Looking for a car for the track. Want to keep it street legal so I can tool around in it if I want (I will). I'm looking at mostly Porsche 944, Nissan 240sx and 300zx and Mazda Miata. I had a thread up here about 944 that I wanted to buy, but it's rear end gave out a few days after I looked at it good thing I didn't buy that! Does anyone have any good suggestions for other models and makes? I want to keep the inital cost at below 5,000 (it will be a lot of work and a lot of money will go into it, I know). Start naming!

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3-16

Neons have proven track record, and, 5k buys you alot of neons. They are very cheap, very durable, and have good aftermarket support.

You want to find an ACR.

Everyone has their own opinions on what they like. You want a fast cone carver, or to be unique (and fast)?
http://www.allpar.com/neon/scca.html
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

That has been proven to be absolutely false with those cars.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

It you want something with a big aftermarket base, solid platform, and cheap....


BMW E30.





You can pick up a clean E30 non M3 for cheap. Think 2-3k.


I have a few friends who use them as their daily driver and track beater.




But also - the MX5/Miata is hard to beat. Its another awesome peformer that does not cost a whole lot.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Neon-hardly any manuals, not safe, butt ugly-thanks, but no thanks.

190E-nice, but again, manual hard to come by, and I don't think my dad's down for racing a 4-door

E30-actually hard to come by, especially for that price range, 4 door issue (2 doors are even rarer) and a little boxy for my taste--not completely ruled out though.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

About 99% of the 190E 2.3-16 are 5-speed manuals with the dog leg'd Getrag transmission . . . as for 4-door racing . . tell your dad that it didn't bother

A. Senna or N. Lauda . . .

Why do they take harder hits on the dirt track then other compact cars? They're cheap, so they get neglected/abused. Anything neglected or abused breaks. Very durable running gear.

Stepping off my box.
Have fun.

~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

OK, I was talking about 190E's in general. There aren't any 2.3 16 valves on craigslist.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

So does every other econobox, and you don't hear about Focuses Cavaliers, Carollas, and Civics crapping out before 100k all the time.

How far have you gotten on your original drivetrian?

Back to the OP, MX5 is a good way to go. There are alot of good turbocharged Toyota cars from the 90s too.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I think someone on the board was selling one recently....

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

Alright, after much deliberation and pressure from me to actually get this project rolling, we've decided to go with the MX-5. I would have liked a more powerful car, but I'm just a beginner, and this is the best affordable class. We also very well get a new car next season anyway. Or turbocharge the MX-5. I'll keep this list in mind whence we start looking again.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

And from the looks of those mountains, I doubt that 190E is anywhere near me. It looks good though, that would be nice. I asked my dad, the first words outta his mouth were "plain vanilla" when I asked him what he though. It'd take a fair amount of convincing, I'm sure.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

"Power" is relative . . . for instance, if you ever have a chance to drive a Formula Vee or FF, you'd be surprised how "powerful" those little buzz bombs are, especially when your butt is just a few centimeters off the tarmac.

It can't be beat in terms of fun, cost per fun ratio, and ease of keeping it both fun and street legal. Nice choice.

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1984 300TD