As some of you know i am rather new here, and have been looking for an ITR for a few months. I do not plan on using it for DD or in the winter. I do plan on showing it some track time but keeping it stock. Basically just to have one to collect, and also enjoy it.

So knowing that what type of car am i looking for?

Do i want one with low miles or does mileage matter?
Obviously i do want a stock one (if i can find one)
What type of condition? Ive never been to a track (i plan on going with my brother) so i dont know what the track does to the car.
(Anything else i'm missing)

So i appreciate everyones feedback i have gotten in the past, and i would appreciate any feedback now.

thanks

 

Mileage matters, but so does price (for most of us, anyway). Lots of stuff on a car wears out with mileage, including the engine, so the lower the mileage, the more time before that stuff wears out. But the downside is, you'll pay more for a lower-mileage car than a higher-mileage car. Is it worth it? Your money, your choice.

Same thing with condition. You'll have to pay more money for a car that's in better condition. Is it worth it? Your money, your choice. (However, I would recommend NOT getting a car for track use if its structural integrity is at risk, such as a car that has been totalled.)

With a track car, some people care only about functionality and not about aesthetics. They don't care what the car looks like, if it has dents and dings and such, as long as it still runs and handles etc. Other people still want their car to look nice, even if they track it. Again, it's your money, your car, your choice.

Most of what the track does to a car is that it wears out "consumables", i.e. parts that are designed to be replaced easily anyway: brake pads, tires, brake pads, brake rotors, brake pads, etc. And did I mention that you'll need to replace the brake pads frequently with track use? My 2001 ITR has about 58K total miles including 7K actual track miles, which is the equivalent of roughly 35-50 track events. I've replaced the front brake pads 15 times, the rear pads 3 times, and the front rotors 6 times. I've had the front calipers rebuilt once. The only other thing I've had to do that might be related to track use is that I had to replace my front shocks a couple of years ago.

Oh, and you'll also want to replace (flush) your brake fluid more often when tracking your car. I generally make sure my brake fluid has been flushed in the preceding 6-9 months any time I take the car out on the track.

Obviously, there's also the potential for going off the track and hitting something. If you do that, then the track does a lot to the car.

 

^^^ well said.

 

I'd look to purchase an R that has already seen the track (lightly) and is somewhat prepared. Let someone else take the hit on mods, but make sure they did it right.

Higher miles wouldn't scare me away provided it had a satisfactory compression test. A low mile car that was not maintained is potentially a worse car than one with 50K more miles that has been maintained properly. If you have any local forums you can buy one off of where you can trace the history of the car and how its been used, this will be a big benefit for you.

 

Maintained meaning: correct oil changes, correct fuel, all other fluids?

what are examples of local forums. meaning my particular state? or other honda/acura forums?

thanks

 

You really don't need to modify the car at all, to take it on the track. Even more so if you don't have a lot of track experience, in which case you won't be using anywhere near the car's capabilities anyway; the limiting factor on your car will be "the nut behind the wheel", i.e. the driver.

 

Don't forget about the wear and tear that comes into play with control arm/rear trailing arm bushings and all the engine mounts especially the lower ones that are hollow rubber they crack easilymight want to fill them in with urethane. Also the chassis takes on alot of stress so you definately want to buy a car that has seen no track and then you put on those miles all by yourself Happy motoring

 

nsxtasy has pretty much said it all...

You can be the cool guy with lots of blue painters tape if you are worried about small rock chips and such. Otherwise, you really wont hurt the car unless you go off... and even then, depending on conditions, etc, you will most likely be fine.