Auto Track Day Car

So I’d like to take my kids to a few track days but Charlie needs an auto box because of his leg post-cancer. It’s actually not too bad in any case because it will help them focus on lines and braking to start with.

The question is then what? Budget ideally less than £5k and not too big for easy trailering and cheaper tyres.

The rather eclectic ideas I’d had so far:
- Merc SLK 230 kompressor
- Any number of BMWs (but which?)
- MiTo 1.4 TB TCT
- smart Roadster (remapped)
etc

Ideas please…

I presume you're favouring RWD, otherwise there's a plethora of DSG VAG stuff including the Mk1 TT (our old car is still living its best life as a track day special, albeit a manual one), lots of Golfs and pokey Seats. I presume all are available with auto?

Mini? Clio?

If it's RWD, then a 1 series BMW would seem a good fit, though I know you're not a major fan.

Or go batshit crazy and buy a 350Z...

Thanks, Jim - yes, TT is an option though I know nothing about Audis and which engines are reliable. And, yes, BMW too (ditto). Also seen some TCT MiTo 1.4 TB. Which auto golf or Seat? There didn’t seem to be any vaguely powerful ones and I would prefer RWD (Alfa aside) as I’d quite like to get them comfortable with driving my race car

Never tried one but they did do some automatic R53 Mini Cooper S (the supercharged one)

There's a Tiptronic Boxster 2.7 986 on Autotrader I just spotted. How many seats do you need?

2 seats is fine. Is a Boxster a good car for novices? I like the sound of it but I wonder if a 22 year old might find it intimidating?

Another interesting idea. Are the engines robust or do they suffer from the Mini Death Rattle (chain tensioner?)?

I believe it's only the later, turbo Minis that have the tensioner issue, but it would be wise to check!

The Audi engine of choice from the early 2000s is the "BAM" 1.8 turbo. Generally bulletproof and quite tuneable.

That Boxster could be brilliant (it ought to be nicely balanced to reduce the intimidation), but I assume it could be costly to fettle and run.

I can't comment on how intimidating a Boxster might be for a novice to drive, but there's a chap on YouTube who had a 3.2 S and did a series on running and maintaining it (Road and Race - Porsche Boxster S 986) Might be worth a look for some real life experience running one.

Thanks, folks

+1 for the TT. Plenty around and that 1.820v is pretty solid. Some coil pack issues on early ones.

I was considering a track car a while ago and looked at the BMW compact 2.5ti which also came with an auto gearbox option.

Rear wheel drive. Enough power (190bhp) and that lovely straight 6 sound.

"BMW 3 Series Compact - Wikipedia" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_3_Series_Compact

The 1.4 T-jet or Multiair are very tunable, my Son Jake had set himself up modifying the Punto models, his present turbo package offers 250bhp/250ftlbs so turns an already quick car in to a real pocket rocker, amazing how these little engines pack such a punch, forged they're 400+.