I'm considering my options for next year. I won't be able to afford club racing for another few years, so won't be building the CX for ITC anytime soon.

So, my options are...
1. Keep truck, buy cheap track toy (early Miata, Neon ACR, etc).
2. Sell truck, buy nicer track toy/daily driver in the $15k range (no more, since I can't justify putting a $20k+ car on the track). Think E36 BMW, newish F-body, etc. No need for rear seat - Laura already gave her blessing on a "sports car", so maybe previous gen Vettes would work too.

Currently leaning towards option #2. Anyways, I know there was just a discussion about cars in that price bracket (RacerBowie's thread maybe). The E36 BMW came up as one of the better options. So, I'm looking for online resources or personal accounts of the cars.

Questions that come to mind...
1. Do any do well in stock class autocross? I think E36 325 is in GS with the ITR. And E36 M3 is in BS with the S2000.
2. What about STS or STX? What type of LSD does the factory 325 have (ie is it viscous for STS)? I'd think a 325 could do reasonably well in STX.

For autocross, think large local events (FedEx) - if I want to run nationals, I'll just bum a ride in a known ringer. DSP/BSP is too steep for my wallet at this time.

3. If memory serves, VANOS became available in 93? Is VANOS worth the weight/complexity? And in 94 they got traction control and passenger airbags? Did the 94+ weigh much more than the 93? What about the 96+ 328 - does the power increase warrant the extra expense of the newer car?

4. Does anybody know where I can find a listing of options and packages that were available on the cars? Or a VIN/RPO decoder? Obviously would want a car that had any sport options, esp if it had a better FD, LSD, etc.

 

Vote for cheaper track day car. Sell the truck and get something more practical (like a Protege 5 since you were looking at those).

I may move into something cheaper next year, like a 92-95 integra RS. Shells are cheap if I hit something and can build it for ITA/H4 while I drive it.

 

No Honda/Acuras for me. As soon as I do anything to it, it'll get stolen.

That's just NOVA for ya.

And buying two new-to-me cars is unlikely. I'll either keep the truck and get something old and cheap, or sell the truck and get something I like to drive everywhere. Laura's Civic will get replaced in a year or so, probably with a G30 or something similar, so I'm not worried about family transport.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No Honda/Acuras for me. As soon as I do anything to it, it'll get stolen.

That's just NOVA for ya.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I havent had any problems. Park it on the street. Drive it to work sometimes. Just not to the mall.... you wouldnt have any problems with a RS/LS integra - thats just what I'm looking at, but there's plenty of other cheap options.

 

Keep tow vehicle, get an E30 325. Never ever ever track something that you cannot write off as a total loss.

 

Aren't you listening? I don't want a P5 and a teggy. Or anythign else and a Teggy. Old Teggies do nothing for me. If I was going to buy a busted old Honda, it would be a CRX. But I'm not.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Aren't you listening? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Arent you listening?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Vote for cheaper track day car. Sell the truck and get something more practical (like a Protege 5 since you were looking at those)</TD></TR></TABLE>

No busted *** honda ownership implied here.....

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><FONT SIZE="8">I</FONT> may move into something cheaper next year, like a 92-95 integra RS. Shells are cheap if I hit something and can build it for ITA/H4 while I drive it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Note emphasis....

E30 or Miata would be good cars. Or and old SSC/SSB car that's not nationally eligable/competitive anymore.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I was going to buy a busted old Honda, it would be a CRX. But I'm not.</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats where you are making the mistake! CRX &gt; Integra

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Aren't you listening? I don't want a P5 and a teggy. Or anythign else and a Teggy. Old Teggies do nothing for me. If I was going to buy a busted old Honda, it would be a CRX. But I'm not.</TD></TR></TABLE>

He doesn't listen, I've learned this after years of dealing with him.

Him - "Buy this, buy this, this is what you want."
Me - "Shut up, no, it is not what I want. Shut up! Stop it now."

rinse, repeat daily.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mike C &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Keep tow vehicle, get an E30 325. Never ever ever track something that you cannot write off as a total loss.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How would an E30 price compared to Miata or Neon? If the truck stays, I'm looking at $3k or so purchase, and $2k-$3k to make track-worthy (tuneup, rollbar, etc).

I have no plans to track something I can't write-off. That's why I'm limiting myself to about $15k (if I sell the truck). If there wasn't a limit, I wou;dn't be asking about 10 year old BMWs (I'd just go out and buy a new one).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How would an E30 price compared to Miata or Neon? If the truck stays, I'm looking at $3k or so purchase, and $2k-$3k to make track-worthy (tuneup, rollbar, etc).</TD></TR></TABLE>

Very similarly, but it will likely have lots of miles.

 

I thought about an old SSB/SSC car, but don't want a full cage, as the car would see frequent street use. If I ever get back into w-2-w racing, I'll buy or build something properly. But that won't happen for a few years minimum - mortgage payments and trying to save for the kid's education are owning my wallet.

 

I would look at the E30 option... or E36, I like both and both have their pros and cons. A recent issue of GRM actually compared the two as well as the E46 and had some good information to consider.

At any rate if I were you I would sell the truck and get in a BMW... E30 most likely. They are cheap but as mentioned will probably have some miles on it. That's no biggie really though; refreshing the suspension and making it track worthy to an extent shouldn't ding you for too much.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by h22avid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would look at the E30 option... or E36, I like both and both have their pros and cons. A recent issue of GRM actually compared the two as well as the E46 and had some good information to consider.

At any rate if I were you I would sell the truck and get in a BMW.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's where I'm leaning right now. Do you recall which issue of GRM? I subscribe, but don't recall the article (I might have lost one or two when I moved).

 

Not sure it was within the last month or two though I'm pretty sure, I'll check when I get home tonight. The cover had a white E30 M3 with a purple stripe accross it.


Modified by h22avid at 12:08 PM 10/13/2004

 

I haven't opened that issue yet, but isn't the article only about the M3s?

But yes, it was very recent.

 

Just to clarify, I'd want something reasonable competitive in autocross - either in a stock class, or possibly STS/STX. Miata fits the bill in ES. Neon could do GS or STS and not be a total underdog. BMWs, I'm not sure - thus all the questions (which nobody has answered yet).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you recall which issue of GRM? I subscribe, but don't recall the article (I might have lost one or two when I moved).</TD></TR></TABLE>

it was last month's issue. the article compared the e30, e36, and e46 M3's (not 325's).

jeff

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jeff R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it was last month's issue. the article compared the e30, e36, and e46 M3's (not 325's).

jeff</TD></TR></TABLE>


There was an article last year or so that compared the 318, 325 and M3 all E30 variants. I check at home for which issue.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just to clarify, I'd want something reasonable competitive in autocross - either in a stock class, or possibly STS/STX. Miata fits the bill in ES. Neon could do GS or STS and not be a total underdog. BMWs, I'm not sure - thus all the questions (which nobody has answered yet).</TD></TR></TABLE>

E30 325 is not competitive (at least nationally) in autocross anywhere except for DSP, but that might be more prep than you're looking for.

 

Yes, it's only the M3's... reading owns me, I didn't catch the part about 325's

Still an affordable option though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by h22avid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Still an affordable option though.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not to put in to a wall.

 

I've heard that E30s can be relatively expensive in relation to the E36. Other heresay I can offer is that the E36 does well in autocross and tends to kick (944) *** in SCCA. I have no real experience, first, second or thrid person with the f-bodies. If it were me and I was tracking a daily driver I'd likely go with something like a '95 M3... but I'm prolly biased. FWIW the GRM issue rated the E36 the best daily driver and I think best all around.

 

I'd sell the truck if you're not using it.

If I were in that position I'd be all up in some E36 M3 action. They're fantastic cars and don't seem to break much. Leave a little on the table when you're tracking it (so you don't throw the thing away) and smile.

 

GRM article mentioned that owning an E30 can become expensive compared to E36, because of age and relative lack of ease in finding parts. Of course, the article was talking about M3s, but I think you could make the case for regular 3-series too. Don't see too many E30 running around, while there are still tons of E36 3-series. = cheaper, more parts.