New to car scene and MX 5

[veeby]

Hi All,

I'm new to the car scene and would like to learn a lot more about mods and my research has lead me to an MX 5. Love the look and seems like one of the more affordable cars to mod? (Please correct me if I'm wrong).

What I'm looking to do is to purchase a MX 5 NA early 1990s model and do it up and get track ready. A lot of the mechanical work and installation, I'll get my mechanic to do because no where near skilled enough and do realise that haha.

Will anyone be able to let me know how much they would think the whole project would cost? I know there can be a lot of variables but I'm just after a quick guide in pricing so I can budget myself accordingly.

Appreciate any feedback and thanks in advanced!

Cheers

[speed]

Welcome to the obsession.

This has been covered a bit but basically it depends on how serious you want to go.

A stock car performs well on the track but basic upgrades such as pads and tyres are often a big improvement.

Then there's roll bars, engine mods and aero. Again depends what you're really after.

A later model engine swap or turbo/supercharge the stock motor.

Others go for high compression, cams, exhaust and ecu.

The list is endless but all are fun

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[Code4]

Do you want to do just club events or also involve yourself with CAMS events ? CAMS is more serious but has a wide variety of 'types' of racing.

I don't race but like you, am new to the MX-5 culture. Others on here are far more experienced.

I have looked into competing, but unlike most who do, I don't want to buy a 2nd car. One to race and one for the street. I have done some research and attended events as a spectator.
To get a mechanic to do the work will cost you significantly more than if you can do your own spanner work.

Club events require little more than a car, helmet and licenses. Maybe $2-300 and a safe and properly serviced car. $500 to $1K plus car.

HOWEVER. Consider upgrading from stock and (in order) do:
Safety: This would involve a roll bar and service. $2K if you pay someone.
Brakes: Bigger brakes and better pads $2K commercially sourced. A LOT less if you source 2nd hand and install yourself.
Suspension including tyres: $2k for lightweight rims and comp tyres. $1.5K for coil overs and accesories plus rims and street tyres for day to day driving.
and ONLY then, power upgrades: The sky is the limit. Say $5-$10K for mechanic installed and tuned. Turbo upgrades come in various stages. The more power, generally the more stress on other components.

For CAMS add: a certified roll bar, secure seats, racing harness (which has to be replaced periodically) a better helmet and more licenses. There are other smaller expenses.

For a beginner I see three ways to go:

Race a stock car with safety improvements in club events and see if you want to continue.
Buy a ready prepped race car (registered or not registered) from someone getting out and modify/repair it to suit your needs.
Build your stock car up from scratch. This is a long and expensive slippery slope and expect to make more than a few wrong choices/decisions.

Note: There are more than a few $50K +++ cars out there, plus a few dog beaters.

[davekmoore]

Join local MX-5 Club. Go to sprint events. Get quicker by getting driving tuition, and more seat time, not by spending money on the car except for maybe front pads and safety equipment. There are plenty of threads about me and BARMY which will explain to you why I give this advice.

[Magpie]

There are a few of us on here that have built fast cars and then had to learn to drive fast.

Neither way is either right or wrong, rather a personal preference, budget and goals. The most important is to ensure that the basics are sound, that is driver, car and safety gear. As car/driver improve changes will need to be made so the improvement continues, first it will be measured in seconds until the improvement is measured in 1/10's.

Driver - knows how to stop (candence braking if no ABS would be good), knows how to use mirrors, open mind, willingness to learn. Would be helpful to know what under/over inflated tyres feel like same as under/over steer and how to manage it. It is more important to be consistent than quick, however it is not good to develop bad habits early on.

Car - well maintained, brakes/tyres suitable for intended use/power, suspension components known condition as well as suitable alignment.

Safety - mistakes happen. At work they say you cannot put a price on safety, in reality it does! Initially the perception of risk will be low, but as you develop the risk perception will change. There are normally minimum safety equipment standards, these are non negotiable.

There is a lot of debate on using a forward head restraint, these can be tethered and require a harness/seat (HANS), attached to the body (Simpson) or a foam collar that does not require a harness/race seat. Instead of a harness some people use a G lock product to stop belt movement. But again it depends on the rules!

[Mr Morlock]

learning about cars MX-5s / competition takes time. If you like the idea of an MX-5 buy one and drive it and then learn and make changes that suit budget life style etc. Some guys spend a lifetime in the car scene and racing but it takes principally a bit of passion that you cannot buy. Daves advice is probably right- try a Club and see if it is enjoyable and engaging.

[MikeVictor]

Some reasons to consider (or not consider) the NB over the NA were just posted in a vid by the guys at Car Throttle -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g30kG6bntCc

[93_Clubman]

purchase a MX 5 NA early 1990s model and do it up and get track ready. A lot of the mechanical work and installation, I'll get my mechanic to do
how much they would think the whole project would cost?

Welcome!
Your approach could also make total cost highly dependent on the condition of what you buy in the first place. Suggest you don't buy a POS & pay someone else to do it up unless you have very deep pockets. More economical overall to start with a sound base, even though initial outlay may be more.

[CeramicND]

If this is your very first time. It depends what state you are in. In NSW you can attend a club event as a first timer without being a member. I would suggest (in NSW) the Driver Training Day at Marulan. You can pay around $150 with a 1 day licence and drive around the track with some in-car instruction and guidance from experienced MX5 club members in your own car (almost any car will do as it's about driver training (no timed laps)). You will also have the opportunity to see a range of MX5's (ranging from standard to heavily modified) and talk to a plethora of owners that are only to willing to talk about MX5's till the cows come home. This is one of best intro's to MX5's you can do.

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[davekmoore]

That /\ /\, or whatever is similar and available near you.

[pepejesus]

What I'm looking to do is to purchase a MX 5 NA early 1990s model and do it up and get track ready. A lot of the mechanical work and installation, I'll get my mechanic to do because no where near skilled enough and do realise that haha.

You don't need to do anything to get it track ready, except maybe put some fresh brake fluid and decent brake pads on it. And possibly not even that if what you've got is fresh and in good nick.

If the track is where you want to be just leave the car alone and learn how to drive. Seriously. Do at least a years' worth (say five) track days, with an instructor sitting beside you, before you change anything on the car.

I'd also strongly recommend you join your local MX5 club and get one of the fast, experienced drivers to do some laps in it. They'll pick up anything that's not right in the car very quickly. If there's something not right, eg worn out, or an attempted 'performance mod' from the previous owner that actually makes the car worse (happens more often than you'd think...), then change that.

Otherwise, leave it, leave it, LEAVE IT, until you're at least competitive with the local club stock class hot shoe.

[pepejesus]

Join local MX-5 Club. Go to sprint events. Get quicker by getting driving tuition, and more seat time, not by spending money on the car except for maybe front pads and safety equipment. There are plenty of threads about me and BARMY which will explain to you why I give this advice.

This times a million.

[Code4]

Ready to go. Bit of a drive to get home though.

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-view-detail ... 1139308810

[Mr Morlock]

- being a turbo you would want to know if the car has an engineers certificate and whether that would be accepted in another State. How fast it goes around a track with a competent driver does not have anything to do with a legal road car. Good that the seller is so relaxed about selling it and no low ballers wasting his valuable time.

[3gress]

The multitude of helpful advice offered above would suggest you've chosen the right car...and forum to start with. Props on positive responses