OriginalSterm

A few stipulations...

Reliable
Good learner car
"Street legal" for the time being, still need a tow vehicle/trailer
Potential for local club racing (NASA, PCA, SCCA, etc.) in a year or two
Already has track worthy items (suspension, brakes, seats/harnesses a plus)
Fun to drive

I know there has probably been topics like this already, but the search didn't turn up anything.

M758

What class do you want to club race in?

I would pick the class that you may race in then get a car that fits that class and budget. It is very easy to take nice DE car have it uncompetitive in racing due to certain mods that bump to classes you don't want to run in. Far better to work backwards from the racing class and then DE that style of car.

BTW... $20k is that for the car plus upgrades/repairs?

Noel

I would imagine that you could find a decent 944 (Non-turbo) for less than that.

MarkPcar

Honestly? Spec Miata. Really.

getfast

BMW E36 (95-99) M3?

Strong stock examples are $10k-$15k depending upon year & mileage. Modded examples are $15k-$40k depending on what's been done to 'em.

They're pretty good right out of the box and have a huge aftermarket following as well as infinite "raceability."

They're not "Porsche expensive" to maintain, either.

Just a thought,

Jon

cooleyjb

If you can live not racing in PCA this is one of the smarter ways to go.

TR6

+1. Fun, fast, capable, and the engines are fairly bullet proof. Lots and lots of mod options/parts for them.

schwank

You know 944's. Stick with em. You can do all the work, save tons of money, and not have to relearn. Buy a track prepped turbo for low teens, finish the little stuff and have 5K for maintenance.

Or for even cheaper race a spec/cup 944. Why reinvent the wheel?

doc2s

+1 if you plan on trailing eventually. 1:02s at LRP and 2:17.8 at WGI are the records for SM. not slow if well driven.

Seth Thomas

BMW E36 1993 to 1995 model or M3 1995-1999

I currently have a 1995 325 I am working. Suspension, brakes, wheels, everything needed for track I will have less than $5k in it. This is a car that can easily be driven on street and to the track. This car has no interior with the exception of the front seats and still has a radio in it. All the parts for the car are readily available, cheap, and reliable. The car is very easy to work on. The motor in the car is bullet proof and when it blows a stock replacement 2.5L is cheap (less than $1000). All the parts off a M3 bolt up to the car so in the future it can easly be made to go as fast a M3 can around the track. For reference on speed, this past weekend a guy with a BMWCCA I-Prepared prepped E36 M3 did a 1:33.9 at Road Atlanta. That would be a car that is capable of doing 2:06.xxx at The Glen.

All in all the E36 chassis is a great place to start with in doing DEs. It can be made light, isn't that powerful so it teaches momentum into a turn, it is fast enough at the track to pass people, it is cheap, it can be thrown away if wrecked at the track. It is in my opinion one of the best cars for anybody to start learning with because of its ease of driving and predictability at the limits.

OriginalSterm

Normally, I would agree about picking the class before picking the car. But in this case, it would be purchased for DEs and may move up to club racing when I'm ready if it's a car I would be willing to race.

For DEs, the wife would be sharing the car and she hates driving the 944 now. She doesn't feel comfortable in it, and refuses to drive it on the track. We have shared her E36 M3 and the car is a blast, but in excellent shape and totally street trim. So it would make more financial sense (and wouldn't ruin a good street car) to buy something a little more prepped.

Matt Marks

Miata or Integra. Lots of cheap parts available and can easily be converted to a full race car.

944 Turbos will break your 20k budget very quickly - unless you are prepared to do a LOT of your own work (priced a clutch job recently?). The non turbo cars are cheaper, but finding a well set up one that isn't worn out or set up as a full on race car isn't cheap or easy, either.

Ray S

944 or early 986

J-RAD

A person could also easily find a '00+ Boxster in the specificed price range and be ahead of the game. A much better choice than a Miata, IMHO.

A 944 S2 or a 968 are decent choices too. I'd probably pass on the 951.

OriginalSterm

944 series cars are out, and I want to avoid a turbo anything since it wouldn't fit in some of the lower club racing classes. Plus, the typical increased cost of ownership.