scAMG

I'm not a huge fan of making major modifications to my everyday driver (C55) so I was considering looking for an older, more affordable ($15,000 or less) car to upgrade and take to the track. The car does not have to be a Mercedes, but I would prefer a european car over most low end american cars... I would most likely be looking for something in the range from a 1995-2000 mainly because of the cost. Also, are aftermarket parts more expensive for european cars than american? Feel free to throw in an info regarding the thread. Thanks!

betrezra

If you want to go fast for low $$...... might I suggest a C5 Z06.... you can get a low mlg example for 18-22K hit the track with a competitive car.

MercedesFTW

Get a C32.

MIKESV8

if it were me, i'd personally buy an 03' or 04' six speed stick e46 m3. it has so many aftermarket parts you can buy for it and i like the way it handles. that or a c5 vette, but i'd still personally buy the e46 m3 and put a stage 4.0 hpf turbo on the thing i'd only buy an e46 m3 if i also had an amg still though.

91RS

I think a C5 Vette (doesn't even have to be a Z06 either) would be the best choice. Tons of them out there and it doesn't really have to be a cream puff since track use is abusive anyway (meaning cheap). Plus there are tons of aftermarket parts to choose from. The LS series engines are very reliable and easy to make tons of power with. It will be much cheaper to mod and more reliable than a BMW.

Viper98912

If you want to go on the smaller side, look at Miatas and Mini Coopers

betrezra

miata, minicooper, and c5 vette.

Agreed does not have to be z06 but the z06 starts you off in a nice place.

There are alot of beat 97 c5 coupes out there for cheap........ .... I'd look for a high mlg example and remove all sound deadening, ac, heat, stereo, and put on r1 tires and get after it. Don't forget the perma-grin remover... you'll need it.

I'd shy away from a german car with aftermarket poweradder for open track use...... while very sexy and unique..... very expensive to maintain, and I just can't get the c55 kleemann track car out of my head........ ran like nutz until he blew it up...... you're asking allot of a tuner blown car on a track condition with constant WOT runs........ I'd stick N/A stroked or high winding stock displacent stroke.

Enjoy.


Oh and don't discount a NEW 5.0 mustang GT..... run head-to-head with an m3 believe it or not..... (many will disagree and argue), but the new 5.0 mustang is a performance bargain...... and you can mod it, and it's new with warranty.

Or if you want to go slow for cheap.... get an old fox chassis mustang.... they don't handle well, but you can have fun on a budget with bandaid boltons see Maximum motorsports for the fox.

MIKESV8

+1 with a few bolt on's and a very good tune you can pull 500hp out of the LS1 like stealing candy from a baby. all NA too.

scAMG

Thanks for the replies, looks like most people point towards an older Vette as the best bang for the buck. I suppose the euros are just too expensive especially for the abuse they undergo at the track.

C_DirtyTwo

if you do want to go euro though, B5 S4 is an extremely moddable and fun car...

billapex

I've driven all sorts of cars (Vipers, Mustangs, Corvettes, Porsches) on the track (Laguna Seca, Thunderhill, Buttonwillow, Willow Springs, etc.), and I'd say the most entertaining and outright capable car was an '02 Z06. Pads, rotors, sticky tires. That was it. Still had paper air filters in it! I was flat-out floored by how good it was in near-stock form. If I were in the market, I'd buy one in a second.

Bill

whatthecrunchyo

I'd go with the Miata. Buy one for $5,000 (or less), slap a supercharger on it, some big brakes, suspension, rollbar, and wider tires, and you have a pretty cool track car for well under $15,000.

TemjinX2

evo 8...they can be had for around 15k. That is the best all around car. i4 turbo with awd. Parts are dirt cheap and a motor that is capable of going up to 1100whp. You can use it for autox, drags and tracks. The car can be quick on the straight and handle turns well.

betrezra

"'89 Mustang coupe race car, 2800 lb, 358ci, 475hp, 335s all around, Griggs GR40 suspension"

Bill - nice car.... didn't mean to bag on fox stangs in my earlier post..... but they are a challenge to make fast on the track compared to modern cars of today..... I'm helping a friend make his fox mustang competitive for autocross in his region.... he's got a serious suspension/chassis, and still get's nuked by a near stock new gt......

559EVO

Track car for turns
1. BMW M roadster
2. S2000 with a supercharger
3. EVO 8 is good too
4. Corvette also

Track car for Drags
1. Any mustang with a V8
2.Corvette
3.Evo 8
4. S4

A corvette is always going to have a better stock advantage/bang for the buck performance, Even a 98 with 330-340 hp should outrun our C55's on a straight and on the twisties.If I didnt have a daughter I would have bought a 2006+ non ZO6 with 425 hp for under 30k.

MRAMG1

I had one, the 2001 with he E46, aka 315HP motor.

Car was VERY twitchy, ate clutches, and was generally very touchy on the edge. For a NEW driver, I would stay away from this one

Besides back in 03-04 there were NO mods available, AT ALL

By the way, ALL BMW's eat clutches until you pull out the little check valve on the hydraulic line. I didn't know that until clutch number 3 at $1200 a pop

As someone else said the old FOX mustangs are decent, and VERY cheap and modable. Just be prepared for ALOT of suspension mods, as their modified McPherson strut front end leaves alot to be desired in stock form.

I road raced a 91 and have several trophies, but it wasn't until I replaced EVERYTHING, except the doors

AKA Brakes, 5 link rear, modified K member, supercharger a whipple of course, cage, custom diff, etc, etc.

Rode on custom ROH wheels, 17 x 9.5 and 255 F and 275 R BFG R1's and Kuhmo Victor racers for street

thegreatfnr

My first choice has been said a few times as a C5 vette would fit the bill pretty well.

I would also consider an AP1 S2000 or an E36 M3.

billapex

No offense taken! I used to own a Mustang/Viper performance shop, so I'm very familiar with how terrible Fox Mustangs handle out of the box. Griggs or Maximum Motorsports is the only way to go. Otherwise, it's just a bandaid.

Here's the car I sold a couple years ago:

chris.bachman

I want to be in a magazine!!!

scAMG

So far it seems like the older mustangs and miatas would be the cheapest choice and should make for a good project for me to get the car where I wanted it to be. I've never bought a car and made it strictly for track use. For those that have done this, can you give me some $$ saving tips? It doesn't seem to be one of the cheapest hobbies out there I know the cars obviously take a lot of abuse when taken to a race course, but what does it usually cost to keep your racers running?

Newzchspy

Forget the Miata, unless it a Spec or Mazdaspeed one. Way underpowered and an ACR Neon will whoop it on the straights. Miata is too much of a chix car. I know there's lots of mods and tires for it BUT then that bumps you up a class too. Mini would be nice BUT I hear they are unreliable.

I agree with ^^^ that the Corvette, a C5 or 6 would be a great track car, easy to mod with exhaust and bolt ons and with the right tires , they handle world-class too!! Problem is, like the Miata, theres a LOT of guys racing in that class. If you can't find a weekend Miata-Cup or Corvette-Cup, you ain't lookin too hard!!

MRAMG1

I'll start with what a good friend told me back in the 90's:

"What ever your budget is, triple it and you will be close to actual"

By the way, that assumes NO wrecks

AS far as money saving, get a copy of grass root motorsports or auto week. Look in the back as there are ALWAYS somebody getting out cheap for the above reason.

thegreatfnr

If this is going to be a weekend race car and not just an HPDE car you will want to make sure you know what class you want to be in and then spec your car to that said class. If its just going to be a toy car for HPDE then you wont have to worry about that too much.

Safety gear should probably be on the top of your list for mods to start with no matter what you decide to go with if this is going to be a true track rat. Roll bar/belts/seat.

RLx02

Lotus Elise is what I'm driving right now. Fun and not too expensive.

Cory @ Kleemann

I'd suggest a 944 Turbo. Easy to find, Easy to make big power, cheap to buy, inexpensive to maintain and they handle extremely well with 50/50 front to rear, and side to side weight distribution.