Track day car

[vigyaz]

So im looking to invest in something to use as a trackday car, ive come to the conclusion that rather than use my daily ( and possibly wreck it ) i will get a cheapie, do it up and use that, any suggestions as to a reasonably priced car that i could use?

 

was looking at an mg tf, but ... K series engine? a big worry?

[mk4gtiturbo]

mx-5?

[Aspman]

Clio 172/182 Cup

 

Pretty popular.

[vigyaz]

mx-5?

 

They are rather pretty, dont i need to become a hairdresser to drive one of those though :P ?

[PastyBoy]

Have a search there are plenty of "help me pick a track car" threads all of which seem to circle back around to the same few choices

 

MX5

big engined 3 series

clio 172/182

[rickf]

Mr2 roadster. 140 bhp 900 kg 50/50 weight distribution and Toyota build quality. A few well know issues over on the owners club but find a good one and you will love it.

I got the Mrs one and she uses it every day.

[vigyaz]

Have a search there are plenty of "help me pick a track car" threads all of which seem to circle back around to the same few choices

 

MX5

big engined 3 series

clio 172/182

 

looks like it would probably be the mx5 out of those choices as im not a fan of BMW's and dont get me started on clio's haha

 

thanks for the advice btw guys

[PastyBoy]

Track ready Ibiza GTI

 

 

or if you'd rather take a road legal one instead

 

[BossFox]

I really am not a fan of Renaults, but the Clio 172 is a lot of track day fun for the money.

Oh yes, make space for it by selling me your 02 plate Fabia.

[Toxicvrs]

Ford Escort XR

[Cznski]

As a newbie on here it looks like my first post is going to be non Skoda related!

 

I've had an MX-5 for a few years now and done several track days and I have to say it's a brilliant fun car. You can't beat RWD and good weight distribution for maximum fun.

Ok they're not the fastest in a straight line but through the twistys they'll keep up with most.

 

Mine's a pretty much standard 2001 1.8 Sport which has the 146bhp engine and even with standard suspension and heavy leather seats etc. it was very chuckable on track and the car's capabilities were well beyond mine as a relative novice. Also had few laps in a mate's older 1.6 which is more kitted out for track use (cage, bucket seats, improved suspension) and it was even more fun. Don't be put off by the 1.6 engine either, they may be down on power at only 115bhp but they're very free reving and didn't really feel any slower than mine plus the older ones are lighter.

The engines are pretty much bombproof too (unlike MGF) - mine's on 120k and still going strong it's the rust you have to look out for. Depending on how far you want to take the track car thing I'd go for a 1.6 as they take to turbo/supercharging better. They're also cheap as chips to buy - you'd get a decent one for track use well under £1000.

 

Check out MX5nutz.com, there's loads of folk who do track days on there and it's a great resource. 

 

And as for hairdressers - anyone who makes those comments has clearly never driven one!

Edited 11 September, 2014 by Cznski

[Toxicvrs]

Have a search there are plenty of "help me pick a track car" threads all of which seem to circle back around to the same few choices

MX5

big engined 3 series

clio 172/182

I started a big engined 5 series project however found that the weight distribution was going to be crazy with nothing over the back end and everything at the front which over a long wheelbase isn't ideal

[vigyaz]

I really am not a fan of Renaults, but the Clio 172 is a lot of track day fun for the money.

Oh yes, make space for it by selling me your 02 plate Fabia.

 

Haha, - Bossfox (Official owner of ALL green fabia's in Europe) <- something to strive for?

 

Whats the general opinion of the Rx8's btw? lol seen some on autotrader for under £1k

[Toxicvrs]

Haha, - Bossfox (Official owner of ALL green fabia's in Europe) <- something to strive for?

Whats the general opinion of the Rx8's btw? lol seen some on autotrader for under £1k

Good but they get a bad press with a lot of reviews saying they are only good for 60-90K before engine rebuild is needed due to the rotor tips! It is also a bit like a mk2 vRS as it is meant to consume oil

[vigyaz]

Good but they get a bad press with a lot of reviews saying they are only good for 60-90K before engine rebuild is needed due to the rotor tips! It is also a bit like a mk2 vRS as it is meant to consume oil

 

Aye i heard stories before about them suffering from wear, but dat 1.3... nearly 200bhp... it expensive to repair them when the rotor tips go?

[vigyaz]

Think im still leaning more toward the mx5, looks more track-day-ish if that makes any sense, could have some fun slinging one of those about :P

[Toxicvrs]

Aye i heard stories before about them suffering from wear, but dat 1.3... nearly 200bhp... it expensive to repair them when the rotor tips go?

Yes quite expensive and it's really a 3.9 iirc or a 2.6 I keep forgetting

[vigyaz]

Yes quite expensive and it's really a 3.9 iirc or a 2.6 I keep forgetting

 

 

Aye just been reading up on them, think ill stick with an mx5, let the hunt for one begin! lets see if i can source a decent one for under £1k :P

[Toxicvrs]

Aye just been reading up on them, think ill stick with an mx5, let the hunt for one begin! lets see if i can source a decent one for under £1k :P

Do a Fabia

[BossFox]

I agree with the above, I would be nervous putting the RX8 ****el engine through all that punishment as it's a bit of a specialist thing to get fixed and I rarely ever see them on track days.

 

Actually, I've seen one red one all year, which on around 8 track days with 40-50 cars per day says a lot.

 

Seen loads of Clio 172/182 and MX5s though.  They are popular for the handling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, what about the Fabia then?

[Toxicvrs]

I agree with the above, I would be nervous putting the RX8 ****el engine through all that punishment as it's a bit of a specialist thing to get fixed and I rarely ever see them on track days.

Actually, I've seen one red one all year, which on around 8 track days with 40-50 cars per day says a lot.

Seen loads of Clio 172/182 and MX5s though. They are popular for the handling.

So, what about the Fabia then?

The Clio 182 is one of the best handling cheap hatchbacks, the power is in the name however you can also buy a turbo kit for these which takes the power up to about 300bhp, there's a couple of people on a forum I frequent (Clio Sport) who use them as track cars! I'll see if I can find a build thread link!

[vigyaz]

The Clio 182 is one of the best handling cheap hatchbacks, the power is in the name however you can also buy a turbo kit for these which takes the power up to about 300bhp, there's a couple of people on a forum I frequent (Clio Sport) who use them as track cars! I'll see if I can find a build thread link!

 

This the same forum that someone fitted his brakepads backwards? haha

 

But yeah ive heard good things about the clio 182 in the past, i dno what it is though i just dont like something about clio's, maybe its the amount of chavs that live near me with them causes a stigma for me lol

[Toxicvrs]

About 385 BHP just from a turbo kit! Have a read and yes it is the same forum this is one of the more knowledgeable members though!

[Toxicvrs]

Damn forgot the link!

Here it is http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=695370

[niceyellow vrs]

was looking at an mg tf, but ... K series engine? a big worry?

 

No worries with a K Series. I drove my VVC engined Rover 200 all day, like I did in the video below, until it caught fire

I then replaced the melted bits and took it back to the track two weeks later