best choice for another track car?

Some cars, you see a lot of them at the track. These include the BMW M3 and the Porsche 911, and also the Mini Cooper. Also relatively common are Corvettes and Mustangs, as well as Evos and STIs.

Other cars, you just don't see at the track much. Of all the many track events I've attended, both with marque clubs that are open to all makes as well as with other organizations, I don't think I've ever seen more than one Z at an event. I'm not saying none are being tracked, but given how many have been sold, relatively few show up at the events I've attended.
 
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I vote for a pre-modified E30/E36 or a spec miata.

Very nice examples of both can be had in $10-$15k range, have great aftermarket support, have good track time opportunities, can be registered on the street, are fun to drive, and cheap to run.
 
I'm with you mjk ,a miata at that price point ,and after you get good with it then add a supercharger/turbo and slicks...great bang for buck.
 
350z track model with an oil cooler and maybe add a Quaife diff for better rotation of the car. Way better than a 300 or 300tt in regards to chassis stiffness and brakes.

E36's are slow, unless you have one with the s54 engine of the e46 m3.
 
Z32 300ZXs are beautiful cars. I really have a soft spot for them, but IMO they are NOT natural track cars.

Addressing the E46 M3 specifically, they are fantastic cars to drive (on and off track) but they are not cheap to maintain. Vanos issues, 0w-60 oil changes, $$$ brakes/tires, etc. Not to mention weak AC and cracking interior plastics (in AZ anyways). I love them, but it is not worth it to me.

More power generally means more money. It will be more fun (track day for track day), but it will also be a lot more expensive. Which, for me means fewer track days. It is not THAT much more fun, to me anyways. I guess it boils down to the question we are asking ourselves. Is it:

A) $30k for the car ONLY, and track days, maintenance, etc are all outside of that?

OR

B) How do I have the most fun on occasional track days with a budget of $30k.

I answered B. Even with a bigger budget, there is a lot to be said for tracking a car that you can afford to write off.
 
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CL65 Captain said:
RX7 with LS1 swap.

image.php
Click to expand...

THIS!

or an S2k with an LS1swap :eek:
 
Besides those low profile karts like Formula Mazda or Radical SR3, I would recommend a RX-7.
1992 to 1994 (Touring, R1, or R2 package)
2 Rotors (654 C.C x2) (stock sequential twin or single turbo)
3 Rotors (654 C.C x3) (NA or single turbo)
4 Rotors (654 C.C x4) (NA)
Or put in a Z06 V8 engine.
You will have fun within 30K.
 
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nsxtasy said:
Many organizations who run track events do not allow convertibles to participate in them.
Click to expand...

NASA Allows the S2000 due to the integrated roll over protection that the car comes with from factory. If you check the club's CCR's (http://www.nasanorcal.com/roll_bar_allowed_cars.htm) you can see a list of convertibles that NASA allows on track without a rollbar;

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 315px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; WIDTH: 313px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21>Aston Martin DB9, DBS</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Audi A4</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>BMW 1 Series</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>BMW 6 Series</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>BMW E36 (Optional)</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>BMW E46</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>BMW E90</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>BMW Z3 (Optional)</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>BMW Z4</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Chrysler Crossfire</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Dodge Viper</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Ferrari 355</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Ferrari 360</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Honda S2000</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Infiniti G37</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Jaguar XK8/XKR</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Lamborghini Murcielago</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Mercedes C Class</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Mercedes CLK</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Mercedes E Class</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Mercedes SL (1990+)</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>MINI Cooper (2009+)</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Porsche 996</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Porsche 997</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Porsche Boxster</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Saab 9-3 (2004+)</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>Volvo C70</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>VW Eos</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 1px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-TOP: medium none; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 1px" height=21 width=313>VW New Beetle</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


Convertibles not listed (such as the Miata) don't offer roll over protection adequate for NASA and will need to have an SCCA/NASA approved rollbar installed (correctly) to be let on track. This means you will have to comply with all racecar cage bar diameters/wall thickness/mounting as well as having High density padding anywhere the driver is able to hit their head. Bolt in cages are allowed, just make sure they are SCCA/NASA approved.

I am a NASA safety tech, I tell drivers, "Anywhere you/your passenger can touch the bar with your hands while strapped into your seat needs to be padded." The padding can usually be bought at track during NASA events in case you need to add some in a spot I see that you may have missed :cool:

HTH
 
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stuntman said:
I'm not sure if this is even street legal. Appears to be built as a race car. Who knows, Europe is more liberal allowing pretty much race cars on the street anyway. We never get anything cool over here State side :(
Click to expand...

In KY if has a vin, it's street legal. :)

sent from my Evo4
 

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