Hi,

Well after a couple of days over the summer at Bedford using his C4S my friend and I are well and truly hooked, so the plan is to get a shared car (to save his pride and joy) for track use in the future.

My thinking was bangernomics; something cheap and cheerful along the lines of an old 318is (seen a few advertised mechanically sound but a bit scruffy for very little money) then doing the various suggested prep work; suspension bushes, shocks, brakes etc. even dumping any excess weight. Thought it would give a good starting point on learning how to maximise what we have.

Now his thought were towards an M3, E36 probably (deeper pockets), more car and hopefully more up to track work. Now at that age it’ll still need a fair bit of work to get fit and proper for that task I’d have thought and that work being more expensive to boot. And I guess finding the right one that’s not been too molested or pimped would be a little harder.

Other options may be a very early Scooby or MX5.

So which way to go, any thoughts, comments to suggestions?
Ta.

I'd go with the MX5 with some really cheap ditch finder tyres so that you can learn to control the car on the absolute (low) limit. Cars and parts are cheap enough and readily available.

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Nordschleife - there's only two barriers to worry about - the ones on the left and the ones on the right!

Why all the extra prep ~ its only a trackday, not a competition. Give it a service, a CG Lock some decent front tyres and fuel.

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Ben
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"you don't look like a fussy eater" // Mazda 3 MPS For Sale

Ben by "extra prep" I just mean a very good service, at the age we're talking about bushes/shocks/brakes etc. may be past there best and I would be happier making sure they are all working and in good order.

Mike, I agree. Start slow and work up.

Talking about cars in here, have you guys heard that Porsche is planning to build a 53-acre Experience Center in the city of Carson, LA? From what I read in this article here:Porsche plans to open Experience Center near Los Angeles, Porsche has announced intends to build a new 53-acre Experience Center in the city of Carson in the Los Angeles Basin. The designs were declared this week at the 2011 LA Auto Show. Type of an amusement park for speed-loving gear-heads with throw-away income, the Experience Center will provide a test track, a consumer delivery center, a gymnasium, a restaurant and more. Porsche intends to open the center in 2013.

How about a Renaultsport Clio 172 Phase One? Cheap as chips to buy and so much fun on track for not much money. Put some DS2500 pads on it and some Toyo T1-R's and away you go. I've done 15 track days in mine and never had to put a spanner to it during a track day. It's done 124,000 miles now and still feels as sharp as ever.

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8 seater Renault Trafic taxi 07831861360

may be past there best and I would be happier making sure they are all working and in good order.

mark87 said...

How about a Renaultsport Clio 172 Phase One? Cheap as chips to buy and so much fun on track for not much money. Put some DS2500 pads on it and some Toyo T1-R's and away you go. I've done 15 track days in mine and never had to put a spanner to it during a track day. It's done 124,000 miles now and still feels as sharp as ever.

What he said.
The Clio is such a great little car you see them out on most days and they just go on and on. 172 or 182 which ever you went for would be a good buy and they are looking around the £1500 to £2500 mark at the moment ... could be a good ready to car .

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Onwards & Upwards

An early Civic Type R could be worth a look.

See if you can find a stolen recovered, Cat D or tatty one on the cheap.

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BMW M3 Competition DCT & Range Rover Vogue TDV8
Porsche 996 Turbo (sold)

I would be thinking FR or MR for a trackday toy, personally (or RR - but the aim is to avoid thrashing a 911 and I doubt a Beetle would be much fun)

Toyota MR2 (Mk 1, 2 or 3)
Porsche 944

http://lajme-shqip.com/