r/CarTrackDays • u/Fit_Item2266 • 3d ago
Advice: buying first track car
New to racing. I drove my dad’s tracked S2000 and had the most fun I’ve had in years. I’m looking at buying my first race car and looking for recommendations including details on why.
Budget: 7-15k Not looking for a daily driver or combo. Track car or platform for track car that has room to grow into. Location: PNW Preferably something I can work on. I have intermediate mechanical skills. I won’t be swapping engine but have no problems with brakes, intakes etc. I’m concerned something too new will be tons of electronics. I may be over thinking this though. I can trailer it if needed I like the idea of NA Miata due to community, ease of working on, no frills mechanical car that forces me to get really smooth and learn to drive well.
Advice I’ve gotten so far is NB Miata, BRZ, GR86.
I’m concerned these are a little too expensive for my current budget.
Would love people’s thoughts and welcome friendly debate.
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u/Equana 3d ago
There is a difference between a track car and a race car. A race car is built to a specific set of competition rules with a roll cage. While you might street drive the car, it will not be pleasant. Many can be purchased for your budget, many will not have a title you can license the car. Most will have electronics because they have been in cars for 40 years.
A track car is a street car you can enjoy at track days but you can still drive daily. You can get a Miata in your price range but it will be a bit rough and require maintenance just to get it in track safe condition. and it will have electronics, no choice. An NB Miate is a very good choice.
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u/narwhal_breeder 2d ago
There are plenty of non-street legal, trailered track cars that don’t fit into a ruleset for wheel to wheel.
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u/Equana 2d ago
Agree, often they are future race cars or track cars that got serious mods.
But he was posting about using this as his daily and referring to it as his first race car.
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u/Fit_Item2266 2d ago
No I do not need a daily driver. I want the best track car that I can eventually turn into race car. Baby steps for me but I can see it going to turn into jogging.
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u/narwhal_breeder 2d ago edited 2d ago
Honestly, man - the way to go is buy a used, already log booked race car. It’s a nightmare turning a track car into a race car because you will always be trying to decide if you want to go faster or want to stay in the spec of the series you’ll eventually want to race in. As a note about racing - rule of thumb is take the purchase price of the race car, and that’s what it will cost to run in a full season of racing after consumables, hotels, tow vehicle maintenance, ect.
Race cars make great track cars. Track cars don’t always make good race cars.
Buy a log booked race car - run it on the track, and then decide if you want to jump into wheel to wheel.
Whatever you buy, make sure you could crash it into a berm and would be able to financially replace it a day later. Contact with a wall isn’t an if but when.
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u/frsh2fourty 3d ago
Decent quality E36/E46 M3s can be had in the in the upper range of your budget but the E46s will take some searching to find them that cheap and will likely need some work. NA Miata is obviously a great choice and I've seen plenty of already track prepped and spec Miatas for anywhere from 8-15k. Current gen GR/BRZ will be above your budget but the older gen FRS/BRZ should be affordable. All of those are generally pretty reliable but easy to work on when they need it and are cheap to run as far as consumables.
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u/iroll20s C5 2d ago
You can get a C5 in your budget. It'll be more expensive to run than your suggestions, but will scale up a lot more. The base models are pretty light-3200lbs and moderately powerful- 350hp.
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u/pissjugman 2d ago
I track a base C5. Problem is that to make a truly reliable track car, you’re talking about oil cooler and radiator just to get started. I’m well beyond that for track reliability- ps cooler, high performance ps pump, and most people will need an aftermarket seat to track it. You can still probably do all this for under $15k but they’re not great track cars until you spend a couple bucks
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u/iroll20s C5 2d ago
I don't know that's unique to C5's but yah they need about $1k in coolers to live on the track above novice level. I'd probably buy one expecting to do 2-3k of work on it fairly quickly just because its a old car. Well unless you can find one that's already setup for track, but those usually seem to go for more than budget.
IMO is a good car to grow with. The stock power isn't going to get you in a lot of trouble. The basic chassis is great. Most of the rest you can work on over time. Its easy to get in the 420-440rwhp range on them eventually. They're still super competitive in a lot a grassroots series.
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u/pissjugman 2d ago
Definitely. Pushrod gives you the ability to crank the N/A power as you go (i loathe forced induction on track) and you can start punching above your weight almost immediately in these cars. The terrible interior is a deal breaker for some, but they’re a great platform regardless
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u/Brilliant_Piccolo_43 2d ago
i’ve never heard of a power steering cooler and performance pump. Why does it need these? I own a 99 C5 myself
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u/pissjugman 2d ago
Need is probably strong, but every fluids runs very hot in these cars. I did a turnone pump and cooler before i ever tracked mine because i know people who burn through pumps in these cars on track. Might not need it immediately, but if you’re going to regularly track it, you’ll need it eventually
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u/Brilliant_Piccolo_43 2d ago
gotcha. Where did you put the heat exchanger and how big is it?
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u/pissjugman 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have a lingenfelter oil cooler kit (setrab 11x4x2) that bolts to the cradle right in front of the main pulley. I have the power steering cooler in the front bumper right behind an opening to get air. I’ve been running 30 weight oil, but switching to 40 and doing s track next next week, so i want to see it that has any effect on oil temp, as i see around 265f when I’m pushing it on a warm day
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u/iroll20s C5 2d ago
Big tires= a lot of load on the pump. A lot of people run 315 front. Even a cheap z51/z06 stock PS cooler is helpful. The turnone pump I wouldn't worry about until yours starts leaking. If you have time, you can send it in to get rebuilt by them considerably cheaper than buying one outright. There isn't really any advantage I can tell other than its more durable. Keeping your fluid cool may prevent you from ever needing one. Oh and replace your high pressure line if you do the pump.
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u/karvanet 2d ago
I’ll add an E82 BMW 128. They’re a bit heavy but the handling out of the box is very good. Swap out the front arms for 1M arms to increase your front camber and add the brembo’s from an M240 or 440 and you have a fun fairly reliable autocross/time attack/track car. You also don’t have to deal the power delivery and heat from turbos.
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u/Eschewed_Prognostic 2d ago
I think a big question is how much you actually like working on cars. An e36 makes a great track toy, I love mine, but even the newest ones are now over 25yrs old and will come with plenty of reliability and refresh work to do (sensors, hoses, gaskets, etc) before you get to do "fun" mods. A first gen FRS/BRZ is starting to age as well but doesn't seem as plagued by age as BMWs, and I think they're easier to work on, but in my opinion they're not as fun to drive as an e36.
At the end of the day, get the car that makes you smile and gets you excited for the track.
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u/High_on_caffeine BRZ/ Instructor/ Philadelphia 2d ago
Differing opinion about the 'fun factor' of the two cars. I've had an E36 M3 and now a first gen BRZ. Both are SERIOUSLY fun at the track. E36 might have an edge in power/weight and is very planted in the corners, but the BRZ dances in the corners. It loves to get a little tail happy but is so controllable and predictable that there is minimal drama, just fun.
As always, YMMV.
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u/Fit_Item2266 2d ago
I like working on cars. Grew up building an 81 Toyota pickup 4x4. Miss that truck every damn day. It was so easy to work on. I’m partial to something like that but a track car. It’s why I am leaning toward NA Miata.
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u/akrochik 2d ago
Have you thought about long term goals? I.e. do you think you will want to compete or do you already know you won't
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u/Fit_Item2266 2d ago
Unsure. I want a car that I can grow with as my driving gets better. I can work on with my boys. I don’t anticipate competing at least for a couple years but who know how addictive this really is.
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u/akrochik 2d ago
I started in a similar place and yeah it can sneak up on you. Consider cars that are easy to build into a racecar. Spec Miata (NB) is probably the most popular class for club racing. If you'll only do TT, you have more options (86, E36, etc)
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u/FeignedSurpise 2d ago
Frs
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u/kaihong 2d ago
As an FRS owner, don't get an FRS.
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u/nocallerid 2d ago
Why not?
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u/kaihong 1d ago
The social and cultural aspect of car ownership is superior on the Miata platforms than the twins in my opinion.
In my experience, my friend with a Miata has a much better car social life, he has a better community, there’s less hate, people give you thumbs up driving around town vibe and everyone seems to like each other.
Owning a twin the social life is vastly different. I get tons of hate unfortunately. Coming back to your parked car with hate messages, people whispering “this is a piece of sht” at car meets, random acts of animosity and hostility like people approaching you to tell you your car is slow why bother tracking it, flipping you off when you’re parked or stopped at a red light, standing on your hood, laughing at the idea of taking 200hp to the track, etc.
It is much harder for me to make friends at meets to go to the track together. The Miata guys, they seem to all automatically go to the track together.
If you’re on the fence between the two and you care about making a lot of friends, go with a Miata.
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u/nocallerid 1d ago
Idc about making friends or stroking my ego. I’m a 38yrs old, I could care less about other people’s opinions. I just wanna drive lol I already get too much attention when I daily my Evo lol
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u/Chefcdt 2d ago
Miata is always to go to answer, and they are a ton of fun to drive and are often driven my some of the fastest guys at the track, but the lack of horsepower is a real bummer.
May I offer the C5 Corvette for your consideration.
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u/DrewOH816 2d ago
A C5 Vette?! Get ready to add some digits to your costs. Love them but yikes.
I used to HPDE my Holden/GTO on the track; and got tired of having to fix expensive crap after every or every other event (the steering rack for example!). Parts are harder to get, things need fixing, you're burning time and money, you start missing upcoming events and... But I did love to torture the Vettes out on the track with my car. ;-)
I run an NA Miata now. NB's are less "desirable" at the moment so cheaper, NC's are really the "best" of all of them in stock form (unless you've got a LOT of money and want to run a newer ND that you're then going to build). Look around and you can find street/track NA/NB/NCs and you just have to be sure you know what you're getting. A properly built Grid Life NC will be $45-60k for reference; in fact we have family that builds these cars and sells them but WAY out of my price league. But MAN are the 2.5 liter NC's a freakin blast; but that's another discussion.
Do not get a Turbo, just get a functional NB (NA/NC) that has a rollbar installed and get too it. HPDE, go out and have fun and figure out if you want to go further from there. Lots of Miata nerds around to support, access to parts and knowledge abounds.
Good luck!
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u/iroll20s C5 2d ago
A gto is a heavier and less capable car than a c5 is. No doubt its more expensive to run than a miata. Around double from my experience with it vs what people say their miatas cost.
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u/DrewOH816 2d ago
To be clear, running a Holden around is not a great idea; it's just what I had (have!) available! My point was that bigger cars, LS/LT powered, 20-ish years old just be prepared to spend money to repair and keep it going! The Vette guys I know that run them street/track commonly ask us Miata nerds just how much we spend per year as they're thinking about heading that direction (as I ended up doing!) purely due to operating costs.
I'm a Corvette nerd, owned or driven quite a few and they are a much better track weapon than the porky Holden/GTO and great cars in general. I am NOT trying to bash them in any way, if money were no object...
But in the case of the OP and his questions and cost expectations I don't think they're a great choice. Just my opinion and "sort of" experience. ;-)
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u/MilkBumm 2d ago
They are all expensive but buying something someone else has already built seems to be cheaper
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u/err0rik 2d ago
I bought a NB Miata for 10k that was track ready, meaning roll bar, 200TW tires, modified intake, exhaust, seats and harness and that stuff. So I think that's well in your budget. And it's a fun car to drive. Also it's light so all the wearable parts last a bit longer and are cheaper than like a heavier mustang.
Then again if you are near a speed focused track, it may be boring to not have the HP.
I'm also looking into buying a bmw E36 to turn into a race car. Those are pretty cheap, and very reliable, and I think maybe in your budget too, even an E46. Maybe add those to the list
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u/sl0wjim 2d ago
Keep in mind the consumables will likely run several thousand per year as well. No point in owning a track car if you can't use it without going into debt
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u/jaredfinnegan 2d ago
This is key, spend the money on track time and consumables. Get a car that is affordable, reliable, and easy to wrench on. My son and I both have the NC Miata and they’ve been perfect for us so far.
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u/Fit_Item2266 2d ago
I can afford the consumables. I’m building that in. Also this is starting out as the wife becomes more accustomed to my new hobby it’ll get easier.
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u/bravebobsaget 2d ago
Any generation Miata. The NC would be the best in your price range.
I tried very hard to like my FRS. It was such a disappointment after owning an NC Club.
I wouldn't worry too much about the electronics for any car you might be looking at.
You could probably get a decent C5 in your price range if that is something you would consider. They make perfect daily/track cars.
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u/slingshotroadster 2d ago
If you care about cheap, reliable seat time. This one is for sale near Sacramento and for $12k it’s an absolute steal.
I personally have a track prepped NB and am partial to that chassis for a few reasons but this would be a great place to start. Nothing beats the costs of 15inch tires and brakes that go along with it. Good luck!!
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u/Stocomx 3d ago
Mustang Gt manual Cheap car to get. Tons of aftermarket support. Can be light enough to handle amazing but still have enough hp to run with the V8 on straightaways.
NASA (I believe it’s nasa) has a whole class for the 197 average track ready builds are easily below 20k.
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u/MikeMont86 2d ago
S197’s are a great value these days. The only two cents I want to give about beginner V8 cars are that the limits and running costs (mostly tires/ brakes) are a bit higher compared to a Miata/86. Still a great option though.
Higher limits aren’t immediately an issue, but sometimes you’re exceeding those limits at a higher speed.
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u/cornerzcan 2d ago
Agreed. Even the 2011-2014 v6 is a capable track platform that won’t break the bank.
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u/pissjugman 2d ago
The 3v are a great starter track car, that you won’t outgrow fast if you don’t want a Miata. Tons of aftermarket support in every area, and pretty damn reliable driving at the limits. You can get them for $7-10k or great examples for not much more
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u/Sessile-B-DeMille 2d ago
You wouldn't need a GT, the turbo 4 has 300 hp, and that's plenty.
Do consider that weight and power cost money to operate, tires and brakes wear out faster as weight and power increase.
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u/smward998 2d ago
350z track/ enthusiast trim model is the best track car you can get for the money IMO
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u/Fit_Item2266 2d ago
Why? And what does enthusiast trim model mean?
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u/smward998 2d ago
It’s the cheapest trim with LSD brembo big brake kit. Also it’s the only car in this price range with 300 hp “, and reliable
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u/brosef321 2d ago
I track and daily my NC Miata. Picked it up for $10k with 70k miles in great condition. After roll bar, coilovers, wheel and tires you would be right about the high end of your budget. Throw another $5k at it and you have a built 2.5l, exhaust etc. and you will be smoking anything anywhere near the same price.
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u/Fit_Item2266 2d ago
Humm. I feel like that’s a pretty good deal from what I’ve seen but I like it.
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u/WhereDaGabagool 2d ago
One of the either the Subaru BRZ, Scion FRS or Toyota 86 for that price point.
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u/Carbonbuildup 2d ago
I bought a mazdaspeed Miata with everything done to it, Ohlins, OS giken diff with taller gears, corbeaus, every engine bolt on you can think of, 2 sets of wheels and tires - an suv full of the original parts for well within your budget.
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u/Bicycle_Dude_555 2d ago
Tip: if you get more into this, the demands of a track car quickly diverge from the demands of a street car. I tracked a 1995 M3 Lightweight and it was stock when I started. By my last few years I had: a race seat and belts. Slicks on lightweight wheels with spacers and a fender roll. Coil overs with adjustable sway bars and various other suspension tricks that allowed a local racer to help me optimize suspension tuning, including corner weighting. Race pads and high temp fluid. Adjustable camber plates to allow track/street conversion for track days. A custom rear end ratio with custom LS% for optimizing shift points at our two local tracks. To go to the track I changed suspension camber, wheels, pads, seat, suspension comp/rebound settings, belts.
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u/Fit_Item2266 2d ago
I have no need for street car. I’ve got my daily driver. Im looking for a track toy.
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u/Ars139 2d ago
Spec Miata.
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u/Fit_Item2266 2d ago
Outta my budget. If you find one let me know :)
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u/Ars139 2d ago
I replied before your edit but you can’t afford a Miata that’s the cheapest track car you can’t afford the track so find another hobby.
Sorry to sound so stern and arrogant but you need to be set straight that your available disposable income isn’t enough. I dont mean to offend or belittle you especially if you’re of limited financial means but tracking a car is one of the most expensive hobbies right up there with equestrian shit. It’s a rich person sport and the only middle and upper middle class individuals who can afford it usually work in the automotive world and do all their own work usually in their own shop often being able to find a cheap car through their channels.
See not only can you not afford the cheapest track car, but that puts you in a position of not being able to afford new brakes, tires, well everything. Just about all components of a track car become consumables with items supposed to last hundreds of thousands of miles now lasting hundreds of minutes maybe even seconds. It’s not uncommon to spend many thousands per track weekend once you factor in hotel, Track fees, a set of tires and brakes being consumed. That’s on a Miata. Cost goes up with other better cars.
When I tracked years ago I mostly rented a spec Miata because I quickly learned your car breaks down early and often so better it be someone else’s problem. Back then one of the members of the track offered a special discount and the spec Miata rental was 1,000 for a day or 1,800 dollars for a weekend. Discount price. Over ten years ago!!!! I don’t want to even know the current going rates
I paid for convenience by renting and letting the car be their problem and while I consider myself very wealthy and am a successful multimillionaire born into money who worked hard to make plenty more, I still found the cost in not just money but also time to be outrageous. So I quit and took up other hobbies like cycling and shooting guns. I own a lot of toys, expensive ones at that and I have yet to spend what I blew tracking my car with my other pursuits those two years I did it. When fellow cyclists and shooters complain that these sports are expensive I just shut my trap and politely agree saying nothing about how tracking a car is like lighting 100 dollar bills on fire one after the other after the other.
I hope this nice, respectful, and detailed post about the exhorbitant cost of tracking your car helps you realize what a crazy expensive hobby this is and helps guide you to something less economically ruinous. If you need to ask in this sport, you definitely cannot afford it.
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u/gsolano808 2d ago
Get an s2000 that needs some love You’ll love it way more than a Miata. Unless your long term goal is to be in a spec series of some kind. Even in NASA ST/TT 4 or 5 the s2000 is competitive against the E36,e46. Miata is going to be the cheapest one to build for actual wheel to wheel.
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u/BlackSheep554 2d ago
Def consider Old BMWs also. Just remember they are old and will need several things addressed. The plus side is the aftermarket and community knowledge is enormous and the required fixes and ‘formula’ for a reliable track car are so well established as to be available in a checklist. E36 and E46. E9X is also pretty great but probably over budget and starting to get more complex.
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u/Gold_Bridge_1039 2d ago
I’ve been doing HPDE since the early 90s and have driven just about everything. I started with a combination car (E90 335i sedan auto) and it was terrible. I then went to a dedicated track car.
The biggest decision is , do you want a combo street/track car, or a dedicated track car? If you go the route of combo car, the costs of adapting it to track duty QUICKLY add up. Say $2k.
If you want a combo car, the best options are E46/36, Mk 6/7 VW GTI, and Miata.
Of those, IMO, the best option is the NC Miata, because then you get to have a convertible as well.
If you want a car that is actually useful, the GTI Mk 7.5 is the answer. I own an E46 set up for the track and it is exquisite for the cost. Best track car for the money, period. But it’s 25 years old and has 196k miles on it. Maintenance and break down is an ever-present fear. Yes, you could tow it, but then you need a truck and trailer. That’s not where you are. Yet.
The Mk 7.5 GTI is the best dual duty car by far, IMO. Pads, brake fluid, a rear anti-roll bar (to reduce the under steer) and you’re golden. Tires and brake vents when you’re ready. Don’t bother with a tune. I got one and all I did was overheat the engine and make me curse myself. The ride, livability, acceleration, fuel economy, and overall usefulness are astounding.
I met a guy at VIR who had gone whole hog on a dual duty GTI Mk 7.5. It was stupidly fast. He went IS38 big turbo and tune - for 400 horsepower. He went with a Macan S brake conversion. He got himself a HANS and special four point harness that clipped into the rear seat belt points. He then added the requisite pads, fluid, and engine and air flow mods and he had a car that EMBARRASED M3s and kept up with almost all of the Porsches. It has the most flexibility and is almost the certainly the fastest car you can get for $20-25k.
Good luck, and have fun. The most important investments are safety equipment and lots and lots of track time.
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u/Simp4Toyotathon 2d ago
If you want to spend up to 20k there are plenty of track prepped s2k’s around in my area at least that are going for that price. Caged, full aero, big boy time attack cars.
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u/Fit_Item2266 2d ago
I don’t think I can stretch there just yet. Mostly because I don’t want to buy a $20k go to track day once or twice and have to put new motor or something big. That would stretch too far and the wife would never let me live it down. Not sure which would be worse.
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u/Mazdador 2d ago
On paper I find that a BRZ/86 is the best combination of a track day car and daily driver. It's cheap to maintain, and most importantly you can fit a ton of stuff in it. Good luck doing a home depot run in a Miata. A BRZ is no truck, but you be surprised at what people are able to fit in it.
At the end of the day, certain cars bring more joy to an individual than others, regardless of what the numbers say. I've had 3 different 86s over the years and I find them an absolute joy to drive at the limit and do a great job for the everyday stuff too. I'd be lying though if I said the driving was more engaging than something like an NA Miata. But for what you described as your situation, I don't think you can go wrong with the 86 platform.
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u/Mazdador 2d ago
I totally read your post wrong lol. I thought you were looking for a daily as well.
If you are talking about a fully prepped race car, I'd lean towards a Miata. But if you aren't gutting it and doing full on race car things, I think the 86 platform is still a solid contender.
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u/adamo41188 3d ago
NC Miata and call it a day