Top Best Cheap Track Cars
If you have the need for speed, it may be time for a track car to satisfy your urge to go fast!
Written by John Pickhaver
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
If you have the need for speed, then spend a day burning rubber at the race track! Though to truly satisfy your urge to go fast, you’ll need to be behind the wheel of a hot ride—like a track car. Check out our list of affordable track cars like the Volkswagen Golf GTI or the BMW 3-Series E36.
A track car is essentially a fast vehicle designed to perform well on a race track. You don’t need to break the bank on a six-figure racecar to experience the adrenaline rush of putting the pedal to the metal lap after lap. There are many affordable (seemingly regular) cars that can double as your perfect track car.
Whether you’re using your track car to pick up milk or see how quickly you can go from zero to sixty, you’ll need a quality
car insurance
policy. Turn to the car insurance savings app Jerry
, and in just seconds, you’ll have quotes from the top car insurance companies sent directly to your phone!To get your engine started, Jerry has rounded up a list of the best cheap track cars for you to choose from.
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What is a track car?
By its simplest definition, a track car is a fast vehicle designed to perform well on a race track. Track cars don’t need to be considered a racecar or have a six-figure price tag with a pit crew waiting at the ready.
A lot of sports cars and even some of what you’d consider a regular ‘ole commuter vehicle can serve as a track car.
What makes a good track car?
A good track car is only as good as the person driving it. Beyond that helpful nugget of wisdom, here are a few more specifics to help your track car thrive:
- Ultra-high performance tires: enable better steering and grip around turns
- Bucket seats: will keep you in place at high speeds and increase comfort levels
- Full synthetic oil: protects its components and keep the temperature regulated
- Uprated brake system: goes a long way when you’re hitting max speeds
- Lightweight ride: possible by removing passenger seats on a track day or exchanging your body panels for carbon fiber alternatives
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Volkswagen Golf GTI
Price: Starting at $5,000
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating: 4.7/5
From the moment you sit down in the
Volkswagen Golf
GTI, you’ll be ready to roll. That’s because this sporty hatchback out of Germany is outfitted with the GTI Sport Seat which will comfortably cradle you as you round tight turns at breakneck speeds around the track.Not only is the Golf GTI more comfortable and spacious inside than other track cars, but it also performs superbly with most GTI trims surpassing 200 horsepower! Track car performance aside—it doubles as a durable and reliable ride whether it’s for your daily commute or next road trip adventure.
Pro Tip If you are a true petrolhead, opt for the manual transmission so you can be in control of your ride during each lap at the track.
Mustang Fox Body
Price: Starting at $4,000
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating: 4.4/5
You’ll find the Mustang Fox Body on just about every track car list. Known for its lightweight body, the iconic Fox Body model of this American muscle car holds its own against any other track car.
You get the most bang for your buck if you find a Fox Body equipped with a powerful 5.0-liter V8 engine. It combines a sleek and aero design with an edgy, rough-and-tumble look that will make even the most experienced track racer think twice before taking you on.
Like all Mustangs, the Fox Body offers a ton of modification potential so you can build your track car to the fastest and fullest.
MORE: 10 affordable American muscle cars
Toyota Celica GT
Price: Starting at $4,000
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating: 4.8
With so many Camrys and Corollas on the road, it may surprise you to see that
Toyota
has a genuine track car among its daily drivers. The Toyota Celica GT
has been winning all kinds of competitions from rallycross to sports car racing for the last 50 years!The sporty Japanese track car is fast, dependable, and affordable. Like all Toyotas, it is well-manufactured and built to last. With some models achieving speeds of 140mph and approaching 200 horsepower, the Celica GT gets the job done on the track.
It may not be the roomiest car on our list, but it’s still a great car for a night out on the town after a day at the track.
BMW 3-Series E36
Price: Starting at $5,000
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating: 4.5
When you call yourself the “Ultimate Driving Machine,” you better be able to back it up. The BMW 3-Series E36 lives up to the brand’s slogan and then some! Most models clock in at an impressive 184 horsepower and 147mph.
They are a winning choice to take to the track due to their strong internal build quality and masterful weight distribution. Plus they are easy to modify so you can improve and refine your track car experience over time.
If for whatever reason you’re not ready for the world to know about your days at the track, a Bimmer is also the perfect car for any professional, any date night, or casual joy ride around town.
MORE: BMW buying guide
Honda Civic Si
Starting Price: Starting at $3,000
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating: 4.7
Oftentimes sensible parents opt for a Honda Civic for their son or daughter’s first ride because it feels like a basic and practical car. There’s a reason the most common car model to fill in the blank after “souped-up ______” is the Civic, especially the
Si
. Why? The modification potential is endless!
Sharp and spry, the Civic Si delivers at the track! Not only do you get the reliability of a Honda, but you get quality high-performance from its powerful 4-cylinder engine. For the most ideal track experience, opt for a model with rear-wheel drive and manual transmission.
The Civic Si is both a safe, sensible car that would make your parents proud, but it’s also a souped-up whip that is guaranteed to wow your friends at the track.
Mazda Miata
Price: Starting at $3,000
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating: 4.8
With slogans like “Zoom, Zoom” and “Feel Alive,” it’s no question that
Mazda
has a suitable lineup of track cars. Our pick from the Japanese automaker is the Mazda Miata. A lot of people love to hate on the Miata—but ask any gearhead and they’ll tell you this car shines at the track. Not only is it one of the most affordable on our list, but this lightweight roadster has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution and a dependable 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine.
It won’t win any horsepower awards and it’s a little cramped in the cabin, but the Miata’s dynamic suspension and athletic handling still make for a lively ride. Plus, if you live far away from the track, the Miata achieves some of the best fuel economies on our list.
MORE:
Are Mazdas good cars?
Subaru Impreza 2.5RS
Price: Starting at $4,200
Kelley Blue Book Consumer Rating: 4.7
If you’re on a budget with your track car and need a vehicle that can do just about everything else, then find yourself a Subaru Impreza 2.5RS. The Impreza 2.5RS, a trailblazer in the rally racing universe, is one of the most popular track cars around.
Not only are they affordable, but they are well-designed and easy to modify. The factory model generates 165 horsepower and is furnished with a 2.5-liter flat-four engine. Its sharp handling allows for a responsive ride—making it a blast to race around the track.
The best part about the Impreza 2.5RS is that it can be your go-to car for any activities like commuting, road-tripping, camping, and of course lapping the competition all day long at the track.
How to save money on car insurance for your track car
Now that you have the best options of affordable track cars at the tips of your racing gloves, use
Jerry
to protect you and your new ride with a quality car insurance
policy so you can experience a safe, fun, and oh-so-fast day at the track! All you need to do is download the app and answer a few questions. Then in 45 seconds—about the same time it’d take you to drive a lap around the track–Jerry will provide you competitive quotes from top insurance companies. Choose your policy, and Jerry will quickly take care of the rest.
“Insurance companies originally charged me $189 while driving my BMW 300 miles per year. Thanks toJerry, I only pay $56! I’m so happy.” —Ray T.
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