What would be the best track day car?

[UFfitz56]

Hi guys,
I'm very torn about my next car and need some input. I will be buying a used Audi in a few months to be used as a daily driver (drive <100 miles/week though since I walk to work) and as many track days as possible (hopefully 6/year) at mostly Sebring and homestead.

So here are my options:

B5 S4 stage 3
-Yes I do know about the reliability issues but that power is soo tempting
-I've also read that the b5 chassis doesn't handle as well? Is this true?

B6 A4 stage 3
-sensible choice but power is limited

B7 A4
-would have to add stage 3 myself since BT kits are just coming out now
-more expensive route than the other 2 but the potential of the 2.0t looks good

2006 Lotus Elise (only non audi I'm considering)
-Has anyone been at the track with any elises or exiges? How do they perform compared to highly modified a4/s4?
-practicality isn't an issue for me since I don't drive very much
-would be adding an mp62 or TVS supercharger to give it around 275rwhp!!
-obviously the most expensive option because about 30k for the car plus 5-10k in mods. But does it perform THAT much better than a highly modified a4/s4?

I am sorry for my ignorance but I'm just getting into tracking and just want a fun car with high potential as I learn. All of the Audi’s will be fully modified with BBK/suspension/etc. This car is definitely going to be a money pit and I’m really looking forward to it!
Thanks for the advice!

[$teady$upreme]

Elise or Exige is a beast on the track. Will out handle most of the cars out there~

[JTninja]

Yep, go Lotus. As much as an Audi fan I am, those are track beast. They're very light, which means in the corners, they beat most cars. While A4s and S4s have tons of power, theyre also a lot heavier. Unless your track has long straits, elise is probably better.

A good video for example ;)

http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/mor...pache-gunship/

[ROUGHEDGES]

evo/sti for sure

[lookaught]

Definitely the Lotus. Light, high revving, not blistering speed but excellent momentum car. I would never buy and Audi as a track car. I love Audis, but honestly they are street cars not track cars... simply too heavy to be really fun.

I had the pleasure of driving an original 1973 Carrera RS that was track prepped at Beaver Run a few years ago. If you have the means, I highly recommend one. A replica would be even better to be honest because wrecking a real RS would be leading to suicide. In fact any 1966-1974 911 is a freaking awesome track car, and they arent even expensive.

[lookaught]

I am sorry for my ignorance but I'm just getting into tracking and just want a fun car with high potential as I learn. All of the Audi’s will be fully modified with BBK/suspension/etc. This car is definitely going to be a money pit and I’m really looking forward to it!
Thanks for the advice!

I just read this. Take my advice: DO NOT BUY A FAST CAR. Buy a slow car that is track sorted with suspension and brakes... you will learn soooo much more. Tracking cars is a somewhat dangerous hobby... and fast cars can get up to 150-160mph easy on long straits. People have died when they buy fast cars and track them without experience.

Plus, you'll have more fun once you learn the limits and can push the car to it's limits without worrying about looping it from turbo surge or cooking the brakes because your car is a rocket. I would personally drive a 911 C2 over a 911 Turbo anyday of the week. Damn are they freaking fun! Also look into TAG karts, they are also hella fun and about 1/10 the cost of a full size car.

[minameismud]

Ariel Atom. Will pwn everything else on small- and medium-sized tracks. It'll make your cheeks vibrate.

[UGwagen]

something cheap and easy to fix & upgrade.....

Mazda Miata
Dodge Neon, 1st gen preferably ACR version.

[JTninja]

Ariel Atom. Will pwn everything else on small- and medium-sized tracks. It'll make your cheeks vibrate.

haha, love that video. Forgot about the Ariel.

If you're going cheap and want to modify...:

Mazda Miata - These can be very good track cars, theres even a popular spec series for them.
BMW 3 series/M3s (E30, E36 and E46) - Very tunable, and nearly dead on 50/50 weight distribution. Get a cheap E36 M3 (sedan, no converts or sunroofs), and get the right mods, and its a track beast. And they're known for it.
Evo/Sti - Not exactly on the cheap side, but they can be very good track cars as well.
Caterham - if you can find one cheap ;)

And for the more expensive, Corvettes and Porsches can be amazing...but if your going cheap, Id say the Miata or Bimmer. They're realitively cheap on parts, they're very popular and lots of recommended mods are out there, and can be very competitve with more expensive cars.

[Feffman]

If you plan on it as a daily driver, any of the Audis of course, but if it's a track only beast, of your list, the Lotus will be hard to beat. Secondary market on Elise/Exige is geat right now.

I gave up and went with a Radical SR3, but it's obviously not street legal in the US. Even if it was, I'd not drive it on the street. Good luck!

Feff
www.MVPTrackTime.com

[revhards4]

S2000 and call it a day

[Iosilver]

Miata hands down best bang for the $$$. You can always do an engine swap for more power.

[Kerschera4]

x2 V8 miata

[D's Avant]

BMW E30 1991 318is to stay out of too much trouble or a 325is for a little more pace and thus trouble. Both are pretty bullet proof and easy to work on.

[andyrew]

Ever driven a Boxster S?

[TWINTURBOA6]

STAGE 3 A4!!!! cheap and strong enough for 2-4 mile circuit tracks...it's not going to be a record setter like a 750hp 993 porshce buttt it will sure hang and be a blasssssst! Caged out and big brakes on ANY audi is goddddly!!!

[minira]

I just read this. Take my advice: DO NOT BUY A FAST CAR. Buy a slow car that is track sorted with suspension and brakes... you will learn soooo much more. Tracking cars is a somewhat dangerous hobby... and fast cars can get up to 150-160mph easy on long straits. People have died when they buy fast cars and track them without experience.

Plus, you'll have more fun once you learn the limits and can push the car to it's limits without worrying about looping it from turbo surge or cooking the brakes because your car is a rocket. I would personally drive a 911 C2 over a 911 Turbo anyday of the week. Damn are they freaking fun! Also look into TAG karts, they are also hella fun and about 1/10 the cost of a full size car.

I agree with him. just buy a used audi and have your suspension set up correctly and you will out handle all the faster cars out there that have more power but not a properly set up suspension. My bro in law is going supercharger on his g35 and while i think that's awesome, he's only gone to 5 or so track events and think that he can go faster with better brakes and suspension, and driving. although they moved him up to advanced, their is always room to go faster with better driving skills, not power. me, i just got big brakes and still running a ko3-s with neuspeed chip, kw v3 coils, rear sway, suspension had a quick alignment for the track and an instructor was driving my car, was keeping up with the other instructors in their cars, one being an evo and the other an rx-8. if i had my big brakes on then he would've kept up very easily, but lousy pads ran him off the track. so i would invest in driving better than trying to go faster with a highly modified car. here's another site that you can ask questions and these guys will more than be happy to help you out...racersweb.com.

[dannyj777]

just saw this on 5th gear...siiiickness.

[Overboostin]

miata

[{PMS}fishy]

KTM X-Bow, 2.0t AUDI power!

[bob12312357]

Mazda Miata FTW. Also CRX, E30 325, and Nissan 240 are good 2. I wouldn't pay more then 2K for the car and maybe 2k in mods for a first track car. Just remember, a car that weighs 3600lbs is gonna have less cornering force available, then a car that weighs 2100lbs on 215 width tires as the tires have 2 turn 1500lbs less. Miata with its 50/50 weight distribution,many turbo and superchargers kits and plenty of classes is an easy choice.Me personally I prefer bikes, less money, easier 2 control, more natraul almost a 1 with the machine feel and IMHO I feel safer on one.

[cerfus]

I'd say an EVO or STi would be solid.

[FLACO X3]

I just read this. Take my advice: DO NOT BUY A FAST CAR. Buy a slow car that is track sorted with suspension and brakes... you will learn soooo much more. Tracking cars is a somewhat dangerous hobby... and fast cars can get up to 150-160mph easy on long straits. People have died when they buy fast cars and track them without experience.

Plus, you'll have more fun once you learn the limits and can push the car to it's limits without worrying about looping it from turbo surge or cooking the brakes because your car is a rocket. I would personally drive a 911 C2 over a 911 Turbo anyday of the week. Damn are they freaking fun! Also look into TAG karts, they are also hella fun and about 1/10 the cost of a full size car.

power is overated if you cant handle it.

[Sim4]

Though I can't speak from personal experience, Lotus hands down. Then, like someone mentioned, S2000 for simply its fun factor. I like the idea of Evo/ STi as well, but the sheer handling capabilities of the Lotus is very tempting.

[PMAZ7]

power is overated if you cant handle it.

X2

[Cown3d]

Elise...

driven one around VIR...nothing like it
ive also diven an 07' mazdaspeed miata on r comps
and to many things to list lol

[J2 S4]

I hate Miatas with a passion. They are decent on the track but as a daily driver NEVER!

[Cown3d]

i use to have a miata...kinda nice
leather and all

also...imo best track car for the money is ls1 FD rx7

[B5Jaeger]

Most of these responses seem pretty silly.

With a trackday car, you'll want to consider the cost of consumables. Pads, tires, etc. Also, how easy are they to get at? An Evo with 275s isn't going to be as affordable to run as a Miata which has more than enough rubber with 215s.


So my verdict is, depending on budget, a Miata or S2000.

[millerracer]

What are we talking here? A track day car as in... DRIVE it to the track, swap wheels/tires, then drive it back home? or a REAL track day car where you trailer it there and drive it on track?

Track day car/Daily driver: Mazda RX8, BMW M-series or any mid-90's to mid-2000.

REAL Track day car: Mazda MX-5 Cup car, spec racer ford, spec miata (all low cost, no need for tires every weekend, low replacement parts, low maintenance and quick for what you put into them).

[Cown3d]

Most of these responses seem pretty silly.

With a trackday car, you'll want to consider the cost of consumables. Pads, tires, etc. Also, how easy are they to get at? An Evo with 275s isn't going to be as affordable to run as a Miata which has more than enough rubber with 215s.


So my verdict is, depending on budget, a Miata or S2000.

he specifically says the car is going to be a money pit and is looking forward to it

he also has whats seems like a $30k+ budget

[Jasoncor]

I would have to say an e36 m3 with the s54 dropped into it.

[ZMEY]

any bmw e30 chasis will do, very light and close to 50/50 weight distribution, and i think they are the sickest little cars, when they done right.

[nthusiastt]

997 gt3 or gt3rs please.

[VR6Bomber]

Mk2 Gti
Miata
You don't need a fast car to go fast, you need skills first.
Good luck!

[bl0wn3ur0]

Some of these suggestions make no sense, the OP clearly stated that the car needs to be DAILY DRIVER AND A TRACK CAR. A mazda miata, a S2000, mk2 gti???? Come on who really wants to daily drive any of those? The S2000 is probably the only that would be halfway decent as a daily driver. Also if the OP is just getting into track racing why would he get a RWD car? An audi, evo or sti make more sense because of the AWD, he will be able to push the car harder and feel safer doing it.

To OP, if you want a car that has creature comforts that you can enjoy while DD then I would get either a B5 or B6 1.8T. A k04 turbo with a nice aggresive tune would give pretty good power and the car will be easier to handle than RWD car. And 1.8T's are easy to work on, so you will be able to work on it yourself if your mechanically inclined.

[Calabria]

GT3 RS >

[norsecarnut]

This thread is both very insightful and very silly, but in a good way because all the answers are at least fun.

We are building a track car, as for choice of car, the one we own outright and my fiance bought new as a first car and would be very sad to sell - however she is very, very excited that we are going to now transform her base model non-turbo - RED 2003 Jetta 2.0L with these mods:

Phase 1 - handling

Bilstein PSS9 adjustable coil overs
Stoptech BBK front, 328mm, 4 piston, slotted - RED ;)
(w stainless fr & rr)
Sway bars 25fr/28rr adjustable
fr camber plates
top and bottom strut tie bars
Neuspeed short shifter - short enough to be track like, not so short to kill the daily driving ease.
some fun black bmw style mess wheels for city and early track days and some track specific smaller rims and tire set that will allow use of racers take offs - cheap ;)

This will be plenty for a while, then:

Phase 1b

Safer/better holding seats and restraints.

Phase 2

Stage 3 turbo kit from Kinetic in B.C. ~250 whp
+intercooler
+better clutch to match engine output
2.5" down pipes come as part of the turbo kit
+APR 2.5" cat back

Phase 2b

-Interior roll cage with removable rear center section to allow daily use?
or, -removal of unnecessary weight, i.e., rear seats, etc although they probably help with weight distribution and right along this phase is where using it around town would become less desirable, so anything past adding the turbo is a long way off.

Cost, phase 1 / handling machine, ~$5000
phase 2 ads another ~$5000
Experience doing this together, priceless.

[quattroism25]

I'm surprised no one made any mention of a 944 or 968. Relatively light, near perfect weight balance, and very tunable.

[rharris]

Gutted Audi Allroad with roll cage, race Suspension and K04s. Drive it from home to track and back. throw tools; jacks stands, jacks, track tires, etc in back. No need for tow vehicle and trailer. :-)