Track hack/project car build cost?

[SpeedySub]

5 minutes ago, GC8E2DD said:

I raced my $9k Type R for years without spending anything more than regular maintenance on it. If you keep them factory, they can take a beating with regular maintenance. Additionally, a WRX is already a pretty fast and highly competitive club car out of the box when you're starting out. You will find your driving limits before the car runs out of potential.

Sweet. I may have to have  a good sit down and have a really good think about it now.  I think most cars will have more potential than me at the moment

[loner]

15 minutes ago, GC8E2DD said:

I raced my $9k Type R for years without spending anything more than regular maintenance on it. If you keep them factory, they can take a beating with regular maintenance. Additionally, a WRX is already a pretty fast and highly competitive club car out of the box when you're starting out. You will find your driving limits before the car runs out of potential.

 

The unfortunate thing is that you are including a 10k rebuild as regular maintenance... which is a reality.

[GC8E2DD]

Actually that was a $6k rebuild after running a bearing at Manfeild with a motor that had done 200,000kms of goodness knows how much thrashing. I doubt that would have happened at a street sprint or autocross, and I also hadn't bothered with a baffled sump.

[SpeedySub]

So maybe set aside a couple of grand for spare engine rebuild along the way? I do have a friend who is building an Audi race car and will soon have a good garage set up, so might have to sweet talk him into letting me use a bit of space to do a engine build. Thinking maybe pick up a short block and prep it over time as a spare when I do break it

[boon]

Cheap racing = pickapart/trademe motors, anywhere from $200 to $2000 per motor, just get real good at swapping them over. If the engine only lasts you a year, so be it. As mentioned, don't worry about more power, you'll run out of skill a long time before even a standard WRX runs out of power. Spend your money on stuff that will make you faster and doesn't have a bottom end bearing to ruin - swaybars, suspension, tyres.

 

If you starve the bottom end of oil or run it into a wall it doesn't matter if it's a $200 picky's special or a $20000 race motor, you're gonna have a bad time, so if you can get reasonably reliable racing out of a stock motor then do that.

[loner]

If you can make a pick-a-part motor last a whole year then great... people I know haven't had so much luck... and end up going through several motors a year and not getting much racing done at all. 

[SpeedySub]

So hopefully tonight will have a better idea of how much money I will have to play with.  Max amount will be 10k.

Im thinking I will make a list of cars that I have been looking at and get you guys to give your opinions so I can narrow it down to a short list.

 

Also might ask any members in the area of the cars I like if they can have an initial look if possible.

[SpeedySub]

Got the go ahead tonight. Just have to wait for the funds to come through.

I have been looking through trademe and on here at cars. I have decided that I want to get a pretty stock car and looking at wrx wagons. Looking to spend under 5k and do the suspension, sway bars, tyres first and have some fun then look to engine mods in the future. 

[Guest]

There is a tidy as gf8 v5 in si somewhere on fb for 4.8k. Might be worth a look.

[Guest]

27 minutes ago, evowrx said:

There is a tidy as gf8 v5 in si somewhere on fb for 4.8k. Might be worth a look.

 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/467133216707948?view=permalink&id=1130753220345941

[SpeedySub]

25 minutes ago, evowrx said:

There is a tidy as gf8 v5 in si somewhere on fb for 4.8k. Might be worth a look.

Thanks will keep an eye out, you don't remember what page it was?

Ive found a few on TM but alot are in the North Island. Depending on price and location I dont mind travelling. 

 

You beat me too it. Thanks forvthe link

[SpeedySub]

Damn wont let me see it.

here are a couple I have put on my watch list

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/auction-1151256884.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1148838067

 

 

 

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, SpeedySub said:

Damn wont let me see it.

here are a couple I have put on my watch list

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/auction-1151256884.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1148838067

 

 

 

 

Either of those looks ok if they stack up in person. First one looks like its nz new.

[SpeedySub]

I do like the look of the white one.

The title of this thread is probably not quite correct. Was thinking that way at first but now thinking weekend warrior family wagon style.

[Munkvy]

Main thing is to make sure the cooling system, engine and gearbox are healthy. Get them checked properly including leakdown and compression. Otherwise when you blow an engine in your 2nd or 3rd event, it will quickly put you off racing! Then yes, if you plan on being competitive, don't cheap out on things like sumps or maintenance. Racing is expensive and S*** breaks quickly if you are pushing.

 

Talk to Sam though, he has managed to keep his car running over quite a few events, I suspect he has some mechanical sympathy though. And road tyres probably helps too. But doesn't stop him being quick.

[SpeedySub]

1 hour ago, Munkvy said:

Main thing is to make sure the cooling system, engine and gearbox are healthy. Get them checked properly including leakdown and compression. Otherwise when you blow an engine in your 2nd or 3rd event, it will quickly put you off racing! Then yes, if you plan on being competitive, don't cheap out on things like sumps or maintenance. Racing is expensive and S*** breaks quickly if you are pushing.

 

Talk to Sam though, he has managed to keep his car running over quite a few events, I suspect he has some mechanical sympathy though. And road tyres probably helps too. But doesn't stop him being quick.

Thanks for the advice. Looking at starting with autocross/motorkhana out at ruapuna. I am going to look for a tidy well looked after and serviced car to start with. Some of the checks might be a bit tricky depending where I get the car from. Might have to try find a good mechanic nearby to the car to check it out.

[ginganinja]

i know it ain't a wagon but if you are looking for a track car. what more could you want than this! DCCD, RA goodness, how much better can you get really. and the price is unbelievably good.

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1168424969

[SpeedySub]

43 minutes ago, ginganinja said:

i know it ain't a wagon but if you are looking for a track car. what more could you want than this! DCCD, RA goodness, how much better can you get really. and the price is unbelievably good.

 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1168424969

I've put it on my watch list.  Looks good. Would be a good one to bring back to its full glory.

[ginganinja]

totally agree with you there! ideal to bring back to mint factory condition. has all the goodies for an ideal track car. also very good cheap targa rally car too.

[chulozumo]

Also has the helical front diff, would be lots of fun. Been watching it since Sunday as well 

[ADIKT]

You can't get a better track car platform for that kind of money. Do it

[SpeedySub]

5 minutes ago, ADIKT said:

You can't get a better track car platform for that kind of money. Do it

Thats the plan now. I still have to wait for my money to come through, and win the auction, but already have checked out prices of flights up. Also looking for some in the are to check it out.

Funny I went from full on weekend track car to slightness modified car to stock and from wagon to sedan.

Really liking the idea of bringing this back to showroom condition.

[SpeedySub]

Been in contact with the owner, hes sending receipts and a video of it running.

Im a bit worried about buying it from another city sight unseen though.

[chulozumo]

Get this guy to check it out, then buy his link when picking it up 😉 

 

 

[boon]

Devil's advocate: That's a shitload of money to spend on a flogged-out RA.

Everything in the suspension will be rooted.

Even with the rebuild of engine and gearbox all the various stuff that attaches to them will probably also be rooted.