Best Driving Buys:
Track Cars

May 3, 2007 - By John LeBlanc

Driving enthusiasts and golfers share the same desire for an early spring. Duffers want to see green grass; drivers want to see black pavement. And for some of the more hardcore drivers, the pavé noir of a racetrack is preferred.

If you’re looking for a pre-owned production vehicle than can handle a few days being thrashed around a racetrack, the variety has never been greater. Here are a half-dozen based not only on their power-to-eight-ratios and their deft handling at the limit, but also on their affordability, durability, and available aftermarket community support for parts, knowledge and advice:

1997-1998, 2000-2001 Acura Integra Type R Considered to be one of the best handling front-wheel-drive cars ever, the limited-production four-passenger Type R compact three-door comes equipped with a modified 195 horsepower 1.8-litre four banger form the cooking GS-R. That may be more ponies per litre than a V8 Ferrari F355, but with a maximum of 130 pound-feet of torque at a lofty 7,000 rpm, you’ll need to get accustomed to the shrill, V-TEC sound. The manual transmission was enhanced with lower and closer gear ratios from second to fifth gears to better take advantage of all that high rev flavour. Daily driver rating 3/6 Minimal sound insulation and no A/C on ’97-98s, it’s noisier and bouncier than a cooking Integra. What you’ll pay $10,000- $17,000

2004-2005 Dodge SRT-4 A by-product of DaimlerChrysler's long-time grassroots-racing program and their Street and Racing Technology (SRT) in-house tuner group, the front-drive compact four-door sedan SRT-4 is not your sister’s Neon. From Dodge’s aftermarket parts distributor, Mopar, a turbo bumps the stock 2.4L four’s power to 215-230 h.p, and 245-250 lb.-ft. of torque. Further off-the-shelf Mopar enhancements can see over 350 h.p. Stiffer shocks, springs, Tokico struts, larger sway bars, firmer bushings, upgraded steering rack and knuckles, and a unique K-member help transform this one-time grocery getter to an on-track apex hunter. Daily driver rating 6/6 Four doors and a trunk boost practicality for non-lapping days. What you’ll pay $18,575-$21,275

1999-2002 BMW M Coupe The Frank-em-coupe was basically a two-seat, rear-drive Z3 M Roadster with a grafted-on hatchback. Aesthetics aside, the roof definitely shored up the Roadster’s notoriously noodly chassis. The first two years saw a 240 h.p. 236 lb.-ft. of torque 3.2L I6 under the M Coupe’s long hood. A 325 h.p. 261 lb.-ft. of torque version appeared in ’01 that, save the GTR LM engine from the McLaren F1 super car, was the highest specific output naturally aspirated production engine ever made by BMW. Daily driver rating 2/6 Cramped for two, with barely enough cargo room for your Speedo—I’ll take mine in black. What you’ll pay $20,000-$25,000

2003-2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Coupe Gladly turning to the aftermarket, Ford's Special Vehicle Team mounted an aftermarket Eaton Roots-type blower on top of their Mustang’s 4.6L V8 resulting in 390 h.p. and 390 lb-ft of torque. Even today’s Shelby GT500 doesn’t come with the rear-drive SVT Cobra coupe’s independent rear suspension that included Bilstein shocks and larger front antiroll bar. Pie plate-size Brembo front rotors with PBR dual-piston callipers and a Tremec T-56 six-speed transmission further make the SVT Cobra track ready. Daily driver rating 5/6 Four-seat, three-door Mustang ride quality, cabin space and day-to-day functionality aren’t sacrificed. What you’ll pay $25,000-$29,000

1993-1998 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe A common car zealot’s lament: “I can’t afford a 911 as a track car!” When a new Carrera starts at $100 big ones, understandable. However, go back two generations of 911 to the Type 993, and a rear-engine, rear-drive Porsche is affordable. Reserving a parking spot in the hearts of Porschephiles, the Type 993 was the last 911 to use the air-cooled flat-six cylinder engine Porsche first employed in the ’63 901. You can spend more on a 993 Turbo or GT2, but a good ol’ Carrera hardtop coupe with a 272-285 h.p. 3.6L still does 0-100 kms/h in the low fives and tops out at over 260 kms/h. Daily driver rating 4/6 Reliable, safe and fast, an everyday sports, er, track car. What you’ll pay $32,000-$41,000

2001-2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 The C5 ‘Vette targeted for track dogs is one of the best performance bang-for-your-buck rides today. Where the standard C5 accelerated from 0-100 kilometres an hour in a not-too-shabby five seconds, the Z06 can easily shave a second from that time. The 385-405 h.p. 5.7L V8 was backed up by a nice, round 400 lb.-ft. of torque. An upgraded suspension, larger wheels and tires, six-speed stick, tighter gearing and brake cooling ducts all make the Z06 very track friendly. Daily driver rating 1/6 Loud, cramped, poor ride, rattle-prone cabin bits—none of which you’ll notice when lapping at warp speeds. What you’ll pay $34,000-$44,000

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, straight-six.com