Amature track car project - Advice needed
- Thread starter NVP
- Start date
That's actually a good off topic ish question. Anyone?
Dont they have about 6? Which they race too? Threads called 'Diary of a track noob' or something. Worth a read.
Depends, have they actually dug up any of the track or is it all the areas where the new buildings were going? Pictures/progress of the track all got very hush hush when it became clear they werent going to do it in time. We need to send an OcUK'er in for some spy shots.
Think they were modifying things like run off areas, gravel traps and getting the new buildings ready, but it is entirely possible they started resurfacing before they went into admin.
Soldato
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How about something from this list perhaps?
http://cars.uk.msn.com/features/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=150774492
http://cars.uk.msn.com/features/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=150774492
Few of them would make a good budget track car to be honest, all good road cars mind.
Nah I get what you are saying and I understand that smaller lighter cars could run rings around a heavier, more powerful one but we don't necessarily need to be in the fastest car around the track. We just want something fun, something to learn in, and something that wouldn't be frustrating to drive.
I can see that I would need to learn these skills but would it be much harder to learn in a slightly faster car? I only ask because I am swaying more and more to a RWD BMW purely for the reason that I would like to master the driving technique I have honed in my everyday car...
And when you say M3/325 have high running costs, what do you regard as high? And will they be much higher than the average? We are not looking at competative racing or anything, just a couple guys running a car on weekends to have some fun in.
Nah I wasn't dissagreeing with Kitchster, his advice is very welcomed and greatly appreciated, anyones with experience is. I was just trying to understand the differences better.
Also, thanks for the approx stripped weights, it really does show how much of the weight in BMWs is actually part of the main components of the car and not just extras...
Oh man this could be a problem then, anyone know anything concrete?
Cheers, the Elan and the Sierra are very interesting as well as the 300zx... It has also reignighted the Porsche flame. Any suggestions as to which porsche would be nice? 928? 944?
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Didn't mean to imply you disagreed with Kitchster, I was just saying he makes sense.
The Cosseh (lol) would make a good track car, but they are money pits, beware of that. 944 > 928 for a trackday car, but again, costs will skyrocket. 300zx is too lardy.
The Cosseh (lol) would make a good track car, but they are money pits, beware of that. 944 > 928 for a trackday car, but again, costs will skyrocket. 300zx is too lardy.
+1 for 172 cup
Avoid anything with a turbo if you are trying to stick to a low budget, imho.
No worries man, he does make sense and it's good to get opinions from experienced people.
In regards to the budget, it is not that I can only afford a low budget, it's the fact that I just don't want to waste my money on something that won't be worth it. If the porsches, for example, would make a better/more interesting track car then we are willing to spend more to keep them running...
I only gave a budget of 2-4k for the car because we didn't want to splurge too much on something that might not be worth it, as if the inevitable happens then it would be a waste... but I'm willing to increase the budget if it would be more sensible.
Most of the work will be stripping to start with, if you get a decent base car.
I fully understand your reason for the budget, you can always increase it if the bug bites hard
If you go with the cars we have recommended you can achieve a lot with little cash, or get one somebody has already converted and have cash left to spare.
Some good options below
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1362402.htm good spec 205, make sure you baffle the sump and mod the oil return from the head if not done.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1330041.htm Suspension modded, would want some tidying.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1372562.htm mk1 MR2 looks solid can fit a supercharer later
Thats one heck of a budget left for modding
I fully understand your reason for the budget, you can always increase it if the bug bites hard
If you go with the cars we have recommended you can achieve a lot with little cash, or get one somebody has already converted and have cash left to spare.
Some good options below
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1362402.htm good spec 205, make sure you baffle the sump and mod the oil return from the head if not done.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1330041.htm Suspension modded, would want some tidying.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1372562.htm mk1 MR2 looks solid can fit a supercharer later
Thats one heck of a budget left for modding
Slick! Loving the idea of getting the 16v GTi, and the mr2 is always a sexy one to get as well... not too keen on a pug for some reason but I have to admit I've never driven one.
Is everyone warning me away from getting an E36 Evo then? Because my heart is set on learning to drive a RWD car properly. Although now I am in two minds as to what to get. We have planned our purchase for Feb/March in the new year (I get my next dividend in Feb) so we have plenty of time to work on our options and refine the list. Are there any cheap to run RWD cars out there which I could add to the list?
Also, would you leave a bigger budget for modding and spend less on the car? Or vice versa?
Is everyone warning me away from getting an E36 Evo then? Because my heart is set on learning to drive a RWD car properly. Although now I am in two minds as to what to get. We have planned our purchase for Feb/March in the new year (I get my next dividend in Feb) so we have plenty of time to work on our options and refine the list. Are there any cheap to run RWD cars out there which I could add to the list?
Also, would you leave a bigger budget for modding and spend less on the car? Or vice versa?
Bigger engined E30 bm if you want rwd or a mx-5. Don't bother with a m3 imo. If you can stretch the budget.. The most fun you can possibly have on track with rwd is a 7 imo. Learn an amazing amount about rwd driving one in anger, as you can feel everything.. so much feed back.
Not sure on how they are to maintain though not owning one
Not sure on how they are to maintain though not owning one
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Ok seriously, if you havent driven a good 205 you really should, they are the best of the FWD hatchbacks, and if you like RWD you will love the lift off oversteer, by far the best FWD car to steer on the throttle
Even Clarkson agrees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOfEuKSxQfU
I know I am sounding like a fanboi, and I am really, but there is a reason the 205 GTI has such a following, it really is that good, probably one of the best FWD hatches ever made from a driver point of view. Even if you decide against, you REALLY need to try one first.
Mine is a sleeper for the road, and the engine isn't the best choice for the track.. Mi16 is better for the track once the oil issues are sorted.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18067237
For your plan, spending less on the car (looking for a sound chassis and mechanics as far as possible) and then spending the balance on track brakes, suspension, diff, etc etc will give you closer to what you want, and if you want to sell and buy a different car, well sorted track cars fetch premium prices over street.
My 2 faves would probably be the MR2 and the 205 but its only marginal over the MX5 and the Mk2 Golf 16v.
The 7 is the best track car, but getting a decent one in budget that won't need loads spending on it is a minefield, and for the track, a bike engine car is MUCH better in general. For combined use a car engine 7 is better, and it is quite possible to buy a cheap pinto engined car and upgrade to a zetec later.
Agree with that ^^
Only reason I don't own a 7 is because I'm scared of what I will get within my budget.
I really do think some kind of experience day say http://www.palmersport.com/
But maybe something alittle cheaper lol, Will really help you in what you actually want on track.
Only reason I don't own a 7 is because I'm scared of what I will get within my budget.
I really do think some kind of experience day say http://www.palmersport.com/
But maybe something alittle cheaper lol, Will really help you in what you actually want on track.
A rear wheel drive car might be easier to work on as there'll be more space in the engine bay.
An E36 M3 will have a slip diff (LSD) too so ideal for track use. Thinking of consumables alone, tyres for an M3? £200/250? Tyres for a small hatch? £80? Pads? Discs? Engine/gearbox oil? I don't know what kind of wear usage you'd get but are you prepared to change the rears every other time you're on track? By far the biggest pain in the ass will be working on the car, so make sure you've got all the tooling you'll need, as well as some kind of lift or pit to work underneath it.
Can you get a workshop manual for an M3? Autodata? There are a few scare stories about the 3.2/evo with its dual vanos. You're going to need to be well acquainted with the inner workings of the engine if you intend to be driving one on the limit.
It's commonly said the 3.0 unit is slightly more reliable and makes only slightly less power (not the 40BHP~ they say on paper because the 3.2 doesn't ever make 321BHP on the rollers (according to owner reviews i've read).
The hot hatch route is the alternative and for me, it would be something with a 2.0 16v lump in it. Having looked into this a little, I would say the 172 cup is the way forward. Wider track, slightly lower and no ABS; again, it's suited for the track. No aircon either! One of the biggest pains of working on any engine bay. Not many hatches come with a slip diff (I can't actually think of any right now) so one of your mods might be to fit a quaife diff at some point. I'd be tempted to test the limits of the car first though so you actually notice the difference.
So many options... keep us posted
