Weekend/Trackday toy help

Darryn

Darryn

Darryn

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
4,449
Location
Colne.... Up Norf.
Hi guys,

I need some help, I'm fairly happy with the practicality of my 2 currents cars, but I've nothing fun... So I've budgeted £4k now and another £4k before Christmas to buy and modify a car for weekend blasts and also trackdays.

I've unfortunately ruled out my 1st plan of a Caterham/Westfield type after test driving one and finding that its almost impossible for my 60yo mother to get into and out of one, and I enjoy taking her out when possible.

My current list is;

MX-5 mk1 + FI kit
MX-5 mk2 + FI kit
MX-5 mk3 + BBR supersport 200/225bhp
RX-8 + potential rebuild
350z

Now I'm struggling to nail down an option from the above list,

Mk1 MX5 are now 20years old and rot free examples are few and far between

Mk2, I've had one already and loved it but, it just felt quite slow, not sure if turbo or supercharger will maintain nice drivability

Mk3, very few under £4k especially the 2litre version and the one I test drove yesterday was knackered

RX8, I know they drink fuel but as its a play thing that doesn't bother me, they are dirt cheap and I could potentially buy one for peanuts, spend a couple of grand getting it sorted.

350z, drove one today and not that impressed, great noise and decent power, felt quite heavy when throwing it about in the twisties.

Anyone got any other insight or ideas, thanks for reading, Darryn.
 
Not for £4k though, even if I was to wait until Christmas and use the full budget I imagine most in that price bracket will be high milers and id have nothing left to pay the massive bills they are likely to throw up.
 
Civic EK9 / EP3 / Integra DC2

None of which are RWD, but all excellent track cars in their own right!

I don't quite get the 60yo mother thing though?
 
Last edited:
Clio 2.0L Cup, I know it sounds crap but it's awesome and well under your budget!

My mate has a Clio track-car and done 50+ UK and European trackdays in it and even shipped it to Australia when he moved there this summer!

Started off like this -

clio01.jpg


Now looks like this

clio02.jpg
 
I'm kind of set on a RWD and as for the mother thing is, I'm going to want to throw the mother in the passenger seat and go off into the lakes and Yorkshire Dales quite often, the Westfield I drove exceeded all my wants and needs, apart from that... I'm looking for something with the same kind of fun but more accessible.
 
MR2 turbo is a good shout, not a fan of the later shape mk3, but I do like the mk2 which I believe they made right up to 1999.... off to browse Pistonheads and Autotrader.
 
FI MX5 is fantastic fun... I miss mine. Do it properly and you keep the driveability, cheap out on things like silicon hoses as air ducts (yes, i've seen it done) and it makes things a bit more awkward.

You can buy a well sorted rot-free MK1 that's already been charged or turboed for under £5k very easily.

Or you can do a good job yourself with £8k.

RX8... nah... not worth it... MX5 is better/more fun... especially with the extra power. RX8 is a bit boring in comparison, even if the balance is good.

350Z is fun... but like you say... heavy.

You can get a decent E46 M3 for £8k... great car for both track and road, better than the 350Z...

M3 & 350Z are the best choices for the longer trips, especially with your mum... MX5 seats have terrible lumbar support, so can give achey backs on anything over 2 hours.
 
crinkleshoes said:
Mini Cooper S - Boring
E36 328i - Good but no M3
Fiat Coupe turbo - Good for a giggle
300zx any good? - Meh
Impreza/Evos - Boring boring boring, unless you want to go rallying
Focus ST - Boring
Click to expand...

1.5/5, not bad.

Porsche Boxster 3.2S (R reg vintage...996?)
A grotty S2000?
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the suggestions guys, a rot-free Mk1 is still my favourite choice, if I can find one that's already been charged or turbo'd to a decent standard that would be a bonus.
 
I have a mk3 MX5, if its going to be a track thing so long as engine is good you will probably replace everything else on it that matters brakes/suspension/bars/wheels/tyres, picked mine up for little more than 3k as bodywork was tatty but as I was learning RWD I figured it wouldn't matter as I am likely to bend it once trying and indeed that is what happened at a competitive event.

Down side of the MX5, no where to put everything, taking four wheels for a serious play date leaves no room for passenger unless you trailer it.

I struggle to get in and out of it never mind a more immobile older person (to be fair some older people I know are in better shape than me :D )

If I was to buy a cheap RWD toy again I reckon I would go for the RX8 I originally intended to buy because I can chuck more crap in it for a track day as still have a passenger rather than the logistics of another person to drive etc.

The Mk3 mx5 is decent though, for very little outlay you can get a tidy bump in power/torque that makes a fair difference.

Buying a reasonable MX5 and adding FI is probably going to put you in M3 territory so it is worth thinking long and hard about what you are really after as there are plenty of cars out there that will still be quicker/more powerful once you are done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom