LF: track toy

[Andre]

Well,

3 baby seats do not fit in the back of the Acura and I have thus (sigh) purchased a minivan.

I had a few projects in mind but realistically speaking, the simplest would be to find a modestly priced track car that I would tow with the minivan to DE's.

So, I'm looking for something that is small, light and modestly priced. (I must feed the 3 mouths that sit in those baby seats). When I say modest I mean < 5000.00 $. I'd rather have a rear wheel drive but realise that in my price range, I can't be super picky. A rallye car also might be an option as I wouldn't mind exploring that aspect as well. I would be willing to travel to either Ontario, Vermont or NY state if the right car came up.

I don't mind a bit of a fix'er upper but would rather spend more time driving than wrenching.

I know that sometimes interesting cars come up in Roundel but I don't have a subscription.

If anyone comes across something, I'd be much obliged if you dropped me a line.

Thank you,
Andre

[Turbo_Bimmer]

André, il y a une Golf de rally à vendre ici:
http://www.guideauto.com/forum/showthread.php?p=260984#post260984

[Emre]

I wonder if you can find an '02 in your price range? Seems like a good solution.

Emre

[Emre]

Also, you might want to check out the GRM $2007 classifieds:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/board/viewforum.php?id=4

Emre

[Andre]

Thanks for the links guys.

An 02 would be a great bet Emre. Finding one is the tough part.
I've been looking for a bit.

Merci Michel, j'ai contact&#233; le vendeur.

-andr&#233;-

[Gregster]

Get a Neon. Now that NASA has cancelled the Spec Neon Series most guys are dumping their cars for next to nothing.

I know where there is a pretty nice one for 4000$

[blacksheep]

if you're comfortable with your masculinity you could get a Miata ;)

with 3 kids, I guess you're OK hehehe

[Andre]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, keep them coming.

I know I should like neons as they are solid value but they don't evoke any emotion in me.
Miatas are great! Wonderful balance and they turn in right now.
That might be an option.
I'd even wear a pink shirt (long-sleeved of course) :p

There are also Nissan 240's but I've already owned one and they've become the defacto dorifto vehicle and thus are a little less appealing.
Rx7's could also be a possibility, 1st and 2nd gen. Prone to ping and then self destruct if overheated though.
A dsm talon or laser could be interesting in awd form.

Or I could simply motor swap or turbo the Acura.
There's something to be said about a bird in the hand.

I'd rather start with a track car that has already been sorted as taking a street car and getting it to run reliably on the track can sometimes be a bit of an undertaking.

-a-

[boxcarracer]

I might be looking into a hardtop Miata as well

Most of S13 240s we have here are rotten or got the floors and/or towers poorly patched up
And one of my buddies sold his DSM cause of its horrible reliability

[Emre]

There are also Nissan 240's but I've already owned one and they've become the defacto dorifto vehicle and thus are a little less appealing.
Rx7's could also be a possibility, 1st and 2nd gen. Prone to ping and then self destruct if overheated though.
A dsm talon or laser could be interesting in awd form.The drift kids have basically skewed the market for cars like the 240SX, AE86 Corolla, and RX-7 such that the prices for even rough examples are ridiculous. Then again, Miata prices have been climbing since the NASA Spec Miata series has been so popular in the US for several seasons now.

I personally have a "thing" for turbo Wankels just because they're so damned light :cool: But I think it would be a PITA to run a 15+ year old 13B turbo on the track.

As for the DSM, it really sucks to drive. I used one (borrowed from my cousin) for about a month maybe 10-12 years ago when my car was in the shop. Ergonomics sucked. Handling sucked. It felt heavy and VERY understeery. Sure, it made good power...but so what?


Or I could simply motor swap or turbo the Acura.
There's something to be said about a bird in the hand.Is the Acura your daily driver? Might want to avoid the hardcore mods if it is. I've gone down that road and wasn't 100% happy with the results.

I wonder if an E21 320is would be a good choice? Prices seem to have hit rock bottom compared to E30's and 02's. I've come across some really cherry examples for sale in southern states for ridiculously low prices. For example, there was a Texas racer selling a nicely prepped (6-point cage, fresh M10B20 engine, etc.) rust-free 320is for something like $3500 a few months back. If you could get a car like that for $2500-3000, it might be a great deal. I believe a race-prepped E21 is only a couple of hundred pounds heavier than a similarly prepped '02...so you should be well below the 2500 lbs. mark.

Emre

[Emre]

OK...don't laugh at this one.

What about a Fox body (5.0L) Mustang? There are plenty of guys who race them in American Iron and similar series. So, there must be quite a lot of know-how with respect to making one handle reasonably well. There is certainly no shortage of aftermarket parts. And parts are generally dirt cheap.

Models produced after 1985 or '86 made over 200 hp (closer to 225 hp IIRC). Weight was in the neighborhood of 2900 lbs. for a stock car. I understand that removing 125-150 lbs. is very easy on a Fox body, which will get you into E36 M3 territory as far as power:weight goes.

Dunno. Something to consider.

Emre

[Andre]

OK...don't laugh at this one.
What about a Fox body (5.0L) Mustang? ....[snip]
Dunno. Something to consider.
Emre

Emre... everything okay?
You've been working a lot of hours lately have you?
Sleep deprivation can do terrible things.
I'm a little concerned.
First it was the m10 and all of its variants turbo or otherwise,
then it was the aluminium block 350 into just about anything bmw
and now...now
the Blue Oval.

I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. :p:p:p

The power to weight is interesting for everything that's in a straight line and I'm sure it would be fun but it's an aweful big lump to change directions and the rear axle design is ummmm, a little primitive shall we say.

I tend to be of the Colin Chapman philosophy of light makes right.

I do like what you were saying about the e21's though. If you know where to look (or could point me in the right direction) and I don't have to give up my first born to get it here, I'd be interested even very interested as club racing is on my list of things to do at some point.

~andre~

[Andre]

Also, the Acura is no longer my daily driver as it doesn't have the girth to fit 3 baby seats so it could become a full fledged track car. This being said, if I were to keep it, I would want to address it's lack of power, upgrade the brakes and put a cage in it. At present it has a lot more grip than power and on some courses it's almost boring (the Tri Oval at Sanair for example) I could have gone faster if only... I could have gone faster.
:rolleyes:
However, before I go through all that time and effort, it might make more sense to sell the car and buy something that is already more suited to the task instead of reengineering the wheel.

-a-

[blacksheep]

your EL is basically a 6th gen Civic with a different grill

they're cheap to run and modify, light, and can be fast with the right mods

[Gregster]

check in the bmw cca club racing for sale section. There are usually pretty good deals. I rather buy a car from a club racer then some kid

[Emre]

Emre... everything okay?
You've been working a lot of hours lately have you?
Sleep deprivation can do terrible things.
I'm a little concerned.
First it was the m10 and all of its variants turbo or otherwise,
then it was the aluminium block 350 into just about anything bmw
and now...now
the Blue Oval.

I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. :p:p:p

The power to weight is interesting for everything that's in a straight line and I'm sure it would be fun but it's an aweful big lump to change directions and the rear axle design is ummmm, a little primitive shall we say.Hey, man, I'm just trying to think outside the box here :)

Every time I pick up an issue of Grassroots Motorsports, there are loads of guys running old Mustangs in NASA or whatever. There are a couple of instructors who do events with us that run Mustangs: there's a guy from the TO area who runs a Fox-body Mustang and a guy from VT who runs an SN95. Maybe it's not so crazy.


I tend to be of the Colin Chapman philosophy of light makes right.I'm with you. However, I also see the benefits of having a substantial chassis around you. As much as I love cars like Caterham 7's and Lotus Elises, they just don't offer enough protection for my tastes. Tiny convertibles where my head practically sticks out past the windshield (like the Miata and S2000) aren't much better.

Ever since my wreck a few years back, I think a lot about this kind of stuff. I enter certain corners on certain tracks slower than I "need" to. I prefer to have a sizable steel chassis around me. Ditto for roll protection, harnesses, etc.


I do like what you were saying about the e21's though. If you know where to look (or could point me in the right direction) and I don't have to give up my first born to get it here, I'd be interested even very interested as club racing is on my list of things to do at some point.I've never driven one, so I can't say. But I hear that the rear suspension makes them tricky to handle, getting unsettled over mid-corner bumps, etc. Lee might be able to share some insight since he's had an E21, '02, and E30 all back-to-back.

Emre

[Andre]

your EL is basically a 6th gen Civic with a different grill

they're cheap to run and modify, light, and can be fast with the right mods

Agreed and I've been really happy with it as it's easy to drive at the limit and it has been a great little car but there are limits as to what I can do with a d16. Bolt-ons are pretty much a waste of time and thus I will be looking at either a motor swap or a turbo, plus a cage, plus seats, plus a harness, plus uprated brakes. I'm starting to have quite a few pluses here and racking up a pretty hefty bill.

What I meant was that it might be more cost effective to sell the car and find something that is already further up the evolutionnary chain.

~a~

[blacksheep]

... I will be looking at either a motor swap or a turbo, plus a cage, plus seats, plus a harness, plus uprated brakes. I'm starting to have quite a few pluses here and racking up a pretty hefty bill.yes, but no matter what else you buy (unless it's already a track car), you'll have to add the seats and safety parts anyhow. And if you buy a 2002, 320i or Miata well they're no more powerful or faster than your EL so you'd still need a turbo or engine swap.

For the brakes, a rear disc swap is really all you need. I'm running OEM brakes on my car with upgraded pads, fresh rotors and fluid and never had a problem with fade - except once when I let my pads wear down too thin.

You already have the EL, and all those parts you'll need are readily available for dirt cheap.
What I meant was that it might be more cost effective to sell the car and find something that is already further up the evolutionnary chain.see above, I don't agree that would generate any significant savings

[Andre]

You already have the EL, and all those parts you'll need are readily available for dirt cheap.see above, I don't agree that would generate any significant savings

You know, you might have something there Eric. If I bought a road car, it would work out to pretty much the same as I'd have to make it reliable for the track, go through the suspension and brakes and then work on the safety equipement, and go-fast goodies. Yes, I know, I'm repeating but sometimes the penny drops a little bit faster when you put it into your own words.

If I bought a race car, I'd have 3-4 k from the Acura to help finance it but... I'd also have to buy a trailer and change my tow vehicle as I'm limited to 2000 lbs with the Caravan... :rolleyes:
Hmmm, this race car business just got a bunch more expensive.

I guess the question I really need to answer is do I want to keep the Acura or not? Is it time for a new project or do I want to turn the Acura into a little beastie?


-a-