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Got to thinking the other day - I wonder if you would do a purpose built , road registered , track day car for like under $8,000 total - ready to race.

Must be quick enough to have fun in - must handle well and brake well. Also must be fairly economical on consumables and repairs (if required)

So I put my thinking cap on and came up with this.

Suzuki swift GTI - you can get them for about $4,000 - $5,000

Rip out everything you don't need - make it as light as possible.

Upgrade shocks and springs - get allignment, camber and castor done especially for track work - say $1500

Chuck away standard rims and tyres - Run lightweight wheels and semi slicks - $1500

Upgrade (with bigger) front discs and callipers $1000.

I reckon that might be a goer. Cheap , fun track car.

Any other opinions for a good, cheap, fun track car ?

Cheers,

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pulsar for $2k.. CA18det sho'ed in for another $3k or so..

couple of $k on suspension. Would go pretty well (pushing 200kw) and weigh around 1000kg

I think in the 1.3L you'd be lacking in torque on the GTI, and they are quite overpriced for an old car.

Any old commo you could probably buy for $1-2k and spend another $5k on racing mods, and might be ok.

MK 1 Escort. You can buy a log booked, 2L caged car for the money you are looking to spend. At abour 800kgs and aboiut 160hp from a well sorted 2L Pinto they are respectable performers. You can always throw a CA18DET in there, but they just throw more weight in the things

does it have to be road registered? cant u have an econobox for daily duties? this owuld open up your options enourmously for a track car. althoough you then need to budget for towing etc.

non registered track cars:

HQ/VN/VP/EA race cars arent all taht dear i dont think

race only RX7/skyline/WRX

F3000/open wheeler thingos

and then there always bikes if u just wanna go fast real cheap, but there is the downside of being like 30 times more likely of being killed on the roads....

cortina with 250 crossflow 4.1L $1-2 grand they weigh about 1.1 tonne

turbo $3 grand

and some decent tyres. great car to drive and do some doeys in

With $8k

Mini Clubman+Mods

S1/2/3 RX7 (I doubt youd get a track worthy FC for below $8k)

Ford Escort+Mods

Gemini+Mods

Mazda 808 with a rotary conversion (RX3 setup)

Toyota Corrolla, the square early 80's one. Conversion and mods

Doubt you'd get a track worthy CA18DET S13....

Commodore might be a good thing.

R31 - ha ha ha -

I wouldn't want to trailer a car - too much hassle then there is what do I trailer it with ?

Escort might be good - RWD if def a better option.

Would want to keep the car nice and light - so no Hq, Commodore etc

I've seen some of those Honda's you are talking about Bob - They are quick circuit cars.

The Swifts did OK at Bathurst - for their category. Make them light enough and the 1.3 wouldn't matter , I'd guess.

Just did a search on Carsales.com - no Escorts there. You'd prolly need to be in the know to get a race prepped one hey.

Saw a first gen GTI for $2000 (had a 2nd gen motor in it) - Spend $2000 on the car then $4000 in mods - got to be a good circuit car for $6K......

Keep pthe suggestions coming ! It's interesting !

Mini - ?? Hmm - think a swift would kick it.

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