What Track Car Would You Buy? - Starting With A Clean Slate

[NickR33]

but they sound like arrrrrrse

do the opposite of what I did... I sold my perfectly good 33 GTSt track/street car to buy a big power 33GTR... cos I always wanted a GTR... now I can't track it cos I bought a really clean one and can't bare to dent it and can't afford to maintain it as a track/street car... weight is a killer on the pocket

and my wife dropped a bomb on me the other day... even though the GTR has about 600hp and is blur your vision fast she says to me, 'your old car was more fun'... agh... I think she's right too

I'm with Roy... R33GTSt... strip it, GTR brakes and wheels, good suspension, mild turbs upgrade (the stocker is a good street turbo but is a real choker on track)

now someone make me sell the GTR... so hard to do... I need a bigger garage

[hrd-hr30]

S13 is the go for cheap fasts. Something like this would be a good starting point - its got all the basics there - brakes, coilovers, power... A bit of fine tuning to the suspension, a set of semis, and you'll be flying

http://www.uniquecarsales.com.au/pls/unique/!unique_content.enquiry?current_rec=51&page_number=6&vehicle_id=9343167&total_rec=71&sort_type=1&price_max=10000&keywords=silvia&photo_flag=1

[Marlin]

I went with a GTS-t for a couple of reasons;

1. RB's sound awesome, I just cannot cope with the 4 clys of the S chassis.

2. having tracked GTR's, they're far too dear ongoing.

3. If I were to bin it, it's relatively easy to re-shell.

4. I simply prefer the look of the Skyline.

5. i agree a 33 is a good choice, but I like the more "old school" feel of the 32 and the look.

However, Evo's are very good value now and are very easy and quick, although steer clear of the first Gen, just too fragile. They still sounds disgusting, and are relatively boring, but if any reasonable man valued the dollar for speed, they're a winner.

Cannot argue with the fact that an S13/14 is a very VERY good little track car though!

Edited April 13, 2011 by Marlin

[Beelzeboss]

I'd go with a 4AGE powered Lotus 7 replica, most fun track day car ever IMO.

Light weight, good power to weight ratio, great handling, dead easy to work on, and awesome fun out on a track.

[FineLine]

I'd go with a 4AGE powered Lotus 7 replica, most fun track day car ever IMO.

Light weight, good power to weight ratio, great handling, dead easy to work on, and awesome fun out on a track.

All true but I still cant get away from the fact that they look like a kids billy cart.

[Marlin]

Tend to agree Noel..... not a "real car" in my book. No matter how quick they are, I just can't seem to get interested in them.

[JZP]

Because you said "track car"

Now if you had said Street/track car most answers would be different. I wouldnt be seen dead in a shitbox silvia.

As a track car however they are Light as a feather compared to a skyline and the 4 banga generally costs a 3rd less to get some decent power upgrades from. They are easier on brakes and tyres as well.

It just makes sense for a track only car.

OK, fair enough... I guess it is my terminology..

I kind of 'get' it that the Silvia's are best bang for buck, but (like many here) I just can't get my head around a 4 cylinder. The thought of the EVO is interesting, but it's back to the similar guidelines of the GTR - complexity, cost, etc.

Being a bit old fashioned and set in my ways - I like the sound of the 6 cylinders - and I've also gotta like the look of the car too. I also have a soft spot for the R33 GTS-T's because I used to own one.

Now to start thinking about selling the GTR... plans may be on hold for a while as my tow V8 4WD just dropped a couple of valve seats...

[Marlin]

Wow, small world, just realised I was reading your thread earlier on AusJeep!

[badhairdave]

Tend to agree Noel..... not a "real car" in my book. No matter how quick they are, I just can't seem to get interested in them.

But it's already got your name on it!

I'm probably biased but i'd be looking at s13/14 for a few reasons.

S13 is a cheaper buy in, but on the flip side it needs more spent on it to bring it up to a decent level for track work. It's also more likely to have worn out components that need replacing and budget spec drift mods. It is lighter than an s14 though.

The s14 will cost a bit more but it comes with better brakes has the (arguably) better VCT SR, has better suspension geometry and brakes. It can fit more rubber under the stock guards too.

Both are cheap to mod, particularly brakes as r33/r34gtst ones are cheap and more than ample on the lighter s chassis, both are proven performers on the track with minimal money spent

Plenty of common parts between S and R chassis too if you have old bits from the skyline lying around already.

As for learning, you'll learn more in a rwd with no driver aid's than you will in something like an emo where the drivers have aids

Lap timing stuff, there's plenty available. I have an XT racing timer, but there's AIM and a few others about as well in a similar price bracket.

If it was a crossover street/track car i'd have another r32gtst, thanks.

[JZP]

Wow, small world, just realised I was reading your thread earlier on AusJeep!

Yep, that's me!! ... small world indeed!

[Marlin]

Let me know if you decide to fix the thing..... I MAY have access to a couple of cylinder heads

[JZP]

OK, a stocktake of the vehicles recommended so far:

High on my list:

Silvia S13/14 (has its merits, but still a 4-pot)

R32/33 GTS-T (I have a bit of history here... and guys like Russman do some good times in their car)

Not high on my list:

Aussie car or MX5 (not my cup of tea)

EMO (EVO) (nice, but I don't know enough about them... and 4wd drivetrain that I think will be safer staying away from right now)

STI (Same as the EMO)

Radical/ Lotus/special (I like the idea, but It's a bit 'radical' to my way of thinking ATM. Reconsider if I get more serious)

Looking back at that list... It seems I will be shopping for a Nissan!

.... now to do a list of the 'nice to haves' between each of the models

for the input so far.

[JZP]

Let me know if you decide to fix the thing..... I MAY have access to a couple of cylinder heads

About 2 days too late! I gave Poly the go ahead.... Damn!

[Marlin]

Forget the STi's, you really can't get the power out of them that you can an Evo.... not easily anyway.

And the Radical's etc are way WAYYYY off your alluded budget of 10k. So, we come back to the Nissan's, because a decent Evo is double that.

[hrd-hr30]

the S13 I linked has an RB20

I think the SR would be a better package in that chassis for a track car though.

If you really want a 6cyl just for the sound, I'd go for the R32 over R33. I'm yet to see a budget R33 do anything much on the track. And RB20's sound better than 25's which is, after all, the most important thing

[Marlin]

Harry, Adam sold that S13 we built with RB20, suspension, shit cage, R200 LSD, 5 stud conv, 32 GTR brakes, race pads, new wheels/KU36 tyres, Velo seats, fresh paint etc, all rego'd for $6k. All it needed was a computer, RB25 turbo n tune. Bloody good value I reckon.

What I like about S13 owners is many of them take a good swift kick in the balls well and are very negotiable

Edited April 13, 2011 by Marlin

[JZP]

the S13 I linked has an RB20

I think the SR would be a better package in that chassis for a track car though.

If you really want a 6cyl just for the sound, I'd go for the R32 over R33. I'm yet to see a budget R33 do anything much on the track. And RB20's sound better than 25's which is, after all, the most important thing

Yeah I noticed it had an RB20! It depends on how well the 'conversion' was done...

[Marlin]

http://www.my105.com/ListingDetails/tabid/65/p/19/cid/3916/id/2911/Default.aspx Edited April 13, 2011 by Marlin

[JZP]

http://www.my105.com...11/Default.aspx

Link doesn't work..

[Marlin]

does now