Looking to buy a good starter car!

[moneymanager]

I am new to the racing scene and want your feed back on what car to purchase as my first racer....

Thanks

[MrsVlad]

What kind of racing do you want to do?
How much money do you have? It's never enough.

[moneymanager]

SCCA,
Road racing,

One of the prod cars, or maybee even vintage. My car purchase budget is small and I understand all the costs involved, I have been around the vintage scene for a few years and have an associate who is the SE Champ in SCCA. So with that.... A VW GTI, or something? I understand there is a prefference issue here, but...

[lagunamiata]

If I were going road racing, Spec Miata. You can build a car for $10k (or under) or buy one for $10-20k depending on who built it and how long ago. Racing is pretty tight... Cars are bullet proof. Hammer's has 100,000+ on the original engine and trans. He's not a front runner, but has fun.
www.specmiata.com/

My dad raced in CSR and DSR for 30+ years. If you can build your own stuff (chassis, body, etc) it's a good budget place. Lately CSR and DSR have become a buy your way into it class, thanks to Lee Stohr and the Radicall.

[gunther]

Just remember, Racing is not expensive, Its VERY expensive.
Its never fast enough and no matter how much money you have, its never enough..............
With that being said, you might want to rent a ride.
I have an E-production Porsche 914 I just purchased in order to fix up and sell or rent. I'll be working on it in January to get it ready for 2007. If your interested you can reach me at Black Forest Racing in Charlotte. 704-564-7766 ask for Gunther

[money manager]

A 914, I will keep that in mind. Thanks

[chilly willie]

just a thought and a plug for my car ck out the # 58 csp miata it is a pretty competetive car very low mile's on drivetrain & suspension for the money you would have trouble buying a car and prepareing it as is for the money I'm asking you could solo2 it or add cage and seat and do track day's there are several option's with the way you could go I'll be at the Statesville auto-x Dec. 10th with come ck it out.Finished 2nd in point's with CCR this year in CSP. Willie Stock #704 450 3988. I think it's on page 2 of the classified's my e-mail is there drop me a note if your intrested and Ill send you some picture's.

[Chad]

Thanks Willie, I'll check it out and consider it...

[loboracer]

Welcome to road racing. I stared in ITB several years ago and still have my original car. ITB can be an inexpsenive way to get into racing. A completed car can be purchased as cheap as 3 or 4 thousand. Under normal conditions, your two or three big cost are tires, entry fee and weekend expenses. I buget 400 - 500 per weekend. Two set of tires will last a 4 to 6 races. This is if you have a tow truck, trailer and all of your safety equipment.

[soloracer]

Money, pm me. I have some experience in SCCA racing and am willing to help out.

[prancingdawg]

Buy a miata.

[prancingdawg]

AAnd then, make some upgrades....

[NutDriverLefty]

It's probably bad forum etiquette to post a link to a thread on another forum, but there's a discussion of the costs rolling over at Grassroots Motorsports' forums. No discussion about specific cars, but lots of discussion about overall costs, etc.

www.grassrootsmotorsports.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=22063

[mcmmotorsports]

Here is a GREAT starter car:

www.mcmmotorsports.com/hccivic.html

[C4Shane]

Or on the lighter side - you could probably spend less and buy a 1989 Bentley with rich leather, deep carpeting, great AC and sound system. You'd be slow as snot, but you would be very comfortable and the CCR Regional Exec would be grateful!!! LOL.