Bang for your buck in a track car

[steveh]

I have a couple of different suggestions for high "bang" and very low "buck", based on running with a variety of different clubs.  Apologies to Porschephiles, but you all know that "bang" and "buck" are both fairly high in anything made after 1990.

Best "bang" as a DE/Street car: 1991 - 1998 Mazda Miata, 4-pt roll bar, factory hardtop, decent race seats and harnesses, Spec Miata suspension kit.  Total cost to buy or build: about $5,000 - $7,500.  More "track" than "street", but still streetable.  An absolute blast to drive (momentum cars make you a better driver, IMHO) and parts are cheap and plentiful (and wear out more slowly because of the light weight of the car).  I've had mine for two years now, and running costs have been very reasonable -- including a full engine swap that was only about $1,500 (try that in a P-car).  Add a full cage and go racing in Spec Miata for not a lot more $$.

Next best -- Spec E30 BMW.  Again, 4-pt roll bar in lieu of full cage (serious question whether a fully-caged car is legal, or wise, for the street).  Car of choice for BMWCCA guys looking to maximize track time on minimum budgets, and a very-well attended race class.  Looks like average costs of entry are about the same or slightly higher than the Miata (depending on donor car) and parts are plentiful and relatively cheap.  Roomy, high-quality interior makes daily driver duty less of a chore than the Miata.

I'll also throw in a plug for the E36 325.  I have a '92 that I just converted for track use (roll bar, seat, harnesses, some suspension mods).  Paid almost nothing for it originally.  The car has almost 240,000 miles on it, and still runs beautifully.  I use it as a DD (dogs can still fit in the back seat, and there's a roomy trunk) and I love the way the car drives on the street.  It successfully navigated Thunderbolt, Summit Main and Shenandoah this season with no troubles, and I look forward to driving it until it explodes (I'll get my money back parting it out). 

For more "bang" and more $$ -- BMW E36 M3:  prices for good used ones are dropping fast.  Parts are more expensive, but the cars seem to be bullet-proof.  Great street car that needs minimal mods for the track.

N/A 944's seem to be a good choice too.  Relatively low cost to get one, and the Spec 944 guys tell me the cars are relatively inexpensive to race.  Also a very attractive "classic" street car.  I don't recommend the 951's (fantastic car, but expensive to maintain).  Huge race classes at NASA events.

Finally, 80's-era 911's seem to very popular.  Higher price of entry but air-cooled engines are pretty reliable.  Absolutely stunning street car (love the look) and wicked on track (another momentum car, but much faster).

I agree that the Corvettes are fantastic street/track cars, but late models still seem to be fairly expensive to get into. Running costs should be low, as GM parts are cheap.

Just my $.02....