best bang for your buck track car

03wrx · 29-01-2010, 06:09 AM

Hopefully in the next 3 months I'm going to start getting into attending track days, and once after some tuition, get my skills up enter some lower class track events.

This has been a passion of mine, but have never done it as I've not wanted to ruin my cars. So the solution is to purchase a cheaper car that goes and handles well, and be able to use it as a daily driver. Then when the updated F6 or GT comes out, I can use that for weekend fun.

For the ones of you that frequent the track, what car would you recommend around 20K, that would suite my purposes for some time.

Cheers in advance.

Fev · 29-01-2010, 08:58 AM

MX-5
Ford Escort's
Ford Focus ST170
EA-AU XR8's
XR6T
WRX
Mitsu EVO
RX7's
Datsuns

There's a whole bunch of cars you could use. Wanna shrink the list a bit? Like FWD, RWD, AWD, 4cyl, 6cyl, V8, turbo, Supercharged, N/A

check out www.my105.com
There is heaps of cars suited to racing on there for sale ranging from $2000 to $250,000+

4Vman · 29-01-2010, 08:58 AM

For around 20K id say a T3 would be best bang for your buck.

GT69 · 29-01-2010, 09:07 AM

Im currently looking at (and very tempted by) a friends 99 WRX. Its old but pretty bloody cheap, After watching Love the Beast the other day, I figure getting into some track stuff in a reasonably new car that i have no emotional attachment too would be a far better idea.....especially compared to putting my 69 cortina round a track.

4VCLEVO · 29-01-2010, 09:13 AM

I'd go the Mitsubishi EVO, they are fast and handle and you might be able to pick one up with a bit of work done to it.

4VCLEVO · 29-01-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

For around 20K id say a T3 would be best bang for your buck.

I agree that you could use a T3, but for me they are a bit to special and would hate to see it punted into a wall.

Fev · 29-01-2010, 09:19 AM

You can buy good condition jap imports for WELL under their average price if you only want it for the track? They come uncomplied and can't be road registered but $12k for a EVO8 with 60,000km on the clock is damn good

kingyxr8 · 29-01-2010, 09:23 AM

I use to own a datto 1200 with a SR20Det under the hood...

was great on the track and killa down the 1/4 mile.. running in the mid to high 10s.. was awesome for street as well...

would recommend one for sure....

flappist · 29-01-2010, 09:51 AM

http://www.my105.com/classified.asp?id=13350

Forget the T3, this is the go

**Charliewool** · 29-01-2010, 10:04 AM

And only a measly 2,230k over the man's budget

**ebxr8240** · 29-01-2010, 10:14 AM

Nissan Silvia ..Not an ex drift car though...
Tail out cornering gives you better thrill than awd cars..
I own two WRX's so I'm not biased ...
I must say the hairs raise when I hear an old twin cam Escort crossed up sideways
like in NZ club rallies etc...

mr_xr8 · 29-01-2010, 10:39 AM

s13/180sx is a good pick and under budget,
if you want a car that you dont want to mod for a while get an EVO

Copie · 29-01-2010, 11:20 AM

+1 for an evo 7.

Just upgrade the rotors and pads, stick some semi slicks on and off you go.

trippytaka · 29-01-2010, 11:31 AM

For that money, I'd be looking to do a rece-only import with a CAMS 3. You won't be able to drive it on the street, but what you can pick up for around 20k in the following models is just amazing.

- Evo
- Nissan Silvia (S14, or 15)
- Mazda RX-7 (series 6-8)
- WRX

max_torq · 29-01-2010, 11:37 AM

you should look at the cams manual and the racing classes, otherwise you will end up developing a car that is not attractive to other competitors when you go to sell it, and has trouble with eligibility

really the best would be:

RX-7
Honda Civic
Ford Escort

otherwise if you are after a big RWD V8 and can afford the tyre bill, it comes to weapon of choice, but it is much cheaper and effective to upgrade something with a live rear axle... forget turbos unless you like driving with lag, rebuilding engines frequently, and dealing with high under bonnet heat and the high maintenance that causes.

burnz · 29-01-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

http://www.my105.com/classified.asp?id=13350

Forget the T3, this is the go

http://www.my105.com/classified.asp?id=14412
17K for this torry from the same site

XR6_661 · 29-01-2010, 12:11 PM

Might be able to pick up a R32 GTR for around the 20g mark...

Mr Hardware · 29-01-2010, 02:49 PM

try an 03 WRX

makattkd · 29-01-2010, 03:48 PM

I might be biased, but don't overlook the R32 GTSt. The RB20 is very underrated.
They are relatively cheap, go well out of the box and plenty of bolt on goodies for them.

We ran one in Targa Tasmania last year, mild tune/stock internals etc The main improvements were Diff and suspension/alignment. Lead our category outright for
4 days, till a crash and suspension failure dropped us down to 3rd. We were consistently placed in the top 10 stage times for the entire field. Proving its not what you got (GTR/Porsche/Lambo) its how you use it!

Really the only issue we have found with them is after a long period of abuse (Combo of Flatshifting/HD Clutch/Locker diff/Semi slicks) 3rd gear lets go.. bear in mind they are a 20 y/o gearbox and if you actually rebuilt it they would last alot longer.

Heaps of guys down here are now using them as track only cars for circuit and rally

mik · 29-01-2010, 03:49 PM

i have a friend with an evo , he reckons you need deep pockets to maintain and service, i`m a bit of a supra fan , they are heavy but can still boogey and handle fairly decent, http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/TOYOTA/SUPRA/details.aspx?R=7260717&__Nne=20&Make=TOYOTA&__Ns=p Car_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32|1||pCar_ImageCount_In t32|1||pCar_LastModifiedDate_DateTime|1&__N=429496 2861+4294962110+1216+834+285+257&silo=1003&seot=1& Cr=6&trecs=244&Model=SUPRA&__sid=125701E586C1 , you can pick them up cheaper but this one caught my eye.

Fev · 29-01-2010, 03:55 PM

If you decide to spend upwards of 50k buy this and for the love of god take me for a drive!!!
http://www.my105.com/classified.asp?id=14322&feature=1
The Mercedes 190E EVO *towel please*

More serious note

12,500 1998 WRX STI, stock setup for tarmac
http://www.my105.com/classified.asp?id=11966

Series 7 RX7 $10,000
http://www.my105.com/classified.asp?id=14226&feature=1

Lancer Evo 4 RS spec (best looking) set up for Rally with cage, mods, lightened etc $13,500
http://www.my105.com/classified.asp?id=14101&feature=1

There's lots to choose from for competetive cars but you can't drive them on the road

outback_ute · 29-01-2010, 04:54 PM

A bit more info could help narrow it down. Do you want to go at warp speeds or more focussed on having fun? I assume you don't want huge maintenance costs? Does it need to be a pretty modern car or is older ok? On the daily driver front how much practicality do you need - seating (ie sedan/coupe), noise levels etc.

To keep costs down & fun up, small and light is the way to go. Quick suggestions would be Integra Type R for fwd (just ask Rev28k) or MX5 for rwd.

JC807 · 29-01-2010, 05:03 PM

get a LHD unregisterable e30 m3 for track car.

XR_6falcon · 29-01-2010, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6_661

Might be able to pick up a R32 GTR for around the 20g mark...

even less, i was about to buy one for 15grand 92 Vspec. Cheapest ive seen it was about 12grand

:evil3:

CFOUR · 29-01-2010, 05:13 PM

Au2 xr8 manual will cost you about 8 grand and will be bullitproof. I simply cannot kill my xr8. If your tall there is not much room in a au for a helmet however.

LOWAU · 29-01-2010, 05:35 PM

AU XR8s, gearbox and diff WILL stuff up if you thrash it.

Get your self a track only car if your gonna do it. Cos you will crash/bend it eventually.
R31s with S14 suspension handle real well and you can always go turbo later but anything Nissan RWD and turbo, you will be set LOL

trippytaka · 29-01-2010, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6_661

Might be able to pick up a R32 GTR for around the 20g mark...

You'd s.... that in these days. Good idea actually. You can pick 'em up for 15k.

I tell you what! Back when I left school, 10-15k would hardly buy you a V6 VL Commodore :( probably the reason I've made it past 30

**ebxr8240** · 29-01-2010, 10:55 PM

Sheesh !! Where are you guys getting your prices from..
Check here for imports..
http://www.ichiban.com.au/cars.htm

03wrx · 30-01-2010, 12:02 AM

Thanks for the info. I had no idea about the my105.com site.

The car could be a rwd or awd. Im not after anything too fast, but something that can handle. As Im new to all this I could see myself getting into trouble with a too high powered car.

Interesting list some of you mentioned as Ive started looking at the mx5, sr20det, earlier model evo's, had a peek at some s2000s. I'll look into the ford escort which Im not too familiar with. Im over wrx's!

Im returning back to Oz in 2 months and will start looking at finding an instructor in Sydney. If anyone else is a beginner like me and wants to get into this I'd me more than happy to meet up.

04redxr8 · 30-01-2010, 08:05 AM

Another suggestion would be to look at a particular series. Find what you may be interested in racing down the track and go for that model.

I know a person who bought an EB Falcon already setup for the EB-VN series, with full cage and spares ready to run. (I think CAMS logbooks too). Not sure on price paid but safe to say it was under $20k. Only had the 4lt 6, but this thing was quick around Lakeside. Awesome to watch.

Personally, and only my opinion here, I would look at buying a track only car to begin with (as cheap as possible), spend the rest on a runabout/tow car. In the beginning you will make mistakes, and you don't want it to be in your daily driver.

Good Luck
Ned