What Car Should Mike Buy?

[dangerous_daveo]

Looking at that list, and also without knowing probably as much as you about the bullet cars I'll have my say.

I personally would go the Evo every day (even if its only an evo2-3 due to the $16k limit) They are a good strong motor, fairly strong box, fair sized boot, 4 doors, good rear headroom as well etc etc. I would think out of that list its probably the most pratical car given you seem to want to do track work stuff. The evos seem to do well.

With the MX5 thing, I think its a great idea. In theory. #1 they dont have a proper roof. Im sorry but if Im making a spastic fast car, I want it to have a proper hard roof. My oppinion on that one, I know the MX5s were designed to not have a roof. The other thing, arent the bullet cars just loosely based on an MX5? I thought they were all space frame chassis or something, and didnt actually use the MX5 framework? That said Im sure an engineer would be able to sort it out so it would be legal. But yeah, its got 2 seats, it wont have the stock engine so there could be some issues with that (keeping in mind what the bullet cars were, it wasnt just a slap in the engine hope it works, it was pretty much a total rebranding of the car). The guys saying go for an NA sr20, no point at all with that. Its not as practical car.

If you were going to do the MX5 option, Id turbo the factory motor, when it dies then look to rebuild it stronger. By which stage you have got used to the car, saved a bit more money etc etc. That way its not as much stuffing about, everything should work, no rewiring etc.

Just my oppinion. The others I wouldnt waste my time with. (as the gtt would most probably be NA)

[Oblivion]

hmmm....how about a Bullet Roadster.....just for shits and giggles. nothing like 400+hp in under 1 tonne.

[D-limo]

Daveo makes some good points there.. There's no need to go as far as the bullet roadster with the space frame etc.. Looking at pics I think a lot of the custom work in the front end it is beneficial to suspension geometry, weight etc, but is also needed to accommodate the dimensions of the V8??

Seam welding with a comprehensive cage with under body bracing should be enough to keep the little MX-5 from falling apart.. After Brakes, suspension, LSD, seat wheel etc 20k is probably a more realistic budget.

[dangerous_daveo]

hmmm....how about a Bullet Roadster.....just for shits and giggles. nothing like 400+hp in under 1 tonne.

Because Rohan, they are more like $60k than $16k

[lilmike86]

i know what its like to drive AWD (i know the gtr is different) i own a subaru and i owned a very tail happy GTi-R. let me rephrase it sorry.

i want a car that i have to put a lot of skill and practise into to get to the same level as a gtr. if i bought a gtr people merely assume that its the car that is good and not the driver. i want a car that will help me develop my driving skills and technique to a much greater level.

the familia gtr and the gtir arent really good options now after having seen two friends blow up their gearboxes and diffs recently. so that narrows it down a bit. i have also heard that the early evo boxes are very weak, similar to early WRX boxes?

daveo that was exactly the response i was looking to get from someone. the sr20 idea was the DET not an n/a one, what would be the point in that? wtih the roof, i will be installing rollover bars in the event of anything happening. in regards to the bullet cars. well, i wouldnt go as far as they did but its the whole drivleine setup that i was referring to with them. i would obviously do the minor chassis changes with the engine upgrade as well. the bullet roadster i am referring to is actually the one they built with A 20BTT in it. it was a while ago now but it was road legal. i spoke to them about it and they said as long as you do it all by the books and can keep it under the emmissions level there shouldnt be too many issues. its not too hard to intall, just the mounts and lining it all up really.

with your idea of keeping the stock motor, a mate of mine actually had a similar idea. the mx-5 came out with the b6 engine in it. now he suggested i put a b6t or bpd engine out of the familia's into it. the b6t is the same engine just turbocharged out of the familia gtx's (stronger internals though) and the BPD is the 1.8 turbo out of the gtr familia's. since the stock motor and both familia engines are fairly similar the change over shouldnt be too hard and neither should the compliancing.

i will have 16k to play with, up front when i do this (my last car was stolen) so there wont be a need to save up for anything really.

[lilmike86]

Because Rohan, they are more like $60k than $16k

i think he quoted me 45k just in labour and parts to build a bullet roadster. they basically get rid of everything except the main chassis itself.

[Col-GTSX]

means you have to have more skill with your throttle application...

Meh... My 32 GTR had a few ponies and ya just mash the throttle and go go...

I dont understand your comment as with a GTR you can be a little more careless than a gts-t...

Particually in the wet...

I can only assume that you mean that you are more likely to break something mechaniclly in a GTR...

[Benno31]

Saying that a 32 GT-R is going to detract from showing off your skills as a driver may not be completely true. I would assume that there are other 32 GT-R owners competing in the same events? If so then you will need all your skills and then some to better them which will showcase your skills in a massive way.

Driving on the edge in a GT-R is dangerous because in many circumstances your speeds are higher which makes the margin for error very low if you want to avoid bending the car. This is a generalised comment and may not be the case in all situations but it is worth noting if you are on a fast track/course.

For maximum fun I highly recommend the 1996 Series 1 Mazda MX5 Limited, they have all the light weight and handling characteristics of the Series 1, but with the 1.8, 98kW engine as fitted to the Series 2. The larger engine will turbo well without destroying the delicate front/rear weight distribution of the MX5.

Bang for buck I don’t see how you will do much better. A 32 GT-R is an expensive option, and for a racing fit, street registered version I don’t see you getting much change from $30k. If you want a car for some occasional track use but with some street cruising credit and appeal (and a little boot space) then the GT-R is hard to beat.

MX5’s are not a good day to day car when it comes to practicality. If you know someone with a MX5 then try going shopping with them and you will see what I mean.

Good luck in whatever car you choose and good on you for giving racing a go.

Cheers,

Ben.

[Benno31]

Meh... My 32 GTR had a few ponies and ya just mash the throttle and go go...

I dont understand your comment as with a GTR you can be a little more careless than a gts-t...

Particually in the wet...

I can only assume that you mean that you are more likely to break something mechaniclly in a GTR...

Perhaps he means on the edge, with a GT-R on the ragged edge your corner and straight line speeds should be higher then a GTS-T and at those higher speeds more care and skill is needed. If your not driving your GT-R on the limit then I agree, you can mash the throttle as much as you like and for the most part the car is well behaved.

Ask Mushroom about how my GT-R behaves when it hits boost around a very mild sweeper.......

[lilmike86]

the car will be driven at its limits most times. i think i will go with the mx5, just because its different and unique. still undecided on the engine though, and this is going to be a tough one isnt it damn indecisiveness!

i think what i will do is get the car and upgrade its suspension and handling first and work from there. otherwise i'll never decide. get it feeling right then up the power however i choose to. still, the suspension setup i had in mind will set me back close to 5k good though.

[MajorSick]

There is no question that a GTR is the way to go.

The question is does 4 wheel power worry you ?

do you want to be put back in your seat when you put your foot down ? or do you want to lose traction in a 2 wheel car ?

[lilmike86]

no it doesnt worry me, i used to own a very very quick gtir, so i'm used to awd power. that might be why i havent gone out and got another gtir i guess.

i think i'm going to have to go and drive every possible car that i'm considering.

[MajorSick]

when your ready to feel what a fast gtr feels like im sure any one of the gtr drivers in SAU would take you for a spin.

althernativly anna and andy have a very fast GTS-T and there are some very fast ST's such as

SubZero33's car scared the sh1t out of me at the Skyline cruse

[666DAN]

Old-school supercharged MR2, then turbocharge it

[IanB]

Slight Correction mike:

The GTX familia did not have the B6T in it... It had the BPT which is a 1.8T, just like the BPD which is also 1.8T but with stronger internals and a larger turbo with more boost. If I was to do a swap on a MX5 it would be with a BPT, as the halfcuts cost around 2 grand (The MX5 has the BP engine. I have done this conversion before, to my old astina. That thing hammered). The BPD halfcuts are around double that price, are hard to find too. That being said, the BPD is much stronger, but if you keep the BPT stock you will find it hard to break it. I flogged the tits off mine and it was fine. The BPT has 140KW at the fly and hits boost by 2k.

Also, the B8/BP/BPT/BPD are EFI whereas the B6/B6T engine is a carby.

[lilmike86]

no the mx5 engine is a b6. the later models (97 onwards) had a newer BP in them i think.

only 140kw at the fly on a stock BPT, i'd be better turbocharging the stock mx5 engine. or finding just the BPD engine on its own.

but with these sorts of figures i'd be better going to at least a 13bt then?

edit: mx5 specs here

Edited January 4, 2007 by lilmike86

[Mud]

you should buy my R33 and whack an Rb30 bottom end in it!

[IanB]

is the B6 in the MX5 EFI?

And a MX5 with a BPT would absolutly hammer.... Let alone a BPD. Also, the shape and size of the engines are very similiar, as such you wont be f**king too much with the weighting of the car.

I would go the BPT personally, having seen it in action. My little 1.8T FWD astina used to destroy 2.5LT R33 GTST's all the time... (stock ones anyway, modified is a whole different game.) and the MX5 is lighter then the astina.

[lilmike86]

yes, the b6 in the mx5 is efi.

hmmm, interesting. i will have a look into it and see what i can dig up i would rather the BPD if possible and i think i saw one a little while ago for sale.

[LBR33]

Fiat 126 with a RB26 mid mount conversion