Best way to go crazy fast on the cheap? Lightweight sports car.

[Tim K]

It?s not like I have a wad of cash I?m trying to spend or anything, but I often wonder about the most cost effective way to come up with a truly fast car for track days and ?spirited? public road driving.

I have sort of a thing for ultra light weight cars like the Lotus 7 (kit cars, not originals) or the Ariel Atom. In theory they should be less expensive to drive and maintain while still being stupid fast due to the low weight.

It?s pure fantasy for me to consider owning something so impractical, but I?ve spent a fair amount of time running track days on a race prepped Yamaha R1. My knees are no longer up to a rice rocket, but a cheap track car would be a ton of fun

[arbol]

Go carts? They look like a lot of fun. Otherwise, most every car I see seems underpowered. At least when compared to a liter bike.

Oh, and I guess today that the electrics are in play? A Tesla, with front and back wheel motors, is pretty fast.

-John

[bellavite1]

Do it!
Do it now!
There may be a law against it tomorrow!

[BushMasterBoy]

ZR1 Corvette. Stupid fast. Made in USA.

[kidicarus13]

https://slingshot.polaris.com/en-us/slingshots/

[Erni]

Well do you want to go fast or feel like you?re going fast?

[BPTactical]

I was going to say a Kart.
A 125cc shifter kart is insanely quick and a 250 will have you crapping your pants with a big smile on your face.
Just remember to downshift before a corner[Coffee]
Or:
https://youtu.be/u9MV8xmmsso?si=8ZPxnPjq01SbyXzP

[encorehunter]

Pull the motor out of the R1 and put it in a go cart. I was trying to figure out a way to put a Hayabusa motor in a lightweight car. Twin turbos, it puts out around 600hp.

[ray1970]

I like the cart (kart?) suggestions.

There was an event at one of the big NASCAR tracks where they were racing shifter carts. The lap times for the carts were right on par with the cup cars. Going off of my poor memory, while the carts were slower on the straights they actually carried more speed through the corners. Crazy stuff.

[.40isthenew.45]

Miata is the answer to all things..... ok just kidding but for $ to fun ratio they are hard to beat. Be careful though, the rabbit hole is deep. I had to go to the wayback machine to find the documentation on my trip down that particular hole...
https://web.archive.org/web/20230608063249/http://racing.systemstrategies.com/

[O2HeN2]

I've had the hots for an Ariel Atom ever since I saw it on Top Gear. Street legal in England, don't know about the US except I once heard it could be imported as a kit car which you can license. It'll even carry a passenger which you could terrify.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v4YNkurhLk

O2

[eddiememphis]

Miata is the answer to all things..... ok just kidding but for $ to fun ratio they are hard to beat. Be careful though, the rabbit hole is deep. I had to go to the wayback machine to find the documentation on my trip down that particular hole...
https://web.archive.org/web/20230608063249/http://racing.systemstrategies.com/

Yup.

Cheap to buy. Parts aren't gonna rip your lips off and there is a huge community for support.

[SouthPaw]

You need a Leroy (https://www.lsxmag.com/news/cleetus-mcfarland-goes-for-broke-with-leroy-the-savage/)

https://i.postimg.cc/VNXyh0CF/leroy.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

There was a C5 for sale on FB a few weeks that was basically a running car that had been stripped down to the frame but I can't find it now.

[Martinjmpr]

Well I'm biased but IMO the best way to go crazy fast for cheap $$ is with a motorcycle. Under $10k or so will get you something that will go faster than you will ever be comfortable with.

I had a Honda 919 (naked 900cc sport bike) for about 6 months in 2021.

How fast would it go? I have no idea, I lost my nerve around 125 mph but the bike still had plenty of power.

I paid $2500 for that bike.

EDIT: Just had to add a photo. It was a great looking bike, too.

96208

But the seating position killed my knees so I had to sell it. I miss it sometimes.

[ray1970]

Well I'm biased but IMO the best way to go crazy fast for cheap $$ is with a motorcycle. Under $10k or so will get you something that will go faster than you will ever be comfortable with.

I had a Honda 919 (naked 900cc sport bike) for about 6 months in 2021.

How fast would it go? I have no idea, I lost my nerve around 125 mph but the bike still had plenty of power.

I paid $2500 for that bike.

EDIT: Just had to add a photo. It was a great looking bike, too.

96208

But the seating position killed my knees so I had to sell it. I miss it sometimes.

That would be the correct answer if the OP didn?t exclude it in the original post due to age and/or health issues.

[ray1970]

An 1100 horsepower Razor looks like fun.

Maybe you could try building something similar?

https://youtu.be/q8CITqz6tbE?si=Y2UraSUc3dmtVQmq

[colorider]

Just got rid my son’s 95 Honda Civic hatchback. Had a JDM engine swap done, race headers, vtech etc. Sitting on coil overs and modified suspension. Thing was a total kick in the ass, especially in canyons. Dropped a valve and called it quits. Was fun while it lasted.

[Sawin]

My brother in law has a built (and i mean BUILT) Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4 that's pushing 600bhp and it was pretty cheap, all things considered.... It's super nice to look at too. Turns heads everywhere we go.

[Clint45]

If you want cheap and fast, this is an odd choice, but seriously consider a 1st generation V6 Toyota Solara. 1MZ-FE engine is stupid fast off the mark, will beat most stock V8s no problem... only issue is the speed limiter kicks in around 125.

If you want something smaller, perhaps a vintage Mazda RX7. Very fast cars, but you need to tinker on them constantly, and good luck finding a shop willing or able to work on a 40 year old rotary engine.

[battlemidget]

Start keeping an eye on autotrader dot com

[Hummer]

I've had the hots for an Ariel Atom ever since I saw it on Top Gear. Street legal in England, don't know about the US except I once heard it could be imported as a kit car which you can license. It'll even carry a passenger which you could terrify.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v4YNkurhLk

O2



Fun video, and what a car! I was a fan of the Lotus Super 7 and wanted one back in the day but it didn't seem very safe for street use in the 60's and 70's, and much less so today. I lusted for a Europa but bought a Lotus Elan +2, which was much more rare. I raced and ran autocrosses with it for 7 years.

[BushMasterBoy]

I saw a 1997 C5 Corvette yesterday. Supercharged 383 stroker engine with nitrous bottle, 6 speed manual. I am sure it will go 230MPH. Location is KCOS.

[BushMasterBoy]

OK here it is...

https://www.phillongford.com/used/Chevrolet/1997-Chevrolet-Corvette-ccbd3eca0a0e0a911de09c9f66de06b7.htm?utm_source=au totrader.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=autotrader_listings

[Tim K]

Oh, boy. Good thing I don’t have $20K burning a hole in my pocket.

[colorider]

Go on Youtube and check out the TX2K24 races going on right now. Some serious fast street cars. All are "street legal" even though some have a parachute to slow them down. My 18yr old and I have been watching and are going to spend the whole afternoon today spectating from the couch.

[DDT951]

Here is how to do it.

Book a flight from Denver to Frankfurt (or Munich).

Rent an M3 or an M4. Make sure you have a Sunday.

Find some low traffic Autobahns. Go for it on speed.

Next drive the Nurburgring and rent a race car and book a day at the track.

Drive back to airport fast. Return to Denver.

You get speed.

[colorider]

Me and the kid are heading to Japan in November for 10 days. Already have a car shipper/importer lined up in case we find something I can't live without. This could end up being interesting!!!

[jerrymrc]

Here is how to do it.

Book a flight from Denver to Frankfurt (or Munich).

Rent an M3 or an M4. Make sure you have a Sunday.

Find some low traffic Autobahns. Go for it on speed.

Next drive the Nurburgring and rent a race car and book a day at the track.

Drive back to airport fast. Return to Denver.

You get speed.

We returned in 2020 (covid) but had a great 3 years. 55 laps on the ring. To the OP. I vote a Lotus 7 of some type. 96227

[Erni]

If you don?t mind going German and keeping in mind that there will be service costs. Look at an Audi 8L with the twin turbo engine. Make sure the turbos were done. 420 horsies stock and she will run all day and night at top speed. Plus it will make a fine Sunday church car.

[BushMasterBoy]

The Corvette is a Lingenfelter kit apparently. I really want a fixed roof coupe. Anybody know about the C5 Lingenfelter kits?


96228

[lpgasman]

Do it!
Do it now!
There may be a law against it tomorrow!
Said that in my Arnold Schwarzenegger voice.

[DDT951]

We returned in 2020 (covid) but had a great 3 years. 55 laps on the ring. To the OP. I vote a Lotus 7 of some type. 96227


And then have a beer at the Devils Diner at the end of the open road days and watch the wreck that are brought in....

[newracer]

Miata with an exo-cage kit.

https://static1.topspeedimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/png/202208/exo-cars-diy-superca-4.png

[bradbn4]

get a mazda miata

have flying mazda miata - in Colorado drop a v8 in it. Oh wait - they stopped that a while back.

Still get a Miata - and talk to them about any hop up parts you can afford to tweak that ride to the max.

[colorider]

I've seen some seriously insane Miatas at some of the local car meets. LS swaps, HUGE turbos.......

[SouthPaw]

You need a Leroy (https://www.lsxmag.com/news/cleetus-mcfarland-goes-for-broke-with-leroy-the-savage/)

https://i.postimg.cc/VNXyh0CF/leroy.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

There was a C5 for sale on FB a few weeks that was basically a running car that had been stripped down to the frame but I can't find it now.

Here you go:

https://www.facebook.com/share/djRoaFhchRuTrcMR/?mibextid=79PoIi
https://i.postimg.cc/jSrQpYd9/01-B4-D763-F58-D-4-C18-8-EDB-2-A617389-EAAC.png (https://postimg.cc/N5pHXVX7)diesel fuel station finder (https://gasstation-nearme.com/diesel)

[Delfuego]

get a mazda miata. This...

Or visit Zak and let him drive.

Wait, don't you have kid's? Maybe just give them the money and grow old gracefully.

[Wulf202]

Miata if you're short enough. Aged corvette next.

[mb504]

https://www.worldwidevintageautos.com/vehicles/15744/1977-mg-convertible

[BPTactical]

https://www.worldwidevintageautos.com/vehicles/15744/1977-mg-convertible

That’s gayer than a glory hole at a Judas Priest concert.

[MarkCO]

I kind of wish I had kept my Datsun B201. :)

Miata is a good choice, but they are even getting expensive.

I sold my GTO, but you can find good ones, 2005 and 2006 with well under 100K and under $20K. A few simple mods can get you up over .130 bhp/lb which is a good number.

[mb504]

That?s gayer than a glory hole at a Judas Priest concert.

Is that to say you really like it?

🤣

[Linkless]

Miata will be the least expensive to maintain and can be very quick when set up correctly. I had a Mazdaspeed (factory turbo) with some bolt ons and a megasquirt computer, put down 205hp at the wheels with a braod power curve. I was never the fastest at the track but was always in the top 5. A set of tires was around 600 bucks instead of the 1600+ my brother had to pay for his Z06 and brakes lasted forever.