Track/road car under 3k to buy...
Discussion
I was contributing to a previous trackday car thread and somebody suggested a Ginetta. I thought that was absolutely genius- I tend to forget about them. There is probably no such thing as a perfect trackday car but IMO that's as close as you'll get. Not on a £3k budget though!
On the power discussion, I have done a lot of track days and test days and probably a hundred races now, over a period of 12 years- never with anything other than a four cylinder engine and never with more than 170bhp (generally much less). If I had the talent to maximise every last bit of performance out of those cars I would've done a lot more winning. After all of this time, I am still very much the limiting factor.
You can probably guess I am an advocate of the Colin Chapman school of thought when it comes to weight and power. In fact, each of the four cars I have raced owe something to Chapman.
On the power discussion, I have done a lot of track days and test days and probably a hundred races now, over a period of 12 years- never with anything other than a four cylinder engine and never with more than 170bhp (generally much less). If I had the talent to maximise every last bit of performance out of those cars I would've done a lot more winning. After all of this time, I am still very much the limiting factor.
You can probably guess I am an advocate of the Colin Chapman school of thought when it comes to weight and power. In fact, each of the four cars I have raced owe something to Chapman.
MrC986 said:
It was a lot of (relatively slow) fun! I am actually a BMWCC member but glad this lowly Mazda was allowed. Even camped the night before with a mate - first time to Anglesey and couldn't have asked for better weather eh...
you looked like you were having some fun 
Agree with others that for cheap track day fun then light weight is key. I have tracked M cars and the brakes etc are just destroyed - and expensive to replace....
No point starting yet another track day thread so might as well continue with this one !
Audi TTs. So I know from previous comments that they are never going to be a great track day car, nor even a good one. But surely the can be an OK/average track day car ? There's so many about for not much money, loads of parts cheaply.
What holds them back as they are a Golf GTi underneath ? (And you don't seem to see many Golf GTis for sale ?) Is it the Quattro system that makes them a bit lardy and it interferes when you don't want it to ?
If so, they did do a 180 2WD version.
What about a Megane 225 or Astra VXR - over budget ?
Audi TTs. So I know from previous comments that they are never going to be a great track day car, nor even a good one. But surely the can be an OK/average track day car ? There's so many about for not much money, loads of parts cheaply.
What holds them back as they are a Golf GTi underneath ? (And you don't seem to see many Golf GTis for sale ?) Is it the Quattro system that makes them a bit lardy and it interferes when you don't want it to ?
If so, they did do a 180 2WD version.
What about a Megane 225 or Astra VXR - over budget ?
SimonTheSailor said:
Is it the Quattro system that makes them a bit lardy and it interferes when you don't want it to ?
If so, they did do a 180 2WD version.
Audi TTs, how many of them have I seen reversed into the armco on TDs, lots.If so, they did do a 180 2WD version.
I suspect when people think the 4WD helps them it actually does the opposite, but that is a guess.
SimonTheSailor said:
No point starting yet another track day thread so might as well continue with this one !
Audi TTs. So I know from previous comments that they are never going to be a great track day car, nor even a good one. But surely the can be an OK/average track day car ? There's so many about for not much money, loads of parts cheaply.
What holds them back as they are a Golf GTi underneath ? (And you don't seem to see many Golf GTis for sale ?) Is it the Quattro system that makes them a bit lardy and it interferes when you don't want it to ?
If so, they did do a 180 2WD version.
What about a Megane 225 or Astra VXR - over budget ?
you can make anything a good track car. (if you having fun its doing its job.) ive wondered about the TT's the mk1 has aged really well they look quite cool still. personally id go for a 225 with the bam engine bigger turbo and i think forged pistons as standard. and its relatively straight forward to get a reliable 260/280bhp from it. Audi TTs. So I know from previous comments that they are never going to be a great track day car, nor even a good one. But surely the can be an OK/average track day car ? There's so many about for not much money, loads of parts cheaply.
What holds them back as they are a Golf GTi underneath ? (And you don't seem to see many Golf GTis for sale ?) Is it the Quattro system that makes them a bit lardy and it interferes when you don't want it to ?
If so, they did do a 180 2WD version.
What about a Megane 225 or Astra VXR - over budget ?
remove the haldex system and fit a 2wd box from a golf, with an LSD. you would have a proper fun little car. with plenty of scope for upgrades. as 99% of the golf aftermarket stuff will fit.
SimonTheSailor said:
No point starting yet another track day thread so might as well continue with this one !
Audi TTs. So I know from previous comments that they are never going to be a great track day car, nor even a good one. But surely the can be an OK/average track day car ? There's so many about for not much money, loads of parts cheaply.
What holds them back as they are a Golf GTi underneath ? (And you don't seem to see many Golf GTis for sale ?) Is it the Quattro system that makes them a bit lardy and it interferes when you don't want it to ?
If so, they did do a 180 2WD version.
What about a Megane 225 or Astra VXR - over budget ?
I've done the TT thing and so have many others. The biggest problem with the mk1 is the weight and inadequate brakes as standard. You can strip them out to about 1300kg and various aftermarket brake kits are available. Do consider that most are getting on in age too now so tired engines are unhappy with being thrashed for 8 hours a day. The haldex is not a problem, you can fit various electronic controllers to force it into 50/50 mode or disable entirely etc. Audi TTs. So I know from previous comments that they are never going to be a great track day car, nor even a good one. But surely the can be an OK/average track day car ? There's so many about for not much money, loads of parts cheaply.
What holds them back as they are a Golf GTi underneath ? (And you don't seem to see many Golf GTis for sale ?) Is it the Quattro system that makes them a bit lardy and it interferes when you don't want it to ?
If so, they did do a 180 2WD version.
What about a Megane 225 or Astra VXR - over budget ?
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