Brendan Hughes

Everyone (more or less) wanted a 205 GTi in the late 80s, it was the uber-cool hot hatch. Now (or maybe I read this forum too much) many people are picking them up for £500, stripping them and using them for track fun.

What will be next, when these get old and die out? What's a good fun track car from the mid/late 90s?

Scoob?
Early MX-5?
Ford Puma?

Andy M3

MGZS 180 i think will be worthy

But i think Saxo VTS, 306 GTI and the Clio Sport range [2.0 16v].........

NWMark

2nd the above and also add

106 Gti
rover 200 BRM

Mark

CrisPDuk

MX5 definitely There is already a race series for 1.6 Mk1's so it won't be long befor a few refugees from it turn up on track days

RRH

MX5's are superb for track, cheap to buy, cheap to run, rarely break, and if you buy a eunos import then they have lsd's as standard.

There are already loads of ex-challenge cars doing trackdays, and they're surprisingly competent.

Gav

Civic Type R soon also me thinks???

Wit0r

Good 5-8 years before you start seeing CTR's becoming affordable trackday weapons (as in well under £3k or so)

Granted though, kinda car thats suited for track work, along with the 172/182/cups...

Steve vRS

Clio 172/182 Cup.

Steve

Dream Weaver

Why does a trackday car have to be under £3k though?

I reckon Civic's and Clio's will be seen on track very soon, though the 205 will always be the daddy

RRH

I think he's probs referring to dedicated track cars, rather than an everyday car that you do trackdays in.

I just don't find any of the front wheel drive cars fun to drive in a trackday environment; I much prefer rear wheel drive, but at the end of the day its whatever floats your boat.

davyboy

If I was to want another (cheaper to buy and run) track car, I'd run a 172 cup with coilovers, sticky rubber and performance friction pads.

Anything near to 1000kg and 200bhp ish would be good fun!

Dream Weaver

Its not unreasonable to spend £5-10k on a dedicated trackday car though over a number of years, which would bring a Clio 172 into the bracket.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

My "alternate" views

It'll never be "must have" But an old E34 530 manual six pot beamer stripped out and with coil overs. What it lacks in speed it'll make up for in handling, balance and fun

You could fork out for a E34 M5...but you'd better know how to rebuild engines...otherwise it'll be ££££ if it goes pop.

My RWD only rule eliminates almost every other production car

Could go to Oz and buy an early 90's HSV clubsport VN (5.0 V8, 0-60 6.8 secs
Standing 1/4 mile 14.6 secs ) for $10000AU (£4300) then import it back home.

It might need some work, but engines are bare bone basic and have huge power potential, which just leaves suspension which given the right sources could be sorted a for a nice price, but'll never be as well balanced as teh BMW - so you may as well run an old jag - at least you can get the parts (even if the uprated suspension parts cost ££££ and manual versions are like rocking horse ****)

Brendan Hughes

I'm not sure what I'm referring to, but yes, the "dedicated" stuff. Cem tracked his GT3RS, but I wouldn't expect to see that popping up in the list

I guess I'm also thinking of the budget stuff, which is why I would question the scoob and the 5 series - aren't these too heavy to be used frequently on track, as you chew tyres and brake pads? I'd have guessed that's why 205s are popular (inter alia...)

Adidas

Or a Series 1 Elise.


Although, I'll stick with the Pug for the time being.

davyboy

Buy the right tyres and pads, and a heavy car is not so bad.

My race pads did about 150 laps of the ring, and my track tyres (Pirelli P Zero C) about the same. Granted they cost more that standard, tyres £150 each, and pads about the same......but it's worth it in terms of extra performance and longivity.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Just to backup the beamer....in Autotrader £500 http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www...IES&locale=STF

- pity its an auto though

Gav

Ali-B your onto a winner there, imagine that with all the interior stripped out (half the weight gone ) and on a decent susp set up

that would fly!

R1916v

The Clio sports as they will be dirt cheap in not too long.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

If its not going to be a daily driver then a Westy and a trailer is the way to go if you really want RWD performance per £

RS Grant

Have always had the idea that in a few years a good track project would be a Clio Cup totally stripped and prep'd for track.... Think it has a lot to do with the capability of the Clio I drove on the Palmersport Experience @ Bedford.

Very capable car and HUGE fun on track!!


Cheers,
Grant

Andy M3

I think i was jesting a bit when i mentioned this car - but i read a owners review on it - and as a track days goer he said he can lap Brands Hatch Indy Circuit as quick as a Clio 182 cup and quicker than a Civic Type R !?!?

Surely that puts this car up a few notches ?!?! Can anyone verify just how potent they are A to B ?

Luan Pra bang

lotus elise s1 can be had for 6-7k already

Brendan Hughes

Being clear - is that him driving all three cars, or him against a lesser driver in another car? Which is not a fair comparison.

Andy M3

The guy that owned the car would naturally big himself up - i asume he had the ability to lap a time similar pace to say such a thing but thats not to say that the other drivers were muppets of whatever.

i was hoping someone who does do track days in the same car pipes up and comments

Hol

iTrader: (1)

Its a good question and I enjoyed reading the opinions as I will be getting something specifically for the ring next year.

I want a hard top for the driving there/back, so a 205 was on the list, as was a 16V Clio.
But looking for a cheap BASE car to fit out properly doesn't bring up a huge list. I have even started looking at the prices for Saab Turbos...

RRH

Taking a 'cheap' base car and fitting it out will end in tears mate.
i bought a cheap 205, fitted a cheap mi16, proper brakes, cage etc etc etc. before i knew it I'd spent about £6k on something that was worth, at best, £3k.
let someone else spend the money, and then buy the results.

Daniel-S

Golf mk2 GTI 16v track cars come up for sale alot.

Dream Weaver

I agree with that to a point.

I've done the same as you, bought an already converted 205 Mi16 in std trim but with dodgy engine (I didnt know that ). Paid £2k for it and have spent another £4k since then getting it up to spec with fully rebuilt engine, throttle bodies, interior, brakes etc etc.

It has cost a bit, but over a 2 year period its only £3k a year, and most importantly its been fun building it as I didnt have that much mechanical knowledge before so i've learnt an amazing amount in the past 2 years about cars and engines.

Its also really satisfying to look at what you've done

Just a shame it takes so long to do when you're a novice, havent driven it for 16 months now

It probably would've been done by now though if I wasnt so bloody fussy about stuff

Diablo

DC2 Integras are getting cheaper. Fantastic track cars..