Focus 1.8 as track day car ?
Discussion
Odd most of the world touring cars seem to be front wheel drive, and they dont seem to suffer from this.
1.8 focus on a series 1, not a bad car, I had one, eibach make an anti rollbar and spring/damper kit, these are superb, whilst you are tinkering with the suspension, you want some camber correctors as well, as the camber on these when lowered really winds up.
Take the interior out, remove all the sound dead, fit a decent bucket seat and harnesses and enjoy.
1.8 focus on a series 1, not a bad car, I had one, eibach make an anti rollbar and spring/damper kit, these are superb, whilst you are tinkering with the suspension, you want some camber correctors as well, as the camber on these when lowered really winds up.
Take the interior out, remove all the sound dead, fit a decent bucket seat and harnesses and enjoy.
BadgerBenji said:
Odd most of the world touring cars seem to be front wheel drive, and they dont seem to suffer from this.
That's because (i) the RWD cars got handicapped to the point the manufacturers dropped out & (ii) a touring car bears no resemblance to anything you can buy in a showroom, appearances to the contrary.
Ignore ex-bs.
FWD on track, in the right car, can be genuinely entertaining...and the Focus isn't a bad platform. FWD is also safer for a novice.
Having said that, given the starting car you'll throw quite a bit of money at it fitting a roll-cage, suspension, brake-upgrades etc. Then find it's a bit slow compared to everything else. Then either spend more money fettling the engine or get bored and buy a Caterham. Which turns a cheap track-car into a money-pit either way.
If you're serious about getting a track-car, best bet is buy one someone else has already done all the work on (it'll be a lot cheaper than all the parts and labour in it!), then take a weekend to check EVERYTHING out, from the roll-cage mounting to the cylinder bores/liners, just to be safe (why ARE they flogging the car???). Lot cheaper than doing it from scratch, even if the donor car is a bargain.
Better off getting the Focus cheap and either using it as a hack or flogging it for a profit.
Hope this helps,
Martin
FWD on track, in the right car, can be genuinely entertaining...and the Focus isn't a bad platform. FWD is also safer for a novice.
Having said that, given the starting car you'll throw quite a bit of money at it fitting a roll-cage, suspension, brake-upgrades etc. Then find it's a bit slow compared to everything else. Then either spend more money fettling the engine or get bored and buy a Caterham. Which turns a cheap track-car into a money-pit either way.
If you're serious about getting a track-car, best bet is buy one someone else has already done all the work on (it'll be a lot cheaper than all the parts and labour in it!), then take a weekend to check EVERYTHING out, from the roll-cage mounting to the cylinder bores/liners, just to be safe (why ARE they flogging the car???). Lot cheaper than doing it from scratch, even if the donor car is a bargain.
Better off getting the Focus cheap and either using it as a hack or flogging it for a profit.
Hope this helps,
Martin
zumbruk said:
BadgerBenji said:
Odd most of the world touring cars seem to be front wheel drive, and they dont seem to suffer from this.
That's because (i) the RWD cars got handicapped to the point the manufacturers dropped out & (ii) a touring car bears no resemblance to anything you can buy in a showroom, appearances to the contrary.
But most production cars are FWD, ok that is probably where the similarity ends, but the BMW is hardly a production car. My point was that a FWD is capable of being chucked round a track, and providing entertainment.
As a follow-up, I took a few laps around Outon park last year in a race prepared XR3i and although no racing is allowed we were passing some high dollar cars because we didnd't care too much about damaging the car and were driving it over the limit, most of the other guys were at 80% probably due to slight reservation about damaging such nice cars. The only reason I am looking for a dedicated track car is because I dont want to blow up or crash my two road vehicles.
Thanks again
Thanks again
dark_helmet said:
As a follow-up, I took a few laps around Outon park last year in a race prepared XR3i and although no racing is allowed we were passing some high dollar cars because we didnd't care too much about damaging the car and were driving it over the limit, most of the other guys were at 80% probably due to slight reservation about damaging such nice cars. The only reason I am looking for a dedicated track car is because I dont want to blow up or crash my two road vehicles.
Thanks again
Thanks again
That's kind of the path that I've been thinking of following myself.
Did the same myself. What I find is that in something that's only cost you a grand or so you're far more willing to give it 100%, hapyy in the knowledge that you could recoup some of the cost in parts alone should you have an off. In a 1990 318is I've kept up with XKRs, a mustang (!) and even a very sedately driven R32. At Brands the last time out, we had a really good spat with a track prepped 205- nothing in it- but I just prefer the balance of the RWD.
(as an aside / apology, I did consider 205Gtis as a track toy having owned 2 in the past, but couldn't pass on the opportunity to pick up a cheap RWD car instaed)
(as an aside / apology, I did consider 205Gtis as a track toy having owned 2 in the past, but couldn't pass on the opportunity to pick up a cheap RWD car instaed)
Alex said:
dark_helmet said:
...we didnd't care too much about damaging the car and were driving it over the limit
Remind me never to go to the same track-day as you.
There IS a fine distinction between 'not caring if the car gets damaged' and 'driving too hard/stupidly'.
In the 'teg I did a Donington 'Trakzone' open-pit day. There were too many cars on-track, and most were 205/Golf cheap track-cars. Some of whom really didn't give a toss, quite honestly, and were frankly scary to a guy taking his pride&joy on track. The marshals didn't do much, either - I made about 4 complaints during the day and not one person was spoken to. Never felt the need to make ANY complaints at any previous or subsequent trackdays.
I'll only do limited-no's, well-marshalled trackdays now, such as Bookatrack.
BadgerBenji said:
zumbruk said:
BadgerBenji said:
Odd most of the world touring cars seem to be front wheel drive, and they dont seem to suffer from this.
That's because (i) the RWD cars got handicapped to the point the manufacturers dropped out & (ii) a touring car bears no resemblance to anything you can buy in a showroom, appearances to the contrary.
But most production cars are FWD, ok that is probably where the similarity ends, but the BMW is hardly a production car. My point was that a FWD is capable of being chucked round a track, and providing entertainment.
Ho, yus. Couldn't agree more. Like half the world, I'm looking for a track day car at the moment, and everything in my budget is FWD, so that's likely what it'll be.
I rnu a 1990 318is as well as a track car. Its a great laugh.
I bought it because I didn't want to wreck my road car and so this allows me to drive without worrying about smashing the car up (altho0ugh I don't drive like an idiot).
Also great little cars as well. I have put seats, harnesses, full roll cage in mine as well as stripping as much weight as possible.
I bought it because I didn't want to wreck my road car and so this allows me to drive without worrying about smashing the car up (altho0ugh I don't drive like an idiot).
Also great little cars as well. I have put seats, harnesses, full roll cage in mine as well as stripping as much weight as possible.
91 - J was the cross over year
A normal focus will still be too heavy and to little power to make an exciting car. Admitedly they do hande extremely well on the road, I have a focus hire carr most weeks and they are great.
Get a cheap already prepped ex racer to get lots of thrills and spills for little dosh
A normal focus will still be too heavy and to little power to make an exciting car. Admitedly they do hande extremely well on the road, I have a focus hire carr most weeks and they are great.
Get a cheap already prepped ex racer to get lots of thrills and spills for little dosh
I personally enjoy preparing my own cars, and get as much fun out of the preparation as I do the driving, so to buy a pre-prepared car would be spoiling the whole experience, its nice to take it for several track sessions during the transformation, and notice how its improved. Yes it might be a more expensive route, but it keeps you amused for far longer, either this or I need to get myself a girlfriend.
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