14N Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Been having conversations with my mate about track day cars etc, with the thoughts of getting something with a budget of £2k (goings halves on it and all associated expenses). We're thinking of a Clio 182, strip it out, fit seat(s) and harnesses etc and generally just having some fun in it. But apart from buying the car and doing the above, don't really know much more about what's involved. We'd obviously do more research before taking the plunge on a car, but I quite like the idea of learning as we go. I know a few of you have cars/toys you use for track days and there is one major hurdle that we may fall at before we even get started - we've nowhere to keep it! So I was wondering, where do you guys keep yours? Is my assumption that you are lucky enough to have enough room/space at home to keep it, along with spares etc, or are there other options such as renting units, barn space, garages etc? And if so, what (rough) costs are involved? This is just an idea two car enthusiasts have at getting their kicks and it may not even progress any further than just an idea. But I figure this was the best forum and resource I have to ask such questions. Cheers, Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 A lot of the fun is working on your track car before and after track sessions so a suitable shed or yard close to home or work is ideal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 Mine is in the garage now, but it used to live on the road. Or the drive, depending on what I needed to use next. If you're going to share a car, please draw up an agreement on who pays for what if the other person writes it off on the first corner. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14N Posted May 8, 2015 Author Share Posted May 8, 2015 That's another of the aspects I'm looking forward to/interested in Alex. And that side of things would be me as the other guy doesn't even own a socket set Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieran O'Quick Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 (edited) There's always the problem that one party gets more bitten by the bug than the others and wants to spend more, leading to rows. I'd recommend doing a one shot deal on an old crap car for one track day. It's cheaper than renting a car and you'll get the feel for tracking. Or just go to a trackday somewhere and see what other people are doing. I've had great inspiration from that. The important thing to remember is that driving flat out is fun - but we seldom get to do it. No speed cameras FFS - get some before it's banned. PS Why not use your Z? Edited May 9, 2015 by Kieran O'Quick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grundy Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 There's always the problem that one party gets more bitten by the bug then the others and wants to spend more, leading to rows. I'd recommend doing a one shot deal on an old crap car for one track day. It's cheaper than renting a car and you'll get the feel for tracking. Or just go to a trackday somewhere and see what other people are doing. I've had great inspiration from that. The important thing to remember is that driving flat out is fun - but we seldom get to do it. No speed cameras FFS - get some before it's banned. PS Why not use your Z? Think you missed the idea of this thread He's looking for a cheap dedicated track car to tinker with by the looks of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian@TORQEN Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 There's always the problem that one party gets more bitten by the bug then the others and wants to spend more, leading to rows. I'd recommend doing a one shot deal on an old crap car for one track day. It's cheaper than renting a car and you'll get the feel for tracking. Or just go to a trackday somewhere and see what other people are doing. I've had great inspiration from that. The important thing to remember is that driving flat out is fun - but we seldom get to do it. No speed cameras FFS - get some before it's banned. PS Why not use your Z? Think you missed the idea of this thread He's looking for a cheap dedicated track car to tinker with by the looks of it. He meant your zed!!! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 There's always the problem that one party gets more bitten by the bug then the others and wants to spend more, leading to rows. I'd recommend doing a one shot deal on an old crap car for one track day. It's cheaper than renting a car and you'll get the feel for tracking. Or just go to a trackday somewhere and see what other people are doing. I've had great inspiration from that. The important thing to remember is that driving flat out is fun - but we seldom get to do it. No speed cameras FFS - get some before it's banned. PS Why not use your Z? Think you missed the idea of this thread He's looking for a cheap dedicated track car to tinker with by the looks of it. He meant your zed!!! :lol: Well that joke made no sense ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 You need space, tools and time... Space to store it and to work on it. Ideally not the street as sometimes you just need to leave it half dismantled on axle stands while you wait for spares, have 'a life', etc. For me, this means it lives in my garage - measures about 5m x 5m. Tools. Lots of them. And money to buy more of them. I do all my own work bar tracking & alignment and you'll soon find out what you're missing when you start doing the more specialist jobs - wheel bearings, bushes, clutch, etc. Once you've had it 6-12months the rate of tool buying will decrease. Time to enjoy driving it, time to make a weekend away of a trip to a far flung track somewhere and time to fix it afterwards. Up to track day #4 or 5, I definitely spent more time fixing it than driving it. That investment is now paying dividends though and now it's much more reliable than it was. All in all though - I bloody love it. Yes it's an expensive time consuming money pit, but the experience of hooning around a track, slowly getting faster and faster, overtaking something else that 'should' be faster than you and even occasionally making mistakes, makes it all worth while. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 A lock up or rented garage at a block of flats should be pretty cheap pending where you are, gumtree is a good bet for finding cheap rentals. I know Clios are good and very capable in the right hands but i hear they can be pretty unreliable, the last thing you want is to turn up for a trackday and find after a session or two some thing breaks and rights off the rest of the day. I would go for something Japanese, Mx5, even a throw away Rx8 if engine goes, i have some mates who have Micras and they are surpringly good or go down the Mk3 Mr2 option. If its just fun and a bit of fettling, outright performance doesnt really matter imho. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryjax Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Will pm you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 we've kept all our BMWs road legal, taxed and insured, so are kept on the road outside my flat. If i need to do any work on it i just move it round the back of the flats and do work in the residents car park. as for general stuff, the only thing you need to have a great time on a trackday is a car! but i think a clio, stripped out as much as possible, with a bit of extra money spent on some tyres (running on 15s?) and some decent brake pads and fluids. but why a clio? you know thats wrong wheel drive right?!? if you had £2k to spend on a car it'd be BMW 330ci for £1400, £400 on some decent tyres, and £200 on some decent pads. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14N Posted May 10, 2015 Author Share Posted May 10, 2015 Thanks very much all. Some great pointers and useful insight. Will keep you posted if the idea develops any further. Many thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke0549 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 It's a great idea, and one we all think about a lot I'm sure. But doing it is complicated. I would suggest you each buy your own car and do track days together. Or just make your 350z your track car. I've done many track days, in 350z and other cars/bikes but having the money and time to do it is hard. But if you've got surplus money/time burning a hole then go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 If its road legal you want it close to your house really, otherwise theres no point keeping it road legal ......... Id add that a proper trcktoy invariably needs a lot of fixing so again is good to have close, a clio or MX5 you could leave anywhere and just turn up and drive it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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