suggestions for track day car for £1,000..........
Discussion
i have decided not to track my current car (M3 EVO Convertible) - I already do over 1000 miles a month in it which means the service intervals are coming up too regularly as it is, so i don't want to bring them on even more frequently!
was thinking of getting a cheap second car just to use for 4 or 5 track days a year.
my critria are:
taxed and mot - i need to be able to drive it too and from the track
preferrably rear wheel drive
manual
image/look completely unimportant - fun factor whilst driving is more important
i am strict with my purchase budget of £1,000, because i know it will be pretty worthless within a season or two, plus i need to add in track day costs, and consumables - tyres, fuel etc - i can do basic services myself
i would like a reasonable engine size 2.0 litre or more - i'm not a big fan of buzzing round in a 1.3 constantly having to rev it to the limit
my first few thoughts were
nissan 200sx
bmw (e30) 325
mondeo st24
.......
any suggestions considered!
was thinking of getting a cheap second car just to use for 4 or 5 track days a year.
my critria are:
taxed and mot - i need to be able to drive it too and from the track
preferrably rear wheel drive
manual
image/look completely unimportant - fun factor whilst driving is more important
i am strict with my purchase budget of £1,000, because i know it will be pretty worthless within a season or two, plus i need to add in track day costs, and consumables - tyres, fuel etc - i can do basic services myself
i would like a reasonable engine size 2.0 litre or more - i'm not a big fan of buzzing round in a 1.3 constantly having to rev it to the limit
my first few thoughts were
nissan 200sx
bmw (e30) 325
mondeo st24
.......
any suggestions considered!
To have something half reasonable your budget is not reasonable i'm afraid.
£1000 will get you a 205GTi but if you want to do 4 or 5 days a year I would suggest another £1500 to get it into reasonable condition and partially track ready. How much it will cost you over those 5 track days? How long is a piece of string......
Track days are not cheap ..
£1000 will get you a 205GTi but if you want to do 4 or 5 days a year I would suggest another £1500 to get it into reasonable condition and partially track ready. How much it will cost you over those 5 track days? How long is a piece of string......
Track days are not cheap ..
I bought a 205 gti with ruff bodywork (had been keyed) for £250 and have had no problems with it, I did 2 or 3 trackdays in it with no reliability issues, Did one in my E36 M3 Evo and had to keep coming in to let the brakes cool down.
I've recently put a rebuilt engine in the pug and started racing it. I cant recomend the 205 enough.
I've recently put a rebuilt engine in the pug and started racing it. I cant recomend the 205 enough.
£1000 & RWD would be difficult, probably as suggested before, one of the French GTIs could be the answer. Dont think it's a good assumption that a car will be rubbish after a few sessions, that would mean it's not great before.
If I had an M3 like you, I would definitely take it to a track though, the power definitely will make an exciting difference, however I understand the cost factor.
If I had an M3 like you, I would definitely take it to a track though, the power definitely will make an exciting difference, however I understand the cost factor.
I bought a mk1 mr2 for £750 which was rust free although paint was a little flat so it didn't look too shiny. The only upgrade I did was a set of harder front pads and a thorough service for the rest of the running gear.
It took everything in its stride, never missed a beat and even managed to pass a few "quicker" cars.
Bit twitchy at the limit though
It took everything in its stride, never missed a beat and even managed to pass a few "quicker" cars.
Bit twitchy at the limit though
Alfa 75 TSpark or Porsche 924.
Both have totally bulletproof engines and gearboxes under the boot floor, meaning they have very nicely balanced handling.
Easy to maintain at home (apart from 75 rear brakes) and can be bought for a pittance, leaving plenty of money for brake and tyre upgrades.
Both have totally bulletproof engines and gearboxes under the boot floor, meaning they have very nicely balanced handling.
Easy to maintain at home (apart from 75 rear brakes) and can be bought for a pittance, leaving plenty of money for brake and tyre upgrades.
My old track E30 318is only cost me £700 and had no rust on it at all.
Stripped it and off I went. Great fun for a grand.
It had 170k on the clock but never missed a beat. Did about 10 days in it over 2 years and always started first turn of the key (even after being left for up to 3 months).
Stripped it and off I went. Great fun for a grand.
It had 170k on the clock but never missed a beat. Did about 10 days in it over 2 years and always started first turn of the key (even after being left for up to 3 months).
My choice for RWD would be MK1 MR2 there was a nice one for sale rcently on here, that i had seen at marham and it went well. E30 would be another good one for RWD but may need a bit more fettling to become a track car.
For front wheel drive, It has to be a 205GTI, (and I'm a honda nut so it was a big thing for me to go french) ok, its not RWD but my god its fun, I went fromm a VX220 Turbo to a 205 GTI and was not that dissapointed, that has to say somthing about the little car?
I currently own 3, one for the road, a dedicated Track/hillclimb/sprint car and another one I brought this week and the realised i had to many projects on the go. I'm selling the latest one, it would make a good project but needs a bit of work to tidy it up, but does have a solid non sunroof shell and is on a J plate (and its white ;o)
Scott
For front wheel drive, It has to be a 205GTI, (and I'm a honda nut so it was a big thing for me to go french) ok, its not RWD but my god its fun, I went fromm a VX220 Turbo to a 205 GTI and was not that dissapointed, that has to say somthing about the little car?
I currently own 3, one for the road, a dedicated Track/hillclimb/sprint car and another one I brought this week and the realised i had to many projects on the go. I'm selling the latest one, it would make a good project but needs a bit of work to tidy it up, but does have a solid non sunroof shell and is on a J plate (and its white ;o)
Scott
Edited by scottieb on Friday 22 June 11:06
Thinking again, it makes more sense to use 300hp car on the track than a 100hp. I have got an MR2 MK1 myself which is a lovely car (if you have a good example and that's not common) and very adequate performance for twisty B-roads but not so much for most of the tracks in this country (or compared to the typical track car). I am actually considering a 2nd car which would be an M3 or 328, how funny. Obviously not on a £1000 budget though.
Another vote for a 318is. I had one for a year- never missed a beat and took the punishment of a couple of trackdays well. RWD and nicely lightweight with good balance- oh, and some aspects will be familair given that you already own an E30.
Sold mine (v. clean) for c £800 and still regret it.
Sold mine (v. clean) for c £800 and still regret it.
twinspark said:
Alfa 75 TSpark or Porsche 924.
Both have totally bulletproof engines and gearboxes under the boot floor, meaning they have very nicely balanced handling.
Easy to maintain at home (apart from 75 rear brakes) and can be bought for a pittance, leaving plenty of money for brake and tyre upgrades.
And one has a gear lever not connected to the 'box with spaghetti :-)Both have totally bulletproof engines and gearboxes under the boot floor, meaning they have very nicely balanced handling.
Easy to maintain at home (apart from 75 rear brakes) and can be bought for a pittance, leaving plenty of money for brake and tyre upgrades.
SS7
PS for a few pence more buy a 2.5l 924S.
scottieb said:
My choice for RWD would be MK1 MR2 there was a nice one for sale rcently on here, that i had seen at marham and it went well.
Scott
lol. cheers scottie. me being only one of two MR2's that day i take it you mean mine?Scott
Edited by scottieb on Friday 22 June 11:06
i have discovered engine trouble atm but have dropped the price considerably! ( £400 ).
i have adjustable suspension and lowered and it handles like a dream!!
its a great track tool on a very reasonable budget.
i have a new set of tyres for her which cost £100!!
i'm not saying to buy mine but i would certainly recommend one.
all you need is a seat, an engine and 4 wheels. this is it!!
a chassis develpoed by lotus and a very strong engine.
heres a couple of my sessions at marham to show you how easy it is to keep up with expensive supercars
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-1959495...
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5938121...
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