fast road / track / project

[Hudson1984]

soooooooooo....

if you've seen my uk motorsport threads you'll be aware i'm looking to do trackdays next year, with the long term aim of racing once i've got a race license and more track experience

with this in mind, I'm wanting to get a car to do that job. Now, I had originially looked at fiesta STs or clio sports etc etc but i'm thinking in all reality, it'll be on the road more than the track (I intend to do 1 trackday a month)

which makes me think it's worth opening the options to more of a "fast road" bias opposed to "really good on track"

Now long term, I'll get a dedicated track car - but that's to be decided when I decide what I actually want to race. In the mean time. Something fun would be interesting

so, £5,000 budget.
Fast Road/Track Manual gearbox

Other than that options are open.

I intend to modify it for fun, doesn't need to fit a specific race series, as I said, will look at that when I see if I can race or not

what would you look at?
BMW 335i?
Impreza?
FTO Mivec?

pretty much if it was in gran tourismo 1 I'll probably like it..... this is totally a mid life crisis toy

[Xcore]

Mx5, youl even be able to turbo it with a 5k budget (I turboed one for 3.5k including buying the car during lockdown). Join the race series when you get bored of track days.

Consumables on an impreza/335i will start to get expensive if your doing a day a month.

[ZX10R NIN]

208 GTI:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265929698275?hash=item3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265823061008?hash=item3...

Astra GTC VXR a very good car road or track this one is a Cat N but if it's to become a track car then I'd say this is a great starting point for your budget:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185603041004?hash=item2...

Cat D Fiesta ST:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203133...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205286...

[Ash_]

Toyota MR2 Mk2
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265918076559?hash=item3...

[Hudson1984]

loving the sensible options...

but man do I love this car

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275496144961?hash=item4...

I know it's not an STI or any of that, but I've always loved the 3 door scoob.... Could make a beast out of it

[Belle427]

Xcore said:

Mx5, youl even be able to turbo it with a 5k budget (I turboed one for 3.5k including buying the car during lockdown). Join the race series when you get bored of track days.

Consumables on an impreza/335i will start to get expensive if your doing a day a month.

I have a 5 I'm considering Turbo ing next year so that's what I'd do.
You don't realise how good these cars are until you drive one.
Very economical to run too.
Just find a solid one first which isn't easy.

[ingenieur]

Hudson1984 said:

loving the sensible options...

but man do I love this car

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275496144961?hash=item4...

I know it's not an STI or any of that, but I've always loved the 3 door scoob.... Could make a beast out of it

Great looking car. Did you notice it was a 4-door with the back doors welded shut? I'd still have it, but looks funny seeing into the back and the rear seating area still has interior door handles.

[Hudson1984]

ingenieur said:

Great looking car. Did you notice it was a 4-door with the back doors welded shut? I'd still have it, but looks funny seeing into the back and the rear seating area still has interior door handles.

well spotted!!! no I didn't see that. Really odd

[ingenieur]

Hudson1984 said:

ingenieur said:

Great looking car. Did you notice it was a 4-door with the back doors welded shut? I'd still have it, but looks funny seeing into the back and the rear seating area still has interior door handles.

well spotted!!! no I didn't see that. Really odd

In a funny way I quite like it. I imagine being able to lower the rear windows... which you probably can't do in a genuine factory coupe.

[Hudson1984]

ingenieur said:

In a funny way I quite like it. I imagine being able to lower the rear windows... which you probably can't do in a genuine factory coupe.

no it's probably a whole lot more comfortable lol

[Hudson1984]

see all the logic in the world is saying "fiesta ST"

or clio, or something along those lines... and I get it... I totally get it.

BUT

I just can't see myself in a hot hatch... regardless of how good it is and regardless of how logical of a choice it is.

I just think of smaller cars as boy racer cars....which I guess is exactly what i'm looking for but I dunno just doesn't tickle my fancy (and i've had a focus ST lol)

I think - even though it's complete daftness, I need something bigger.

So i'm leaning toward BMW maybe 3 series.... I'd really like an S2000 but way out of budget.

something like a scoob is still in the mix though, I know it's still boy racer territory but it's got something I like.

Edited by Hudson1984 on Wednesday 19th October 21:06

[ZX10R NIN]

125i M Sport Coupe:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209199...

325i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209149...

350Z:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209059...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210060...

[n3il123]

Any idea what you want to race?

Less point getting loads of rwd or awd experience If you end up racing a fwd for instance

[sjc]

A MG6 can be bought dirt cheap and with a few motobuild type bits and a few performance tweaks like exhaust and map and you’ll have a really decent car.

[Ian Geary]

Ash_ said:

Toyota MR2 Mk2
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265918076559?hash=item3...

I had a turbo MK2

Ok the power delivery was different, but I didn't find the handling all that good.

Low, yes
Felt sporty, yes

But I followed it with an Alfa 156 - way better in terms of feedback and "pointyness"

Now have a 5 series, and even that is more adept than the MR2 MK2 imo.

[Hudson1984]

n3il123 said:

Any idea what you want to race?

Less point getting loads of rwd or awd experience If you end up racing a fwd for instance

that's where I'm struggling really.

In all reality, any race is going to be exciting, any series will be great fun so I don't think it matters from a standpoint of what I do as it's all going to be racing and therefore brilliant.

I think where i'm aiming is to get a car that actually excites me. I remember having an A5, which whilst being diesel just made me happy everytime I looked at it. Seeing it in a carpark and walking up to it was brilliant. I want that. I'm not going to get that from a fiesta or a clio.

I think top of my list at the moment is probably a 335i, which will likely push my budget.

I'm not sure what series I could race that in, but again, if it gets me a year on the track so I can get a race license and track time etc then great. If I get to the end of that year and decide I don't want to race it, i'll still be left with a cool car for the road and will then look for a dedicated track machine.

my main issue is I want everything