Tracksport or Supersport

[paulmc]

I'm unsure whether to get a Tracksport or Supersport as I'm worried about being able to shift it later. As far as I'm concerned an SR3 is really just a race car. But the only SR3 competitive enough for racing with a championship is a properly specified 1500 coming in at around £35K + VAT. These cars are likely to hold there value very well as there is a good race championship for them.

If I bought a lower spec Supersport or a Tracksport I would effectiviely be buying what amounts to a race car without a race championship. Past experience tells me that a race car without a championship will lose money very rapidly as there isn't really a market for it. So to sell a Tracksport on could be difficult as the market for a trackday only car of this value is an unknown quantity.

To make matters worse there isn't really a financially viable upgrade path to turn the Tracksport into a competitive car If I later decide I want to race it. Is it best to get the 1500 from day one or take the chances with residuals of a Tracksport? I only want to do trackdays initially.

[paulmc]

P.S. If anyone knows of any second hand Tracksports or Supersports for sale please let me know. Once I've made up my mind on which one to buy I dont think I'll be able to wait the 12 weeks.

[abailey]

MAD Motorsport in Henley have a Tracksport going for £23k (you could probably have a deal though as they have been trying to sell it for a while).

>> Edited by abailey on Thursday 27th February 20:57

[LRdriver]

thats 23k eks VAT!!
what IS the deal with VAT on used racecars anyway??

[peter_964rs]

I second both Paulmc and LRDriver's requests - anyone know of any SR3's going for sale to avoid the 12 week wait and what *is* the deal with VAT on race cars?

[paulmc]

Think of a race team as a limited company like any other limited company and race cars are a neccessary part of their stock in order to do business. Just like a company would buy a computer in order to perform its business. On these types of purchases the company can claim ALL the VAT back. They then have a depreciating asset on their books which when they come to sell they have to charge VAT on its current value and give it to customs and excise. So if the car is being sold + VAT it is probably currently owned by a company not an individual.

This is how I understand it anyway. If someone knows different please let me know.