Bought a 2008 Honda Fit Sport 5MT last year. Currently have it set up for AutoX. They are a blast to drive. They are basically an updated version of the EG/EK civics, but with 5 doors. The Stock 1.5L motor isn't terrible. Incredibly realiable and great MPG. Like most Honda's you can free up a little HP with an intake, exhaust and a tune. The GD3 uses a lot of brake parts from the 90's civics. It's rather easy to buy and swap a K24 into a Fit. Bunch of options for Coilovers. Progress Group makes a killer rear sway bar. Wheel and tire combos are endless. Chassis stiffening options are endless. Just like the 90's civics there's tons of cheap parts to throw at the car to make it better.
it feels like a movie because this is movie grade filming in my opinion. Even the quality goes as high as 4K. They only spend big money on two things, their cars and the shooting equipment.
The best track car is a reliable one, because if it keeps braking down, youll have less chances to drive and race it around a track. And the main reason why youd wanna race around a track in the first place is to experience it.
Stoked to see the E36/E46 chassis on the list. The only little budget vs. performance fact I'd add is that the M54 (E46 330i/330Ci engine) makes essentially as much power as the E36 M3, making the E46 330 just as good, or even an M54 swapped E36. Great power without the additional maintenance/worries of the S engine. I daily drive a 5-speed 330Ci and I feel they're so underestimated overall.
The nice thing about the US S50/S52 is they're just slightly modified M50/M52s. I have an OBD1 S52 build and it's incredibly reliable. Loads of torque and power :)
There's never a good time to go tracking, besides next weekend." So true as I get ready for the noon sprint race we're doing in a 2002 Toyota Corolla track car.
Those gen Corollas are so fun to Chuck around the corners downhills especially when you smoke higher power cars like wrx and bmws the newer corollas have a shitty chassis and is bloated
S2000 owner here who started tracking regularly just over a year ago. We go every 1-2 weeks so thankfully seat time has not been a problem. Started in a Porsche Cayman S, moved to a C7 Grandsport, then a ZL1 1LE, and now the S2K. The 6 months so far with the S2K have done more to develop me as a driver than any of the other cars by far. It’s easy to go fast in a fast car. It’s another thing to have to drive a slower car fast. Anyways, could not recommend an S2000 highly enough to anyone looking for a first track car.
Wow - the guy that talked about s2k and Miata did an amazing job. I keep telling my friends how there’s never the “right” time or “right” car/setup. They just need to go do it. But those guys really hit those points well! Well done!
My first track car is my 1991 Honda Civic DX. Totally stock engine besides a DC sports header, test pipe, and a mild full suspension rebuild. Once this COVID-19 blows over I plan to do my first track day. My Civic is also my 38.5+ MPG , 100 miles a day daily driver.
sounds like a perfect first track car, just make sure the brakes are up to the challenge. Higher temp brake pads and at least fresh brake fluid (if not higher temp rating) are most important.
Rockit181 yep! Already redid all of the brakes - New calipers, rotors, drums, wheel cylinders, hardware, master cylinder, hardware, SS brake lines... everything. New wheel bearings all around. All new suspension. I’ve been slowly prepping this car for a track day for the past ten months. Should be pretty fun/interesting. Once I go, I’ll do some Go Pro videos on it.
Hell yeah I'm in the same boat! Although, I have a heavy Prelude but I could care less. It just means I have to be really good with the fundamentals to keep up
Yeah, but that is because he got sponsored by K-tuned. First of all K-tuned is really high quality and because of that really expensive. Secondly, that car is basically a complete, finished build. No one really gets a car and does all those mods and stuff to it to get it track ready. The truth is, you can go and buy a civic in decent shape for 1000$ put better suspension and breaks on it and you can take it out on the track and it will be a lot of fun. Of course if you want to, you can go all-out and do all these crazy mods, but its not necessary.
What that last guy said is so true, get out there and give it a crack. Don’t be the person that’s constantly doing that next modification before the cars “ready” for the track. All you’re doing is eating into seat time. Have the essentials done, brakes/tires/safety/fluids and go turn some laps.
Im one of those persons. I got a 99 e46 328ci with 105k miles on it. bilstein suspension, 235 front, 255 rear michelin tires. drives like it was on rails but im just too worried that the engine cant handle 5 minutes of constant 3-6k rpm. like its too big of a risk for me to take since its my only car. id love to go on the track, thats what im building this car for after all but at the same time i wamma keep it for a long time, so im not comfortable with putting that much stress on a high mileage m52
@@tommytenzo i thought about that too, but first of all i want a rwd car for the track and 2ndly i dont have either the space or the money for a 2nd car...
If you are in the U.S.A. I would put up the SN95 and Foxbody on this list. You can get a good example for track use easily around $5k or less and just clean examples in general for less than $10k. Parts are beyond cheap and availability is everywhere. You get cheap power and you can put ALOT of tire under the car if you want. The Foxbody in particular is a very compact package that can grip like crazy with the proper setup. As they are over 25 years old I can mod them without having to worry about anything other than a safety inspection (seatbelts, lights, signals, wipers, horn, structural integrity). This is also personal preference as sound is subjective but I wouldn't give up my flowmaster 40s and H-pipe setup for anything. I would like to compare it to the C8 corvette I ordered if that ever arrives (thanks C7 production, UAW strike and the present pandemic...)
5:32 NAILED IT!!! track time is the best mod... dont matter what car you are in fwd / rwd whatever suits your style, track time is what makes you a good driver
Honda S2000 is a great car but it's incredibly hard to get, and it's getting more expensive every year. Update: Checked local listings today and we are now consistently above 20k in my area. I found one that is cosmetically rough with 87k and an absolutely fucked top for 13k but it claimed it was garaged for it's entire life... So already off to a bad start with that one.
Well if you are going to track it.... one thing they didn’t mention in this video is how track driving ruins your paint. Rocks, sand, rubber all get thrown onto your bumper, hood and windshield. So if you’re looking for a track car, I suggest putting more emphasis on car’s mechanical condition rather than cosmetic. I track my S2000. The soft top has rips inside. Front left fender has a small bend when tire was caught on the lip when I went off the track a few years back. The hood has many paint chips from rocks on track. Windshield is chipped too, again from a rock on track. Cosmetically, it’s at best a 5 out of 10. Mechanically? I’d take it to a track day this weekend in a heartbeat.
In France, it is so expansive to buy a good car. Fortunately some of them go under the radar and I got myself a nice MX3 for 2500€ but with maintenance to do on it afterwards. Parts are also lacking more and more on the market... Nha, some places in the world just ignore what it is to have dreams as a young man and are just ruled by old farts stuffed of money expecting you to buy the last car out matching emition norms...
MR2 Spyder. Insane handling, decent power/weight, 2000s Toyota reliability, solid 5 speed manual, and the 2ZZ swap is affordable which turns it into a poor man’s Elise. Great video!
Hard fail if you don't have a hard top or roll cage, I can't imagine a swapped engine being ideal for a first track car and limited space for tools or spare tires.
The biggest problem with those car is because they are convertibles. I know you can add hard top but it doesnt really add much chassis stiffness as a non convertible.
The amount of knowledge this video throws at you gives me goosebumps! Thank you for making such an amazing video. I love it. May have watched it 10+ times, and works for me as a reference to come back and recall important points
I used to be a person who would analyse a thumbnail and the title for minutes before watching a video. But now, if i see the gears and gasoline logo, I click play without any second thought. Thats how much I like you guys and your content
Miata is NOT always the answer. What if I don't want to drive a 20 year old convertible with 130,000 miles? The 86/BRZ is a hugely underrated platform for entry-level track cars. Probably the closest in feel next to the miata and unlike the miata, I can actually fit 4 wheels and tires in the back for track days. On that same token, 350z's and GTI's are great options for people who do want something affordable, but also newer.
I'm in love with the BRZ / 86 Platform it was always meant to be a "drivers car" just like the Miata but that price tag is still too much for me. I also think if you skip out on owning an older car first then you miss out on learning from alot of the mechanical issues you'd have to deal with that you just won't have to deal with as much in a newer car :) (which would help you with future race cars)
I live in the south. Every track day is just filled with high powered muscle cars, Porsche's, and the like overtaking you every second. No fun at all if you're in a low HP car like an s2000. The variety of cars seems to be great and more fun up North. It's terrible down here.
MR2s appear to be pretty good for track driving too. Haven't tracked my SW20 yet, but they look to be good fun to send it around the track, regardless what people say about snap oversteer.
8:05 Agree. At one time I was getting back into cars. I had three cars that were disabled, a pickup, and a Prius. So I slapped on some older Potenza S-03 PolePosition tires and and took it to the track. I am proud to say I wasn’t the slowest car that day. And it was a good tool for allowing me to perfect a lap.
For me, its the 86 platform. Affordable and more accessible than the cars mentioned. Not to mention you can get one new if you wanted to. You don't really see any miatas or s2000s for sale in the province I live.
I've had or currently have all of these on the list, and have put them on track. This is pretty much my list of recommendations too, but not including the E46 as a top recommendation though (my top priorities being purchase price and cost to run). E46 is heavier, more effort to maintain than the E36, so I recommend the E36 (non-M even better for a beginner, cheaper). Some folks that have less experience are better off starting with a FWD instead of a RWD. FWD Hondas are great for that. The S2000 is too much a handful at the limit for beginners to RWD layouts, but will definitely sharpen you as an intermediate to advanced driver. Think you can handle RWD but haven't tracked a RWD before and want to? a non-M E36 or Miata are very forgiving for RWD. I just happen to have a FWD Civic right now but I think I want to move back into a Miata. Simplicity, reliability, and low running cost make for the best track cars!!
Maybe a bit more modern expensive compared to the list but I’d add the BRZ on that list, great advice from these guys too, esp drive what ya got, brakes and tires safety first, speed comes later when ya know what you are doing , with great power comes great responsibility, you need to unlearn what you think you have learned..why you don’t want to learn in a high HP car, it will hinder your progress and develop bad habits, drive what ya brung and have fun, but that white Civic love it, my choice out of this lot easy choice. nice vid guys🤙
My first track car was a Pontiac Fiero. The engine was anemic, and the brakes were inadequate. Learning to drive a mid-engine car had a learning curve, as well. But I had a lot of fun. When parts started becoming scarce, I replaced it with an E46 330i. So far, I'm really liking it.
My brother's stock 2008 S2000 was catching corvettes on the corners, don't underestimate the S2000's. From the factory they have insanely good handling lol
Excellent video as always. I love seeing all these real track people share their knowledge with us. Thank you so much Gears and Gasoline for genuinely trying to help us.
Come to think of it I don't remember having seen any of the 80s-90s muscle cars referenced in any of the grid life series. I often wonder if certain racing series some how end up biased against certain cars.
I will always recommend the C4 Corvette for a first track car. Wide tires/wheels, independent suspension (although weird how) power and handling all for a few thousand bucks
EF hatch, EG hatch, EK hatch, DC2, DC5, Honda Fit, B swap, K swap, H swap. Miata all gens. S2000. EVO and Ralliarts. BMW E36/46, WRX/STi all gens. Focus ST, Focus RS, Fiesta ST. FRS/GT86. Toyota MRS with Kswap. List goes on.
i wanna take my '08 fit to the track but i def will need to do some maintance to it first. but i wanna go with it as stock as possible and as i do upgrades and stuff see how it changes. even it ifs the automatic. at least i have paddles.
I think the S2k is an outlier if we're honest here. At least here in the US, good luck finding one at a decent price that isn't molested to all hell or trashed from previous owners.
I feel like the Porsche boxster is kind of underrated. Mine costed 9k, and I've seen plenty of better deals out there, including boxster S's (with 250 hp) for $10-11k.. You get a car that can compete with a new Miata or s2000 on the track at a fraction of the cost. A used z4 is another cheap ND Miata substitute. Despite being mid engine, everything is plenty accessible. Front is accessed from a door between the passenger seats, side can be accessed through the rear wheel wells, and top is accessed by putting the convertible top halfway up.
For me as Malaysian just choose any Proton-MMC generation models, especially Saga 1.3S which is $200 in sale. The aftermarket parts is always there. Fix the car, join MSF event in Sepang, and then already a racer on track.
I would honestly say it doesn’t even seem like it matters so much about what car you choose so much as it matters about just going to the track. And I can say that because I am a driver that has never been to track. Yet I’ve had a Mazdaspeed6, Hawkeye Subaru STi, 15 WRX, supercharged E46 M3, E46 330i ZHP, E30 325i convertible and a 435i Gran Coupé. ALL would be great cars to track. And I never did. Part of that is not having tracks on Oahu. But auto cross still exists. So my advice would probably be to take whatever you have to the track and make the best of it. And the experiences you have will help you choose a car later on. But yes, this list is a good place to look.
S2K guy just nailed it the best car is the one you can afford to track and not being overwhelmed by cost . Great video 👍 I was amazed by differenc in cost of tracking M3 E92 compare to NC Miata x3 and hard to bealive I had more fun in Miata just because you can brake so much latter and trow it around with 1000lbs less. Still love M3 sound more than anything tho .
The issue is probably the entry cost. They are just now starting to get close $10k with a salvage title or needing 100k maintenance done. And with the cheapest being down around where the cheapest S2Ks are, the S2K is probably a better car for the track. Come back in 5 years and the Toyobaru twins would definitely be on the list replacing the E36/46 or S2K IMO
@@clayduval1255 Oh no a 100k maintenance on toyota haha. Meanwhile they put overpriced e46 M3 on the list that can granade the engine anytime because bearings or subframe etc. Not a good idea buy cars that are going up in value atm if you are going to trash them at track
@@DuBstep115 my point has nothing to do with reliability of the Subaru engine (not Toyota) but that's still a fairly substantial added cost for when you're getting the car ready for hard driving on a budget. Changing fluids isn't too expensive but doing timing work can be pricey.
@@clayduval1255 if timing belt swap is huge cost maby racing isn't the right sport for that person. Or the car they should be looking is 100-500 civic instead of S2000 or GT86
@@MMSstation93 Yeah it's not that it is terribly expensive compared to a nice s2k or e46 m3, but for 10-11 year old examples of 370z, 7 grand is literally the cheapest you can find. Most of them are 10-15 grand for the earliest years of the 370z which I think is just overpriced for what it is, and you can forget about anything newer. Subaru brz's have the same problem, you can't find even the oldest brz's for less than 10 grand unless it is a car with 5 owners and 3 accidents. There are alot of automatics out there, so finding a manual 370z is difficult enough, finding one for a reasonable price is even moreso. That being said I think they are pretty cool, I would love to have one as a first track car so I'm not disagreeing with you but I just think they are overpriced.
An additional advantage of the e36/46 is that it’s much easier for larger people to fit in them. I’m 6’1 ~200 lbs and just don’t fit in a Miata. In my e46 I have room to spare, a couple inches between my helmet and the roof. Just something to consider. Just make sure you’ve done the subframe reinforcement on an e46!
@@gabrielash9433 I've had them for 15 yrs no problem. People look at me all time and ask how especially gas stations. I agree it's not comfortable for long distance but I race to my destination basically barely any freeway trips in these cars
I’m 15 and I am currently doing motorkhanas and khanacrosses in a Mini Cooper. Not a Cooper s just a Cooper. It’s a tonne of fun and it’s cheap to run and easy on consumables. It’s not exactly a track car but it’s still somewhere to get started.
I feel like some of this is bad advice - a first track car is probably going to be crashed, so why get something really expensive? E36/E46 - Why does it have to be an m3? a stripped 328 would be plenty fast and a whole lot cheaper. S2000 - again, too much money in my opinion on a first track car. If the engine goes, you are spending enough to buy a miata just to get it back on the road
To introduce some European favourites... Caterham or Westfield, available in the US - about 1,200 to 1,400 lbs, easy 250 to 350 bhp/tonne, rwd, easy to drive, but challenging to drive well, no power brakes, no power steering, no abs. I have had 4, one I ran 12,000 miles per annum in all weather as a daily. Cheap parts, cheap insurance, minimal consumables, minimal depreciation and faster than anything seen in the video.
I agree with the rear wheel drive idea he had when speaking about the S2000., I run a focus st which is front wheel drive and I would love to get seat time in a rwd car to learn a lot more.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 87 วันนี้!! คู่เอก "ก้องชัย vs โชคปรีชา"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YN6e7HVnekw/mqdefault.jpg)
Honda Fit definitely earned the honorable mention. Cheap, reliable, great handling, and fun to toss through corners.
I love my Fit as a DD, what a hoot.
G&G please cover some Fits!
@@jamesborek8125 yes
Especially if you throw a k20 or k24
Definitely true! 👌🏻
Bought a 2008 Honda Fit Sport 5MT last year. Currently have it set up for AutoX. They are a blast to drive. They are basically an updated version of the EG/EK civics, but with 5 doors. The Stock 1.5L motor isn't terrible. Incredibly realiable and great MPG. Like most Honda's you can free up a little HP with an intake, exhaust and a tune. The GD3 uses a lot of brake parts from the 90's civics. It's rather easy to buy and swap a K24 into a Fit. Bunch of options for Coilovers. Progress Group makes a killer rear sway bar. Wheel and tire combos are endless. Chassis stiffening options are endless. Just like the 90's civics there's tons of cheap parts to throw at the car to make it better.
Man says the honda scene isn't always "adult", proceeds to open up his lambo door.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Haha I thought the same
That was priceless
Lmaoo
It's my favorite joke
When i watch gears and gasoline i feel like I’m watching a movie
I know! I agree, they are one of the best YT channels for automotive fun!
it feels like a movie because this is movie grade filming in my opinion. Even the quality goes as high as 4K. They only spend big money on two things, their cars and the shooting equipment.
Amount of quality that's in these videos is fucking crazy
Strongly agree
These are more like automotive documentaries ya know
In my opinion Is better to drive a slow car fast, especially if you're in the process of learning get something cheap and affordable to fix.
Slow and steady and then you can become Schumacher later on
Thats where honda create its fame
고등 지능 ODINS trash Thanks for the motivation ☺️
Yeah for sure and it’s so fun carrying all that speed through a corner so you won’t loose it makes you connect with the road
So a Miata
The best first track car is anything with zero power and requires momentum to be fast. That’s how you learn to drive properly and with precision.
Well said man! A great way to start is from the bottom. Learn the basics and work your way up
You would also want a car without a ton of grip, since you would start to learn bad habits from a huge amount of grip and no power
Hell you can use anything for the track then build up to better cars
The best track car is a reliable one, because if it keeps braking down, youll have less chances to drive and race it around a track. And the main reason why youd wanna race around a track in the first place is to experience it.
Reason why I have a 2006 corolla XRS lol. Once I get better I’ll save to get a frs or S2k.
Green s2k guy had the real answer. Point blank period. Edit: Miata guy had a good tip too to supplement s2k guy.
Fwd seems like the right choice either way
@@PedroMarques if you want to understeer facefirst into the barriers, sure.
@@impreza0109 learn to drive and you can correct understeer
@@matthewgiang8400 there's no correcting physics, bud
@@impreza0109 you just turn in and let off throttle mabey brake a bit
Is this a trick question? Isn't Miata always the answer or was I lied too all this time?! (Keep up the great work guys)
Miata Is Always The Answer
Clay DuVal indeed
With a miata you dont even need to brake
For the price..... If you can step up to the boxster S you wont regret it.
@@MrDaxrowden I think you will when you have to do a head gasket.
Stoked to see the E36/E46 chassis on the list. The only little budget vs. performance fact I'd add is that the M54 (E46 330i/330Ci engine) makes essentially as much power as the E36 M3, making the E46 330 just as good, or even an M54 swapped E36. Great power without the additional maintenance/worries of the S engine. I daily drive a 5-speed 330Ci and I feel they're so underestimated overall.
Was reading this comment and agreeing before noticing it was you Greg!
If only the 330ci came with a factory LSD it would be the best option
The nice thing about the US S50/S52 is they're just slightly modified M50/M52s. I have an OBD1 S52 build and it's incredibly reliable. Loads of torque and power :)
@@ghostpunkkilla lmao me
that's what I have been told as well, in addition (as long as the cage is up to spec) you could sell it as a starter Spec E46 chassis
There's never a good time to go tracking, besides next weekend." So true as I get ready for the noon sprint race we're doing in a 2002 Toyota Corolla track car.
I’ve been considering an 02 to track with. I just can find info on swapping out the rear shoes for discs. What’s your rear brake setup?
@@mannydrives I think you can use rear disc brake from celica
Those gen Corollas are so fun to Chuck around the corners downhills especially when you smoke higher power cars like wrx and bmws the newer corollas have a shitty chassis and is bloated
S2000 owner here who started tracking regularly just over a year ago. We go every 1-2 weeks so thankfully seat time has not been a problem. Started in a Porsche Cayman S, moved to a C7 Grandsport, then a ZL1 1LE, and now the S2K. The 6 months so far with the S2K have done more to develop me as a driver than any of the other cars by far. It’s easy to go fast in a fast car. It’s another thing to have to drive a slower car fast. Anyways, could not recommend an S2000 highly enough to anyone looking for a first track car.
lol silver spoon racer over here, I doubt most first drivers have 20K+ on the bank
@@Zeriel00 I can sense the jealously in this comment...
@@willywillington9252cheapest car on the list by far. it’s a weird flex.
What I’ve gotten out of this is that I can and should race the family minivan.
Honda oddyssey
@@lordoftherims436 Odysseys are suprisingly quick lol
@@Bearnos fuck yeah. All the bogans in my country new zealand street race them
@@Bearnos for what they are theyre pretty nimble ngl
Wow - the guy that talked about s2k and Miata did an amazing job. I keep telling my friends how there’s never the “right” time or “right” car/setup. They just need to go do it. But those guys really hit those points well! Well done!
My first track car is my 1991 Honda Civic DX. Totally stock engine besides a DC sports header, test pipe, and a mild full suspension rebuild. Once this COVID-19 blows over I plan to do my first track day. My Civic is also my 38.5+ MPG , 100 miles a day daily driver.
I have an '03 civic Ex 2 door bone stock and I was planning on heading to my first track day too! Good luck bro!
Ty Mcnee thanks man! Just looking to have some fun
sounds like a perfect first track car, just make sure the brakes are up to the challenge. Higher temp brake pads and at least fresh brake fluid (if not higher temp rating) are most important.
Rockit181 yep! Already redid all of the brakes - New calipers, rotors, drums, wheel cylinders, hardware, master cylinder, hardware, SS brake lines... everything. New wheel bearings all around. All new suspension. I’ve been slowly prepping this car for a track day for the past ten months. Should be pretty fun/interesting. Once I go, I’ll do some Go Pro videos on it.
Hell yeah I'm in the same boat! Although, I have a heavy Prelude but I could care less. It just means I have to be really good with the fundamentals to keep up
Honda civic cheap and inexpensive,
Ben "this is how i spent 30k on my civic
But 30k on a track car is nothing. Compared to some and what he spent on getting it track ready. He make up in reliability and lack of wear
In the video he said he couldve done it for 5K, but he wanted to get every little hp out of the engine so he got very expensive parts
@@kseriesdan9722 30k on a fucking civic in amateur series is a lot. People race every mans class here and winning car was made on 10k budged.
Yeah, but that is because he got sponsored by K-tuned. First of all K-tuned is really high quality and because of that really expensive. Secondly, that car is basically a complete, finished build. No one really gets a car and does all those mods and stuff to it to get it track ready. The truth is, you can go and buy a civic in decent shape for 1000$ put better suspension and breaks on it and you can take it out on the track and it will be a lot of fun. Of course if you want to, you can go all-out and do all these crazy mods, but its not necessary.
One of the most underated car channels out there
What that last guy said is so true, get out there and give it a crack. Don’t be the person that’s constantly doing that next modification before the cars “ready” for the track. All you’re doing is eating into seat time. Have the essentials done, brakes/tires/safety/fluids and go turn some laps.
Im one of those persons. I got a 99 e46 328ci with 105k miles on it. bilstein suspension, 235 front, 255 rear michelin tires. drives like it was on rails but im just too worried that the engine cant handle 5 minutes of constant 3-6k rpm. like its too big of a risk for me to take since its my only car. id love to go on the track, thats what im building this car for after all but at the same time i wamma keep it for a long time, so im not comfortable with putting that much stress on a high mileage m52
you forgot a working engine ;___;)
Death Is Freedom I have a mint e46 touring and having the same feeling. Think I’ll buy a beater civic for the track
@@tommytenzo i thought about that too, but first of all i want a rwd car for the track and 2ndly i dont have either the space or the money for a 2nd car...
Gears and Gasoline deserves more than that they have the quality the content and info. I love watching them.
I hear Honda Fit, I raise you Suzuki Swift Sport for fun driving
Swift is a great car but we don't get them in the states.
Got all the way to the s2k then stoped watching. I already knew the Miata was gunna be first
@@250hdd sucks to hear that, there's plenty of them here in europe. To be fair, the Fit is a really good compromise instead of the Swift in this case
Bruhh are you subscribed to HotVersion? They literally just uploaded a vid about those 2 lol
I have a Geo Metro, that's the closest we have to the Swift here.
If you are in the U.S.A. I would put up the SN95 and Foxbody on this list. You can get a good example for track use easily around $5k or less and just clean examples in general for less than $10k. Parts are beyond cheap and availability is everywhere. You get cheap power and you can put ALOT of tire under the car if you want. The Foxbody in particular is a very compact package that can grip like crazy with the proper setup. As they are over 25 years old I can mod them without having to worry about anything other than a safety inspection (seatbelts, lights, signals, wipers, horn, structural integrity). This is also personal preference as sound is subjective but I wouldn't give up my flowmaster 40s and H-pipe setup for anything. I would like to compare it to the C8 corvette I ordered if that ever arrives (thanks C7 production, UAW strike and the present pandemic...)
An important asterisk with any pre-S550 Mustang is the solid axle rear suspension, they will drive very differently to a non solid axle car
5:32 NAILED IT!!! track time is the best mod... dont matter what car you are in fwd / rwd whatever suits your style, track time is what makes you a good driver
Now I want to go tracking with my mother’s Odyssey...
Honda S2000 is a great car but it's incredibly hard to get, and it's getting more expensive every year.
Update: Checked local listings today and we are now consistently above 20k in my area. I found one that is cosmetically rough with 87k and an absolutely fucked top for 13k but it claimed it was garaged for it's entire life... So already off to a bad start with that one.
Well if you are going to track it.... one thing they didn’t mention in this video is how track driving ruins your paint. Rocks, sand, rubber all get thrown onto your bumper, hood and windshield. So if you’re looking for a track car, I suggest putting more emphasis on car’s mechanical condition rather than cosmetic.
I track my S2000. The soft top has rips inside. Front left fender has a small bend when tire was caught on the lip when I went off the track a few years back. The hood has many paint chips from rocks on track. Windshield is chipped too, again from a rock on track. Cosmetically, it’s at best a 5 out of 10. Mechanically? I’d take it to a track day this weekend in a heartbeat.
where do you check local listing
Good luck finding an S2000 under 20k € on Europe
You can in the US and Canada ;)
In Portugal 25k €
North africa 😭😭😭😭
In France, it is so expansive to buy a good car. Fortunately some of them go under the radar and I got myself a nice MX3 for 2500€ but with maintenance to do on it afterwards. Parts are also lacking more and more on the market...
Nha, some places in the world just ignore what it is to have dreams as a young man and are just ruled by old farts stuffed of money expecting you to buy the last car out matching emition norms...
I bought mine for 18K in the Netherlands. It's mint condition
S2000 family where we all at!? Love my s2k❤️
Ap1 FTW
AP2 checking in
AP1 fam here :)
Ap1 here!!!
AP1 with OEM no air conditioning FTW
MR2 Spyder. Insane handling, decent power/weight, 2000s Toyota reliability, solid 5 speed manual, and the 2ZZ swap is affordable which turns it into a poor man’s Elise. Great video!
Hard fail if you don't have a hard top or roll cage, I can't imagine a swapped engine being ideal for a first track car and limited space for tools or spare tires.
your a future predictor good sir
The biggest problem with those car is because they are convertibles. I know you can add hard top but it doesnt really add much chassis stiffness as a non convertible.
My first track car here in france was a miata nc and now I enjoy my 86 !
The amount of knowledge this video throws at you gives me goosebumps! Thank you for making such an amazing video. I love it. May have watched it 10+ times, and works for me as a reference to come back and recall important points
It seems like the Honda Civic just takes the cake for the all-around best vehicle
Best in the game bud
That's true, which makes people be like "i ain't getting a civic, its too obvious", well im getting one
@@tarcioandree I've never felt so accomplished. I'm glad I bought mine! Plus i can't wait to make it into what it was meant to be!
@@tarcioandree these guys are keeping the prices low, all good !
Hahahajahahahahaha
M - miata
I- is
A- always
T - the
A - anwser
I used to be a person who would analyse a thumbnail and the title for minutes before watching a video. But now, if i see the gears and gasoline logo, I click play without any second thought. Thats how much I like you guys and your content
I live 20mins from that track and absolutely love it! I just discovered this channel but can't wait to watch more 🤙
2:38 cost from 1$ -5000$ hahahahjahahahahaha
Hes using USD examples but yeah 5k is cheap for those
$1000-$5000 not $1 ya spud
@@kaino2470 the video says 1$
@@kaino2470 Lol, use the time stamp he gave you before making an ass of yourself. It indeed says $1.00, sir.
Lol, nice catch
Solid list. I enjoy tracking my Integra Type R. I would say Fiesta ST is an honourable mention.
Miata is NOT always the answer.
What if I don't want to drive a 20 year old convertible with 130,000 miles? The 86/BRZ is a hugely underrated platform for entry-level track cars. Probably the closest in feel next to the miata and unlike the miata, I can actually fit 4 wheels and tires in the back for track days. On that same token, 350z's and GTI's are great options for people who do want something affordable, but also newer.
I'm in love with the BRZ / 86 Platform it was always meant to be a "drivers car" just like the Miata but that price tag is still too much for me. I also think if you skip out on owning an older car first then you miss out on learning from alot of the mechanical issues you'd have to deal with that you just won't have to deal with as much in a newer car :) (which would help you with future race cars)
I live in the south. Every track day is just filled with high powered muscle cars, Porsche's, and the like overtaking you every second. No fun at all if you're in a low HP car like an s2000. The variety of cars seems to be great and more fun up North. It's terrible down here.
Is canada good in car scene and car culture bro???
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING 1988-1991 CIVICS everyone always forgets about the ef💕
MR2s appear to be pretty good for track driving too. Haven't tracked my SW20 yet, but they look to be good fun to send it around the track, regardless what people say about snap oversteer.
You just have to be mindful it's not a go kart when driving it
8:05 Agree. At one time I was getting back into cars. I had three cars that were disabled, a pickup, and a Prius. So I slapped on some older Potenza S-03 PolePosition tires and and took it to the track. I am proud to say I wasn’t the slowest car that day. And it was a good tool for allowing me to perfect a lap.
The perfect list. Exactly what I would pick.
I see Gears and Gasoline upload, I drop everything and pay attention to this knowledge I am receiving. fantastic editing and content!
Gears and gasoline is probably the only car channel to excite me enough to play their videos on the tv screen rather than my phone
I just love how the Honda S2000 looks and handles. I want one of those
For me, its the 86 platform. Affordable and more accessible than the cars mentioned. Not to mention you can get one new if you wanted to. You don't really see any miatas or s2000s for sale in the province I live.
"Nobody is having more fun around here than Honda Fits" ❤
I've had or currently have all of these on the list, and have put them on track. This is pretty much my list of recommendations too, but not including the E46 as a top recommendation though (my top priorities being purchase price and cost to run). E46 is heavier, more effort to maintain than the E36, so I recommend the E36 (non-M even better for a beginner, cheaper). Some folks that have less experience are better off starting with a FWD instead of a RWD. FWD Hondas are great for that. The S2000 is too much a handful at the limit for beginners to RWD layouts, but will definitely sharpen you as an intermediate to advanced driver. Think you can handle RWD but haven't tracked a RWD before and want to? a non-M E36 or Miata are very forgiving for RWD. I just happen to have a FWD Civic right now but I think I want to move back into a Miata. Simplicity, reliability, and low running cost make for the best track cars!!
Same thing I say when wanting to get into anything. The best time to start was a year ago but the 2nd best time is today
My favorite youtube channel all time!
I cant get enough of gears and gasoline vids...
That dude slide his jack stand @0:15 was funny. Surly enjoy his day XD
Maybe a bit more modern expensive compared to the list but I’d add the BRZ on that list, great advice from these guys too, esp drive what ya got, brakes and tires safety first, speed comes later when ya know what you are doing , with great power comes great responsibility, you need to unlearn what you think you have learned..why you don’t want to learn in a high HP car, it will hinder your progress and develop bad habits, drive what ya brung and have fun, but that white Civic love it, my choice out of this lot easy choice. nice vid guys🤙
My first track car was a Pontiac Fiero. The engine was anemic, and the brakes were inadequate. Learning to drive a mid-engine car had a learning curve, as well. But I had a lot of fun. When parts started becoming scarce, I replaced it with an E46 330i. So far, I'm really liking it.
My brother's stock 2008 S2000 was catching corvettes on the corners, don't underestimate the S2000's. From the factory they have insanely good handling lol
Loved this! Bought a Mazdaspeed mostly built finishing the car this month and two track days scheduled so far. 🤙
Awesome closing shot
Ok I’ll buy one. Ready for next weekend
I just got my FC rebuilt last week!
I can't wait to get on the track next week 😎
Another amazing video, thanks guys.
The Australian guy put out some solid advice! That’s awesome
Hopefully, someone mentions karting when they talk about seat time.
As a S2000 owner , i better race a rotax max on the track , dirt cheap , reliable , lot of fun and no fear to crash it ......
@@eyeswideopen5562 Karting and sim racing are two great ways to get affordable seat time. I just wish more grassroots channels gave them more love.
Excellent video as always. I love seeing all these real track people share their knowledge with us. Thank you so much Gears and Gasoline for genuinely trying to help us.
I was "AMLOST" expecting a FOX Body early Mustang on this list (if it was Top 10)...
..a fox body for a track car?
Come to think of it I don't remember having seen any of the 80s-90s muscle cars referenced in any of the grid life series. I often wonder if certain racing series some how end up biased against certain cars.
That's a dogshit chassis... Ask Matt Farah.......
@@erikmiles5536 because those cars from that era.... Don't like to turn.......
Those are only good for straight line and nothing else. Once you look at the suspension setup underneath, it's worse than any of those cars mentioned.
I will always recommend the C4 Corvette for a first track car. Wide tires/wheels, independent suspension (although weird how) power and handling all for a few thousand bucks
An integra! Cheap, handles amazing, cheap parts, tonnes of upgrades to choose from, and a lot of fun for how little you will spend.
EF hatch, EG hatch, EK hatch, DC2, DC5, Honda Fit, B swap, K swap, H swap. Miata all gens. S2000. EVO and Ralliarts. BMW E36/46, WRX/STi all gens. Focus ST, Focus RS, Fiesta ST. FRS/GT86. Toyota MRS with Kswap. List goes on.
Porsche Boxster - mid engine rear wheel drive with very balanced driving feel. Excellent brakes and smooth 6 cylinder power that is decent.
Kudos yet again. Be safe out there everyone!
Love my Honda Fit!! Will slap on track!
i wanna take my '08 fit to the track but i def will need to do some maintance to it first. but i wanna go with it as stock as possible and as i do upgrades and stuff see how it changes. even it ifs the automatic. at least i have paddles.
I think the S2k is an outlier if we're honest here. At least here in the US, good luck finding one at a decent price that isn't molested to all hell or trashed from previous owners.
As always, another awesome video. Keep it coming.
I'm starting off with a 350z and I'm stoked!
How's that going? I had the chance at one many years ago, but I was tired of Nissans haha
Dude your civic is in the hoonigan autofocus video!!!! Just watched it drive past! Epic
I feel like the Porsche boxster is kind of underrated. Mine costed 9k, and I've seen plenty of better deals out there, including boxster S's (with 250 hp) for $10-11k.. You get a car that can compete with a new Miata or s2000 on the track at a fraction of the cost. A used z4 is another cheap ND Miata substitute.
Despite being mid engine, everything is plenty accessible. Front is accessed from a door between the passenger seats, side can be accessed through the rear wheel wells, and top is accessed by putting the convertible top halfway up.
Good video gentlemen and I agree. The cars I’ve enjoyed the most were the ones I drove. Thank you for reminding me of this. (:
I didn't expect a vídeo so soon. Awesome.
Awesome! I agree 100%!
Haha Adam opening the Lambo door on his civic is baller
For me as Malaysian just choose any Proton-MMC generation models, especially Saga 1.3S which is $200 in sale. The aftermarket parts is always there. Fix the car, join MSF event in Sepang, and then already a racer on track.
Awesome content
Love from INDIA
This just start an mi like aready just love track cars 👍🏽👍🏽🤘🏾🤘🏾
I have a 97 civic hatch build. Ik your a subi fan, we can link up and help eachother with our builds. Jamaican🇯🇲
I would honestly say it doesn’t even seem like it matters so much about what car you choose so much as it matters about just going to the track.
And I can say that because I am a driver that has never been to track. Yet I’ve had a Mazdaspeed6, Hawkeye Subaru STi, 15 WRX, supercharged E46 M3, E46 330i ZHP, E30 325i convertible and a 435i Gran Coupé.
ALL would be great cars to track. And I never did. Part of that is not having tracks on Oahu. But auto cross still exists.
So my advice would probably be to take whatever you have to the track and make the best of it. And the experiences you have will help you choose a car later on.
But yes, this list is a good place to look.
Don’t know the e36 m3 prices in the US but I just bought an e36 M3 last year for 42.000$ and it’s worth 55-60k now…
8:14 nice shout out to all my honda fit/jazz brothers and sisters lol!
S2K guy just nailed it the best car is the one you can afford to track and not being overwhelmed by cost .
Great video 👍
I was amazed by differenc in cost of tracking M3 E92 compare to NC Miata x3 and hard to bealive I had more fun in Miata just because you can brake so much latter and trow it around with 1000lbs less. Still love M3 sound more than anything tho .
FR-S / BRZ - "Am I a joke to you?"
The issue is probably the entry cost. They are just now starting to get close $10k with a salvage title or needing 100k maintenance done. And with the cheapest being down around where the cheapest S2Ks are, the S2K is probably a better car for the track. Come back in 5 years and the Toyobaru twins would definitely be on the list replacing the E36/46 or S2K IMO
@@clayduval1255 Oh no a 100k maintenance on toyota haha. Meanwhile they put overpriced e46 M3 on the list that can granade the engine anytime because bearings or subframe etc. Not a good idea buy cars that are going up in value atm if you are going to trash them at track
@@DuBstep115 my point has nothing to do with reliability of the Subaru engine (not Toyota) but that's still a fairly substantial added cost for when you're getting the car ready for hard driving on a budget. Changing fluids isn't too expensive but doing timing work can be pricey.
@@clayduval1255 if timing belt swap is huge cost maby racing isn't the right sport for that person. Or the car they should be looking is 100-500 civic instead of S2000 or GT86
Gotta wait a few more years for them to be worth the price for being track cars
I have an Audi TT and I love it. It eat corners like no one’s business
If you want the best ride with the most grip i cant recommend OP's mother enough.
Loving the videos. Keep up the great videos
Golf GTi mkv/6 and Honda Civic are the 2 best cars to start with
370z/350z is a cheap frst track as well!
Daser mk6 but insurance is
really expensive
370z is overpriced on the used market though
where i live 350z 04 are like 3-4K dollars and 370z are like 7-8K dollars and insurance yearly third party for about 300 dollars only
also if u break anythng it isnt that expensive to repair or get a new engine as well
@@MMSstation93 Yeah it's not that it is terribly expensive compared to a nice s2k or e46 m3, but for 10-11 year old examples of 370z, 7 grand is literally the cheapest you can find. Most of them are 10-15 grand for the earliest years of the 370z which I think is just overpriced for what it is, and you can forget about anything newer. Subaru brz's have the same problem, you can't find even the oldest brz's for less than 10 grand unless it is a car with 5 owners and 3 accidents. There are alot of automatics out there, so finding a manual 370z is difficult enough, finding one for a reasonable price is even moreso. That being said I think they are pretty cool, I would love to have one as a first track car so I'm not disagreeing with you but I just think they are overpriced.
An additional advantage of the e36/46 is that it’s much easier for larger people to fit in them. I’m 6’1 ~200 lbs and just don’t fit in a Miata. In my e46 I have room to spare, a couple inches between my helmet and the roof. Just something to consider. Just make sure you’ve done the subframe reinforcement on an e46!
I need show you guys that say that I'm 6'3 175lbs and fit in both my Miata and s2000 I don't get it lol
Chris Smith I can fit in my buddy’s no with a dropped floor pan but it’s far from comfortable
@@gabrielash9433 I've had them for 15 yrs no problem. People look at me all time and ask how especially gas stations. I agree it's not comfortable for long distance but I race to my destination basically barely any freeway trips in these cars
I’m 15 and I am currently doing motorkhanas and khanacrosses in a Mini Cooper. Not a Cooper s just a Cooper. It’s a tonne of fun and it’s cheap to run and easy on consumables. It’s not exactly a track car but it’s still somewhere to get started.
I just bought a 99 miata nb (jdm rs edition) can’t wait to take it to the track!
Love y’all videos keep uploading good stuff! I’ll keep watching love the k swapped ek
Great video to encourage people! Nice!
I feel like some of this is bad advice - a first track car is probably going to be crashed, so why get something really expensive?
E36/E46 - Why does it have to be an m3? a stripped 328 would be plenty fast and a whole lot cheaper.
S2000 - again, too much money in my opinion on a first track car. If the engine goes, you are spending enough to buy a miata just to get it back on the road
Some people see one E36 M3 or a S2000 as we see the 325i or MX5...its all about the wallet, they did a great job making a somehow wide options list.
You guys should do a video about how to get involved in a track day or how to become a racecar driver
I like how he put the price of the civic as $1-$5000 2:40
Notification squad, I’ll be back later. Love you guys
To introduce some European favourites... Caterham or Westfield, available in the US - about 1,200 to 1,400 lbs, easy 250 to 350 bhp/tonne, rwd, easy to drive, but challenging to drive well, no power brakes, no power steering, no abs. I have had 4, one I ran 12,000 miles per annum in all weather as a daily. Cheap parts, cheap insurance, minimal consumables, minimal depreciation and faster than anything seen in the video.
I agree with the rear wheel drive idea he had when speaking about the S2000., I run a focus st which is front wheel drive and I would love to get seat time in a rwd car to learn a lot more.