Intro and Best HPDE rattletrap for $1500?

Hey all first post here so I thought i'd start with an annoying one. Not going to leave it open-ended, I hate that myself.

A little intro: Got married, have kids, moved, sold my clapped-out AE86 because no place to put it and thought I was done with it/took it as far as I wanted to after 5-6 years.

Fast forward a few years and I'd like to get back on track, just HPDE stuff and a car to tinker with. I'd do a second car if I planned to compete or anything, so this one is just for fun.

Cheapo HPDE car, $1500, running, reliable, suspension modification path not littered with a bunch of custom work. Basically want a car that has a manual and a tach that I can throw some suspension and tires on without fabbing anything or looking for discontinued parts, and go on track. I'd like to keep it smog legal and able to be street registered as well, I don't have room for a tow vehicle or trailer.

1. AE92 Sedan or Coupe Apparently a decent amount of suspension available, 4AG swappable, stock 4AFE I assume will never die. Could probably find a GTS for 1500 since it's not an 86 but I rarely see GTS FS.

2. EF Civic Will probably have to be a DX if hatch. I don't want a kid's ex-project. Alternatively EX Sedan, but i've found it's hard to find 5MT unless from an "enthusiast" and i'd rather avoid the tax.

3. DA Integra Stock B series is nice, even if it's a LS/RS.

4. B13 Sentra (not SE-R, although i'd like) I know nothing about these, I had a B12 and it was a crapbox and unreliable.

I am really interested in the AE92 option, I just have no experience with the car, sedan or coupe. I know Honda/Acura is always a popular choice for good reason, but this car may have to be street parked occasionally and i'd rather not have it walk off in the middle of the night.

What say you GRM? Feel free to give your own suggestions, I am Japan biased unfortunately because that is my experience but willing to consider everything.

TL:DR What's a decent handling, reliable, up gradable car for $1500 for HPDE E36 M3s and giggles (note I didn't say fast, but it'd be nice to have an option to make it so later).

If those are the choices, I'd likely lean toward the Integra.

Miata (GRM version of FIRST!)

Wanderer wrote: 1. AE92 Sedan or Coupe Apparently a decent . . . .. . .. I assume will never die. .

Don't ever say this.. . .

For $1500 I can hook you up with a 2000 Accent. Talk about indestructible..... although it'll be slower than balls.

Welcome! As you know if you've read this forum, Miata is always the answer. So there's that.

Now to really answer your questions. I've been in your shoes. Married, kids, gave up HPDE. Wanted to get back into it...though I never did, I wound up getting into LeMons racing. If you're going for a $1500 track car, there are cars to be had, but not a ton of variety. Honestly, I'd look for the cleanest already track prepped car you can find for that money. I wouldn't be as picky with what it is. If it's in good mechanical shape and appears to be well sorted, I'd jump on it. Could be Escort GT, could be Civic, Toyota, whatever. Get the most track ready car you can find.

That said, in that price range it is pretty much in the end going to come down to what deals you can find on anything that you might consider. I would instead focus on creating a master-list of cars that you might be able to score a decent enough deal on to make the budget practical. (posted at same time as Klayfish, I agree with him)

As I said in the last post, Miata, given that you will have to take a good long while to find one cheap enough. Even then, it will need a $400+ roll bar.

A friend has had fun and success with a Hyundai Accent (surprisingly durable), you might look into what is workable in the Korean market. That said, parts become a bit more uncommon. He mostly auto-x and rally-x's the car, so you might need to tack in an accusump for longevity.

FB Rx7 ?

Some friends of mine built a Le-chump (24 hours of Lemons and Chumpcar) Saturn SC2. That has been pretty rock-solid (several races, only one motor blown, keep in mind endurance racing).

Look to LeMons and Chumpcar for inspiration. What works there will likely work well for you.

(your list looks very FWD baised, is there a preference there?)

FC rx7 should be cheap enough for an N/A one.....

+1 for Integra and I have an AE92. There aren't that many suspension choices or much of an aftermarket in general (certainly not as good as the AE86) and you'll be fighting a crappy camber curve and nasty roll center changes that come with lowering every step of the way. Parts specific to the coupes (like body/interior stuff...common replacement parts are still easy to get) are getting very hard to come by these days. Stock 4AFEs are indestructible (you can say it, they're that tough) but you can't really afford less power than a 4AGE for track use (which are also indestructible)....swapping is good though as you avoid all the heavy luxury stuff of the GTS model (like the mad-heavy front seats).

The only reason I'd say you should go with the AE92 instead is if theft is really that much of a problem. The only people who will steal an AE92 are scrap metal thieves, and once modded, they can be very nearly as quick as a (similarly modded) Integra.

I just have coilovers with hard springs and negative camber and apart from the sketchy shocks I'm running, I'm 8/10 of the way to the best possible suspension setup for this car.

+1 on FB Rx7. I bought a used Spec Rx7 last year with full safety gear in it for 2k. Done a few trackdays with it and I feel as if I wreck it I leave it.

Miata or RX7

Both have much better chassis for track duty than a FWD econo box. Although smog on an carb'ed rotary can be a challenge in Cali. If not in Cali, then you should be OK.

In reply to amg_rx7:

He's in Cali.......I'd recommend finding anything pre-emmissions testing there.

I vote integra. Just install a fuel cutoff switch and paint whatever wheels you put on it flat black. And add wheel locks. Just to make it a little harder for them.

Get on local SCCA or NASA forum (if you have one) and just watch for something to become available and buy the best prepped car you find rather then looking for a specific model of car.

e36s are pretty much at the bottom of the depreciation curve.

Thanks for all the fast responses, I was going to check back tomorrow lol.

I would 100% prefer RWD, I just picked these cars because of budget. E30 325s i've thought about as well but I have no clue on their reliability or weak points. I see quite a few hovering around the $1500 mark regularly. Are my "scare me" feelings about BMW unfounded?

As far as the Miata, that's a no-go as awesome as the car is. I have a long torso and am 6' tall, I've driven them before and felt comfortable, but the top had to be down. I had fun though.

I admire the rotary Mazda offerings, maintenance scares me only because I want to be able to smog and register the car. I have heard the NA versions of the 12/13b are fairly reliable. On the other hand everybody I know with an RX7 only has it running half the year, maybe exaggerated.

Saturn SC is a good idea, I don't know if I could get in the spirit of it, but I know functionally they're not bad cars at all, especially the twin cams.

Theft is always that much of a problem for 80s-90s Hondas, I live in CA. Until I have bigger than a 1 car garage (we have two cars already) the car will be street parked a good part of the time. It's unfortunate because I realize this as one of the best options, and if it wasn't for this it'd be a no-brainer for me to pick up a DA. I guess there's a reason 75% of the Hondas on CL are salvage title.

Power is not a huge factor, I just need to get back out there, learn lines, momentum, have some fun, anything over 100hp is fine really. I'm easily amused.

Thanks for comments so far, much appreciated and it's good to be on a forum with experience on more than one make for stuff like this.

bmw engines are pretty tough - e30 values might be a stretch at 1500 - earlier e30s with an m10 engine are a little on the slow side. e36s are also tough engines, but you have to consider the cooling system a wear item and replace prior to failure not after. No scarier than anything else - do your own work and parts prices don't look bad at all. They do have a little less capacity to tolerate deferred maintenance or neglect.

Neon.

93EXCivic wrote: Get on local SCCA or NASA forum (if you have one) and just watch for something to become available and buy the best prepped car you find rather then looking for a specific model of car.

I know this is the fastest and cheapest way out on track but i'd prefer to prepare the car myself. For me that is half the fun

Porsche 924/944. Although the 944 is the better car, your $1500 buys a nicer 924 than 944. Also, 924s are simple cars that drive like "real" Porsches but cost like old VWs to maintain.

FWIW I took my own advice on this one & bought a clean 78 924 for HPDE use

In reply to M030:

Yes! I have seen a few 924 and 944s around 2k. How is parts availablility for the 924s? I actually really dig 70's stuff like that.

depends on if you live withing driving distance of Atlanta craigslist or not....

I vote early e30, of course. $1500 won't find much in THIS area (DC) usually, but elsewhere perhaps. Everything here is overpriced like a mofo.

Otherwise, I'd lean 2nd gen Integra.

ebonyandivory wrote: Neon.

+1 on this. I'm loving my $700 DOHC coupe I bought a couple months ago. I think with sticky tires and coilovers/rear sway it will be an absolute hoot. Very fun revvy engine. GREAT shifter with the booger bushings. I think you could find a pretty nice one for $1500 if you're patient.

E30 will destroy a 924/944 on maintenance costs, and be as fast (or faster, in the case of a 924). The trick with E30s is to find a 325i or 325is, NOT a 325 or 325e. While the latter make good commuter cars, they aren't great for the track thanks to their low-rev engines. And, for myself now owning a 325i, I wouldn't ever want to go back to a 4 cylinder E30, though I know they have their fans.

E36s are pretty affordable now also, and aren't as highly sought after as E30s. Parts prices for 3 series parts are generally inexpensive, though the various models do have their weak spots (generally, the cooling systems and suspensions wear out).

Front wheel drive sucks unless you're driving a low HP car. I learned to drive FWD pretty well and was reasonably quick in mine, but RWD is vastly more fun.

I'm 6 foot tall and track a miata. Basically invest in a nice racing seat, sit it as low as possible and you will have plenty of helmet room.