TL:DR
What car would you take to OneLap for a 3 person team, if the build was the equivalent of two times a GRMChallenge Budget ($4034 with free safety and tires {‘cause OneLap only allows one set 
})
Longer form:
Most discussion of OneLap cars has been focused around performance as a priority in their selection. For this thread I’m more interested in finding options that will be comfortable for a team of 3 to complete OneLap. I’d be trying to do this for a challenge budget, but I have neither the time nor the build skill to pull that off right now. I need something relatively easy to find, less than $3k purchase. I have some reason to prefer things that take 4x100 or 5x114 wheels easily, based on current inventory (15”/17” for 4x100, and 17” in 5x114). Also, no BMW’s.
So, what say the hive?
As a reminder, these pictures illustrate the "minimum track gear" and does not include 3 helmets, and 3 people's clothes for a week...
Turbo Brick, preferably wagon, 240, 740, 940, 960, turn up the boost, or free the chassis of the original greasy bits, stuff in your favorite later model LS engine, and season with a dash of turbo.
In reply to bigdaddylee82 :
Maybe I should find an old Amazon and see if I can complete more events than Finnegan's Firebird? Although, I might be in trouble if he manages to bring that car back?
How well would a mildly prepped 740 fare against aircooled 911's? (I expect to be creamed by the LS powered 944's that are highly likely to show up)
American Cruiser, Economy, and Truck/SUV/Minivan classes are typically the least competitive. While Luxury Sedan is populated by various 'M' cars, and Mid-Priced Sedan is STI's and Evo's. Then again, this is less about being competitive, and more about showing that the bar to participate in OneLap can be moved lower.
There's something to be said for how the Griswolds have been doing the event. They're slow, but when you watch them drive, they're really wheeling that big car.
P71 with supercharger was my first thought.
If three full-sized adult males and all their gear will be driving across country, there are few cars more comfortable than a W124 chassis Mercedes 300E. Probably not very competitive on track, but they're reliable and can be had cheaply.
I was going to say early V8 S4 but those are still a little high. You may find an S60 R close to that budget as well. Otherwise, I'd look for the best G35 you can find for that price.
'77+ B-body two door sedan.
I think I'd be looking to John Welsh's Challenge minivan for inspiration here.
For $3k, you want an Intrepid R/T, supercharged Regal, SHO or similar. Plenty of space, and with some polyurethane bushings, shocks and tires, they will all do OK on the track. You won't beat M5s, but you will have a ton of fun on a budget.
Option #2 - Buy an S-10 4-door and swap in all the ZQ8 stuff you can find. (The XTreme came in a crew-cab, but that might be tight for racer #3 in the back.)
Option #3 - Turbocharge an SW2. Some of these Saturns make crazy power, and the 1st gen wagon is pretty slick looking when running fat tires.
I agree that the truck/minivan class is the least competitive. It is the class I would be looking at if I wanted to win something.
Copy the XJ-R build, but with a 4-door.
You're not going to be competitive in One Lap with a $4k car. People spend more than that on one shock for their One Lap rides.
Just getting a $4k car to complete One Lap will be challenge enough....
V8 S80 Volvo. Likely can be had for under 4K with some searching. Add straight pipes and enjoy the glory. https://www.youtube.com/embed/P4Vh0eidjUg
For a few bucks more in the budget a surplus Tahoe PPV...Lower slightly, breath a little bolt on LS1 power, win SUV class since you'll be only one in class.
Oh yeah...keep front push bar and spotlight and black and white paint scheme to run stealth.
Re:ManhattanM/pushrod36:
So, I find the Jag comments interesting. I'll have to do some more digging there... helps that I'm close friends with a Jag specialty shop.
Ovid_and_Flem:
Yeah, I read through that CUV thread too. The Rav4 V6 had me looking into V6 Ford Escapes, since the Rav's seem to command a premium.
singleslammer:
interesting. I had someone recommend offline the S80 T6. Anybody know i these things have quirky maintnance like my parents spending $1500 every couple years to fix their '93 850's A/C?
pinchvalve:
I think the Intrepid looks most likely for me of your options... although R/T's don't seem very common
szeis4cookie:
A Quest is definitely high on my internal list... although some attention needs to be paid to figuring out the oiling issues that John ran into. Baffled sump, and crank scraper?
docwyte said:
You're not going to be competitive in One Lap with a $4k car. People spend more than that on one shock for their One Lap rides.
Just getting a $4k car to complete One Lap will be challenge enough....
I know your a Lap Dog, and I know what your telling me. I appreciate you chiming in.
However, I cleared out of my "All Remaining Cars" rut last year... imho, proving I can be fast if I want to. And I did that with a $6k car that had pads and tires.
I don't subscribe to the mentality of "don't go unless you expect to win". This is more about "OneLap is an interesting challenge", and "Life is too short to sit around dreaming".
Not that I'm harping on you, Doc, I just want to make it clear what my motivations are.
We are kicking around the idea of a 2 door first gen s10 blazer 4x4 converted to awd with a turbo 4.3.
Only UNDER challenge budget.
Dusterbd13 said:
We are kicking around the idea of a 2 door first gen s10 blazer 4x4 converted to awd with a turbo 4.3.
Only UNDER challenge budget.
You've got more experience wrenching and Challenge building than I do. Also, I'm shooting for 2018. I like to think I'm helping to progressively move the bar down.
edited to add: I'll leave the S10's for you then. 
LanEvo said:
P71 with supercharger was my first thought.
If three full-sized adult males and all their gear will be driving across country, there are few cars more comfortable than a W124 chassis Mercedes 300E. Probably not very competitive on track, but they're reliable and can be had cheaply.
Farah's video on his SL500 had me looking at sedans with that engine. Dunno about 300E's... probably easier to pick up and prep an LS400.
re:P71 with a supercharger
That thought did cross my mind, especially after HotRod garage threw one on the F100 project. However, P71's are usually around 3k around here, and are fairly common at OneLap. Is there a budget supercharger for these, 'cause the kits would all blow my projected budget?
I am thinking Toyota Camry sedan/wagon or Sienna. Or Honda Odyssey. You said you wanted comfort over performance. If you look at some previous OLOAs there are examples of all of these. Those V6s are pretty stout too.
sleepyhead said:
singleslammer:
interesting. I had someone recommend offline the S80 T6. Anybody know i these things have quirky maintnance like my parents spending $1500 every couple years to fix their '93 850's A/C?
I'd wager your parents' 850 didn't have a cabin filter.
I'd avoid anything P2 or related, T6 Volvo for anything other than a donor, that turbo Whitebolck I6 can make some wicked power, reliably even. Ditch the little twins for a larger single turbo, liberally apply boost, and enjoy. Sadly as good as the engine is/was, the GM sourced autotragic they stuck on all of them suffer a tragically short and temperamental life. In short if you got your hands on a S80 T6 that still had a good transmission, doubtful at the $3K budget cap, an attempt at One Lap would surely do it in.
I am strongly considering trying to bring my 1998 XJR to one lap in the next few years. Yes, it will probably get creamed by the M cars, but I can probably stay under the $4k and stay reliable if I focus on doing nothing but maintenance.
Before one-lap I would probably even take it in to a specialist shop so they could do a thorough once-over too, just to get a second opinion on my maintenance skills.
But a Saab 9-5 aero wagon could be a lot faster than it has any right to be for 4k.
