Cheap track day car?

[Alex@POD]

My first "what car" thread!

Anyway, I have started to really want to go on track and on spirited drives regularly, but due to a limited budget the car I will use will have to be cheap, about £500 max. I would like it to be rear drive, but I am open minded. I will not need anything practical and I would be preparing it for the track to some extent.
However when I turn to eBay and such, I have very little idea what to look for!

What would you think?

[Touching Cloth]

E30 beemer, doesn't need a monster engine a 320 can still be fun, Alfa 75 another option if you can find one in one piece.

[Digital]

Mk1 MR2

Great fun on track, lovely handling. The engine on mine felt very solid (and sweet), and it loves to rev. They also sound really nice as standard. Tyres and brakes are very reasonably priced too. They're fairly economical too, mine used to get mpg figures in the high 30s.

[924racer]

porsche 924 or maybe even a cheap 2.5 944? great fun to drive even though they're not the most powerful.

[rallycross]

if you only have a £500 budget it would be wise to spend it on your current car, ie to make it ok to use on track days (tyres, brakes, shocks, service).

buying a £500 car for track use = trouble, it is not going to last for long on track days (believe me I tried).

[L100NYY]

rallycross said:

if you only have a £500 budget it would be wise to spend it on your current car, ie to make it ok to use on track days (tyres, brakes, shocks, service).

buying a £500 car for track use = trouble, it is not going to last for long on track days (believe me I tried).

Good idea in theory, but check his current fleet on his profile mate!

I would really try and up the budget to £1000 if you can and it will open up a lot more possibilities for you.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=119&p=&d=0&min=&max=&y1=&y2=&txt=&px=&xsl=list&pagesize=15&filter=TP&o=q&pc=

Any mates that you could go halves with?

If not then something like an XR2 stripped would do the job as they tend not to command as much of a premium as 205's and Golf's?

[save ferris]

I was in the same situation this time last year, I ended up buying a Swift GTI off eBay for just under £500, which in hindsight was probably a bit too much, but did get 2 trackdays at Brands out of it.
That's been put into retirement now! to make way for an AX GT I picked up for £600 from a member of the owners club. Ive spent most of the winter preparing it and should be ready for some action in April.

[Alex@POD]

I don't think it would be the best idea to spend £500 on my astravan to get it track ready... It already has uprated suspension and good tyres, but it's not at it's best in spirited driving and as soon as the track car is here it is going back to standard suspension.

I like the idea of a cheap xr2 or such, but I never got to play with something RWD, and i'd like to give that a go. I will be going halves with a friend, but when taking into account the price of fuel, track days, etc, 5-600 is already a stretched budget, but we both have a huge "track" craving at the moment, and there is only so far karting can take you...

E30? I like that... MR2? I didn't think those would come in my budget... Porsche 924? I like that too, I heard they can be unreliable though?

[L100NYY]

Alex -

E30 320i
www.pistonheads.com/sales/124960.htm

MR2 (haggle )
www.pistonheads.com/sales/135240.htm

XR2i (sold but gives you an idea of what's out there)
www.pistonheads.com/sales/121161.htm

205 GTI (mech sound but a bit tatty)
www.pistonheads.com/sales/129601.htm

GTI (MK2 8V = NICE N STRONG)
www.pistonheads.com/sales/131452.htm

[CombeMarshal]

From my experience of watching them most weekends, you have to get a Pug 205GTI, beemers and the like are way to heavy, the pug will kill them!!!

[mikey_p]

I'll put in another vote for a Pug 205 GTI. After seeing them sitting in my rear view mirror on track if there had been a bit of rain, or I was having an "off" day I thought i'd look into one.

Got rid of my dull as s**t Clio and now have a Pug 205 1.9 GTI. Cost £1k and it is bloody good fun. Get almost as big a grin driving this about as driving an Elise. Haven't taken it on the track yet (can't really afford it at the mo) but am planning to soonish (may bring it to one of your Donny summer evening sessions Jonny if the funds allow).

But would highly recommend it, I too was hoping for something rear wheel drive, but generally they are more expensive, or bigger therefore slower, or cost a whole lot more to repair. GO FRENCH (can't believe I just said that )

[Alex@POD]

Well, I just spent an hour looking through classifieds and eBay, and I am even more undecided... And just to be annoying, I would also like to take it to Le Mans and possibly the Ring straight after, so relative long journey comfort can't hurt

However I do like the idea of the 205 again, as it could be a plan to race it in stock hatch or take it rallying at a later date, if funds allow...

[toady1]

i drove my friends pulsar gtir on track (340bhp) and I know it wasnt my car so didnt give it full on, but really stuggled with what I think was a std engined 1.9gti 205! They really are awesome trackday cars! Sort the suspension and brakes out, maybe a few engine mods, and it will really annoy many more expensive car drivers on track!

[CombeMarshal]

Alex@POD said:

Well, I just spent an hour looking through classifieds and eBay, and I am even more undecided... And just to be annoying, I would also like to take it to Le Mans and possibly the Ring straight after, so relative long journey comfort can't hurt

However I do like the idea of the 205 again, as it could be a plan to race it in stock hatch or take it rallying at a later date, if funds allow...

If you want to take it to LeMans then thats all the more reason to go french, if you do bust it you will easily be able to get parts!!

[mikey_p]

CombeMarshal said:

Alex@POD said:

Well, I just spent an hour looking through classifieds and eBay, and I am even more undecided... And just to be annoying, I would also like to take it to Le Mans and possibly the Ring straight after, so relative long journey comfort can't hurt

However I do like the idea of the 205 again, as it could be a plan to race it in stock hatch or take it rallying at a later date, if funds allow...

If you want to take it to LeMans then thats all the more reason to go french, if you do bust it you will easily be able to get parts!!

And you may fall under the radar for Mr Frenchy policeman looking for speeding englishmen. Well thats what im hoping as mine is coming to Le Mans too .

[smckeown]

toady1 said:

i drove my friends pulsar gtir on track (340bhp) and I know it wasnt my car so didnt give it full on, but really stuggled with what I think was a std engined 1.9gti 205! They really are awesome trackday cars! Sort the suspension and brakes out, maybe a few engine mods, and it will really annoy many more expensive car drivers on track!

oh yeah





track-monkey.co.uk

[CombeMarshal]

Nearly two wheels clear of the black stuff there, like it!!!

[chaosss]

I run a E30 318is BMW.
4 cyclinder so lighter front end for better turn in and a great fun little car.

You won't get a decent one for £500 though. I am selling mine (roll caged etc.) for £2250 which I know it out of your budget but you really need to stretch the budget IMO.

[BadgerBenji]

Fiat cinquecento, cheap cheerful, and a little bundle of fun, drop a larger engine in from a punto, acheivable happily on your drive and cheap happy track days. Toook mine to the nurburgring last year, as well as cadwell park, donnington park and castle coombe.

[pdd144c]

I race an E30 318 and 320, they are great little cars. Can be picked up for as little as £100 if you want to do a few little bits yourself to get it ready, master cylinders tend to need replacing, fit some decent pads and tyres. Should be within budget. Add a cage and suspension at a later date and you'll be on to a winner. Can even race it in the Production BMW Championship then!

I have also had numerous 205s, one of which I'm racing this year in the DTRC. As much as I love them, you will struggle to find a good reliable one for £500. Great fun cars on track, just many have been abused and need cash throwing at them to get them back to how they should be.

Paul.

Edited by pdd144c on Thursday 22 February 08:20