BEST TRACK CAR?

I have spoken to a few fellow enthusiasts the last couple of days and have narrowed down to Lotus 211 with the supercharged engine. The arguements are as follows:

*The power/weight ration is as of a 430 Scuderia (400 hp in a car that weighs 2000 lb, almost that kind of power)
*0-60 in 3.8 sec.
*The engine is a Toyota unit, it will likely last lap after lap
*The wheels and brakes are relatively small and therefore it's cheap to run
*The chassis is designed by Lotus, the former F1 driver Tiff Needell has said that it's the "best trackday car I have ever driven"
*It has a several point traction control which you can adjust after how much confidence you have in yourself. Therefore you can "grow" with the car.
*Fifth Gear host Jason Plato (a British Touring Car Championship driver) has compared it to the experience of a real racecar because you don't care about the show and just want yourself to go faster. He also stated that chassis is "faboulos"


I know what I want and what I'm gonna get when I get a place to store it, no doubt.

 

Don't feel like going back a couple of pages, so I don't know if it has been suggested already, probably has though.

Edit: Post number 10 has it clearly.

Caterham R500 Superlight

 

Looks like you are leaning street/track ?
If so may I also suggest Porsche 996 GT3. Some can be had for $50k or less now.

 

Nevermind; Just looked at 211. Thought it was yet another variation of the Elise.
One more thing;
If you ever do decide to RACE it. Is there a class to compete in ? If not you are just circulating. Racing is different.

 

Seen the Drivers Republic track test comparing the 211, Atom and R500? Three drivers interchanging and their comments.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=6w8nC77-Ugc

 

I would choose a Caterham Seven. Top Gear tested a Caterham R500 on episode 6 of this year (season 12). It was a very cold day and they were unable to get the tires up to temperature, but it still managed a pretty good time.

Video of just the lap here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SOqKAo2RNM
Full TG episode here: http://www.hessmo.com/Hessmo/TG_Season_12.html

 

Thanks. Lotus is perfect.

 

I am of the same opinion as Verges. The turbo Miatas are fun as are Spec Boxsters which are a good deal of fun with many options to race if you so choose. If you really are looking to go fast Porsche GTC Cup cars are amazingly fast cars with many options to race if you get so inclined. Unlike many of the other unusual cars listed they also hold their values fairly well.

 

You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize that the best track car is the one that excites you most within your budget. Unless you are paying the bills racing, it's only about fun!

 

+1!

 

The corollary to that is buy the a car you can crash into a wall and not cry about it and have money left over to buy a new racecar. Otherwise you will make too many decisions based on $ and not have enough fun.

 

+1

If you can't afford to crash it - don't race it !

 

Glad I found this thread. I have to make the same decision about a car to use at Monticello Motor Club this season. I was leaning towards an Atom or Radical, but now have the 211 and Caterham to consider...

Since I will be storing the car at MMC, I'd prefer the lowest-maintenance option. Ideally, just servicing brakes and tires. I wanted to get into something with downforce, hence the Radical, but sounds like the 211 may be a better fit. The adjustable TC and the ABS are pluses, as well.

 

As a former shop owner and someone who has helped operate the VIR Club for nearly a decade, I would recommend the Atom, the Caterham or the 211, not necessarily in that order. You want a car that is a "production" car, one that you can theoretically drive on the road, just because the way the car is built is specifically for a durability standard higher than something like the Radical or even a Formula Ford. The Caterham has a lot of adherents down here because the dealer is good and shakes the cars down before delivery so there are no serious problems. The Atom has a few followers because it's made on site and the people who build it and own the company are participants. The 211 is attractive because it's built by a recognized company (as opposed to an enthusiastic group of individuals) that has a LOT of practice screwing things together that work a majority of the time.

Believe me, downforce is over-rated. You'll have a blast in whatever you decide. Given the course layout at MMC, I'd rather have something a lot lighter than your average "hot rod" GT3, Z06 or F-car...

 

I would go for a Porsche GT3 then mod the heck out of it!

 

http://www.rufautocentre.com/

In terms of overall reliablity (do mean losely for track use) a Honda Nsx will run you $25k for average condition +10K turbo on a Diet updated brakes few more, looks more exotic than a vette.

 

Just some thoughts, But how about a M400 or something like a Beck 550 Syder set up for the track, Light and cheap?

 

A Sports 2000 car..I have a 1985 Lola T598 that I bought "NEW" in 1987 and drove in SCCA regional, national, and Pro races in 1987 through 1991....what a blast to drive!!!! It's like sitting in a slot car when you drive it..holds the road like glue, 145 MPH top speed, and gets there real fast!! relatively low on maint.....2.0L ohc Ford motor that just goes!!! And I still own the car today. My latest "track car" is a 1983 GTP March/Porsche...and what a trip that car is!!

 

A good friend of mine, with whom I do lots of track days, recently bought a 211. Nice car (actually it's not a "car"...). We drove in Hockenheim, me with my Porsche GT3 RS. Acceleration: at low speeds about identical, at higher speeds (from about 100kph on) much slower than the GT3 (top speeds differ hugely). Cornering: faster than the GT3. Braking: a bit later.

Lap times were identical on the large track (1:59 minutes) but you cant' compare the cars: the Lotus is much slower in the Parabolica so the Porsche will overtake easily, in the following passage it is easy to keep the Lotus from overtaking and in the next lap I just drive away. However, after a couple of laps this effect vanishes and laptimes are identical.

If you are in a fight on a large track you will always be in a disadvantage with the Lotus because of missing straight out performance, even though laptimes are fast. And you can't really drive to the track (although my friend does it...). On the other hand the costs are tiny compared to my RS - but that's a GT. It simply works and suites me extremely well, I really love it.

Martin
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I'm racing a Spec Boxster with the POC. It has also been adapted by NASA and PCA. They are currently working on getting SCCA to adopt the spec. It costs about $35K to build a nice car and it's a lot of fun. Our off track weight is 2650# and the cars put out about 175 whp. There are quite a few racers building cars all over the U.S. with about 15 in Texas already. The spec is for '97-'99 2.5L cars only. A donor car can now be found for under $10K. If anyone is interested, you can find the spec rules here: http://www.boxsterspecracing.org/home/index.php?location=BSR%20Rules
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Very cool. I've been hearing a lot about the Spec Boxsters lately. I think a crew of guys at MMC have built them. Sounds like a great option and sort of entry level into building/modding your own racecar.