I got a job offer!!!  What track car should I buy to celebrate?

Kinja'd!!! "marshknute" (marshknute)
04/12/2015 at 16:15 • Filed to: None

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I need advice Oppo.

Unless another, better offer comes my way, I'll be working for a Manhattan architecture firm once I finish my last month of college. I can't imagine that will be the case considering this was one of my top choices of firms.

Sadly, this means I almost certainly won't be able to (or want to) have a car if I'm living in/near Manhattan. So my poor Audi A4 (2.0T 6MT) will be living at my parents' house in CT, an hour's train ride away.

So here's the problem: I want to start participating in weekend track days.

I don't want to track my daily driver, especially since it's the world's most pristine 110K mile A4 in the world (thank you elderly Florida original owner!). I want my track car to be a designated second car.

But it occurred to me, that it won't be a daily driver if I will be car-less in NYC. Is it even worth keeping the A4 on the off chance that I leave NYC in the future and need a DD again?

Or should I just accept that I don't need a DD, sell the Audi, and use put the extra money towards a track car?

And now the fun part: what should my track car be?

Originally, I was considering a Miata or FR-S but have reconsidered. At this early stage in my life, I won't have a tow car and trailer. So my track car has to be spacious enough to carry all my crap as well as 4 sets of spares, and all the requisite tools/jacks. Plus I'll probably get a dog in the next few years, so I'll need at least one seat free for Fluffy.

So I'm now thinking along the lines of a WRX, EVO, MazdaSpeed3, or FiST. I recently test drove and fell in love with a 500 Abarth, but doubt that will meet my space requirements.

Any ideas?


DISCUSSION (11)


Kinja'd!!! Patrick Glace > marshknute
04/12/2015 at 16:22

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First of all, congrats! Depending on your budget, I would say sell the DD so your not carrying insurance on a car that will likely be dormant. Also, a sitting car almost always leads to more repairs.

For track duty, I would say the Porsche 944 is always a winner, has back seats and a hatch that can hold some crap. If you're looking for something newer, maybe original SVT Focus, E36 M3, MkVI GTI?


Kinja'd!!! TopSirloin > marshknute
04/12/2015 at 16:31

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e46 M3? RWD at least..


Kinja'd!!! Vee Ate Injun > marshknute
04/12/2015 at 16:37

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congrats. Here ya go:

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#yourewelcome


Kinja'd!!! MrDakka > Patrick Glace
04/12/2015 at 16:41

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I second that 944! I plan to do something similar in several months


Kinja'd!!! Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > marshknute
04/12/2015 at 16:52

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2006-08 BMW Z4M Coupe

You can find them for $20k (which is a steal!)

Something like this one maybe?

They have the drivetrain from an E46 M3 but do NOT have the iDrive system which is very helpful!

They are also SO beautiful! IMO the best color on one would be like a really dark red

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Kinja'd!!! tromoly > marshknute
04/12/2015 at 16:53

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Kinja'd!!! LongbowMkII > marshknute
04/12/2015 at 17:18

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Miata+4ft tire trailer. Store the trailer at your parents or a small storage unit. Though I thought being able to store 4 tires was one of the points of the FR-S...

Don't put ALL your money into a track car. If you eat it on track it's good to have a backup plan.


Kinja'd!!! Alex B > marshknute
04/12/2015 at 17:51

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Prius.


Kinja'd!!! Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > marshknute
04/12/2015 at 18:27

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First gen Honda Insight!

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And this may seem like a joke at first... but you have a very light all-aluminum body/chassis. And it's a K-series engine-swap away from being amazing:

http://www.superstreetonline.com/features/htup-…

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Kinja'd!!! Finn's Arm > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
04/12/2015 at 21:39

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Wow, I had no clue these could be had so cheaply


Kinja'd!!! Two Drink Minimum > marshknute
04/17/2015 at 16:35

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Rear seat delete the Abarth and you’ll absolutely have space for four tires and gear. And you’ll drop 50 lbs of weight in the process.