What do you think of a MB CLK 55 for a track car?

For what its worth, none of the three cars mentioned are really good track cars. If you want to have fun rescue a 360 Challenge car from someone who isn't using it anymore.

 

Are you sure you'd want to track a car with an automatic transmission? I'd be looking at BMW M3s or older 911s. The AMG has some serious power, but the transmission would be a sticking point for me.

 

Behave ! It will be awful - its about a ton too heavy so the brakes will last about two laps and its also too heavy to go round corners

Buy an Elise for USD 20 000 or even a GT4

 

Too heavy, too heavy, too heavy.



S2000 + Supercharger
Lotus Exige or Elise (they may seem weak on paper but their hp/weight ratio is good - except the earliest ones)
E36 M3 with Turbo

Upgrade the suspension on the M3 or S2000 and you're ready to have sh1tloads of fun.

 

Find a E36 M3 before they are all gone.

 

These are great suggestions!

 

Don't forget the Lotus 11 is out!

 

A Merc *#&@edeez for a track car???!!!!

Why not this while you are at it?!

Hint: weight bad...agile vehilce gooood
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LOL

 

+1 LMFAO!!!

E36 M3 imo, letsjet.

 

It is really hard to beat a Miata for a track car. They are like that damn bunny. They just kept on going, going, going, and going.

Plus, at many tracks, the track records for the Spec Miata is faster than the Ferrari Challenge cars. Go figure.

Dale

 

With some searching you might find an '95 E36 lightweight for in the $30K range. It's a limited production car intended for the track. Use it for a while and then perhaps sell it for as much or more than you paid. You'll get attention whenever you drive it.

 

e36 lightweight is good car if you can find a clean one for 30k. I would look for e46 m3 with 6sp or smg. Price for e46 has dropped alot and you can find one in 20s for one of the eariler e46. I took my e46 with smg to track few months ago and it was just fun but car could use another 100+hp. Also, used c5 zo6 is great buy as well.

 

Short answer : no .

Heavy , autobox, poor brakes, soft suspension and expensive to fix.

Id look into a Porsche 993 if you want to stay in the same budget and the car has to be street legal .

 

Track a 348 for 35K. The benz is too heavy and is set up for autobahn blasting like NASCAR oval kinda stability. You and autox the 360 and be safe relative to being on a roadcourse. At autox you hit maybe freeway speeds and thats it. Also, cones cause no damage. You don't even get any rock chips from rocks on the track

 

You can always pick up small displacement sports cars and just strip them down.
A lot of the japanese sports cars are good to start off with. S2000, 350z, RX8, Miata.
Used Elises/Exiges will do well, too. There should be quite a few examples on sale that have many, many mods that are more geared towards track and autocross outings.
Even in stock trim those cars will do great around a track. Plus, their small displacement engines will make you more keen on shaving time off your laps through smoother driving rather then brute acceleration.

I'm not sure how well the S2000, 350z, RX8, Miata stand up to minor crashes or now expensive it is to find replacement parts.... but the Elise/Exige can be quite fragiles with the wall. Well... the tub itself is surprisingly sturdy. So you'll be safe in that sense. But the bodywork on those cars are basically made out of paper and it takes VERY LITTLE for them to be damaged. And because each piece covers large portions of the car... they're expensive to replace.

Track parts are widely available for all the above cars, as well as technical help through forums and such.

Good luck!

 

No offence, but you picked just about the worst car for track. Heavy, automatic, not a great handler, no sport seats, so-so steering feel. I can't believe you would consider tracking an unmodified one and to bring one up to a something approaching acceptable you will have to spend so much money that you might have as well bought something much better in the first place. A civic SI will KILL it on AutoX, get a used SI if you want something "mild" yet street legal. Otherwise... and old M3 and some mods will get you a very competent track car. Even a simply big engined E30/e36 BMW 3 series. Can be had for peanuts and they have HUGE aftermarket for track performance, will absolutely kill the Benz.

 

You'd be surprised....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1pzOuzV8iF0

 

This beats F1 and DTM hands down.