Attn: Suggestions needed for a track/winter car (road course)

[SR7D1]

So, I think I have decided that this is the last year for me tracking the S5 and using it as my daily. I would like to make it my Summer-Fall car and buy something for both the track and the Winter. I have turned some great times at Mid-Ohio and may be able to improve a second, maybe 2 but it's at 10/10 right now. I plan on saving the track abuse and winter abuse for another car and having a fast fair weather car. Maybe do some paint correction from all the Winter car washes and then keeping it nice from here on out?

So, what kind of car will be a good track/winter car that I will enjoy driving? First thing that came to mind is a WRX-STi. I have a budget of about $5K, I know, not much at all, but I think I can do this?

$5K
AWD
Has to run on pump gas
Capable of some MODS
Has to drive to the track (no truck, no trailer, no room in my driveway)
Has to be "ok" to drive as a daily in the Winter

What are you thoughts?

[theweebabyseamus]

STi for 5k?

[SR7D1]

Yeah, I don't know if that is possible? A WRX can be had for that. I was thinking STi for the bigger motor/brakes/diff control.

[kelseysautobody]

I recently picked up a 1993 URS4 for a drag car project. Also wanted to keep a $5k budget but I have a feeling I'm going to go over that pretty quickly. Do you want to pick something up that will be ready to drive or do you plan on wrenching on the car?

[theweebabyseamus]

I think STi’s are still mid-high teens, maybe more.

[The Fat Kid]

You better have a trailer for a $5k track car because every part is about to fail! Your ask seems completely unrealistic.

Maybe just trade the S5 in on something like a 996TT? It has AWD and should be faster on the track.

[TEB]

Buy my B6S4. Needs the timing chains done, but fits your criteria.

[SR7D1]

You better have a trailer for a $5k track car because every part is about to fail! Your ask seems completely unrealistic.

Maybe just trade the S5 in on something like a 996TT? It has AWD and should be faster on the track.

LOL, I hear you, but I can't afford the Porsche and I would still need a third car for Winter.

[tar]

Sti is out of range for sure.

At that price you could get a beater b5 a4 1.8t qm and have 2-3k left over for mods and or repairs. Ive seen big turbo ones sell for 3-7K depending on mods ect. Granted b5 isn't a great track car even with tons of money dumped in but it is a solid winter car. Your gonna be hard pressed to find anything awd, reliable and good track car for 5k. Urs4 is a good option but those have gone up in price recently I think.

[hoffasenior]

2004 R32? Love mine in the winter. Most likely 150k on the odometer in that price range.

[SR7D1]

2004 R32? Love mine in the winter. Most likely 150k on the odometer in that price range.

Mileage is not a real concern if it's been well taken care of, the R32 is on my list, but much harder to find than the WRX. How does the R32 compare to the STi?

[hoffasenior]

The sti will have more power, but then you'd have to pay more for it. Check out vwvortex for tracking down a higher mileage R32 that will most likely have an easy history to track down. I'd sell you mine, but I have 104k on it (babied) and will be selling this summer for somewhere in the low teens.

[s4buckeye]

spec Miata for Mid-Ohio



winters will be tough for you tho

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[SR7D1]

spec Miata for Mid-Ohio



winters will be tough for you tho

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Yeah, Miata will not work due to Winter use.

[melomandn]

I hate to be a downer, but this idea seems like a recipe for pain and suffering.

Anything you find sub $5k is going to be high mileage which means it definitely saw Northeast winters. As I'm sure you know, Northeast winters = salt and rust. Suspension and brakes are two of the primary maintenance components on a track car and every single bolt you'll have to touch is going to be rusted to some degree.

If you're cool with that, more power to you. But you'll run into at least a couple major headaches due to rust and broken bolts.

Just something to consider.

[TEB]

I hate to be a downer, but this idea seems like a recipe for pain and suffering.

Anything you find sub $5k is going to be high mileage which means it definitely saw Northeast winters. As I'm sure you know, Northeast winters = salt and rust. Suspension and brakes are two of the primary maintenance components on a track car and every single bolt you'll have to touch is going to be rusted to some degree.

If you're cool with that, more power to you. But you'll run into at least a couple major headaches due to rust and broken bolts.

Just something to consider.

My B6S4 mentioned above has spent its life in GA, AZ, and FL -- zero rust issues. Just need to avoid the rust belt.

[ShopVac]

E46 330xi

[The Fat Kid]

LOL, I hear you, but I can't afford the Porsche and I would still need a third car for Winter.

Why do you need a third car? It seems like you are working with a tight budget, and unrealistic expectations regarding "winter beater/track car" combo.

Why not look at your total car budget (S5 value + cash), and then figure out a plan? You should really be looking for a track/warm-weather car and a winter beater. I would spend most of my money on a great track/summer car and look for something like a 10-year-old Toyota/Honda sedan as a winter beater.

[Estoril4]

Porsche? Afford? 944? Endless hours of wrenching. I mean fun

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[KRS Aaron]

I'm a firm believer that there are street cars and track cars and the expectation that those paths diverge is a recipe for major issues. I have seen many people bin their cars or have a mechanical at a track day causing major issues with their return trip home. That said, if you have plan, and it seems like your Audi is serving you well, then you are fine. I think you are better off spending the money on reliability of your current car and driving at 8/10 then buying a new cheap car, which unless it's a Miata, is going to be a nightmare or extraordinarily boring. I go to Mid-Ohio at least once a year with the SCCA and there are always rentals at the track. Have you considered reaching out to one of those guys and just renting a race car for the weekend?

[NAR Mike]

buy an Evo on auction and fix it and beat it to death and not worry about anything

[Grippy]

A truck

[SR7D1]

Why do you need a third car? It seems like you are working with a tight budget, and unrealistic expectations regarding "winter beater/track car" combo.

Why not look at your total car budget (S5 value + cash), and then figure out a plan? You should really be looking for a track/warm-weather car and a winter beater. I would spend most of my money on a great track/summer car and look for something like a 10-year-old Toyota/Honda sedan as a winter beater.

I don't need a 3rd car. I was responding to your earlier post about get a Porsche.

I have a plan? And a budget. Been working that plan for 3 years, one car, swiss army knife, fast car at the track and winter car for bad weather. One car. Works great until it doesn't. LOL.

So my new plan was to see if I could buy a track/winter car with AWD and save my S5 for nice weather, keep the paint looking good and not worry about running off the track and trashing my only car. I agree it's a tall order, just wanted to get feedback on what would make a fun track car that would be a Winter car and save what's left of my S5.

So to recap, if I had deep pockets I would have:

Bigger house
Bigger driveway
More garages
Truck and trailer
Dedicated Race car
Lift
Playboy bunny for a wife
A Winter home in Florida...

You get the point. So, without all of that I have been running my daily driver at the track and getting great results (1:41 @ Mid-Ohio and mid 11's at the drag strip) plus I drive it everyday and in the Winter. Some would say that is unrealistic, but it's obviously not. Crazy perhaps, but totally doable.


All I was asking was what kind of track car could I get that would be a driver for the Winter? I would start with $5K and then mod a little from there, maybe I need to spend more? Like $10K? Whatever I get, I don't have expectations of dominating the track or being faster than I already am.

[SR7D1]

I'm a firm believer that there are street cars and track cars and the expectation that those paths diverge is a recipe for major issues. I have seen many people bin their cars or have a mechanical at a track day causing major issues with their return trip home. That said, if you have plan, and it seems like your Audi is serving you well, then you are fine. I think you are better off spending the money on reliability of your current car and driving at 8/10 then buying a new cheap car, which unless it's a Miata, is going to be a nightmare or extraordinarily boring. I go to Mid-Ohio at least once a year with the SCCA and there are always rentals at the track. Have you considered reaching out to one of those guys and just renting a race car for the weekend?

This is a viable option and worth considering, I realize that most people do not daily their track day car. I am an exception to the rule. As for reliability, my car is is great shape, I don't need another $5K thrown at it to make it more reliable. Shit, that car has plenty of cabbage invested in it! LOL. Too much, to the point of I can't sell it without losing my bacon anyway, that's why I'm keeping it.

[SR7D1]

buy an Evo on auction and fix it and beat it to death and not worry about anything

Another good idea, this was the "other" car next to a WRX that I was considering. I like the auction angle, after all, I don't care how many miles or cosmetics.

[KRS Aaron]

This is a viable option and worth considering, I realize that most people do not daily their track day car. I am an exception to the rule. As for reliability, my car is is great shape, I don't need another $5K thrown at it to make it more reliable. Shit, that car has plenty of cabbage invested in it! LOL. Too much, to the point of I can't sell it without losing my bacon anyway, that's why I'm keeping it.

If you are running a 1:41 in a street car, you need to be racing with us, not fooling around with track days. What course configuration?

[SR7D1]

If you are running a 1:41 in a street car, you need to be racing with us, not fooling around with track days. What course configuration?

The 1:41 was without chicane, 1:44 with chicane.

[The Fat Kid]

I don't need a 3rd car. I was responding to your earlier post about get a Porsche.

I have a plan? And a budget. Been working that plan for 3 years, one car, swiss army knife, fast car at the track and winter car for bad weather. One car. Works great until it doesn't. LOL.

So my new plan was to see if I could buy a track/winter car with AWD and save my S5 for nice weather, keep the paint looking good and not worry about running off the track and trashing my only car. I agree it's a tall order, just wanted to get feedback on what would make a fun track car that would be a Winter car and save what's left of my S5.

So to recap, if I had deep pockets I would have:

Bigger house
Bigger driveway
More garages
Truck and trailer
Dedicated Race car
Lift
Playboy bunny for a wife
A Winter home in Florida...

You get the point. So, without all of that I have been running my daily driver at the track and getting great results (1:41 @ Mid-Ohio and mid 11's at the drag strip) plus I drive it everyday and in the Winter. Some would say that is unrealistic, but it's obviously not. Crazy perhaps, but totally doable.


All I was asking was what kind of track car could I get that would be a driver for the Winter? I would start with $5K and then mod a little from there, maybe I need to spend more? Like $10K? Whatever I get, I don't have expectations of dominating the track or being faster than I already am.

I never suggested a third car. I recommended trading the S5 in on something like a 996TT, which should be faster on a track, has AWD and can be driven year round on winter tires Hell, you can DD a RWD 911 year round on winter tires unless the snow is really deep.

Realistic-ish three-car setup = S5 (if you want to keep it) + beater pickup truck + track-prepped Miata

[SR7D1]

I don't need a faster car on the track, or a Porsche? Or another single car to drive year round? I don't think you are getting what I am trying to do, but no worries man, I appreciate the feedback.

[s4buckeye]

People have given you good advice, but you seem to make yourself (and us) more confused with each statement you make. 🤯


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[SR7D1]

People have given advice on buying a truck, trailer or Porsche? I am not sure I asked for any of those in the first post? Some people have replied with great advice on an EVO or how difficult having a winter/track car will be, that is very true.

S4Buckeye, I'm serious when I ask: what is confusing you?

Do you have any winter/track car suggestions? I'm all ears.

[s4buckeye]

Maybe it is the “?” after most statements you make?

could be the confusion?



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[GeoJoe]

A cheap WRX won't last a track weekend... so many show up on Sat am with great expectations and then they are gone by Sun at noon.

Pay for what you get... and then wonder why things break.

[s4buckeye]

^This. Joe knows tracking.


As has been said, buy a beater truck for the winter. Then tow a spec Miata.

/thread


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[944thomas]

Seems like you already have the answer for the winter and track car being the s5. Invest in a different car for summer and maybe track it every once in a while when you're bored of the s5. This plan of track car/winter hoopty is bound to cause you lots of headaches in my opinion.

[SR7D1]

A cheap WRX won't last a track weekend... so many show up on Sat am with great expectations and then they are gone by Sun at noon.

Pay for what you get... and then wonder why things break.

Yeah, tracking is hard on a budget, but those of us that have to do it, know what to expect. I don't plan on it being the fastest thing out there, just wanted to have some fun and use it in the Winter, extend the life of the S5.

I don't see many WRX's on our track days, but they are only one day, 9-5. The more I read up on the Subaru 2.0 and 2.5L, I see an STi will be around $10k. WRK can be had for $5K. Thanks GeoJoe!

[SR7D1]

^This. Joe knows tracking.


As has been said, buy a beater truck for the winter. Then tow a spec Miata.

/thread


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From my first post:

So, what kind of car will be a good track/winter car that I will enjoy driving? First thing that came to mind is a WRX-STi. I have a budget of about $5K, I know, not much at all, but I think I can do this?

$5K
AWD
Has to run on pump gas
Capable of some MODS
Has to drive to the track (no truck, no trailer, no room in my driveway)
Has to be "ok" to drive as a daily in the Winter

[GeoJoe]

[SR7D1]

Awesome! Perfect for Winter, maybe not so good on the track? LOL

[TEB]

When I was in Cleveland, my B5A4 was all-purpose. I had 3 sets of wheels/tires for summer, track, and winter. I'd raise the C/O's a couple inches for winter driving and lower it for summer (then even lower for the track). I had track brake pads that I'd swap in. Car worked great for all 3 purposes. You can definitely make it work for winter/track.