can't decide on a car

I am currently in the market to try and find an e36 track rat. I only have about $3k to spend on it since i know it will cost some additional funds to get it track ready. I found a nice 97 328i but it has over 200k on the clock and the owner admits it already needs some work. So that could be an option, then there is another car i found which really is too nice to put on the track. It is a heavily modded 92 325i and has lots and lots of new parts. This one has over 300k on the clock but it has been well maintained. I am thinking the 92' would be a good option since most of the vital parts have already been replaced, but my concern is tracking a motor with over 300k on it. As my track car it is going to be providing double duty to drive it to the track race all day then drive me home since i can't afford a tow vehicle right now.

Or should i take option C and keep looking. I was planning on getting a ppi before i buy any car that i am seriously interested in.

Not sure where you are at but I know that recently this caught my attention in Central Ohio for $3k. Now that is a track car! While everyone else runs their German cars you could chase them down in some American Iron.
All it needs is the stick on light for the top

http://mansfield.craigslist.org/cto/2269571473.html

While looking for pictures I also found this - how cool.

The 300k motor wouldn't last long, I'd save more money instead of blowing it all early. You'll end up needing to fix a lot on a cheap car and it will end up costing you more than a lower mileage more expensive car.

In reply to jrw1621:

That is sweet. But considering he said no towing that would probably be out.

$5,000 for someone else's track car goes a lot further than a $3,000 beater and $2,000 for maintenance and mods.

93EXCivic wrote: In reply to jrw1621: That is sweet. But considering he said no towing that would probably be out.

I guess I should read all the way to the bottom next time.
The moral of the story is the same as above that buying ready may actually be cheaper than building.

nderwater wrote: $5,000 for someone else's track car goes a lot further than a $3,000 beater and $2,000 for maintenance and mods.

thats kinda what i was thinking but its hard to find a well done track car thats not halfway across the country.

Yeah thats a nice gran torino but i need a street-able car.

Oh, holy crap, if I had a tow vehicle, I'd sell the Miata and buy that Torino. Pure awesome.

Duke wrote: Oh, holy crap, if I had a tow vehicle, I'd sell the Miata and buy that Torino. Pure awesome.

Sell the Miata. And buy an old Ford truck and that.

I hate to say it since I've been looking for an E30/E36 car to make a weekend/HPDE car with..................but $5k will buy an awful lot of Miata!

EVen though I have no emotional connection to the Miata like I do to the BMWs, I keep thinking that if it's really going to be a toy car, I would actually get to use the Miata more since it would be cheaper to run.

Heck just compare tire prices on 205/50/15 vs 235/40/17 for the two. Before you add in teh BMW will use more gas, takes 7qts per oil change, etc etc etc etc

Wait, I think I just finally talked myself into a Miata.

In reply to z31maniac:

I keep trying to talk myself out of a miata it is hard to compare them to a bmw when you look at prices and consumables. Plus miata's are a dime a dozen there were 4 pretty decent ones local last time i checked, good bimmers are so much harder to find.

I would rather not have the convert when on the track just seems like it would be a better idea to have a real roof over my head.

z31maniac wrote: I hate to say it since I've been looking for an E30/E36 car to make a weekend/HPDE car with..................but $5k will buy an awful lot of Miata!

Why yes, yes it will. Drove it today for the first time this year in preparation for the autocross season opener on Sunday!

Duke wrote:

z31maniac wrote: I hate to say it since I've been looking for an E30/E36 car to make a weekend/HPDE car with..................but $5k will buy an awful lot of Miata!

Why yes, yes it will. Drove it today for the first time this year in preparation for the autocross season opener on Sunday!

Nice find.

jonny330 wrote: Nice find.

Thanks. Consider it my vote for buying somebody else's outgrown track toy rather than starting your own from scratch.

In reply to Duke:

you put much money into it before hitting the track for the first time?

No, it was set up just as you see it here. The PO used it for track days. All I've done to it is freshen up the rear hubs with new bearings, seals, and bushings. I also installed a lightly-used Momo wheel I bought from a guy on miata.net.

My plan is to just tinker a little, dial in the suspension, and simplify the car a bit. It still has working A/C which I'll probably never use, and some owner-added wiring for foglights/DRLs, XM radio, etc. I'll probably start removing that jazz as I do other maintenance/upgrade projects on it.

What it really needs is a fender roll and some 225/50/15 Hoosiers on a nice set of bronze 15x10 6ULs. I will probably only do that if I sell the Pontiac, because that's about $1500 in parts and I am not made of money.

Not bad I would like to find a deal like that. Anyone know where to find a track prepped miata or e36?

That is a sweet miata. Yes, I've always been told that buying is cheaper than building.

jonny330 wrote: I would rather not have the convert when on the track just seems like it would be a better idea to have a real roof over my head.

Problem solved. OK, so add a roll bar that will fit under the hard top, and you're all set.