What's the Best First Track Car? (Grip Driving)

Absolute bollocks u can’t really find a s2000 for under €15000 no chance of 8000

86 platform is gonma take over imo

I just bought a 99 miata nb (jdm rs edition) can’t wait to take it to the track!

If you want the best ride with the most grip i cant recommend OP's mother enough.

Check out legend cars. A brand new one is 17k and will dominate most cars on smaller tracks. I really want to get one and put a hyabusa motor in it plus a bunch of aero just to see what it can do.

How does a G35 6MT hold up. I have an old one and am thinking of getting an SUV. Figured I’d hold on to it and track it.

drop the S2000 from the list. too niche, too expensive.
add BRZ FRS GT86 twins

Lol this video did not age well

350z?
Integra?
Wrx?
Bmw Z3?
Boxter?
Cayman?

I would like to throw the Audi TT 8n in for an honorably mention. Bit harder to find parts for but an absolute machine on the track.

If I had to extend this to a top 10 list:

5: FRS/BRZ
6: 350Z
7: VW GTI
8: Subaru WRX
9: Mini Cooper
10: Compact class: Honda Fit/Toyota Echo/Nissan Versa

“My first track car” lol. These cars are all built to the moon … the list itself is reasonable but the examples shown are mostly way too complex for the normal
Newbie. I’ve seen so many of these “track cars” spend more time on the shop than on the track. keep that in mind. a nearly STOCK but track capable street car with fresh fluid and adequate brakes/tires is a good place to start. Guy hit the nail on the head at the end.

I agree mostly with this list, but I would have something like a 5th gen Mustang or modern Charger/Challenger? Why? You are not trying to set lap times at the beginning. So if you do 1-3 events a year. You will gain a lot with seat time in one of these. Yes. Initial confidence may be affected and parts usage is a factor. But I guarantee if you go out in a 4200 lbs Charger and jump into a 2500-2800 lbs car afterward. You will be pushing that thing further than if you had not.

$12k for really nice e36 m3s ya okay lol. Not gonna happen.

Challenger hellcat redeye

S54 only comes in M cars tho. M54 comes in 3 litre cars, which is the e36 M motor.

Don’t know the e36 m3 prices in the US but I just bought an e36 M3 last year for 42.000$ and it’s worth 55-60k now…

me looking if I can turn my ls460 into a track car 💀

TWINGO RS!

10 events a year that’s a ton

No love for the MR2 Spyder. Lighter than a Miata, cheaper than an S2K, unique/affordable Mid engine, can Swap in a K20/K24. IMO one of the best platforms for a track car and its always ignored. Also, the RX8 should be mentioned.

The answer is MR2

The Mitata is cool but not as cool as where I live makes them out to be, imagine you look at a beater miata that you want to fix and track, thinking youre getting it for cheap and you look and its 9k, for an NA run down miata, and thats a consistent price, Its cheaper to buy it in another place and just import it but by importing it but all the trouble that takes Id rather just not look for MIATAs

All these cars r so much more expensive now 😢

So I take it the E9 Civic hasn’t gotten ridiculously overpriced? I’m surprised if that’s true. Even if they are still cheap good luck on finding one that isn’t molested. All the ones I see on the road where I live are either beat to shit or riced out to the max, or both. Occasionally I will see this lime green one around where I live that appears to have been garaged kept. Some lil grandma owns it

The frs and brz are incredibly cheap to run

This video didn’t age well with inflation

The E36/46 had S series engines if you get the M versions. Course I guess running a 1994 325is wouldn't be a great idea.

Miata mx5 or corvette???

Great info! Thank you! I'm transitioning from sport bikes all my life. Have had some bad crashes on them. I'm 56yrs young and done with sport bikes. Hooked up with the Subaru community and I purchased a very nice 09 Subaru STI hatchback. Put a new stage 2 AIG block in it. Getting a bigger turbo with front mount intercooler. I have upgraded my suspension with White line components. Looking to have 400whp. Would this be a good car to track or will it eat my money to much? Thank you!

The perfect list. Exactly what I would pick.

BRZ

Miata and one that’s kinda over looked in the USA is the fiesta if you own one and track it you know it’s good

mini?

"Might have to spend as much as 12K for a clean M3" Good God that would be amazing! Cries in inflation...

I will always recommend the C4 Corvette for a first track car. Wide tires/wheels, independent suspension (although weird how) power and handling all for a few thousand bucks

Mr2 is probably the easiest to control option.

Where can you find these cars for those prices cause I can’t find anything m3 for that cheap and I can’t find a s2000 for less then $25,000

I feel like the Porsche boxster is kind of underrated. Mine costed 9k, and I've seen plenty of better deals out there, including boxster S's (with 250 hp) for $10-11k.. You get a car that can compete with a new Miata or s2000 on the track at a fraction of the cost. A used z4 is another cheap ND Miata substitute.

Despite being mid engine, everything is plenty accessible. Front is accessed from a door between the passenger seats, side can be accessed through the rear wheel wells, and top is accessed by putting the convertible top halfway up.

My dad recently passed away and left a stock, old model Mazda Miata. I don't know much about it, probably a 4 cylinder gutless automatic. I thought about throwing some tires and maybe suspension on it, and taking it to the track. Should I even bother, or am I a fool? Looking for a weekend hobby and nothing more, well possibly a way to remember my dad a bit.

miata reviewer is goofball .

Sweet that e36 m3 with high miles is 25k now lol

Nissan 350z

Oof this video really hasn’t aged well with the Honda S2000 costing 40k for one that isn’t a pos. Car really isn’t worth a buck over 20k stock.

This is all very good information! I started with a BRZ and did 20 track days my first year and was cheap on consumables but I wanted faster, bigger, nicer so I got a 2022 Camaro. As much as I love the car I kind of regret buying such a fast heavy car because now my cost for 1 track day is easily $1200 a day. Now I just picked up a Gas Go Kart because I cant track the camaro as much as I want to. The Kart is way cheaper and just as fun lol!

2023 Corolla GR

$12000 for an m3 😆