Track day car for daily use

[hypermark]

Hi All, Looking for some impartial thoughts and comments please. Today I have driven a RS3 Sportshatch 2025 car, very nice, however I was expecting it to be a rocket ship in terms of performance, it didn't feel that quick, especially mid range acceleration. Everything only seemed to come in at above 5,500 rpm. top end. I've come from a Lotus Exige 410 as I now need something that will be a little more practical for daily use as well as some track days.
Firstly, Are my expectations to high?
Secondly, what can be sensibly done to improve the performance for track use.
Thirdly any better all round cars for approx 55K?
Thanks in advance,

[dibblecorse]

How practical does it need to be, surely an M2 is the answer if its practical enough.

[iguana]

Can't imagine much worse & less involving than an RS3 tbh.

You kinda need to clarify what you are after, spazmatic & 4wd or fwd or what?

Most stuff will be pretty crap out of the box as stock, too soft too numb.

The easy go to is an M2, fast, proper wheel drive & can get a proper gearbox. Also very numb & just so easy to go fast in even for morons. Because of the numbness & not great engine note lots go for an e92 M3 instead & mod.

Depending on how many seats you need Porsche products usually fit the bill. Or take an R8 v10 & mod it.

[Josemartinez]

I assume 2 cars is not possible? I think you'll be compromising somewhere by trying to find a car to do both especially coming from a Lotus.

[jamiem555]

I ve got a track pack Focus ST Mk4.5. Very nice daily and more than capable for track days. 363mm Brembos upfront and Ford performance coilover suspension, by KW.

Edited by jamiem555 on Tuesday 29th September 13:03

[brillomaster]

A little more practical than a lotus says to me a cayman.

But really we need more specifics about levels of practicality required... 2 seats or 4? Big boot required? How loud and uncomfortable can you tolerate?

[brillomaster]

As im understanding, after owning a porsche, the only comparable cars on track are another porsche, or a lotus. An exige 410 is a very, very high bar to set in terms of track performance.

Personally if you can stick 2 seats, then get the best porsche boxster or cayman you can afford.

If it has to be 4 seats, then its got to be a bmw m car, most composed and capable car out the box, anything audi or Mercedes will be nowhere near as good.

Left field choice, how about a honda civic type r? Supposed to be very good on track, but is fwd.

[Tri_Doc]

Coming from the exige will be your biggest issue - everything else you try will feel like a big old boat on circuit. However, if you needed practical and can't do caterham + daily car, i'd be looking at something like the alfa giulia quadrifoglio, something from the BMW M stable and the shout above for the civic type R is a good one
others to look at are: renaultsport megane 275, golf gti clubsport, ImprezaSTI /newer WRX STI. Or a 911? Evoras have 2+2....

Depends how practical you're going. Golf R estate (7 or 7.5) was great on the road and quick enough around a circuit.

£50k buys loads of track capable stuff, but its the percentage trade-off between daily ability and trackdays that you need to decide on I guess.

Edited by Tri_Doc on Wednesday 30th September 12:22