The Best Track Cars For YOUR Money

"Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)" (6speedhaven) 10/20/2014 at 13:59 • Filed to: that guy is stupid fucking retarded

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The idea that you need a large salary or an even larger salary to start tracking your car is false. Here's why, because you might want to push your car to get to know its performance capabilities, not because you want to push it to the limit(although you might just find its limit!).

So where does that leave someone who wants to go experience an open track day and wants to buy a reliable, cheap, fun, easy-to-fix platform for them to start off with? Here's how my list goes.

1. Miata

2. Civic Si (7th Generation or Older)

3. Mini Cooper

4. Oh and uh, Miata.

Of course, everybody has their opinions and there are many wide varieties of great cars for a beginner's first track day. What are your suggestions for great, cheap, reliable track day cars that can be worked on easily? Chime in below.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:01

2

Easy, 2005 Sienna XLE

For Sweden > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:02

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Third-gen F-body

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:03

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This cat is wondering why everybody forgot about the Fox Body.

Sweet Trav > For Sweden 10/20/2014 at 14:03

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That panhard bar rear is pretty good for a live axle car.

For Sweden > Sweet Trav 10/20/2014 at 14:04

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I'm here to have fun more than I'm here to win.

lone_liberal > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:07

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Because some tracks are straight and a quarter mile long.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > For Sweden 10/20/2014 at 14:07

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THIS

PanchoVilleneuve ST > lone_liberal 10/20/2014 at 14:09

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And because the aftermarket is so massive you can build one to do just about anything.

Kate's Dirty Sister > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:10

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These cars are for pansies.

I'd rather have something with a real motorsports pedigree

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > lone_liberal 10/20/2014 at 14:10

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hahaha

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:11

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Along the same realm as the Civic Si, the ZZT230 Toyota Celica is a cheap and cheerful car with a light, predictable chassis and a pretty entertaining engine in GT-S guise. And they're getting pretty cheap, now that the newest one is nine years old.

CKeffer > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:11

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I'd also suggest a Gen 1 MR2. It's light, mid engined, and the supercharged ones are decently quick. Bonus points if you are slightly unhinged and swap in a turbo mill from a gen 2 to make the car even quicker.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > CKeffer 10/20/2014 at 14:12

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YES! Those are great cars. Gen 1 and Gen3s are my favorite!

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:13

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I had rides in an original Mini for a few weeks. Boy was it fun. And boy would it make a good track day car.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Aaron M - MasoFiST 10/20/2014 at 14:15

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I'm going to get crucified for saying this, but having driven both, they're almost as good as an Integra Type R.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Aaron M - MasoFiST 10/20/2014 at 14:15

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That's a really good suggestion. I used to see them often when they were still in production, sadly now they are just not as common.

Sweet Trav > For Sweden 10/20/2014 at 14:16

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he who shall be last shall be sideways and smiling

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:16

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SHOTS FIRED, SHOTS FIRED!

Alfalfa > CKeffer 10/20/2014 at 14:16

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This is one I was about to suggest. Of the small myriad of affordable mid-engined cars made through the 80's, the MR2 sticks out for performance and reliability (although I like the Fiero most for styling).

Aaron M - MasoFiST > PanchoVilleneuve ST 10/20/2014 at 14:19

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That makes me want to renew my search for one. My first car was a 1991 Celica, and I've had a soft spot for the entire line ever since.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:19

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Apart from The Answer, here's my list of cheap suggestions:

AW11 - Look for rust and see if the engine pulls strongly all of the way to red line. Don't get a T-top one if you plan on putting in a roll cage. These are the only things you really need to worry about. If none of the rust is structural (it won't be rust free), you should be able to get a running and driving one for $1000 to $1500 depending on physical condition. Replace the suspension for a grand (eibach springs, koni yellows, and new tie rods from twosrus.com), grind out the rust on the floorpan, and you're pretty much set. No power steering, short wheelbase, and light weight makes for the closest thing to a go-kart I've ever felt. These are classed for improved touring if you want to go wheelto wheel eventually.

CRX/CRX SI - Which one you get depends on your wrenching skills and how much you want to put into it. If you plan on doing your own work and don't mind doing alot of it, get a regular CRX and put a B16 in it. If you want to get out on track right away, you need the SI since it had extra power and a better suspension. These are some of the tail happiest FWD cars around. Kind of similar in some ways to a Mini, and always competitive on track. There isn't really much to keep an eye out for with these apart from remembering that almost all of these have been badly riced. Proceed at your own risk. In USDM trim (ie - no B16 swap), they are classed in Improved Touring.

Sentra SE-R - Don't underestimate it. It's a Sentra, yes, but get the SE-R one and have fun at AutoX or at your local rally stage. All wheel discs, independent suspension on all corners, and light weight. What more could you want?

Datsun 1600/2000 - The original Miata. Light weight, RWD, Japanese (relative) reliability, and everyone will still think that you're in something British. These might be more of a stretch, but if you keep your eyes open, you should be able to find a running one that has some cosmetic flaws for under $3k.

Alfalfa > Aaron M - MasoFiST 10/20/2014 at 14:20

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The seventh gens are a fine looking bunch, too. Especially when compared to any Civic...

ly2v8-Brian > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:22

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I know when I have spare money and feel I can justify it, I'm getting an E30 manual.

briannutter1 > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:24

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Excellent list. I'd replace the last miata with E36.

Harris Lue > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:26

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Fox Body Mustang(79-93) Aftermarket is endless and parts are cheap...

Plus you can get it with the 5.0 for 3-10 grand depending on what condition you want to start with.

And can I mention lightness? Basemodel 5.0 Hatchbacks with manual everything weigh in around 3000lbs.

Horsepower, aftermarket, lightness... and it's cheap... where can you go wrong?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > PanchoVilleneuve ST 10/20/2014 at 14:28

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I believe you on the Civic Si since it's so close to being an Integra anyway, but the Celica? I've never driven one of those last gen Celicas, but maybe I'll have to track one down now.

Alfalfa > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:29

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CRX, although it can be difficult to find a clean one.

E30, sporty and solid. Sadly, prices are rising...

And ironically, Mr. Pink s2k failed to mention the s2k. a little pricier than an E30 or CRX, but still more budget-minded and crazy fun.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > CKeffer 10/20/2014 at 14:29

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Yay, another AW11 fan! Do you have one? I love mine.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:30

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Any generation Taurus SHO...

CKeffer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/20/2014 at 14:32

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No, couldn't find one in my area that was in a price I was willing to pay or in decent enough shape for me to be interested in. Wound up with an NB1 Miata for $3K instead. I'd still love to have one as a toy eventually though.

triptheory > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/20/2014 at 14:32

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Heh. I saw a 1600 just like the pic above on the Dallas North Tollway yesterday. As I came up on it I said to my girl, oooh look at the Brit roadster. Shame was the next thing I felt as I realized it was a Datsun.

Sweet little car.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > CKeffer 10/20/2014 at 14:33

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Yeah, most have unfortunately rusted into the ground. Mine was a Florida car and still had holes in the floor. It's been a blast though. You looking for a nice looking one or a track rat? If you don't mind cosmetic condition, they pop up cheap. I got mine for a grand.

CKeffer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/20/2014 at 14:44

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I'm in southern TX, so I was honestly surprised by the rust I found in some of them (pretty sure one was held together by the body panels...and even that looked tenuous), others had been riced to hell and back in ways that would NOT be an easy fix, and then some just didn't work...at all. Then you had the opposite end of the spectrum, found one that was impeccable, absolutely flawless, 0 rust (the owner had gone to great lengths to get rid of the stuff, and keep it gone), engine bay was spotless, basically the thing looked like it had just rolled off the showroom floor....and he wanted like $10k for it. I was looking for a toy, something I could wrench on myself, take to autocross and track days, as well as trips out to the hill country to drive on twisty roads, $10k was way more than I could justify for that, thus the Miata currently on jack stands in my garage with it's suspension in pieces. Cosmetics weren't a huge priority (hell, the paint on the NB is shit and there are dings all over the NB), I just didn't find any for sale in a condition I was willing to deal with close enough for me to go look at (saw a bunch for sale out in CA, but I was not about to fly out there on a maybe).

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > PanchoVilleneuve ST 10/20/2014 at 14:45

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I hear that you can even make one do left turns!

Noah - Now with more boost. > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 14:52

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I'm sadistic... but an E34 535 with a chip would be fun!! And a pain in the ass lol

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > CKeffer 10/20/2014 at 14:57

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It seems like Florida has a pretty good market for these. Everyone I talk to on here says that they can't find them or they're too expensive, but there are a ton of them here in various states of repair. I picked mine up for a grand that runs and drives. The suspension was completely shot, but that's another story. The availability of cheap chassis' was one of the draws for me since there are always one or two that aren't running within a hundred miles for cheap. If I throw it into a wall, the plan is to pick up another one for cheap and start swapping parts in. I hope that that still stands once I move up north in a year. If not, I might have to pick up a shell before I go.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Alfalfa 10/20/2014 at 15:24

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I avoided the s2000 because it's very powerful for its weight and the only real affordable ones are salvage 2.0l.

TheNeonDriver - Now with More BMW! > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 16:42

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First gen neon. Nothing wrong with learning about snap oversteer in something with 138hp,
and 2500 lbs. It's no Miata, but for cheap, and I mean Cheap racing, it's a decent cost/fun ratio.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Kate's Dirty Sister 10/20/2014 at 16:49

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W-BODY HUSTLE, SON!

kalabaddon > CKeffer 10/20/2014 at 17:30

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MR2 for the win!!! The MKII NA is a class leader, can hang with the Miatas! Bonus points, cause it is so hard to drive, if you are hanging with the Miatas you know your an awesome driver :P

Stef Schrader > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 18:11

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No E30? 944? FTW?

OPPO, I GIVE UP.

{ throws in towel }

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Stef Schrader 10/20/2014 at 19:11

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:( Well hey, there's lots of great cars to that are cheap and reliable to go out for a first track day with, which is why I added in the final bit about chiming in with suggestions! I needed to have the title to discredit the guy who posted about the best track day cars for the money, otherwise I would have just titled it, "What are the best affordable track day cars?"

69montego > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 19:19

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what do you do if you don't fit in any of the above??? especially the Miata.

I'm 6'4 and fairly balanced between leg and waist... back when I worked on cars for a living I pulled a Miata in the shop once. the top of the windshield bow hit me about mid chest.

I looked like Shaq in that pepsi commercial from the 90's.... the guys I worked with then are still laughing at the sight. to give you all an idea of what this looked like, here's a pic of me on a UJM Suzuki I'm restoring for myself. I've been told I look like a circus bear on this bike

kasjljlkfads > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 20:26

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You can't put Civic Si and leave off the better handling tsx.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > kasjljlkfads 10/20/2014 at 20:38

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I don't have much knowledge on the TSX. Do you have anything to back up your claim? That's pretty darn interesting.

kasjljlkfads > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 20:42

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same engine and pretty much everything as the civic si with a double wishbone suspension, and longer wheelbase. Do some weight mods (remove rear seats, and bolt 'em back on wheen needed) and you have a better vehicle then the Si.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 10/20/2014 at 20:44

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I genuinely laughed out loud

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > kasjljlkfads 10/20/2014 at 20:47

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That's impressive. I'm not trying to sound like I'm surprised, I just didn't consider the TSX to ever be something that could be a potentially fun car for a track day. I learned something new!

kasjljlkfads > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) 10/20/2014 at 20:50

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I've had the Civic Si, CL9 TSX, CU2 TSX, e92 335i and now searching for an s2k.

But for a track day, I'd take a CL9 TSX, do some light mods (maybe $300-400 total) and have a better and more fun vehicle then the Si. The CU2 TSX may not be as good for a track day since it's much heavier, but overall it's still pretty decent for what it is.

Foo2rama > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/20/2014 at 21:04

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Great post... but a Datsun roadster under 3k??? umm ok...

Argentine jalop in Kosovo > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 10/21/2014 at 00:24

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Want. The original thing. Gimme one with face of the Jeremy Clarkson painted on the roof, I donīt care.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Foo2rama 10/21/2014 at 08:33

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Yep. It could be location dependent. I see them appear every once in a while (ie - every six months or so) for cheap, but I see cheap AW11s all of the time when other people on this site are saying that they've either all returned to the earth or are super expensive.