New guy....need advice, is it worth using a 2000 323 sedan as..

the start for a track car build? I've been trolling for a while trying to gather as much info as I can about potential, mods etc. I haven't seen much on people using sedans let alone the 323.

I guess my real question, should I start with this car or will I quickly wish I had waited and used a M3 to start with. My concern is that spending the $ on a M3 will essentially use alot towards things I will be tossing or upgrading anyway.

The tricky part...the 323 would be a gift, it is the actual car I first took to Watkins Glen for my first HPDE, where I got a free trip to Skip Barbers school and then approached about truly pursuing a racing career. Needless to say I have a real job now and live about 20min away from VIR.

I don't want to get everything set only to kick myself I didn't start with a better platform.


thanks for all your insight.

AA

Sorry for the late response. I track my 323. I have tracked it on the Nurburgring (Grand Prix and Nordschleife), Arroyo Seco Raceway, and VIR.

My mod list is as follows:
AA Supercharger
Header
Tuner TrackSport Coilovers w/ Camber plates
Turner Swaybars
Quaife LSD
Adjustable Rear Control Arms
SS Brakelines w/ Hawk HPS
Half Cage with Corbeau Seats
MTech Front Bumper
At Nurburgring

After Supercharger and Bumper

At VIR


The platform is a great starter platform and you can be plenty fast in the car. The car can even be competitive without a supercharger. I tracked it at the Nurburgring for 2 years without a SC and 1 year at Arroyo Seco.

I enjoy tracking the 323. But in the near future I will be upgrading to a different car.

I would make a list of what parts you will add to your 323 and what parts you would add even if you had an m. A lot of track guys will toss out the m suspension for example to put on coilovers... if that's the case, you won't benefit from that "upgrade" on the m... will you be switching out wheels? If so, likely won't keep the m wheels either.

So figure out what benefits you would get from the m and, if it's only power, consider a supercharger

Originally Posted by 2000_328CI

I would make a list of what parts you will add to your 323 and what parts you would add even if you had an m. A lot of track guys will toss out the m suspension for example to put on coilovers... if that's the case, you won't benefit from that "upgrade" on the m... will you be switching out wheels? If so, likely won't keep the m wheels either.

So figure out what benefits you would get from the m and, if it's only power, consider a supercharger

This.