budget track cars

[vroom-chirp]

ok, if theres anyone els in here, im lookin for a cheap affordable sports car to tear up on the track and auto-X.
im trying to narrow down these "budget bad boys" to eventually chose the most cost efficiant car.

budget track cars:
FR:
89-93 240sx (favorite as of now)
early 90s miata (zoom zoom)
FF:
early 90s crx/civic
early 90s eclips
but i dont know what others to consider, help me out here. i just wanna have fun and not pay alot for spare engines or parts that get broke, so far the 240 is the most reasonable that i know of..... [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[Vracer111]

Miata's are always an excellent track and autocross car...that would be my choice (and actually is what I plan to replace the Camaro with eventually). For FWD, I'm particularly fond of the 90-93 Acura Integra's. They are easy to make handle very well and fairly easy to work on.

[vroom-chirp]

the integra is one that i had in mind aswell, but i wasnt to sure on the prices on that car..i know its a step above honda wich means alittle more $$.
so what type and year miata are you gonna get?
i have heard nothing but good things about the miata. should be more easy to work on than the camaro, miata is only convertible right?

[HokieBird]

Yeah miatas are all verts. You can buy hardtops for them if you want one and if you do spec miata races you have to have one. In japan there were actually miata coupes, but it never made it over here.
http://www.miata.net/news/images/MiataCoupe2.jpg

They are super fun cars and great for auto-x.

When I saw this I thought FC RX-7, but then I read "spare engines". So thats out. What about some of the older VWs like a Golf or a Scirocco. Maybe something british like a Triumph or a MG. E30 BMWs make good autocross cars too.

[Vracer111]

Originally posted by vroom-chirp:
the integra is one that i had in mind aswell, but i wasnt to sure on the prices on that car..i know its a step above honda wich means alittle more $$.
so what type and year miata are you gonna get?
i have heard nothing but good things about the miata. should be more easy to work on than the camaro, miata is only convertible right?

I've had 2 '90 Integras...this last one ('90 RS - the lightest 2nd gen made) I got for $1300 with 114K miles on it for my brothers daily driver. The motor and transmission are in very good shape with it...and that integra loves to rev. Put another $1500 into it from replacement and aftermarket parts I had for my previous integra (Raxle CV shafts, new Main fuel system relay, oilpan and valve cover gasket set, aluminum exhaust cam cap with high quality O-rings, Tokico Illumina dampers, Eibach Pro-kit springs, and some old 15x7 American racing Spyder wheel which we put new Hankook R-S2 Z212 tires on). That integra autocrosses better than my Camaro and probably could keep up on a road course as well.

I was considering the 1995+ miata because that's when the 1.8L engine was standard in all miatas. Like HokieBird said all US miatas are convertable...right off the bat the convertable would be removed and replaced with a full roll cage and hardtop. The interior would be fully stripped because I cannot fit in a stock miata... I can fit in a spec miata though as I've helped drive one up a trailer for a guy who is a little taller.

[vroom-chirp]

that did look like an RX-7, this sucks! Japan always has the good life!
its hard to find miatas around here, and a BMW would be pretty nice, but too pricey for me.. im lookin for cheap fun, and easy to work on, and a high parts availability...
so far the list goes like this
all early 90s:
240sx
miata
integra
crx
civic
are my top five to concider...what els?

[vroom-chirp]

of the five, wich do you guys think would be the best track car, over all?

[teal99camaro]

the 1980s BMW 5 series cars handle very very well, and arent too expensive

[vroom-chirp]

so about how much does an engine run for one of those BMWs?, cause my grandpa has two 5 seies but no engines...

[V6Bob]

I'd go for the Civic. You're looking for cheap. I would guess that junkyard parts for a 240 would be hard to find, and for a Miata they'd be expensive. Aftermarket stuff for the Miata is likely more expensive too. A 5-series would be just silly if you're looking for cheap. Parts/aftermarket stuff would be $$$.

What would be really good (ie, cheap) would be if you could get one someone's already modded.

A mag called "Grassroots Motorsports" might give you some ideas.

[vroom-chirp]

Originally posted by V6Bob:

A mag called "Grassroots Motorsports" might give you some ideas.

civic does seem a little more abundant than the 240, ive been to junk yards up and down my area, and have come up very short evry time... :-(

[Vracer111]

If you go with a civic, the 89-91 Si would be the one you want. Miata verses Honda/Acura on aftermarket costs is a wash; you will spend nearly the same for suspension components, a little more on braking components, a little less on exhaust components, and the same on tires/wheels (same tire size/wheel bolt pattern) for a first generation miata compared to a '88-91 Civic Si. Buy in cost will be higher on a miata, but you get a RWD sportscar that handles great stock verses a FWD hatchback that handles great after some necessary mods (rear swaybar upgrades, damper upgrades, spring upgrades).

[shenanigans]

Seems like fieros are coming out pretty cheap, I now a guy that has like 4 of them, he keeps picking up running cars for like $400


I think the Miata is a good choice, but if its not your main car I'd look into fieros as well.

[vroom-chirp]

civic si, is the coupe not hatch, right?
seems like a great deal, but im stuck between FR or FF. this sucks..! well i guess wich ever one comes to me first is the one ill go with..since they are both a toss up...(240sx)-(civic) now that ive got my two finalist, ill do the research on the both.. thanx guys...any other suggestioins you got will help too....

[Vracer111]

Originally posted by vroom-chirp:
civic si, is the coupe not hatch, right?

Nope, 88-91 Si is hatchback only:

Looks like this...