What would be the best track day car?

[MRxPresident]

if those are your choices, the lotus would be the best track car. i track my dd b8 s4 as of now and it beasts on the track... respectively speaking of course. however i'm due for the evora gt4

if you're really thinking about tracking a lot, go with a spec miata cheapest track car you could ever have fun in

[nvds4]

Wow I started this thread over 2 years ago and I just noticed it was still alive! I haven't visited audizine lately but I thought I owe everyone an update on what I ended up with. LOL, actually after re-reading this thread I realize I probably should have taken more of everyone's advice. So I was originally looking for a B6 quattro 6speed but I couldn't find the perfect one near me. All of a sudden I saw a 1 year old 08 STI at a dealership. It was a total impulse buy, but I did get a great deal on it.


The car was a beast making over 410whp! In the end I parted ways because it was becoming too big of a money pit with little reward. When it was stock I cracked a ringland (common sti issue) so I guess I took that as a sign to throw a built engine and bigger turbo in. Car ran great but still had issues that often kept me from completing an entire HPDE. One day I drove a friends stock S2000 for a few laps and fell in love with the handling. So...



I love the car and will probably keep it for a while. Even with a vortech supercharger (low boost) it has been reliable as hell while beating on it at sebring. I am still working on my "driver mod" and only doing HPDE's but I would like to become more competitive soon and start doing some time trials and/or sanctioned racing. The more I look into it the more it seems like the s2k might not be the best platform to continue to spend money on. It seems like with any serious mods the s2000 gets moved into classes where it just wouldn't be as competitive. The supercharger would automatically put me into TTA and I really don't want to take it off!

The only reason I revisited this thread was because I am asking myself the same question but a little different. Should I look into getting a dedicated track day car to start doing some NASA/SCCA events and what car would be most competitive in a popular class? The two options I am looking at right now are a spec e30 or a spec 944. Both are relatively cheap and are really popular classes. They would also be TTD for time trials which I think both cars could be competitive in.
In the end I realize it comes down to seat time and improving my own skills, which is why I am looking for a cheaper alternative in a popular class. Plus the idea of wrecking my s2k at the track makes me sick.

I appreciate all the advice guys!

Very interesting to see you come "full circle" with your track adventures. I'm considering a 2nd car, an '05-'06 Elise, thinking I'd drive it occasionally on the street, & track it now & then. But the idea of wrecking it scares me. They're crazy expensive to repair. Most minor accidents will cause the insurance to total the car. I just love the handling & looks of the Elise. I may have to have one, just to have one. But I may also have to get a cheap track car. E30 or 944, possibly. Did I say 1 more car? I guess I meant 2.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide!
And thanks for all the invaluable insight everyone here has provided!

[sleeperwagon]

So glad you came to your senses. I keep my e36M3 just for the items you listed and I only mention it b/c do you think the E30 would bore you on long tracks like Sebring?

If you were in Northern Ohio those 2 cars would be great; tracks like Mid-Ohio, Beaver Run, and Nelson Ledges are all great tracks without a really long straight away. Would an E36 M3 or 944 turbo suit you better down in Florida? Both are still bullet proof, light, cheap to repair but with 100plus hp.

Just a thought before you pull the trigger. either way you win. Have fun.

I just started looking for a used Porsche Caymen S for the track, prices are dropping fast on them but would be concerned repairing one of those...........