I'm considering a second track car, and would like some advice from those with experience. Considerations:

1) Usage: This is mainly to be my wife's car, and shared between us. She's a novice driver but motivated and wants to have her own car. I'm hoping we buy something fun enough that I'll drive it for kicks/experience. We don't intend to get into club racing. Just track days.
2) Cost: I'd like to stay cheap, say <$20k. So another Porsche is likely out of the question.
3) Streetable: I would like something that can be driven to the track as needed. I don't want to get into the whole trailer bit. So, yes, I'm willing to make the necessary compromises in terms of handling, etc.
4) Reliability/aftermarket: I'm thinking it would be good to have a car that is supported by a large performance aftermarket, and is generally considered a reliable car.

Options: here are the cars that I have been thinking about:
1) Miata. Not a spec car, but something that can be set up for track days. While low on power, I think experience in a 'momentum' car would be great for both of us, and something that can translate to faster times in the Cayman.
2) E36 M3: More power, nice handling. Lots of aftermarket (Dinan, Vishnu).
3) Mustang GT; preferably 2005+: Yes, heavy but powerful for the $, and plenty of aftermarket support.
4) MK II MR2 Turbo: A personal favorite of mine, midengine, and can be nicely set up. Don't know how reliable though.
5) RX-7: Another personal favorite, but the rotary is the weak link. An LS-7 conversion?

My plan is to "rent" some of these for track days and see how they do, and then decide.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks,

A few ideas...

- 944 / 968
- Lotus Elise
- BMW E30
- Honda S2000

E36 M3 or 986 Boxster, possibly a spec (BSR or BSX)

Check out: Home Area for the Boxster Spec Racing Website

Donor car (~$15K) + $7-10K should get you a nice track car

Cheers,

E36 M3

Nice ones with less than 100K on the clock can be found for $10-14K. Add suspension and camber, brake pads, harnesses, track wheels/tires and you have a great streetable track car for ~$20-22,000. I have a '95 M3 that was my daily driver and track car for 9 years before being converted to full time track duty (gutted, cage, race exhaust, Brembos, 6 point harnesses). The car had 14,000 miles on it when I bought it.... now at 130K and the motor has never been opened. About 30,000 of those miles are track miles.
Parts are relatively inexpensive and abundant and there is a ton of info and support out there as far as mods.

As far as your other options:

Miata - convertible based - cant do BMWCCA events (at least not in the Mid-West)
Mustang - handle terrible - have passed them often, never been passed by one (even a few that were supercharged (way over your budget)
MR2 - great car How much support out there??? (rarely see them)
RX7 - most I see at the track are being worked on as much as they are driven

May want to look at Porsche 993s some are in the high teens to low 20's.

Agree with 968/944
Elise -doubt you could find one for <$20k but if you do.........
Good E30 M3's are getting very hard to find.
You may want to check on BMW CCA club racing forum - they list cars for sale
Also check Bimmerforums.com cars for sale listings.

I am definately biased toward the E36 M3 as it had worked as a dual purpose car better than I could have ever imagined. My son is 16 and bought another '95 M3 which will serve double duty as soon as he turns 18. I the mean time he is doing Car Control clinics when he can and it serves as his daily driver.

The E36 M3 is definately a momentum car but it is capable of embarasing much more powerful cars (Vipers, Vetts, Turbo's) if set up right and driven well. My wife has a Cayman S and transitioning between the two is easy.

Hope that helps,

Tom

Too bad we live on the opposite sides of the country, I've got an awesome car I'm selling that's a perfect fit to what you're looking for. 2001 S2000 only 23,000 miles, mint condition, very trackable, very reliable, cheap to maintain, fun as hell to drive. Only reason I'm selling is to get a Cayman S.

There's plenty of aftermarket for MR2, and a very vibrant community at mr2.com.

I'm specifically looking at this car. Which was built by the owner of Turbohoses. I've driven the car, and its wicked fast. When the turbo kicks in, even at 12psi, it just launches. A stock MR2T can be found for less, around 8k.

I like the M3 approach as well. Going with the MR2 would be less expensive up front. Don't know about it down the line though.

If your wife is truly a novice a "wicked fast" turbo car that comes on boost that hard may prove to be too much car for her and scare her. As an instructor I see this frequently - fast powerful cars being passed by 3 series BMWs or Minis because the driver of the Vette, supercharged Mustang, Supra, supercharged M3, (or whatever) is afraid of the car and won't get on the power until the straight. They never learn how to carry momentum through corners. The Cayman is very much a momentum car so if you want skills to transfer over......

JMHO,

Tom

Point well made and well taken. I was thinking she gets the drive the CS if we go this route. She won't complain about that.

Actually, this particularly car the turbo comes on very smoothly from just under 3k. But still, likely too much power, as its making 290rwhp.

Maybe a stock MR2T for now, and then in a year or so, add some power.

Thanks for the comment.

We used to have a supercharged MR2 and a MR2 Turbo. I thought the supercharged MR2 was the overall better and more pure sportscar and ending up dumping the turbo.

I'd suggest looking at first gen MINIs (MCS), Easily found for less than $20K. Large community and culture. Many tuner shops, many aftermarket bolt-ons. Heads are relatively cheap. The car is made for the twisties.

951. You could build a monster for $20k.

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[size="1"]Nov 16, 2007 build:
'08 CS Midnight blue metallic--6 spd
Black sport seats, Delete model designation
Fire extinguisher,Floor mats, Sport steering wheel

Build a 951? I think I have neither the aptitude nor the space for such a project. I'm looking for something that would be ready to drive.

Any comments on 300zx, esp. the twin-turbos, say 92-95?

Boro, what is your opinion of this E36 track car?

Thanks,

I loved my 300ZX turbo. It was one of the best cars I ever owned. I would do that or the MR2. I also had one of those. The 300ZX TT was/is a great car. Very balanced, and very good power. Very predictable at speed. And the 300ZX has a pretty good online support community as I understand.

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Mazda RX-8?

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'07 Black/Black Cayman S
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