What's the Best First Track Car? (Grip Driving) 

When i watch gears and gasoline i feel like I’m watching a movie

Man says the honda scene isn't always "adult", proceeds to open up his lambo door.

Honda Fit definitely earned the honorable mention. Cheap, reliable, great handling, and fun to toss through corners.

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.

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.

Green s2k guy had the real answer. Point blank period. Edit: Miata guy had a good tip too to supplement s2k guy.

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.

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)

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.

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.

What I’ve gotten out of this is that I can and should race the family minivan.

Honda civic cheap and inexpensive, Ben "this is how i spent 30k on my civic

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.

2:38 cost from 1$ -5000$ hahahahjahahahahaha

I hear Honda Fit, I raise you Suzuki Swift Sport for fun driving

One of the most underated car channels out there

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!

M - miata I- is A- always T - the A - anwser

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.

Now I want to go tracking with my mother’s Odyssey...

S2000 family where we all at!? Love my s2k❤️

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...)

My first track car here in france was a miata nc and now I enjoy my 86 !

Good luck finding an S2000 under 20k € on Europe

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.

Gears and Gasoline deserves more than that they have the quality the content and info. I love watching them.

It seems like the Honda Civic just takes the cake for the all-around best vehicle

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

I live 20mins from that track and absolutely love it! I just discovered this channel but can't wait to watch more 🤙

I see Gears and Gasoline upload, I drop everything and pay attention to this knowledge I am receiving. fantastic editing and content!

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 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

Another amazing video, thanks guys.

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.

My favorite youtube channel all time!

As always, another awesome video. Keep it coming.

The perfect list. Exactly what I would pick.

I didn't expect a vídeo so soon. Awesome.

Loving the videos. Keep up the great videos

Solid list. I enjoy tracking my Integra Type R. I would say Fiesta ST is an honourable mention.

Love y’all videos keep uploading good stuff! I’ll keep watching love the k swapped ek

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.

So inspirational, I live in Maryland, and would love the chance just to hang with you guys, and even learn a trick or two about your style of videography. I love it so much.

Awesome! I agree 100%!

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!

THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING 1988-1991 CIVICS everyone always forgets about the ef💕

Oh dang, Jabaay @ 2:42!

Loved this! Bought a Mazdaspeed mostly built finishing the car this month and two track days scheduled so far. 🤙

Another great vid, thank you

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.

Love the video 😍

Kudos yet again. Be safe out there everyone!

I’ve been waiting for this episode

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 just love how the Honda S2000 looks and handles. I want one of those

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

Awesome video!

I just got my FC rebuilt last week! I can't wait to get on the track next week 😎

I cant get enough of gears and gasoline vids...

Great video to encourage people! Nice!

Awesome closing shot

Notification squad, I’ll be back later. Love you guys

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.

Great video keeping it real.

Nice video I can't wait to get into 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.

The Australian guy put out some solid advice! That’s awesome

Ok I’ll buy one. Ready for next weekend

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🤙

Track performance was an important factor when I got my e46 m3 for my channel! Hoping to do some auto cross and a track day or two this summer

Awesome content Love from INDIA

Great video

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

You Guy's make the best video's

I'm partial to the e36 😁 great video!

That dude slide his jack stand @0:15 was funny. Surly enjoy his day XD

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

dude, this video i sooooooooo inspiring!

I had a Citroen AX GTi.. It was fun at the track!

Dude your civic is in the hoonigan autofocus video!!!! Just watched it drive past! Epic

Nice video guys

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 .

This just start an mi like aready just love track cars 👍🏽👍🏽🤘🏾🤘🏾

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!!

Haha Adam opening the Lambo door on his civic is baller

I just bought a 99 miata nb (jdm rs edition) can’t wait to take it to the track!

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.

that b-roll intro 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

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.

Porsche Boxster - mid engine rear wheel drive with very balanced driving feel. Excellent brakes and smooth 6 cylinder power that is decent.

8:14 nice shout out to all my honda fit/jazz brothers and sisters lol!

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.

Love my Honda Fit!! Will slap on track!

I really wanna say the fox-sn95-new edge mustangs are also good. They are on the heavy side but infinite capabilities and mods, inexpensive and lots of fun. But more required on necessary safety items like frame connectors and strut braces as it does tend to flex

Keep at it

B13 Sentra with sr20 swap and b15 Sentra spec v, stock motor is good and can FI but also can swap in a VQ. These are such underated cars. These make great first time track cars.

An integra! Cheap, handles amazing, cheap parts, tonnes of upgrades to choose from, and a lot of fun for how little you will spend.

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

I'm starting off with a 350z and I'm stoked!

I have an Audi TT and I love it. It eat corners like no one’s business