Track Car

old.user4556

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I'm wanting to do some track days at some point this summer and into next year, however i'm not too keen on taking my warranty bubbled everyday car onto a track and thrash the tits off it (even tho it's designed to be). So I thought "lets get a cheap second hand car".

Here's the shortlist (pricing from £1500-£3500), wondering if anyone's got any other suggestions:

Clio Williams - (2 litre, 150 hp, 0-60 in 7.5 secs)
Renault 5 GTT (1.4t, 115bhp, 0-60 in 8 secs)
Escort RS Turbo (1.6t, 132 bhp, 0-60 in 8.7 secs)
Honda Civic VTi 1.8 (1.8 VVTi 160 bhp, 0-60 in 7 secs)
Nissan Pulsar GTiR (2.0 T, 220 bhp, 0-60 in 6 secs)

All cheap, all high mileage, all likely to explode - but it's a track/project car. The interiors will be stripped completely, roll cage and lightweight bucket seat fitted.

Any other ideas?
 

Trem

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I would absolutely, without question go for a 205 1.9 GTi.

There was a video on scoobynet of one pissing all over a P1 impreza.

I think the VTi may be a bit sluggish getting up to a decent speed(with the high rev band etc) before hitting a corner.

Renault 5's I love but it will blow up lots. Same for the Escort arse turbo(and its a Ford.....*shudder*).

Clio is a great little car but I still think a stripped out 205 would better it.

Pulsar I would not consider as a track car, I do like them but they aren't very sturdy.

Got to be 205!!

Do it G....DO ITTTTTTTTTTTTTT!
 

Brynn

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I have a 206 GTi and it does go very very fast.

Pulsar looks like shit, dont waste your money on it.

I would say a clio, as they are very nice cars.
 

Trem

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Actually for 3.5k you could get an early WRX, one of those stripped out would fucking fly and be reliable.....ish.
 

Bodhi

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I'm going to be predictable and suggest a Mk2 Golf GTI, preferably a 16v (0-60 in about 8 secs). Fast reliable and handle well, and if you're feeling brave you can always stick a VR6 engine in it.
 

Tom

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Bear in mind you may need a trailer and a car that could tow it - would be embarrasing to try and drive away from the track with naked pads, warped discs, illegal tyres, or a bent chassis :)
 

.Wilier.

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A friend of mine used to race in what was called the Auto Express Cup about 10 years ago. Basically it was for cars upto 2 litre, which were fully road legal (they had to be driven to the event) and had to look exactly like the origional road car inside, although they were aloud bucket seats and roll cages. Most of the competitors would strip everything behind the facia away, so long as it looked like the road version.

He had an Astra GTE, which he removed the injection system from and added some enourmous twin Webbers. The other cars were basically 205 GTI's and Golf GTI's and whilst I hate to disagree with Bohdi, the Golf was way too heavy compared to the 205, even when it was stripped out.

205 all the way imho. I had a 1.9 when I was 18 and it really did fly. Really really.
 

Lester

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Been out a couple of times in my mates caterham superlight,(Donington and Rockingham) and I can tell you it passes everything on a track, mainly due to the handling and cornering abilities (wouldn't be as good on the long straights). Open top, sounds amazingly raucous, on rails, 0-60 in 4 or 5 secs I think. Awesome.
 

Nos

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I'd second the 205 1.9 GTI option, so many of them are used as track cars and with good reason.

Another good option would be a Honda Prelude, 185bhp, 60 in 6.9 seconds and well under 2k for a decent early mk 2 model.
 

old.user4556

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Of course, the 205 1.9 GTi.

Along the same lines as the clio williams, but the williams has more power and probably faster (once both are stripped bear).

Trem that WRX certainly does look promising, might wait to see if he knocks the price down a bit ;). WRX might be on the porky side even when stripped? Clio/Pug going to be under a tonne easy.

Oh decisions :(.
 

Trem

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The williams has about 13bhp more power and I would bet it wouldn't keep up with a 205 on the track, infact I would put money on it.

Offer the geezer 3k for the WRX, you never know.
 

Bodhi

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.Wilier. said:
A friend of mine used to race in what was called the Auto Express Cup about 10 years ago. Basically it was for cars upto 2 litre, which were fully road legal (they had to be driven to the event) and had to look exactly like the origional road car inside, although they were aloud bucket seats and roll cages. Most of the competitors would strip everything behind the facia away, so long as it looked like the road version.

He had an Astra GTE, which he removed the injection system from and added some enourmous twin Webbers. The other cars were basically 205 GTI's and Golf GTI's and whilst I hate to disagree with Bohdi, the Golf was way too heavy compared to the 205, even when it was stripped out.

205 all the way imho. I had a 1.9 when I was 18 and it really did fly. Really really.

Yeah that is a point, Golfs do have that extra bit of lard to carry. Unless you get the car that started it all of course, ye olde Mark 1, might be tough to find a decent one for your budget tho.

How about something a bit more left field though? Something like an old Carlton GSI will oversteer for Scotland, meaning you'll be grinning on the way out of most of the bends. Something like an old 3 series would fit the bill too. Remember at track day you aren't really trying to go as fast as possible, just have as much fun as possible. For that you really need rear-wheel drive.
 

Rubber Bullets

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Bodhi said:
Unless you get the car that started it all of course, ye olde Mark 1, might be tough to find a decent one for your budget tho.

This reminded me, a mate of mine, and a Golf nut, went to a meet and got chatting to a guy with an immaculate MkI that he had shoehorned a Corrado VR6 engine into, and then supercharged it.

280bhp he reckoned, that would put a smile on your face.

I have a bog standard VR6 and have no hesitation in saying that it would make a really crap track car, though it wouldn't be entirely without it's enjoyment.

Along Bodhi's lines you could almost certainly have your pick of Nissan 200SX mark 1's. Fantastic cars, with crap interiors that you'd enjoy tearing out anyway, and rear wheel drive fun all the way.

RB
 

Gumbo

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205 Gti, or Golf Gti, stripped, caged, buckets and harnesses, if you really want to monster other cars too, then a second set of wheels for the trailer with slicks on. Just bear in mind the quicker the car, the bigger the impact if you get it wrong, and not necessarily any more fun. There is no timing equipment allowed at trackdays so there is no point in trying to shave off seconds, or parts of seconds, just get something that is a laugh to drive.

If you want rear drive, which I would what with the car I drive on the road, then an E30 Beemer would be a good call, maybe even an ex-race one from my Lotus clubs own race series - http://selocmotorsport.com/
 

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