Affordable & Fun RWD Recommendations?

[J03VZ]

Okay, so for a bit of fun, I'm considering some sort of RWD vehicle, but I've not had a lot of experience with RWD, I've only ever driven FWD or 4X4's. Well anyway, my friend has recently purchased a BMW 330CI, e46 shape I believe, and it's pretty quick, however, I'd like something that can keep up with him on a track.

No, I do not plan on using this car as a daily driver, it's simply going to be my drift slag toy. I was thinking something small-ish, cheap, fairly easy to modify, and the only reason why I'm not considering an MX5 or any other roadster is due to the fact that I was planning on taking friends every now and again. I mean it's not a total deal breaker if you can't think of many 4 seater-5 seater RWD cars that are affordable.

In the past I've either gone for cars that tend to be fuel efficient, or just lumps of crap that I wouldn't mind destroying. Well now I'm thinking on learning how to drift, on a track of course, I wouldn't try it on the public roads, truth be told.

In all seriousness, as fun and cool as I think drifting is, I wouldn't try it in public areas simply because of cops, let alone any other good/sensible or just logical reason. That alone is enough to put me off doing it in public. I mean there's that, and the idea of me losing control and probably ending myself... I promise guys, I'm not that dumb.. .. More seriously, I also wouldn't want to hurt others, that would be the biggest thing for me, I mean I could still end myself on a track, but at least then, hopefully, I wouldn't hurt anyone else, I mean you can see where I'm coming from..

Let me just clarify something, when I say affordable, I don't mean dirt cheap, I just mean something around the 5k sorta mark, I mean I do wanna have fun with this little RWD project.

SO yeah, if you can recommend what RWD car to get for some sort of little drift slag, just something that's fun and fairly cheap, that would be awesome.
Thanks guys.

[james_gt3rs]

350Z?

[aquarianone]

Check out the E36's...325 / 328 /318is(maybe) if you can find a decent one, I get the feeling a lot of these have been re-purposed it track day toys.

Z4's might be do-able, but only 2 seats....

[J03VZ]

I have been looking at Z4's I'm not gonna lie, the only thing off putting is the fact that they're a 2 seater, but at the same time, that isn't a total deal breaker, they do look like they'd be fun to be fair.

[J03VZ]

james_gt3rs, only reason I won't get a 350z is because I'd love it too much then probably wanna own it as my daily, I'm a sucker for the fairladies, I remember when I fell in love with them, I blame Chris Forsberg for that one..

[Shotaro]

As aquarianone mentioned, get an e36. If it's going to be drifted then don't spend a lot as it's likely to get donked a fair bit and there are plenty of spares around for all types of 3 series

[Codswallop]

Z4 doesn't have an LSD. Better look elsewhere if you want a drift monster. Old 180sx or e36 with LSD would be my choice.

[Shotaro]

Also a Z4 has quite a short wheel base, I find a slightly longer car easier to control as it (seems to me) to suffer less from snap oversteer/give you more freedom before the backend becomes the frontend

Edited by Shotaro on Tuesday 30th May 15:07

[Bradley1500]

Prices have risen recently, but if you can sneak a decent one in your budget an S13 or S14. A great chassis for drifting.

Alternatively, an E36 328i if my prior suggestion isn't possible.

[Limpet]

As it's purely a track toy, why not spend less on the car, and then use the left over cash for track mods?

You could pick up something like a 325Ti Compact for about a grand, then spend a bit of the leftover cash on suspension, brakes and an LSD. Depending on how handy you are with the spanners, this could be a very cost effective route.

Food for thought anyway

[njw1]

Limpet said:

As it's purely a track toy, why not spend less on the car, and then use the left over cash for track mods?

You could pick up something like a 325Ti Compact for about a grand, then spend a bit of the leftover cash on suspension, brakes and an LSD. Depending on how handy you are with the spanners, this could be a very cost effective route.

Food for thought anyway

^^This, a 2.5 Compact with lsd, better brakes and stiff suspension would be a very competent machine. There is less weight behind the back wheels on a Compact too so (theoretically!) it will be a little bit easier to control. The e46 is very easy to work on too if you've got half a clue how to use a spanner.

[ZX10R NIN]

Alternative RWD options

Altezza RS200

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Altezza-RS200-JDM...

Mercedes CLK240 Manual (cheap because no one wants them) diffs are available or you could lock the standard one.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

C Class Coupe

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Skyline 350GT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Skyline-350-GT-ra...

[240z lover]

I thought I'd just let you all know, I've decided to consider an ol' Z4, they just look so fun, I know that isn't the cheapest option possible. However, I personally find there's a certain charm behind it, something about it just seems super appealing to me, plus, out of curiosity, I did an insurance quote to see how much it would be, IF I WANTED TO actually consider driving it on the streets, it's not that bad in all fairness, with any of the different engine variants, from the 2.0i all the way up to the Z4 that has BMW's beautiful 3.0L straight six.

I don't blame you if some of you call me an idiot, I mean it'll be expensive for a toy, but the fun that I'm imagining I'd have, it genuinely puts a grin on my face. I actually feel extatic when I think about buying one, I may just buy a 2.0l one, I mean from what I've seen, performance wise, there isn't a huge performance difference, however, if I'm wrong on that one, please let me know.

I've not done much research into Z4's before, I'm not gonna lie, I didn't even like them before, but they've grown on me, big time, I mean I see one now, provided it's a nice colour and everything, I just think to myself about how I want it.. It's weird if you ask me..

As for the performance difference, between a Z4 2.0 and a 2.5 I've seen fractional speed differences, between a 2.5 and a 3.0, there's a bit more of a noticeable performance difference. But to me, it's still not so much that I could justify buying the 3.0 over the 2.0, they tend to be more expensive, and obviously, if I do decide to drive it in public at all, then there's the huge MPG difference (on paper) and just running costs in general, it'll be more expensive.

But with that said, I am a bit of an idiot when it comes to cars, not essentially the way I drive, I'd actually classify myself as a 'matured' driver, yes I'll put my foot down when it's all safe and there's not many people around, but I won't drive as if I have a death wish, or like most new drivers. Just thinking about it, I think to myself it's a choice between a bigger grin, or getting my wallet molested that bit more. Opinions? - Help me out here.

Do you know if the performance difference is actually that big in reality? - Like I said about the on paper thing with the MPG, on paper there's not a huge performance difference.

Help me out guys, I think my heart is now set on buying a Z4.

[aquarianone]

Great choice - now head over here -> http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/index.php?sid=92bd3a... -

There's a few for sale as well so you can have nose around and ask some qstns.

Gotta be a 3.0 ( might be biased!!)