Best cheap track day cars
The cars that give the most fun per pound on a UK track day, what to look for when buying, and what they'll cost to run.
You can take almost any road car on a track day, but some are much better at it than others. The best cheap track cars are light, reliable, easy to find parts for and fun at sensible speeds. Here are the usual favourites in UK paddocks.
Mazda MX-5
The default answer, and for good reason. Light, rear-wheel drive, balanced and tough. Older models are cheap to buy, parts are everywhere, and there's a huge owners' scene, including track days run for MX-5 owners. It isn't fast in a straight line, but it teaches you to carry speed through corners, which makes you a better driver in anything.
Check for: rust in the sills and rear arches, worn bushes, and the condition of the soft top.
Honda Civic Type R
The earlier Civic Type R models are brilliant front-wheel-drive track cars, with high-revving engines and sharp handling. They're happy to do lap after lap, and well-kept examples are still affordable, though good ones are getting harder to find.
Check for: rust on the rear arches, signs of abuse, and a full service history.
Renaultsport Clio
The Clio 172, 182, 197 and 200 are popular track day hot hatches. They're light, agile and great fun, and some organisers even hire them out for people who don't want to use their own car. Running costs can be higher than a Honda, so budget for cambelts and suspension parts.
Lotus Elise and Vauxhall VX220
If you want the proper lightweight sports car experience, an early Lotus Elise or its close relative the Vauxhall VX220 is hard to beat. Both are very light, mid-engined and feel special on track. They're more expensive than an MX-5 and less practical, but the way they steer and brake is something else.
Check for: damage to the clamshells and chassis, head gasket condition on Rover K-series Elises, and accident history.
Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ
Modern, reliable and rear-wheel drive, with a low centre of gravity. They're not especially powerful, but they're balanced and forgiving, and they'll go all day without fuss. A good choice if you also want a comfortable daily car.
Porsche Boxster
An early Boxster has become a tempting bargain: mid-engined, beautifully balanced and genuinely quick. The catch is running costs. Engine problems on some early models can be very expensive, so buy on history and get a specialist inspection.
What really matters when buying
- Condition beats spec. A tidy, well-maintained standard car is better than a tired modified one.
- Budget for consumables. Brakes, tyres and fluids wear faster on track. See brakes and tyres.
- Insurance. Your road policy probably won't cover you on track. Read our track day insurance guide.
- Noise. Loud exhausts can fail noise tests. Check the noise limits first.
Our car pages for Caterham, Porsche and kit car owners have more on those cars. When you've found your car, find a date.