Best Beginners Race Car?

Crusher_13 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-03-2008, 03:29 PM

My father in his infinite wisdom has decided to buy a property near Goulburn and therefore near Wakefield Park.

I have been given permission to buy and keep a car there to take to Wakefield Park.

I have been giving the type of car a bit of thought. I don't want anything with too much power but I want a car that handles well with a decent aftermarket to make it a more track focused car. Things like coilovers, brakes, exhaust and CAI. AWD or RWD is a further preference although FWD in the right car would be considered.

What cars would you recommend?

My thoughts so far are:
2000 - Mazda MX-5 – Great handling car will teach me a lot about car control
2000 - Subaru WRX – Good aftermarket could be a track weapon once I learn to drive it
1997 - Nissan 180sx – Unsure about this one, popular with drifters so it should handle ok

What are your thoughts?

Budget - Around $20,000
Am going to share expenses with a few friends.

Etez · #2 (**permalink**) 01-03-2008, 04:40 PM

You really want to know? Take your car! Especially seeing it has work done to it. I have a friend of mine who has a stock MPS and ran it with semi-slicks and did a 1.15:9 which was faster than any MX-5 that was there on the day. Very respectable time. In regards to the, I think it is more a drift machine than track weapon. If you had to choose out of those three cars, probably the WRX gets my pick. But seriously, If I was in your situation, I'd just track my MPS because I've seen how good they can be at the track with decent tyres.

ar44 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2008, 07:14 PM

My vote goes for the MX5. Alternatively would you consider and DC2R? Superior handling to anything there you have mention above with fair bit of power and unlimited aftermarket support.

Crusher_13 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2008, 07:32 PM

A FWD is a possibility. How ever I was more considering the RWD or AWD cars as they would be more popular. And the more popular the car the more people I might get interested. I already have one person wanting to share and possibly a third so...

Etez, at the moment my car is not under consideration. It is my only car and kind of need it for work. One of the things that will definitely be done to the car is the removal of anything not needed so rear seats, carpets, stereo... I just need to make sure of the Wakefield Park regulations and CAMS regulations.

morerevsm3 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2008, 07:59 PM

Mx5, hands down best pick, add turbo when more power required

Etez · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2008, 09:37 PM

Might as well get the WRX, better base to start with.

herrk02 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-03-2008, 11:00 PM

Wrx for sure.

Mx5 might be light and agile but they lack the power of the wrx.

Easier to mod a wrx and with a few simple things added to wrx can easily get them up and around 250 - 300 awhp mark.

Ideotique · #8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2008, 11:32 PM

MX5. Driving is about more than omg bro turbo power. MX5 is slower but a purer drive.

WRX's are not good on tracks. Generalisation, but read any mag and the same thing comes out. Understeer, understeer, understeer. Very good road car but a bit meh as a track car imo. Others may disagree though. Fast, but thats about it.

I'd actually spend a bit less and get the last of the first gen MX5s with the pop up lights but the 1.8 engine. Much purer car.

The other option is a DC2 integra type R. After having a fang in one of those on a tight and twisty road it really shows what a well sorted FWD can do.

Etez · #9 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ideotique

MX5. Driving is about more than omg bro turbo power. MX5 is slower but a purer drive.

WRX's are not good on tracks. Generalisation, but read any mag and the same thing comes out. Understeer, understeer, understeer. Very good road car but a bit meh as a track car imo. Others may disagree though. Fast, but thats about it.

I'd actually spend a bit less and get the last of the first gen MX5s with the pop up lights but the 1.8 engine. Much purer car.

The other option is a DC2 integra type R. After having a fang in one of those on a tight and twisty road it really shows what a well sorted FWD can do.

Err, have you actually ever seen a WRX on the track? Down at wakefield, the AWD turbos kick arse.( The track which Crusher is set on going to ) The MX-5 doesnt hold a candle to the WRX.Purer drive maybe because its lighter, but it wont carry the same corner speed as a AWD WRX. A modified WRX can be seeing 1:08s at wakefield. Modified MX-5 is wayyyyy off that. Maybe go a drive a WRX on a track first before you write off it's track abilities

Ideotique · #10 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etez

Err, have you actually ever seen a WRX on the track? Down at wakefield, the AWD turbos kick arse.( The track which Crusher is set on going to ) The MX-5 doesnt hold a candle to the WRX.Purer drive maybe because its lighter, but it wont carry the same corner speed as a AWD WRX. A modified WRX can be seeing 1:08s at wakefield. Modified MX-5 is wayyyyy off that. Maybe go a drive a WRX on a track first before you write off it's track abilities

I have. Eastern Creek. MY05. Wasn't all the impressed. But could be different at Wakefield. Haven't driven one there.

I just don't subscribe to the whole AWD as a track car thing, yeah, fast, but I dunno, more one dimensional. If that makes sense. Awesome road car but I just thought it was a bit of a letdown on the track. But once again, my view on the matter. I'm not doubting that they objectivally quicker, it's just that subjectively I prefer the MX5

My views on driving have changed a little I guess. It is not so much the time it takes but the journey itself.

Etez · #11 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 12:26 AM

If your opinion is based on personal preference then thats different. AWD cars are suited more to wakefield, hence why I am suggesting the WRX. Not saying the MX-5 is a bad car, but the WRX is faster and much more fun!

Ideotique · #12 (**permalink**) 01-04-2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etez

If your opinion is based on personal preference then thats different. AWD cars are suited more to wakefield, hence why I am suggesting the WRX. Not saying the MX-5 is a bad car, but the WRX is faster and much more fun!

Oh yeah, completly based on my own personal preference. In no way saying a MX5 will be faster, just if it was my money that would be where it would be heading.