Caught the racing bug? Here are some sub-£5k project cars we found this week

Finding one of the facelifted Mazda 3 MPS examples is tough for under five grand, but not impossible (as is evidenced here). It’ll nudge closer to 250bhp from the off, and crack 60 in under six seconds - a marked improvement on the Coupe. Considering its bloodline, the MPS will also welcome a huge air filter and an even bigger turbo with minimal fuss.

The Golf R32 is a pretty divisive car: on the one hand, 83 per cent of Britain’s delinquent populous rag them around. But on the other, what a fabulous car. If you can put your pride and prejudice aside, this high-miler will prove a barrel of laughs around your local circuit. It won’t even require aftermarket attention, such is its strong base and addictive naturally aspirated soundtrack.

‘John Cooper Works’ just sounds so cool, doesn’t it? And while most modern 300-horsepower ‘GP’ trim monsters will cost you an arm, a leg, and a spouse, a humble 2008 example with 80k on the clock could be yours for a Greek holiday under five. You can even go on said holiday having retained all your limbs and still in the company of said spouse. So it’s a win-win, no?

There’s one major flaw with the hot Vauxhall Astras from this period: torrential understeer. But you’ll have plenty of change left over to address the handling issues by fettling with shock compression ratios and camber balance; even adding a roll-bar. Get your settings just right, and that mighty 237bhp four-pot can be exploited magnificently on track. 

Not the first vehicle which springs to mind when you think about track days, and that’s what makes the GTV so unorthodox. The 3.0-litre V6 is a peach of an engine, and since it has usable rear legroom (sort of), you can take your kids along to experience the highs of Alfa Romeo ownership (the driving bit) and the lows (the cloud of smoke in the pit lanes bit). So really, you’re investing in a gorgeous bit of styling and crucial life lesson tuition for your little people, all in one. Perfect.

Probably the most obvious choice here, and that’s strange because… well, it’s a Porsche. Early Noughties Boxsters with the bigger 3.2-litre flat-six engines in good condition are rare for under five large ones, but here’s one for exactly that. Like the R32, the 986 is a ready-made tool for fast, precision driving. But unlike it, you don’t have to be a delinquent to own one.

Most RX-8s often struggle to escape their eventual fate of a blown rotary. It’s a sad thing because the little Mazda has so much to give. Though we’ve found one that’s already been converted for track use and has even participated in RX-8 Trophy Cup races, so perhaps this particular car has beaten the odds?

The Nissan 350Z has a reputation for being both reliable and fast, the latter thanks to its sumptuous V6 which just begs for more output. This particular car is even being sold for just under four grand with less than 62k on the odometer, too, and has already been converted so you can dive straight into a track day. It’s the perfect car for this list.