jungle-jim wrote:
Impreza
legacy
volvo 850 T5
Mitsubishi legnum/galant
skyline/stagea R33?
M3
M5
Impreza's are pretty good on track regardless of bodyshape with stacks of mod options and not a massive difference in stiffness until you're getting on coilovers and slicks (The wagon I had last year was more structurally robust than the saloon I had previously due to coilovers and strut braces; both an easy fix)
Legacy......more refined for road but worse for track. Apart from that, pretty much as above but heavier
Owned a few T5's but only the wagon in 850 form (Owned a C70 T5 too) The wagon was not at all stiff structually so I'd plump for a saloon if you're serious about track stuff or just compromise and enjoy one of the finest estates out there.
Not owned a Legnum or Galant and wouldn't want to
R33's are great all rounders. Refined for road use, balanced for track use and cheap now. The 4 door GTR pictured was a very limited run by a company called Autech. Mega money so you can pretty much forget that. The GTst
4 door was OK-ish. Rb25 (same as the non Autech Stagea) with a similar suspension set up as the conventional coupe.
M3's are amazing and I personally rate these as about the best compromise in terms of fast road, track and quality. My old four door was track only but was simply huge fun and so durable.
M5's are nice but come with 50k running costs. Scary bills when used on track according to those that do.
You haven't mentioned a budget
Assuming 3-5k I'd go for a nice E36 with some mods if you can run to the extra as a first choice. Second choice would be an Impreza wagon. This is based on a regular road use/now and again track use basis.
If the track work is more of a realistic rarity, I'd buy a decent V70R and bank the change.
