Advice on track car
Discussion
Looking to get a track car and seen a 205 with 240 bhp
Suspension and brakes are all sorted.
Will need to get some decent tyres......so any recomendations will be helpfull.
My only worry is getting the power down and understeer.
Can anyone give me some advice......
Recently done a trackday in an exige (190 bhp)and it was amazing fun.......would the 205 be competetive with an Exige with the same driver?
Suspension and brakes are all sorted.
Will need to get some decent tyres......so any recomendations will be helpfull.
My only worry is getting the power down and understeer.
Can anyone give me some advice......
Recently done a trackday in an exige (190 bhp)and it was amazing fun.......would the 205 be competetive with an Exige with the same driver?
Behave! A 205 with 240bhp...more poke than the Exige and lighter too(depending on the model - 1600 with nothing on it was around 750kgs), driven well it will see off an awful lot of more exotic machinery. Dont worry about understeer, barrel in a little fast and lift off as you turn in, that ought to see the back joining in the fun.
You'll have a riot!
You'll have a riot!
Agree with Matt.
Although the 205 may sound impressive on paper the Lotus is a far more competent car around a lap. Got to say though, the 205 is a fantastic toy
- even more so with a full roll-cage.
As for tyres - the choice depends on what you really want? For lap times (and keeping it road legal) I'd look into Toyo R888 track rubber. For fun (but still grippy enough), Yokohama A539s aren't a bad bet (its the controlled tyre for Stock Hatch and Locost racing, too).
Keith
Although the 205 may sound impressive on paper the Lotus is a far more competent car around a lap. Got to say though, the 205 is a fantastic toy
- even more so with a full roll-cage.As for tyres - the choice depends on what you really want? For lap times (and keeping it road legal) I'd look into Toyo R888 track rubber. For fun (but still grippy enough), Yokohama A539s aren't a bad bet (its the controlled tyre for Stock Hatch and Locost racing, too).
Keith
I was told that an Exige was 900+kg with 190bhp
And that the 205 once stripped out can get to 750-800kg with 240bhp.
If i had the koni suspension 4 pot brakes with discs on the rear and decent track tyres do you think it would be competetive with an Exige..
Had so much fun in the Exige i had i just want something that is not permanantly lapped.
And that the 205 once stripped out can get to 750-800kg with 240bhp.
If i had the koni suspension 4 pot brakes with discs on the rear and decent track tyres do you think it would be competetive with an Exige..
Had so much fun in the Exige i had i just want something that is not permanantly lapped.
jleroux said:
- but it's inherrently flawed for track use by being FWD.
Just like all the current touring cars (bar the BMWs) and all the old super tourers of old. How flawed they were.... 
My old Clio cup could keep a GT3 honest a Bedford. I'm not quite sure where you've got that opinion from Johnny?
But then i read in a magazine that the 911 is "flawed" because its weight distribution isn't 50:50. And someone told me that mid engined cars are "flawed" by their low moment of polar inertia making them prone to liftoff oversteer. On the other hand, front engined RWD cars have traction "flaws" in the wet (i think i got that off Top Gear, so it must be true). And Caterfields are "flawed" because they're unreliable junk. That's what i heard.
And now FWD is "flawed" you say? Oh well, another config bites the internet dust.
And now FWD is "flawed" you say? Oh well, another config bites the internet dust.
My problem is that I'm flawed. Car usually a secondary issue!
James - you won't get lapped by much in a well driven version of either of these (apart from by the Caterfield brigade but if you want to go there then do), unless you go to days like Goldtrack at Silverstone where there is serious kit. I'd go for the one you think you'd prefer to own, which would be the Exige for me
James - you won't get lapped by much in a well driven version of either of these (apart from by the Caterfield brigade but if you want to go there then do), unless you go to days like Goldtrack at Silverstone where there is serious kit. I'd go for the one you think you'd prefer to own, which would be the Exige for me
fergus said:
jleroux said:
- but it's inherrently flawed for track use by being FWD.
Just like all the current touring cars (bar the BMWs) and all the old super tourers of old. How flawed they were.... My old Clio cup could keep a GT3 honest a Bedford. I'm not quite sure where you've got that opinion from Johnny?
I'm glad your Clio cup was as fast as a GT3. Mine certainly wasn't.
Edited by Birdthom on Friday 5th June 09:27
Birdthom said:
fergus said:
jleroux said:
- but it's inherrently flawed for track use by being FWD.
Just like all the current touring cars (bar the BMWs) and all the old super tourers of old. How flawed they were.... My old Clio cup could keep a GT3 honest a Bedford. I'm not quite sure where you've got that opinion from Johnny?
I'm glad your Clio cup was as fast as a GT3. Mine certainly wasn't.
Ahh, the age-old classic front-wheel drive versus rear-wheel drive debate
I used to play the old 'rear-wheel drive only' card a few years ago… however, the latest range of front-wheel drive sport hatches (especially from Renaultsport) has certainly flipped my stubborn views somewhat.
Turning this thread back onto the subject of the 205 - out of any of the older hot hatches this is by far one of the better models to have fun in on track. I raced a 1.6 GTi Stockhatch Rallycross variant and (although I got bumped, barged and bruised!) I enjoyed every minute. In terms performance they still win today against the newer Saxos… plus they're cheap to repair too
Keith
I used to play the old 'rear-wheel drive only' card a few years ago… however, the latest range of front-wheel drive sport hatches (especially from Renaultsport) has certainly flipped my stubborn views somewhat.
Turning this thread back onto the subject of the 205 - out of any of the older hot hatches this is by far one of the better models to have fun in on track. I raced a 1.6 GTi Stockhatch Rallycross variant and (although I got bumped, barged and bruised!) I enjoyed every minute. In terms performance they still win today against the newer Saxos… plus they're cheap to repair too
Keith
fergus said:
The sequential box and slicks help a lot! Are you talking about a 182 Cup road car?
Ahhh - if you're talking about cup race cars then that's a different kettle of herrings. Apologies. However, if we're comparing like for like then a stripped race-prepped GT3 will be rather different matter too. The clios do look like great fun, but they are one of the few exceptions to the pub/forum rule about FWD IMHO.
James Taylor said:
The only trackday i have done was in an exige and i was passed by numerous cars....
I am not looking to be the quickest i just want to be competetive and have fun
If you're being passed all the time in an Exige, then it's probably nothing to do with the car....I am not looking to be the quickest i just want to be competetive and have fun
Driver training & seat time is what you need - decide what sort of car you want & then learn how to drive it. Start off with something that is reasonably forgiving, and light (much cheaper on tyres & brakes that way).
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