Track day car suggestions
Discussion
Having enjoyed my Porsche 928 enormously, I'm getting to the point where I rarely drive it even at weekends. I do a few track days during the year, and last Monday I was at Silverstone with EVO, where I had hot passenger laps in a Porsche Turbo + GT2, Lotus 340R, Caterham R500, and a Radical Supersport. The road cars - even the GT2 - were not that impressive compared with the exposure, rawness and grip of the track-oriented cars. Sure, the Porsches were faster, but I'm really wanting to learn exactly how to drive a car fast rather than rely on the car's engineering.
So, I'm looking for suggestions for a track toy.
1. 2 seater
2. Not saloon-based (i.e. not an M3) as I already have a practical (!) day-to-day car in the RS2
3. Must be comfortable and practical enough to be able to drive to and from tracks (and be able to fit a radio!)
3. Sub-5 second 0-60
4. Top speed less important than acceleration out of corners
5. Up to £30k
What would you recommend? Tell me why, as well, I need to have some idea of what to expect when I'm deciding which to have a test drive in.
To give you a hint, the vague shortlist so far has
Caterham Superlight or R500
Elise 190 or Exige
911 RS
er . . .
>>> Edited by Whoozit on Thursday 15th August 16:03
So, I'm looking for suggestions for a track toy.
1. 2 seater
2. Not saloon-based (i.e. not an M3) as I already have a practical (!) day-to-day car in the RS2
3. Must be comfortable and practical enough to be able to drive to and from tracks (and be able to fit a radio!)
3. Sub-5 second 0-60
4. Top speed less important than acceleration out of corners
5. Up to £30k
What would you recommend? Tell me why, as well, I need to have some idea of what to expect when I'm deciding which to have a test drive in.
To give you a hint, the vague shortlist so far has
Caterham Superlight or R500
Elise 190 or Exige
911 RS
er . . .
>>> Edited by Whoozit on Thursday 15th August 16:03
Given you have no need for the car to be practical other than it being possible to drive it to the track (so you don't need a trailer?) I reckon you'll get most bang for your buck out of a Caterham. That's what I'm considering (don't tell Mrs Don!) in a couple of years time..although my budget won't be as high as £30K.
Having said that (given the 30K) I'd buy the Elise - because when it starts to pee down you can at least roll that thing they have the audactity to call a "roof" over the top of you. And I loved the on-track handling - great fun.
Having said that (given the 30K) I'd buy the Elise - because when it starts to pee down you can at least roll that thing they have the audactity to call a "roof" over the top of you. And I loved the on-track handling - great fun.
www.zcars.org.uk/
You can not get faster that this......!
They do not cost to much...
But I dont think thay have NOT gone as far as you can!
2 x Kawasaki ZX12 giving about 360bhp..a lot you mite think but......You can turbo the hayabusa engin and get 350bhp (they say 400-500 is tops) each so
660kg with 700bhp would make say 1060bhp per tone!
Sound fun to me...
You can not get faster that this......!
They do not cost to much...
But I dont think thay have NOT gone as far as you can!
2 x Kawasaki ZX12 giving about 360bhp..a lot you mite think but......You can turbo the hayabusa engin and get 350bhp (they say 400-500 is tops) each so
660kg with 700bhp would make say 1060bhp per tone!
Sound fun to me...
I'd personally say a Westy Megabusa. You must have seen one on a track? They are just awesome. Failing that maybe a cosworth powered Caterham with the 4wd to go with it? Not quite RWD but must still be bloody fun, and very very quick. But then the megabusa fits all your sriteria, so get that
Now, 916 or integrale? Why is no-one replying to my thread
Now, 916 or integrale? Why is no-one replying to my thread
Just a thought about running costs of the R500 2 track days would see a set of tyres off about £500 a set an engine is about 14K
They do about 8 to the gallon on track at race pace
I have a cheaper version of a similar thing My car is an 1800 Zetec powered Westfield and an almost standard engine on twin 45's produces 165 bhp so a power to weight ratio of about 290bhp/tonne so its not slow and for a little more mony effort the engine can go up to about 190bhp then it gets very expensive for more power I have used the car for touring and track days and so far it is reliable the car stands me at about 14k so with the change you could have a spare set of wheels wets/road and slicks and a trailer then lots of track days and instruction.
If you have not driven on a track its very different I followed a M3 to cadwell and I chose not to keep up with him on the road, on the track he must have been close on the slowest car on track.
If you chose a 7 type car you will not be dissapointed
See my car [url]Here homepge.ntlworld.com/paul.jones37[url]
>> Edited by fast westfield on Thursday 15th August 19:24
They do about 8 to the gallon on track at race pace
I have a cheaper version of a similar thing My car is an 1800 Zetec powered Westfield and an almost standard engine on twin 45's produces 165 bhp so a power to weight ratio of about 290bhp/tonne so its not slow and for a little more mony effort the engine can go up to about 190bhp then it gets very expensive for more power I have used the car for touring and track days and so far it is reliable the car stands me at about 14k so with the change you could have a spare set of wheels wets/road and slicks and a trailer then lots of track days and instruction.
If you have not driven on a track its very different I followed a M3 to cadwell and I chose not to keep up with him on the road, on the track he must have been close on the slowest car on track.
If you chose a 7 type car you will not be dissapointed
See my car [url]Here homepge.ntlworld.com/paul.jones37[url]
>> Edited by fast westfield on Thursday 15th August 19:24
I like Ginetta G4's and would probably suit your needs even buit from the factory they come in at less that 20K but while looking for info I came across(nerf nerf) this link www.brooke-kensington.co.uk/cstock.shtml take a look at the Lotus Elise LM 2001 race car at the top of the page only trouble is it only has one seat.
But would be fun though.
Paul
Take a look at the road tests on pistonheads for the review and there is another relating to its history
>> Edited by Cotty on Thursday 15th August 19:56
But would be fun though.
Paul
Take a look at the road tests on pistonheads for the review and there is another relating to its history
>> Edited by Cotty on Thursday 15th August 19:56
i reckon a westfield (in its varius forms) is possibly the best track driving experience for the money - RAW!
an elise is the best for track and a relatively pleasant drive to and from the track (up to 200m each way remeber), and as for european tracks an elise is the MINIMUM spec required! i believe the new ones have A/C!!) colin will be turning in his grave!
for all out fun i'm a TVR convert. LOOKS, POWER (340bhp/tonne), THE NOISE, comfort, RWD and mine has leather, PAS, AND A/C! and all for around £14k upwards!! i took mine to nurberg, onto imola, then onto the south of france then back home. several elises and westies did the same but they were youngsters and die hards. my griff kept up with them (just) on the track was comfy fast and stylish (IMHO) and on the autoroutes cruising at 150mph - aaaahh bliss! by the way there was another griff on the trip (with easytrack) that had a 175mph tussle with a ferrari (hi andy if you're reading this) it was a draw - but the ferrari was £120ks worth! so - if i haven't bored you all to death! i'd go with a TVR, and my fav's the griff 500 - devasating on every level (IMHO again)but be carefull if you aren't good with the oily bits! its part of the charm - but you do have to be able to deal with the oily bits on occasion, either that or be on first name terms with a GOOD dealer / specialist. but this also goes for the rest !
an elise is the best for track and a relatively pleasant drive to and from the track (up to 200m each way remeber), and as for european tracks an elise is the MINIMUM spec required! i believe the new ones have A/C!!) colin will be turning in his grave!
for all out fun i'm a TVR convert. LOOKS, POWER (340bhp/tonne), THE NOISE, comfort, RWD and mine has leather, PAS, AND A/C! and all for around £14k upwards!! i took mine to nurberg, onto imola, then onto the south of france then back home. several elises and westies did the same but they were youngsters and die hards. my griff kept up with them (just) on the track was comfy fast and stylish (IMHO) and on the autoroutes cruising at 150mph - aaaahh bliss! by the way there was another griff on the trip (with easytrack) that had a 175mph tussle with a ferrari (hi andy if you're reading this) it was a draw - but the ferrari was £120ks worth! so - if i haven't bored you all to death! i'd go with a TVR, and my fav's the griff 500 - devasating on every level (IMHO again)but be carefull if you aren't good with the oily bits! its part of the charm - but you do have to be able to deal with the oily bits on occasion, either that or be on first name terms with a GOOD dealer / specialist. but this also goes for the rest !
Many thanks for the suggestions so far, keep 'em coming! While I really love the idea of an Ultima or motorsport Elise, there's a small problem in that I'm a crap driver so the embarrassment factor of turning up in one of those and being out-driven by a Pug 205 would be high.
On that topic, which of the track-oriented driver instructors would you recommend? I'm intending to do some skid pan training later this year to get a feel for sideways action, but I realise I do need instruction in the arcane art of cornering fast. Being taken round by Richard Meaden in the R500 was fantastic - first two laps screeching around Vale and Club, last lap SIDEWAYS around each one.
so the embarrassment factor of turning up in one of those and being out-driven by a Pug 205 would be high. On that topic, which of the track-oriented driver instructors would you recommend? I'm intending to do some skid pan training later this year to get a feel for sideways action, but I realise I do need instruction in the arcane art of cornering fast. Being taken round by Richard Meaden in the R500 was fantastic - first two laps screeching around Vale and Club, last lap SIDEWAYS around each one.
whoozit
try www.1stlotus.com - driver is andrew walsh - highly recommend for handling etc
also Don Palmer - is well thought of - but twice the price..
try www.1stlotus.com - driver is andrew walsh - highly recommend for handling etc
also Don Palmer - is well thought of - but twice the price..
A 7 type car and spend a fair bit on driver training instructors etc. The R500 as good as it is needs a good driver to get the best out of it so a lesser 7 would be easier to learn in and upgrade sell trade up later just as much fun can be had from my car but it will always be a few seconds a lap down around Cadwell the Westfield 1800 Zetec cars have lapped at 1:40 standard ish engine 032r tyres, R500 1:34 ACB10's, SR3 1:26 slicks, so 10/14 seconds is going to cost a lot of money, as the saying goes you pays your money you takes your choice.
Paul.
Paul.
Go with the experts choice, Trackday car of the year is a Caterham R300 - yours new for around £25K including the right extras.
As they say it's the best balance between power and drivability for most trackday drivers.
And an added bonus is their good residual values when you want to trade up to an R400 or R500
As they say it's the best balance between power and drivability for most trackday drivers.
And an added bonus is their good residual values when you want to trade up to an R400 or R500
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