Newbie trackday questions...

[dapearson]

Hi all,

First post so be gentle ;)

I'm looking at getting a 200sx (or something similar) for a bit of fun over the next year or two. I'm planning on doing quite a few trackdays to keep my hand in after quitting racing at the end of last year. A few questions...

What are they (s13 or s14) like for track work? Any recommended mods before venturing out?
I've got a limited budget of around £2k to get me started. Should i buy a decent s13 or an older and higher miles s14? :confused:

Feel free to suggest some cars that are for sale. I'm really unsure what to do so any pointers would be well received!

Cheers,

Dave

[mav]

Well if it helps I took my S13 which was totally standard at the time to Castlecombe, It handled extremely well and out powered alot of other cars on the straights including an Audi S3 and Mercedes V10 Kompressor, to such a point I lead the session for the best part only giving way to a drifting 5 series (I wish people would learn that there is a time and place for drifting and an open track day isnt it) and a couple of kit car.
The S13 is a great all rounder, however now im upto stage one the next time I go out will be very interesting.

[rallycross]

Hi

Have done something similar myself, was looking for something cheap to use on track when not competing (and share with a couple of mates who do not race).

First couple of year we used a sprint prepared Golf Gti, then a road saloon 205 GTi, then when we wanted something rwd we bought a 200sx.

Tried a few standard s13 200 sx's and a standard 200 is not much use on the track, crap suspension, crap brakes, lots of turbo lag, seats that don't really offer any lateral support. But In their favour = reliable, rwd, lsd (late S13) and cheap to buy. (not triedan S14 yet).

Suspension and brakes are the first problem to fix before using one on the track, our car now has lowered suspension, bigger brakes (big disks & 4 pot callipers on the front and proper brake pads all round but still suffers easily from fade), plus some engine/exhaust improvements to give a nice even spread of torque and less lag.

So far (2 years worth of events) its been brilliant, no problems at all and pretty much foolproof behaviour on track - a lot of people have driven it in the past year, many of them novices and it's been fine.

On tighter tracks (eg Lydden) its great fun and fairly easy to slide, with sticky Yokohama Ao48 tyres it's surprisingly grippy and takes real provocation to get it to slide. On faster tracks, eg Donnington or Bedford Autodrome it's even more impressive, really quick down the straights and good in the faster corners. Have had it out on track at the same time as my EVO 8 FQ300 and it will almost keep up eg - through the craner curves almost as quick, and at Bedford down the long long back straight top speed not far off the EVo's and Subauru's - so not bad at all for £3k!

have noticed it's massively more expensive to run on track days than the hot hatches were, it eats tyres, brake pads and fuel, but then its so much more fun / qiucker its only to be expected.

I would say it's better to buy one thats already prepared as the parts are not cheap (well not compared to bits for Pug's etc).

Another plus is that because its a Nissan it never seems to go wrong! when its not used on track days it just sits outside the house and it never fails to start, never lets water in, so it makes an ideal track car.

[unipsycho]

Get the s13 :nod:

[J..]

Hi all,

I'm planning on doing quite a few trackdays to keep my hand in after quitting racing at the end of last year.


Dave

Hello! :)

What's your background mate? May help people in terms of advice....

Does your 2k budget include mods to the car? If yes, then I'd go s13. I've got an s14 so probably not much help...... but if you're used to racing; bigger brakes (won't last long before fading as std) and a set of coilovers (car is well balanced but soft as std) are pretty much essential.

But most importantly if your buying an s13 take some time to find a nice one.

[stevec]

do about 800 on the car, a few hundred quid on an engine refresh (bigends etc)

coilovers.. 500
Cage 500

need a few more quid to make one really cool though..

alternatively, buy one with a shot engine and do a rebuild yourself.. you'd get the car for practically scrap value.. It doesn't need good bodywork, all parts can be scourced on here in the breakers section. but you do need a decent fresh engine. oil cooler etc.

I'd say don't bother with the S14 unless you can get one real cheap.

once done you will wonder why it too you so long.

Good luck.

Steve

Ps the S13 handles better too ;):p

[SM]

£2K isnt a lot for a trackcar.

Whichever you buy you'll need to spend around £500 on suspension, if not £1000 (coilovers, ARB's, camber/toe and other arms, some subframe locking collars)

£500 on a cage, and £500 on brakes.
Throw in some gauges, intercooler, exhaust and oilcooler and your at £2K worth of mods before you have hiked the power to 250-280BHP

However you should be able to find a S13 for £2K with most of that stuff already done :thumbs:

Personally I'd go for the S14, but not on that budget.

I've just bought a S13 for the track purely becuase I couldnt afford a second S14 for the track.


I'm also skint, so need to budget well, maybe too well :rolleyes:
However look at what I've got down, not that some of these parts prices are second hand from the board, some are new costs, but gives you an idea. However this is for a well specced trackday car and you could get away with a lot less, some bits I'm robbing from my s14 ex-trackday car.