306 Gti-6 - good on track?

[lunchbox]

Heard a lot of praise about the way these handle and with nearly 170hp, must be quite a hoot? Or are they too soft? How do they compare to a 205 Gti?

[Ponk]

If you stiffen the suspension up with something like Bilsteins I imagine they would make a great track toy, the brakes are brilliant as standard. They seemed to cope well with Prescott hill's hill climb track last weekend. They're worth buying purely for the induction noise!

[10 Pence Short]

I did my ARDS test in one at Croft a few years back. They're forgiving on track and good fun to punt around.

As has been said, it would probably benefit from being stiffened up for track use and I'm not convinced there's enough go to match the abilities of the chassis.

The mechanical longevity would worry me, too.

[jleroux]

stunning engine & box - feel strong and pulls well in all gears. handling is good fun but not in the same league as the 205 GTi IMO. brakes are like chocolate though - I did a set of pads in a matter of laps! don't see how you can compare a hillclimb or sprint with sustained track driving to be honest :-)

budget for some decent brakes and leave the suspension alone until you get really bored with the bodyroll. avoid the temptation to get sticky tyres as this will only highlight the softness of the standard suspension, too.

Jonny
BaT

[hifihigh]

306s good fun to drive on the track but weigh I guess a couple of hundred more kg than a 205 gti so eat the tyres fast!

[m12_nathan]

I did my ards in one at Donington about 7 years ago. It was st compared the integra I'd driven there in. I imagine that the 7 year gap would've been kinder to the jap car than the tinny, badly build french one.

[okgo]

I drive one for the time being, that has said parts sorted and it has very little roll, and is pretty quick.

The engines as long as looked after, and belts changed every 30k they are strong. Mine is on 130k and still cracks 60 in under 7 secs.. although it has a couple of things changed.

But value wise they are good, as you can get them for nothing (mine was just over a grand), and they can still be a workhorse if you need it, they are big in the back, comfy, have some mod cons.. non of which are true of the 205gti, which also looks very st imo.

[rallycross]

great fun for v little money

forget understeer, with these things you can have a blast on a track if you want to, with lift off oversteer (before the apex) on demand = lots of sideways fun very controlable, = fun fun fun

[RMac]

a standard one would be great for a wet track day. they do understeer a bit & roll a bit in the dry. They are more entertaining on the road.

A decent set of pads sorts the brakes out, pretty much.

The rear anti roll bar is the first suspension thing to change i would say.

Surprisingly, they seem to take quite a beating.

[sniff petrol]

jleroux said:

stunning engine & box - feel strong and pulls well in all gears. handling is good fun but not in the same league as the 205 GTi IMO. brakes are like chocolate though - I did a set of pads in a matter of laps!

I run 306 GTi-6 front calipers and discs with Mintex 1144 pads on my 205 track car and have never managed to make them fade, suppose weighing around 800kgs helps though.

I've seen one at a trackday at Donington last year, despite being pretty standard it lapped very respectably. For the price I think they'd be hard to beat.

[screwloose]

In the right hands a GTI6 is a very quick track proposition. Cheap and easy to maintain with plenty of knowledge out there on various dedicated forums.