JamesG Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 I've been thinking about buying a cheap car to do a few track days. I don't really fancy taking my Supra on the track as it's my everyday car and I don't want anything to happen to it (plus it's an automatic). Can anyone recommend a good car? I'm thinking of spending up to about 2500 quid on one. My first choice at the moment is a Nissan 200SX. The early S14 models seem quite good - reasonably powerful and RWD. What else would I need to make a car suitable for track use? I'd definitely go for a roll cage, bucket seats and uprated brake pads. Anything else I've forgotten? Cheers, James. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andy Mac Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 What about an Mr2 turbo?? 245 bhp stock, and mid engine/rwd! very fast, and great handling! i had mine running at 280 bhp with a simple raise in boost! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 16, 2004 Share Posted January 16, 2004 MK1 MR2 Supercharger Plus points: Easily tuned with a bigger pulley, good handling, lots of toys available, cheap. Bad Points: Styling not for everyone, rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 J.. you have to get a cheap manual Supe. That's what I would do. It would be wicked. Strip out everything, roll cage in etc etc. Go for it mate. Just.:flame Dev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Mate, if you really want to scare yourself, buy a Fireblade or a R1 Much more fun and waaaaay faster than an(y) MR2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Originally posted by Jake Mate, if you really want to scare yourself, buy a Fireblade or a R1 Much more fun and waaaaay faster than an(y) MR2 Jake im seriously thinking of getting another track bike this year , you up fo any track days ????? Thought we could get a few of the bikers on here and go have some proper fun !!!! Dude:flame Dev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra-Power Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 I thought about a track day car last year, i decided to stay true to my roots and chose a mkiii manual turbo supra.....ii got it dirt cheap too. Strip her out, add surspension and away u go . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toyotasuprauk Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 I don't know much about track days etc but I would have thought the Mkiii supra would be a good bet. They are so cheap so start with it would leave you with plenty to spend on mods etc. I've seen a good one for sale for £600 before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_TC Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Far too heavy for a track day car IMHO Especially if its only going to be a track day car, you need to spend £2k+ on it to stand the abuse. Might be cheap to buy, but you try tuning the bugger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesG Posted January 17, 2004 Author Share Posted January 17, 2004 Cheers everyone! That's given me some ideas. A bike would be nice but I'm sure I'd end up killing myself on one. Whatever car I choose, it has to be a UK spec car really as I know from the Supra that getting insurance for a jap import is a nightmare. I like the Mk1 MR2 as I drove my mates and it was very good. But they are really a bit too old now. James. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W2 Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 Originally posted by JamesG What else would I need to make a car suitable for track use? I'd definitely go for a roll cage, bucket seats and uprated brake pads. Anything else I've forgotten? Cheers, James. The S13 200SX is a better track day car IMO, cheaper too. Has a screamer of an engine:) My S14a doesn't compare to one of those as a track day car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyJawa Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 205 GTi - lift oversteer - waaaaaaaaaayheeeeeeeey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 I'm looking at getting a MK1 1.8 Golf GTi and stripping it out... a 700 KG pocket rocket - and they are so simple to work on... only cos i has one as a daily runner and loved it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesG Posted January 19, 2004 Author Share Posted January 19, 2004 Originally posted by Steve W2 The S13 200SX is a better track day car IMO, cheaper too. Has a screamer of an engine:) Interesting. I originally wanted an S13 but decided that they were all too old and would require a fortune in maintenance. Maybe I should look for a good one of those. James. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 or you cud get some cheap fugly datsun skysomethin'or'anuther and thrash that around till dead! i'm sure no one would mind ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve W2 Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 Originally posted by JamesG Interesting. I originally wanted an S13 but decided that they were all too old and would require a fortune in maintenance. Maybe I should look for a good one of those. James. My mate had an S13 that he paid 2K for a couple of years back. It was the car that inspired me to get the S14, in reality though, just for fun, the S13 was a much better car. Cheap for parts too and you can go on the SXOC for advise and help. A cheap manual boost controller would see silly power;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJI Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 For track days and having fun then RWD is the way to go as you probably already know. 200sx's are a good buy, mate of mine swears by them. Have you thought about something like a Talbot Sunbeam? £1-2k area will get you a good one thats probably already been modified. Also XR4i Sierra (RWD), under £1k then spend another £500+ giving it suspension and engine upgrades. Parts for these two cars are a lot cheaper than later japanese models. Food for thought. I was looking into exactly the same thing last year, I was after a rally/track car for very cheap money. I got an XR4x4 which has a 65/35 rear to front drive split. When pushing it hard on the road it feels like a RWD car but when your sideways and feed in the power the 35% power split to the front makes it feel like a good 4WD car. For track cars it's a good idea to go for as cheap as you can find as then you won't have any worries about pushing the car to its limits. If you find that you end up creating a nice "tyre wall with car sculpture" then simply buy another one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 My S13 200SX will be up for sale around April time. 73,000 miles (will prob be at 74k by then), all service bills for last 7 years, engine has rarely been over 5000rpm in that time (and never over 6000rpm (it's redlined at 7000)), and never over 3000rpm when cold. Totally stock, 5 spoke BBS alloys, no rust, regularly serviced every 6 months and all bills + MOTs + tax discs (!) available. I've had several offers from the owner's club for it but would be happy to see it go to someone on here. £1500, and I'm in Harlow so with you being a Cambridge boy it's only a 20min trip down the M11 and you can come see it. It's been well looked after, never thrashed, garaged for most of the time, and utterly, totally reliable. You can even speak to the garage who've serviced it for the past 7 years for an independant review. And it's in the best colour too - black Edit - Thatcham Cat 1 alarm too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albundy68 Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 sounds like a cracker!!! got any pics 200sx??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesG Posted January 29, 2004 Author Share Posted January 29, 2004 Cheers Dave! You have pm. James. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tDR Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 S13 200SX is the way to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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