Reliable and easy/cheap to maintain will always be better than fast & temperamental.

Personally I think RWD cars are a lot of fun on the track. Others swear by FWD.

E30 or E36 chassis 3 series non-M BMW's are some of the best and most versatile cars ever made for these events. Donor cars in good running streetable condition are $1000-$7500 depending upon how new and nice you want it to be. They're very reliable if properly maintained and parts aren't more than parts for an average Honda or whatever.

Other fun affordable RWD platforms include... '87-95 Mustang, C4 Corvette, S13 240sx, a variety of Camaros/Firebirds, MANY RX-7's, etc.

Now having said that, you won't be "racing" for several years, gotta do a bunch of schools first, and the car can be pretty close to stock for most of that if you want it to be. So buy what you like, buy what you want to work on and upgrade over the next few years, and buy what's fun.

Good luck!

Jon

 

Thanks Jon, that was great info.

I would agree with you on a RWD drive. I am going to source an FC RX7, since the rotary is where i am most at home. (unless of course i run across a nice RX3... )

After all the reading i have done i realized.....There is alot more to this than i expected. I think i remember why i went straight-line when i started with cars....lol. At least I have the wife's support on this which is awesome!! It should be a good time!!

I look forward to meeting you at an event, hopefully sooner than later!

 

e30

 

!

 

trader.

SE-R!!!!!

 

If I recommended SER's to everyone then everyone would buy one...leaving no more for me to buy.


This guy needs a E30, leave the B13s to me!!!

 

wow are the spec-vs really that good of car? I know a guy who autocrosses one but that thought just never crossed the mind when thinking about a cheap track car.

First thought is always a miata and second is a bimmer. Those are two of the best fe/rwd setups for the money.

I've got an 80mgb if you wanna take a look. Ran when parked (1995)

 

No they are not that good (They will be in about 3-5 years when you can buy one for 4-5K). The B13 is the boxy late 80's to early 90's Sentra. The B15 is Chassis code for the SER and SER SpecV.

 

B15

B13

 

Convertibles need approved rollbars for pretty much everything except autocross. I'd stay away from them and go with a hard top car. The suggestion earlier to buy a used, prepped car is also what i'll do next time.