Best Track Slut under $20k
 

I got into a convo @ VIR with a Porsche guy about which car for under (IMO, WAY under) $20k would be. The first car that came to mind would be a FRS. Sure, it's underpowered, but with a few supporting power mods, wheels/tires, suspension, brakes, and aero I think it would probably be one of the best platforms to build a dedicated track car from. Sure a 240 comes to mind...way cheaper, but if you consider that a 2013 FRS is going for around $13k right now, has a fixed roof, and you probably wouldn't cry yourself to sleep for a month slapping it against an armco, I think it's a pretty decent choice. 350Z and a C5 vette come to mind. With the vette I worry about reliability though. 350Z is kind of a pig. FRS being newer means it has less wear and tear to worry about initially. Any other ideas for a $20k budget?

Speed Academy did a review on prepping an FRS: http://speed.academy/scion-frs-track-prep-basics/2/

S2000? Miata? :hello:

Unless for some reason you are not including convertibles in the conversation.

C5Z06, FRS is too damn slow to have any fun.

^^^lulz, it is...but it's got more pep than a miata or e30...and those are really really popular.

Oh by all means. I was factoring in the costs of required roll bars and hardtops though...which creates a bit of a deficit. FRS wouldn't need as much work to have a solid track prep. I can't find a z06 for under 20 within 100 miles of me. Whole reason I bought my current ap1 is because it already had a roll bar in it.

E46 M3 comes to mind now too.

Shifter Kart?

IMHO, solid track prep requires a roll bar / harnesses / buckets and not just a fixed roof vs. a convertible.

Short list of good platforms for a track whore:
- Z3
- FRS
- Boxster
- S2000
- C5 (non z06 will get you under the $20k)
- Mini Cooper
- GTI
- 350Z
- E46s
- WRX / STI
- Evo
- Miata
- Shifter Kart
- Sky / Solstice

As you can see, the list will go on and on, as there's no one right answer.

^^^great list!

Agreed on all but the roll bar...just personally, if I would go roll bar I'd might as well spend that money on a full cage. I'm a bit of an all-or-nothing kinda guy. The guy I was talking to was in the novice group, so most of those guys are running non-prepped cars already.

FRS would get you in a the newest car

C5/6 corvette (as mentioned above). lots of support, awesome V8 torque. easy to work on.
Renegade hybridized porsche 944.

but you know, the answer to every question is miata.

darcy