaper

All this for only a slight weight increase

[jm8403]

Kellerman said:

E36 is great, E46 is better I'd say.

Because:
- It can run wider wheels much more easily
- It's less rusty
- It has less cooling problems
- It has more power
- It's cheaper

All this for only a slight weight increase

It's rarely cheaper to buy a track ready e46 though.

[anonymous-user]

Mk3 MX5 would be good for learning car control, they are light and easy on the consumables. The 160bhp 2L cars are certainly not mobile chicanes and do react well to some “go faster” bolt on parts.

[F12 Josh]

matthewiiv said:

F12 Josh said:

Certainly with an MX5 they're good enough standard, I've done a few evening sessions in mine with no problems. Just made sure it had decent tyres and away it went, though already had lowered suspension.

There's likely more cars available towards the end of the year when events are further between them and people change things up.

Did you have any trouble with the brakes? Good shout about timing, would you say sort of October time or later?

No problems with those, they were recently replaced for MOT purposes but only with standard items so nothing special. I only did short 10-15 minute runs and they've been evening sessions too so only about 2 hours in total. Can't see there being any issues on a full day though and short 10-15 minute runs are enough starting out, don't want to push yourself too much.

I think cars will naturally be a bit cheaper in winter as demand drops a little, October or later is a good call but nothing stopping you looking now as always bargains out there.

If you can go along to your local tracks and see what is about, people would be more than happy to give passenger rides too so you have an idea. Somewhere like Silverstone may seem a bit wide and fast for an MX5 and you may more power, but Cadwell (My local!) is ideal for them.

[LowTread]

Got a Mk2 MX5 in my shed/barn looking for a home. Sparco seat, Luke harness, TR Lane bar, NS2R tyres. Almost no rust.

[matthewiiv]

Wh00sher said:

If you are looking for an E36, this one fits the bill nicely.

I have driven against it on track and know the owner well. For a RWD, coupe track car it ticks loads of boxes.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13388749

Nice! Bit out of my price range tbh but thanks nonetheless!

[matthewiiv]

Kellerman said:

E36 is great, E46 is better I'd say.

Because:
- It can run wider wheels much more easily
- It's less rusty
- It has less cooling problems
- It has more power
- It's cheaper

All this for only a slight weight increase

Oh interesting. My friend just got a E46 as a daily driver and he loves it, but I'd always assumed people used E36s on the track. Do you have one?

[matthewiiv]

jm8403 said:

It's rarely cheaper to buy a track ready e46 though.

What do they need to make them track ready?

[matthewiiv]

pablo said:

Mk3 MX5 would be good for learning car control, they are light and easy on the consumables. The 160bhp 2L cars are certainly not mobile chicanes and do react well to some “go faster” bolt on parts.

Worth getting a stock one do you reckon? Or something track ready?

[matthewiiv]

F12 Josh said:

No problems with those, they were recently replaced for MOT purposes but only with standard items so nothing special. I only did short 10-15 minute runs and they've been evening sessions too so only about 2 hours in total. Can't see there being any issues on a full day though and short 10-15 minute runs are enough starting out, don't want to push yourself too much.

I think cars will naturally be a bit cheaper in winter as demand drops a little, October or later is a good call but nothing stopping you looking now as always bargains out there.

If you can go along to your local tracks and see what is about, people would be more than happy to give passenger rides too so you have an idea. Somewhere like Silverstone may seem a bit wide and fast for an MX5 and you may more power, but Cadwell (My local!) is ideal for them.

Ah that makes sense, didn't consider that you'd only be doing short runs. I guess if you wanted to go out for longer you could add better brakes?

Bedford is my local. Passenger rides is a great idea!

[matthewiiv]

LowTread said:

Got a Mk2 MX5 in my shed/barn looking for a home. Sparco seat, Luke harness, TR Lane bar, NS2R tyres. Almost no rust.

How much you looking for?

[F12 Josh]

matthewiiv said:

F12 Josh said:

No problems with those, they were recently replaced for MOT purposes but only with standard items so nothing special. I only did short 10-15 minute runs and they've been evening sessions too so only about 2 hours in total. Can't see there being any issues on a full day though and short 10-15 minute runs are enough starting out, don't want to push yourself too much.

I think cars will naturally be a bit cheaper in winter as demand drops a little, October or later is a good call but nothing stopping you looking now as always bargains out there.

If you can go along to your local tracks and see what is about, people would be more than happy to give passenger rides too so you have an idea. Somewhere like Silverstone may seem a bit wide and fast for an MX5 and you may more power, but Cadwell (My local!) is ideal for them.

Ah that makes sense, didn't consider that you'd only be doing short runs. I guess if you wanted to go out for longer you could add better brakes?

Bedford is my local. Passenger rides is a great idea!

Absolutely! Better brakes then better tyres (Even good road based tyres tend to go off a lot quicker than track-biased tyres), better cooling, better suspension, etc..., etc.... Can definitely see how the rabbit hole starts!

If you've already got a helmet then go along to a few Bedford days and have a chat to the owners of some examples of what you may be looking for. Sure the owners would be more than happy to talk about them and you may get some passenger rides too (Hence the helmet!). Never been to Bedford so can't comment on the track suitability for MX5 vs E36.