WTB Track Car

[Senor_Taylor]

Hey all. Just looking for a hand searching for a car. I know the criteria I want, so this isn't a "What should I buy" thread as much as it is a "Please keep an eye out of for these cars" thread. The GTI is awesome and is an absolute riot on the track, so I'm okay with doing DE1 in it for now, however I want to do the real deal and work my way up through the DEs. "Don't track a car you're not willing to write off" is the usual phrase uttered by alumni well after we encourage kids to come out, and I'm not willing to ball up a car I owe tens of thousands of dollars on. I don't need to be in a hurry here, so I'm trying to hold out for a good example at a good price, but it'll be a battle for me to stay patient and not jump on the first pile I see with a roundel. 

Basic criteria: 

Under $5000 is preferred now, but as time goes on the budget may go up and my search may become more serious. For now, I'm really only going to jump if I find a killer deal that I shouldn't wait on. 

RWD.
Common Platform.
Reliable enough to drive to the track and back for a season or two (Within reason)
Partially prepped (Previous maintenance, seats, rollbar/harness bar preferred)
Street legal
(Other things I'll think to add to this list later)

Right now the list is


NA8-NB2 Miata: (Probably the cheapest and most reliable, but not excited about driving that 4 hours to VIR and trying to jam tools/wheels/luggage in it, but if the price is right....)

E30: Terrible idea, right? Find me one that's well sorted and convince me on it. Seems too old and finnicky to rely on getting me to the track and back. 

E36 325i/is 93-95: I think this is what i'm shooting for. Spec 3 is cheap compared to other leagues. NASA MA has some cool dudes running it. The cars are easy to find, simple, and reliable as far as BMWs go.

Something else that y'all suggest? E36 M3 seems attractive but that's too rich for my blood and I don't have a fiery burning passion to spend the extra money on it. 

I typed this quickly at work while I'm coming down from my track high, so take it easy on me, please.

[GTBrandon]

Is E46 330ci out of the question?

[*insertusernamehere*]

I would also second e46 330ci. Personally, for me, I know when I start seriously looking myself it's going to be for a newer car. Its 2018 now, almost halfway through, I don't know if I want anything made in the 90s anymore. '06 seems like a decent year. 2000 at the oldest. So with my 2 cents of - don't buy a 20+ year old car - I vote 330ci. I'll shop the interwebs for links soon.

Also I drove Ryan car around for a bit over the weekend, NC Miata is a GREAT option to consider, imo.

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[.RJ]

Save your pennies and buy a car already sorted, if possible (PPI for sure). Be prepared to negotiate hard on price though, as sellers that built their cars often get emotionally invested in them and a little proud of the selling price.

[ScottyB]

240sx out of the running? there are still a few left that haven't been crashed multiple times in the pursuit of tofu delivery drifting. they're tough and neutral and have an insane aftermarket, and you can probably fit a set of tires in the back.

[ViPER1313]

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/...25631.html

[GTBrandon]

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/...25631.html

Marketing 101 right there, I can envision that now with two wheels in the air going around a corner at Summit

[Jake]

Try to find something with at least mild safety/sorting taken care of, it'll be cheaper than doing it yourself. I think the E36/E46 would be good ideas. Easier to fit seats in - getting two seats wide enough for people your/my size in a Miata is a hard thing to do.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Spec3 is limited to ma only but I dont see most of those guys going anywhere soon. And honestly its not a "burn it it the ground" if the class disappears as you can modify it to go GTS/ST.

SE46/E46 330i is just too pricey to run. The diff alone is over half your budget for the car itself . Funny enough we have some SE46 guys coming BACK to GTS after playing in SE46 for a while.

Spec Miata and SE30 are awesome too, many people forecasted the death of SE30 and yet it remains strong. I think it's mostly preference. That said 93-95 325is come up a lot it seems with roll bars and seats for pretty cheap.

[Senor_Taylor]

That was my general thinking, DJ.

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[GTBrandon]

Spec3 is limited to ma only but I dont see most of those guys going anywhere soon. And honestly its not a "burn it it the ground" if the class disappears as you can modify it to go GTS/ST.

SE46/E46 330i is just too pricey to run. The diff alone is over half your budget for the car itself . Funny enough we have some SE46 guys coming BACK to GTS after playing in SE46 for a while.

Spec Miata and SE30 are awesome too, many people forecasted the death of SE30 and yet it remains strong. I think it's mostly preference. That said 93-95 325is come up a lot it seems with roll bars and seats for pretty cheap.

So E46 in GTS classing is more reasonable budget wise?

[rherold9]

So E46 in GTS classing is more reasonable budget wise?

Yes and no. GTS2 can be for sure more expensive than SE46, but to get started/build a basic GTS2 car it's cheaper if you don't ball out. SE46 requires some $$$ in parts to be able to race at all in the class.

[Goodspeed]

Supercharged NB for $5k in TN with a rollbar - throw some seats in it, get a tire trailer and go.  Do it.

https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=665082

[Senor_Taylor]

Supercharged NB for $5k in TN with a rollbar - throw some seats in it, get a tire trailer and go.  Do it.

https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=665082

Already looked at that, haha. Not sure I want to deal with someone else's FI Miata project on track. Trying to keep myself convinced not to buy a Miata unless someone gives me one.

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[D_Eclipse9916]

Spec3 is limited to ma only but I dont see most of those guys going anywhere soon.  And honestly its not a "burn it it the ground" if the class disappears as you can modify it to go GTS/ST.

SE46/E46 330i is just too pricey to run.  The diff alone is over half your budget for the car itself .  Funny enough we have some SE46 guys coming BACK to GTS after playing in SE46 for a while.

Spec Miata and SE30 are awesome too, many people forecasted the death of SE30 and yet it remains strong.  I think it's mostly preference.  That said 93-95 325is come up a lot it seems with roll bars and seats for pretty cheap.

So E46 in GTS classing is more reasonable budget wise?

Not saying that, just saying SE46 is super pricey to run despite what some people at the beginning claimed.  Its $25k in parts alone, and at that level, might as well go have fun in GTS.  I chuckle when all these SE46 cars that are built sell for $30-40k and yet they claim its high teens low 20s to "get into a se46".  My old GTS2 car just was bought for under $14k in fully running condition.  There are deals to be had.  I won't claim GTS is the cheapest to run (and by far it is not).  Spec Miata/E30 etc are the cheapest to "get into the class", but you are silly if you dont think you will have a $20-25k Spec car if you want to be at the front of the pack.  If you don't "have to be up front", its a SUPER cheap class to run.

Honestly a C5 base corvette if ST sticks around would be a hoot.  Can use HPTuners to run ST2/3/4, is super cheap to pickup (5-8k for a decent donor).  Figure $20-25k all in cost to be a "top half" of the field type build which can be done over the course of 2 years while you work through HPDE.  Hang around enough of the ST/GTS guys and pick up cheap (or even free) tires that can be run for one or two events.  This would be my build if I wasnt already invested in BMW stuff and didn't want to go Spec racing.

[ScottyB]

everything i've ever read basically restates that "forced induction" and "miata" don't mix well on track. either due to heat management, breaking driveline parts, breaking fasteners, or chasing leaks. at which point you're spending S2000 money.

[Goodspeed]

everything i've ever read basically restates that "forced induction" and "miata" don't mix well on track.  either due to heat management, breaking driveline parts, breaking fasteners, or chasing leaks.  at which point you're spending S2000 money.

Yeah yeah yeah.  Look I just want the man to steer clear of the all consuming BMW darkness, are you gonna help or not!?

The only exception to that (admittedly very-correct) rule are the nifty Rotrex supercharger kits.  They run so cool that people rest their hands on them after sessions on track and they're dumb simple with self-contained oiling etc.  The Rotrex cars are literally as-reliable as stock with 100+ more whp and it's basically cheating.







Good luck with the search Taylor!

[ScottyB]

are you gonna help or not!?

forgive me, i lost sight of the prime directive, will not happen again.

FWIW they make a rotrex kit for the K20 in my Si as well. rotrex units are awesome. i'm trying not to make direct eye contact.