Fun Track Car for 5k?

AmDaMan

AmDaMan

AmDaMan

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,023
Location
Wellington, NZ
So one of my aims this year is to get on the track a bit more. I'm after something no frills that is fun to drive and reliable, a manual RWD would ideally be what I'm after but not essential. Doesn't need to be in good cosmetic condition but will need to be road legal so I can drive there and back. I can do the odd bit off maintenance too but don't want to be rebuilding engines or gearboxes.. A few I've been looking at;
  • MX5 - the classic choice
  • RX8 - Maybe not as reliable as I'd like
  • 350Z - Possibly a bit over budget
  • Z4 - not looked too much into this but seems like it should work
  • EP3 Type R - I think this would be a decent FWD option
  • Golf GTI - same but hard to get a manual one in NZ
  • Audi TT Quattro - not sure how fun it would be
Anyone have any recommendations or track experience on the above? I've only driven a handful of these and none on a track.

Happy to hear thoughts!
 
If budget is tight, and it sounds like to a degree it is. I’d be avoiding 350z, z4, TT etc like the plague, even golf too. They’re heavy cars and will chew through consumables in no time at all compared to something lightweight like an mx5.
 
Z4 is definitely not a heavy car (1290kg), the 350Z on the other hand is, my Accord weighs the same as one and it has 2 more doors! 1530kg, besides the MX5, the Z4 is probably lighter than the rest of the list.

Not sure what prices are like in NZ compared to UK, E85 Z4 3.0i's are relatively cheap to buy and run, parts are plenty since most components are shared with other BMWs of its time. the M54 engine likes to go through rocker cover gaskets, Disa valve and Vanos issues are worth a google.
 
Honda CRX. The proper one. 1990-91 VTEC. less than 1000Kg. Few mods and its ace..... Well apart from the lift off oversteer..
I had 4 of them.. One of which we turbo'd.. That was fun.... Always wanted to stick a blown B18 engine into one... 450BHP easy... Power to weight. Mental
A mate did a turbo conversion on his Integra. 1/4 mile in 12.01 sec... For a FWD...
 
Last edited:
I have been autocrossing for 15+ years and I get to drive a LOT of cars. Including the cars on your list:
  • MX5 - the classic choice **These are great cars. They won't push you back in your seat when you mash the loud pedal, but they are so light and nimble that you can hold more speed through transitions. Acceleration is good, but not needing to slow down in the first place is even better.**
  • RX8 - Maybe not as reliable as I'd like **Also a great-handling car, but from what I have heard from owners at the track, the motor is basically a wear item.**
  • 350Z - Possibly a bit over budget. **I Autocrossed one of these for many seasons in a few different prep levels, the Z is "good" at almost everything and "great" at almost nothing. I have not checked prices in forever, but I would be shocked if you couldn't find one u der $5k. (In the US at least)**
  • Z4 - not looked too much into this but seems like it should work **I have only driven a few of these and only recall thinking that they didn't do anything "offensive" at the limit. I have heard that braking parts on BMW's is generally on the expensive side though.**
  • EP3 Type R - I think this would be a decent FWD option **I have very little experience with these, I remember liking the handling well-enough but never liked the location of the shifter.
  • Golf GTI - same but hard to get a manual one in NZ. **My brother ran one of the recent gens of these (paddle shifters, not manual) for a while. The power was good but the handling never got my attention. He also had the fancy transmission do things he didn't want it to do (I think it would upshift when he wanted to just ride the limiter for a moment before breaking for an element)**
  • Audi TT Quattro - not sure how fun it would be ** Been a while since I drove one of these, good power but felt heavier than I expected through transitions.**
My first choice would be the MX-5, but for me, with a few rare exceptions, acceleration has become just one of the variables to adjust for while driving.

If you want to get pushed back in your seat when you mash the throttle, The 350Z would be my next choice. The acceleration isn't mind-blowing, but it's got decent torque, and I personally like the sound of the VQ in full song.
 
I've looked at the 172 but there's only 1 for sale at the moment in the whole of NZ and it looks like it needs the cambelt doing. I agree for a FWD option there are great and I'd love to own one again.

There are a few Mini Cooper S' knocking around though but never really considered these, might look into that.

MR2 - look to be in budget for a non-turbo version, never had a go in one though.

E87 130i - I like these but it would have to be an automatic in my budget, I wasn't a fan of the auto box think that might ruin it a bit on the track.

CRX - There is a 1990 CRX, looks ok too but I've never been in one of these.. looks to have carbs and a dizzy.. reliable?

The Z4 would be a heap of fun I reckon, especially the 3.0l but it would have to be an auto. What's the Z3 like? Theres a few of those (2.8 ZF Manual).
 
Agree with an MR2 loved the ones I had in the past. A Crx is another good call, have a friend who well into these, but there is not many around these days. I personal would go for something like a mini or EP3 type R.
 
I really fancy an 3rd gen MR2 as a track car, think of it as the poor mans Elise :p

Parts are cheap enough and they're inherently fairly reliable being a toyota, the original engines can burn oil and oval the bores but that's just a good excuse to swap in the 190bhp version from the Celica T sport, it's pretty much a drop in plug and play affair.

People do love Clio's but i've never liked the ones ive driven, a 172 and the wife owned a 197 for several years and they did nothing for me at all.

A MK3 MX5 would be really good too, we've had a mk2 and a mk3 and the 3 is where my money would go all day long.
 
What are the circuits around you like, at least the ones you might regularly visit? Do they have lots of long straights and wide sweeping corners, or are they tighter, narrower, and twistier? That'll help narrow down what might be best.
 
Last edited:
sovietspybob said:
I really fancy an 3rd gen MR2 as a track car, think of it as the poor mans Elise :p

Parts are cheap enough and they're inherently fairly reliable being a toyota, the original engines can burn oil and oval the bores but that's just a good excuse to swap in the 190bhp version from the Celica T sport, it's pretty much a drop in plug and play affair.
Click to expand...

I know quite a few people who have done 2ZZ conversions on these for track use and one thing you need to watch out for is oil surge, most of the people I know have been through at least one engine. Baffled sump is a necessity and even then you need to be careful.
 
I had a Z4 3.0 and while quite capable and easy to drive on the limit, it's not as fun as something smaller with skinny tyres like an MR2 or MX5.

Mate of mine used to race prep MK1 MR2s for the race series they were a blast. I would guess they've started getting more expensive now though.
 
kaiowas said:
I know quite a few people who have done 2ZZ conversions on these for track use and one thing you need to watch out for is oil surge, most of the people I know have been through at least one engine. Baffled sump is a necessity and even then you need to be careful.
Click to expand...
Ah that's interesting, i wonder if there's any bigger oil pan mods like you can get one Subaru's to increase the oil volume and add baffles.
 
mid_gen said:
Mate of mine used to race prep MK1 MR2s for the race series they were a blast. I would guess they've started getting more expensive now though.
Click to expand...

I sprint a mk1, it’s been a good car but I started with it about 15 years ago. If I was starting out now I’d go with mk3 simply because getting a good mk1 is much more difficult than it used to be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom