32 replies to this topic

[healthynine]

Hello all! This is my first post...I'm seeking some advice.

I'm looking to get into racing spec miata. I've done several HPDE events, but never raced. As much as I love my current "track" car, I do not have the heart or funds to make it more than a track day car (2008 Evo X).

I figure spec miata is a great starting place for me because of cost, RWD, and I've always loved the miata.

The question is, do I build one, or buy one?

I've found a very nice donor, but it may be too nice. Its a 93 with 53k that I can purchase for ~$5000. I have seen some potential donors around here but most have high miles and seem pretty beat or rusty. I have confidence in this car, but perhaps I'm starting with more than I need. I feel comfortable building the car with the exception of welding the cage and weighing/aligning it. I suppose the pros to building it is knowing what I've done to the car, and feeling comfortable with the build. The only negatives would be that I could potentially find a built car cheaper and would be less work. That being said, I think it would be a fun winter project.

The other option would be to buy a built car. There is a local one for sale, a 91 for $7400 that was built 10 years ago. I haven't looked at it, but assuming it is ready to race, this is a more cost effective option. I'm concerned that a car originally built in 2002 will probably need a fair amount of work.

If you were getting into spec miata for the first time again, what would you do?

Thanks!

[Ron Alan]

Oh man...dejavu

It's ok, nothing personal...welcome aboard! We get 1 of these a month and this has been answered hundreds of times! I will give you all the stock answers!

1. Use the search engine...it is your friend and read read read!!
2. Buy Dave Wheelers(Advanced Autosports) book on building a spec miata...and read read read!
3. Take your budget and double it if your going to build a car!
4. It is cheaper to buy than build...look in the classifieds on this site!
5. Update your profile so we know what area you live. We can direct you to good sources.
6. Whether you're going to do NASA or SCCA, find the rules and read read read!
7. Consider renting a few times to get a real taste of what your in for.
8. Spend your money on track time and coaching when your first starting out...worry about the car when you realize that is the weak link!

Best of luck...the vacuum that is beginning to suck you in gets really strong

[Rob Burgoon]

Best of luck...the vacuum that is beginning to suck you in gets really strong

Heh, suck! :-P

Do lots of searching, then ask lots of questions. People won't always answer and don't believe everything you hear, but asking is free!

[FTodaro]

Drago should consider a FAQ tab, where we can post frequent questions and post the answers. It's not that we do not want to talk to new members, the risk is people will stop responding. Maybe when people sign up and open an account, they are invited to check the FAQ's.

[healthynine]

Thanks for all the noob search responses....j/k.

I have been reading a lot about the topic. I understand that the standard response is that buying is cheaper than building, and money and time is better spent on the track. I get that and I agree. I've done several HPDE events, so I know what I'm in for both building and maintaining a car, but obviously wheel to wheel racing and HPDE is a different game.

It isn't that I can't be patient with finding a race ready car, but I found a nice potential donor.

My question is mostly around whether or not the donor I'm looking at is too much. I think it is a good deal for what it is, but may be nicer than it needs to be for a donor. There are a couple of built cars around, but I suppose I'm just new to the idea of buying a built car because I feel like I don't know what exactly what I'm getting.

I live in Milwaukee, a little over an hour away from Dave Wheeler's shop.

[mdavis]

The old site actually did have a FAQ. Not sure what happened to that.

In my opinion your potential donor is definitely not worth the price. You could spend just a little more than that and get something that's already built (I have one listed on another site for 7000!). Even if you decided to do a "lot of work" to get it up to your specs you would still spend far less time and money than starting from scratch. And in that case you'd still have your "winter project" that would actually have you much closer to getting on the track than starting with a donor.

[FTodaro]

Thanks for all the noob search responses....j/k.

I have been reading a lot about the topic. I understand that the standard response is that buying is cheaper than building, and money and time is better spent on the track. I get that and I agree. I've done several HPDE events, so I know what I'm in for both building and maintaining a car, but obviously wheel to wheel racing and HPDE is a different game.

It isn't that I can't be patient with finding a race ready car, but I found a nice potential donor.

My question is mostly around whether or not the donor I'm looking at is too much. I think it is a good deal for what it is, but may be nicer than it needs to be for a donor. There are a couple of built cars around, but I suppose I'm just new to the idea of buying a built car because I feel like I don't know what exactly what I'm getting.

I live in Milwaukee, a little over an hour away from Dave Wheeler's shop.

Not only is it hard to know what your getting, you are not sure what is good or bad.. If you are that close to Wheeler, it would be worth your while to go visit him and others who know the score. It will save you time and money.

[Todd Tagget]

If you've got the talent,, build it's very rewarding.. But that donor car is WAY overpriced,, you're going to throw most of it away anyway..
Find a $1200-$1500 donor ,, lot's of them out there,, a good $100k engine will run you $350 that will get you through your first year.

[fotostars]

If you've got the talent,, build it's very rewarding.. But that donor car is WAY overpriced,, you're going to throw most of it away anyway..
Find a $1200-$1500 donor ,, lot's of them out there,, a good $100k engine will run you $350 that will get you through your first year.

What Todd says! Except for $100k engine, he meant 100k miles ;-)

[Jamz14]

If you want the short answer, buy.

[wheel]

BUY!

[Ron Alan]

OMG...if your close to Wheelers shop...take a drive...doesn't he have a fleet? $1500 is a normal donor price range. At $5k it has to have a lot of cool stuff you don't need and can sell. Low mileage is not critical and a lot of times people want a fortune for these cars because of this.

[screaming monkey]

Visit Dave for sure. Go to his open house in March and if you're planning on running next season, go sooner. During the week is best as the weekends are booked, but call either way and talk to him. He always has cars for sale that are updated and legal and basically race ready.

[James York]

If you've got the talent,, build it's very rewarding.. But that donor car is WAY overpriced,, you're going to throw most of it away anyway..
Find a $1200-$1500 donor ,, lot's of them out there,, a good $100k engine will run you $350 that will get you through your first year.

Totally agree. Way too much for a 93. The present owner must really like it.

[healthynine]

The car is actually $4k which for its miles and condition make sense. The issue is getting it to WI from Las Vegas where its currently located.

[Ron Alan]

The car is actually $4k which for its miles and condition make sense. The issue is getting it to WI from Las Vegas where its currently located.

Sorry, for me if I can't touch it, its not a deal. $4k plus shipping?? Man, go see Wheeler!

[NV Racer]

My original donor was $1800 clean straight car but it had 199,000 miles on it. I ran that engine 2 years before I rebuilt it. As stated earlier low mileage does nothing but cost you more money. $4K plus transportation to WI is too much. My daily driver will be a future donor if needed was given to me since people knew I raced Miatas it needed a motor. Plenty of clean rust free Miatas out here in the west. If your willing to have one shipped back east keep looking for a better deal. Building is a rewarding experience if you have the skills. Half of the enjoyment for me is the building experience. Buying is cheaper in the long run but handing over a stack of cash was not for me. I took 9 months to build mine bought parts as cash became available. No matter your decision it would be time well spent to talk with Dave since you are nearby. Good luck

Dennis

[Johnny D]

I agree with everything said.
Dave even said he was putting some up for sale soon. I'm sure he'll post here in the next couple days.
Save your $, you'll need the $ to spend on other things, track time, etc.

Guys I'll send something to Jim and Ceasar about the "Faqs' tab up top.
J~

[dchamp]

+1 on the "go talk to Wheeler" advice. He even tolerates newbie questions fairly well (I bugged him some this weekend at Blackhawk).

We built a car (a '91 from a complete junker donor car), and it was great fun and a learning experience, rebuilt the whole engine etc., especially for my co-driver who had done very little mechanical work. Been racing it for 2 years now, and it's been running great, with the exception of a broken diff... which we wanted to upgrade anyway.

My next car I will probably buy. Probably.

Getting into racing really isn't too hard, if you're dedicated to making it happen, and have good support.

[healthynine]

Oh good support I'm already getting an earful from the wife since this will be my third vehicle. That and I don't have a tow vehicle either.

I realize that financially buying is probably a better option, but if I were looking for the best financial decision I'd probably be driving a Corolla. I love the build almost as much as driving. Something about driving a car that someone else put the work into just doesn't quite feel right for me.

I appreciate the opinions, I will probably continue searching for both options, and maybe find the right built car.