MX5 as track toy??
Discussion
I’m looking for a cheap fun car for say 4 or 5 trackdays a year and some summertime kicks. I’m down to either a MX5 or a scoob, two very different cars I know. The impreza idea comes from the fact I had one back in 2000 and still regard it as one of my all time fav cars looking back. I keep getting sucked into the idea of a MX5 though. The benefits being that it should be, correct me if I’m wrong, cheaper to run and track and potentially more involving/fun on track.
What I’d like to know is how does a MX5 cope with the odd track outing? And what sort of mods are desirable to have for such a car. I think I’d only use it for 6 months of the year and then tuck it up again so practicality’s not an issue. Also what sort of car would £2000/£2500 bag?
What I’d like to know is how does a MX5 cope with the odd track outing? And what sort of mods are desirable to have for such a car. I think I’d only use it for 6 months of the year and then tuck it up again so practicality’s not an issue. Also what sort of car would £2000/£2500 bag?
I've just done this exact thing. I did a lot of research and settled on the Mx5 for a number of reasons. Cheaper to run, insure, repair and theft risk were all the clinchers, but I expect I'll use mine a lot more than you will.
I looked at cars for quite a while. That budget will only get you a mk1 (NA), either a poor/average 1.8 model or a good nick 1.6 model (pre 94 so over 15 years old now).
The Mx5s are always advertised quite high but some of them stay for sale for quite a while so you should be able to swoop in there with a lower offer and get a good deal.
I haven't been able to find as many people track daying them as I thought I would but there should still be plenty of good parts and advice to be had from the 'street' scene. Maybe all the real track day people are all at the track instead of on the internet forums
I looked at cars for quite a while. That budget will only get you a mk1 (NA), either a poor/average 1.8 model or a good nick 1.6 model (pre 94 so over 15 years old now).
The Mx5s are always advertised quite high but some of them stay for sale for quite a while so you should be able to swoop in there with a lower offer and get a good deal.
I haven't been able to find as many people track daying them as I thought I would but there should still be plenty of good parts and advice to be had from the 'street' scene. Maybe all the real track day people are all at the track instead of on the internet forums
Edited by zac510 on Monday 9th June 11:43
Hi, the mx5 are great for track and just fun in the summer, go for a mk1 1.6 jap import, i've been told and read a lot that these are better than the 1.8 as the engines are stronger. can do loads of mods to them for relatively little money or you can go the other way and spend a fortune. your budget should get you an early mk1 in good nick but stay awy from the 1.6 after 1994 as they have a lower hp. hope you find one and enjoy it as much as i have for the past 3 years.
Munters fun MX5 trackday recipe:
Take one MX5 and add up rated brake pads and racing brake fluid.
Buy a trackday place.
Attend on the correct day.
Drive around and around and around while others with heavier cars overheat their brakes after 3 laps.
If you like to live safely, add a roll bar.
For extra spice, add uprated suspention (just uprated ARBs will be a good cheap mod).
For vindaloo spice add a turbo.
Take one MX5 and add up rated brake pads and racing brake fluid.
Buy a trackday place.
Attend on the correct day.
Drive around and around and around while others with heavier cars overheat their brakes after 3 laps.
If you like to live safely, add a roll bar.
For extra spice, add uprated suspention (just uprated ARBs will be a good cheap mod).
For vindaloo spice add a turbo.
I've been doing this for the past few years. I found a Eunos (they all have LSD's) with a roll cage and adjustable suspension for just under your budget.
You could run a standard one with no problems, it would be easier to start with a 1.8 as you already have the bigger brakes.
Opinions on best brake setup seems to be OEM disks + Axxis pads. I've added braided hoses and 5.1 fluid for very little outlay.
I joined a Lotus track day club that welcomes other lightweight sports cars. The mazda holds its own against standard Elises with average drivers and is loads of fun.
Consumables are so cheap on this car, it makes a lot more sense to track than a Scooby would.
You could run a standard one with no problems, it would be easier to start with a 1.8 as you already have the bigger brakes.
Opinions on best brake setup seems to be OEM disks + Axxis pads. I've added braided hoses and 5.1 fluid for very little outlay.
I joined a Lotus track day club that welcomes other lightweight sports cars. The mazda holds its own against standard Elises with average drivers and is loads of fun.
Consumables are so cheap on this car, it makes a lot more sense to track than a Scooby would.
My guess is that you haven't found many people tracking MX-5s because you've been looking in the wrong places!
There a re a few people on a number of different forums; OC, Nutz, PH etc as well as on more regional forums like PlanetMX-5, Phoenix 5s etc but now we have a home in Mazda On Track which we are all hoping will take off in a big way as we all start using it more and more.
I, along with a number of others from PlanetMX5, am going to Abingdon this Friday with MSE and to Llandow in South Wales on 21st june with MoT. I've already done trackdays at Brands and Woodbridge this year.
At PlanetMX5 a group of us have teamed together to buy an old Mk1 1.6 for track use. We paid £750 for what we thought would be close to a scrapper but has actually turned out to be a very solid car and a good runner which we have used at Woodbridge, North Weald and Curborough already and will also be at Abingdon on Friday. We are going to develop the car with the usual track mods i.e. suspension, roll-bars, track wheels & tyres etc. A few other "regions" have done the same thing already.
So if you know where to look and who to talk to then yes, there is a fairly healthy MX-5 track presence.
There a re a few people on a number of different forums; OC, Nutz, PH etc as well as on more regional forums like PlanetMX-5, Phoenix 5s etc but now we have a home in Mazda On Track which we are all hoping will take off in a big way as we all start using it more and more.
I, along with a number of others from PlanetMX5, am going to Abingdon this Friday with MSE and to Llandow in South Wales on 21st june with MoT. I've already done trackdays at Brands and Woodbridge this year.
At PlanetMX5 a group of us have teamed together to buy an old Mk1 1.6 for track use. We paid £750 for what we thought would be close to a scrapper but has actually turned out to be a very solid car and a good runner which we have used at Woodbridge, North Weald and Curborough already and will also be at Abingdon on Friday. We are going to develop the car with the usual track mods i.e. suspension, roll-bars, track wheels & tyres etc. A few other "regions" have done the same thing already.
So if you know where to look and who to talk to then yes, there is a fairly healthy MX-5 track presence.
I've had the pleasure of owning both a Scooby and several MX-5s and I have to say that the MX-5s are more involving, more fun and crucially, you don't need to spend anything to make them suitable for the odd trackday. The same cannot be said for standard Scoobies (brakes, what brakes??).
There is no doubt that a standard MX-5 is nowhere near as fast as a standard Scooby turbo but it is more reliable and much cheaper to run (less fuel, less insurance, cheaper tyres). Most importantly, the MX-5 is more fun to drive IMHO and you'll be able to pose on sunny days on the way to and from the track!
So, my advice is, get a late Mk1 1.8 and get to a trackday asap.
Oh, and as for finding MX-5s at trackdays - they definitely ain't as popular as the caterfields but there's plenty of us out there. I'm doing more than 15 track events this summer (mainly competitive sprints) and I'll be at Llandow with the MoT guys in a couple of weeks. Might see you there..........
There is no doubt that a standard MX-5 is nowhere near as fast as a standard Scooby turbo but it is more reliable and much cheaper to run (less fuel, less insurance, cheaper tyres). Most importantly, the MX-5 is more fun to drive IMHO and you'll be able to pose on sunny days on the way to and from the track!
So, my advice is, get a late Mk1 1.8 and get to a trackday asap.
Oh, and as for finding MX-5s at trackdays - they definitely ain't as popular as the caterfields but there's plenty of us out there. I'm doing more than 15 track events this summer (mainly competitive sprints) and I'll be at Llandow with the MoT guys in a couple of weeks. Might see you there..........
i have nothing really new to add to the above, other than i am part of a syndicate that has one of these shared MX5 track cars and they are absolutely blinding fun on track, our car often gets driven by 3-4 people per day hence many hours of mega committed full bore track hoonery (you can tell it is noone's daily driver ;-) ) and it laps it up without complaint and is very easy on the consumables. I too went to a lotus on track day and although a fair few of the elises were mega modified (VTec, 1.8t VAG, spaceframe racers etc...) and hence ballistic, as said before our little 1.6 import was overtaking some of the less well driven standard elises. And that, after all is what it should all be about, driver skill.
go to www.phoenixraceworx.co.uk for details of our car
in short, forget the scooby for track work, it may get the job done as far as lap times are concerned if it is modified expensively, but you will have a million miles more fun in a 5
Greg
go to www.phoenixraceworx.co.uk for details of our car
in short, forget the scooby for track work, it may get the job done as far as lap times are concerned if it is modified expensively, but you will have a million miles more fun in a 5
Greg
Thanks for all the great feedback guys. I think my mind is make up for now. I'm off to look at a MX5 this W/E.
Its a very standard jap import. I would have liked to bag one with the right bits on it but if I get a fresh clean car I can always add to it.
I've put the scoob idea to bed. I've been their done that and know all to well just how much they can cost when tracking them, I had a 2000 car for 2 years and 6 trackday!
So yes the hunt is on for a nice MX5. I've a 93 E220 Merc that I need to move or P/X so I'll be back when I've that sorted.
Its a very standard jap import. I would have liked to bag one with the right bits on it but if I get a fresh clean car I can always add to it.
I've put the scoob idea to bed. I've been their done that and know all to well just how much they can cost when tracking them, I had a 2000 car for 2 years and 6 trackday!
So yes the hunt is on for a nice MX5. I've a 93 E220 Merc that I need to move or P/X so I'll be back when I've that sorted.
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