First track day car

[npe]

I'm looking to attend a few track days, I don't want to track my everyday car and was wondering if there are any limits to cars you can't take on. For exmaple, I dont really have a load of money to spend, what if i took on something like a Peugeot 106 GTi or a 205?

Can anyone recommend a good car to start with?

[Stu_00]

Whats your budget for the car?

[E36]

I don't know what you'd consider a small budget, but the 106 and 205 GTI are out of my personal "small budget."

I'm using a BMW E36, they're dirt cheap right now.

[lunchbox]

The 106 Xsi is worth considering, less sought after (so cheaper) but still a 1.6 in a light shell.

On a tight budget you just want something light and in decent nick so you can thrash it straight away without too much work.

[andye30m3]

clio 172's are getting quite cheap and are still quite new compared to a 205, might be worth a look.

[Matt230]

I would suggest an Mx5. Cheeap, rear drive, get an import with an LSD and you'll be laughing. They are also mechanically bomb proof.

Matt

[t11ner]

106GTi is a great budget trackday car, you are bound to get advice about how only a rwd car will do but a nice 106GTi should be reasonably reliable and a lot of fun on track.

Steve H

[RMac]

Seriously, this is brilliant. LSD & 6 speed.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1178812.htm

[T89 Callan]

First track car?

There is only one answer to this question: MK2 Golf GTI

The best 1st track car there is, fun, cheap, reliable, easily maintained, easily modified, stong, hardwareing etc etc etc.

There is no competition in this category.

[E36]

T89 Callan said:

First track car?

There is only one answer to this question: MK2 Golf GTI

The best 1st track car there is, fun, cheap, reliable, easily maintained, easily modified, stong, hardwareing etc etc etc.

There is no competition in this category.

Except for the E36 which can be bought for less, is more fun, as reliable and just as easily modified and maintained.

Seriously, an E36 is the answer here.

[Silver940]

E36 said:

T89 Callan said:

First track car?

There is only one answer to this question: MK2 Golf GTI

The best 1st track car there is, fun, cheap, reliable, easily maintained, easily modified, stong, hardwareing etc etc etc.

There is no competition in this category.

Except for the E36 which can be bought for less, is more fun, as reliable and just as easily modified and maintained.

Seriously, an E36 is the answer here.

Been looking at the same thing having just done a 355 experience thing, it's relit my track day bug. Went scouring the classifieds - used to have a mk2 GTI track day car - and I'd agree the E36 represents much better value for money now! 325 or a 328 I reckon would be ideal.

1500 quid gets you one with full leather ( Ideal to sell to help fund some buckets and harnesses ) and away you go

[NickXX]

E36 said:

T89 Callan said:

First track car?

There is only one answer to this question: MK2 Golf GTI

The best 1st track car there is, fun, cheap, reliable, easily maintained, easily modified, stong, hardwareing etc etc etc.

There is no competition in this category.

Except for the E36 which can be bought for less, is more fun, as reliable and just as easily modified and maintained.

Seriously, an E36 is the answer here.

I agree - e36 will be younger too, and essentially (for me at least), RWD.

I picked up a 318iS for use as a track car last year for £800 with a year's tax. Great fun on the track and will happily put up with 200miles on the track in a day.

[E36]

NickXX said:

E36 said:

T89 Callan said:

First track car?

There is only one answer to this question: MK2 Golf GTI

The best 1st track car there is, fun, cheap, reliable, easily maintained, easily modified, stong, hardwareing etc etc etc.

There is no competition in this category.

Except for the E36 which can be bought for less, is more fun, as reliable and just as easily modified and maintained.

Seriously, an E36 is the answer here.

I agree - e36 will be younger too, and essentially (for me at least), RWD.

I picked up a 318iS for use as a track car last year for £800 with a year's tax. Great fun on the track and will happily put up with 200miles on the track in a day.

318iS is a good one. I got a 320i given to me by a friend because the head gasket had gone.

My 325i 24v engine is going in next weekend and, hopefully, not too long after than that I shall be bolting a turbo to it and then addressing the issue of brakes and suspension. My aim is to have a very quick track car for somewhere south of £1000.

I'm one of the lucky few that has a good source of facilities though.

[GTWayne]

Silver940 said:

...1500 quid gets you one with full leather...

Try £420 from ebay ( and that includes LSD )

[T89 Callan]

E36 said:

NickXX said:

E36 said:

T89 Callan said:

First track car?

There is only one answer to this question: MK2 Golf GTI

The best 1st track car there is, fun, cheap, reliable, easily maintained, easily modified, stong, hardwareing etc etc etc.

There is no competition in this category.

Except for the E36 which can be bought for less, is more fun, as reliable and just as easily modified and maintained.

Seriously, an E36 is the answer here.

I agree - e36 will be younger too, and essentially (for me at least), RWD.

I picked up a 318iS for use as a track car last year for £800 with a year's tax. Great fun on the track and will happily put up with 200miles on the track in a day.

318iS is a good one. I got a 320i given to me by a friend because the head gasket had gone.

My 325i 24v engine is going in next weekend and, hopefully, not too long after than that I shall be bolting a turbo to it and then addressing the issue of brakes and suspension. My aim is to have a very quick track car for somewhere south of £1000.

I'm one of the lucky few that has a good source of facilities though.

Well from actually having campaigned Golf and BMW's inc now prepping an E36 I can say that the Golf is a better 1st track car.

Have you run both?

If the question was "what is the best track car for someone a bit more experieced looking for something a little more advanced" then E36 may be the answer.

But it's not so the answer isn't.

I know people on PH may not like it but from actual experience the answer is the Golf. I think your username suggests a pre-adopted prejudice that means your answer is biased.

Edited by T89 Callan on Saturday 22 August 18:04

[E36]

T89 Callan said:

Have you run both?

Yes.

T89 Callan said:

I know people on PH may not like it but from actual experience the answer is the Golf.

May I ask how you've come to this conclusion? I'm not wanting to start some petty Mk2 Golf versus E36 argument here; I know which car I prefer and would sooner be driving around a track, I'm just interested to hear your views.

I find the E36 a very pleasant car to throw around a track - certainly no harder, if that's what you're getting at, than a Golf - that is in much more cheap and plentiful supply at the moment.

Nice E30 by the way.

[m4tt]

GTWayne said:

Silver940 said:

...1500 quid gets you one with full leather...

Try £420 from ebay ( and that includes LSD )

With tax and test? lets have a look at it, that sounds like a monumental bargain!

[T89 Callan]

E36 said:

T89 Callan said:

Have you run both?

Yes.

T89 Callan said:

I know people on PH may not like it but from actual experience the answer is the Golf.

May I ask how you've come to this conclusion? I'm not wanting to start some petty Mk2 Golf versus E36 argument here; I know which car I prefer and would sooner be driving around a track, I'm just interested to hear your views.

I find the E36 a very pleasant car to throw around a track - certainly no harder, if that's what you're getting at, than a Golf - that is in much more cheap and plentiful supply at the moment.

Nice E30 by the way.

Well after prep'ing a few I can say that the Golf was simpler to prep as it is generally a much simpler car. It is easier to work on the engines and keep on top of servicing and repairs. I also found that the Golf needed less mods to be a competent track car than the Beemer, for example the standard brakes coped fine and so did the cooling systems.

When I first started track-daying I found the Golf was an easier car to get used to and drive fast, it is very predictable and with it's more minimalist qualities it was easier to feel what was going on with the car and learn how to drive properly. My E30 handles better than the Golf's I have campainghed but it does require more skill.

lastly I believe that there is more of a safety factor built into the Golf mechanically, they seem to cope with the harsh use of a track day better in standard form then the BMW's do.

Don't get me wrong E36's and E30's are awesome track cars but.... the Golf is a little better as a First track car which is what is being discussed.

Thanks for the E30 compliment, you can see I have moved onto a BMW over a Golf as my experience has improved but I am glad I didn't start with a BMW.

Edited by T89 Callan on Saturday 22 August 19:50

[swtmerce]

I started with an E36 328i as my first trackday car and after 15 events I'm still learning to drive it quicker and quicker. Absolutely great car that is massively predictable, forgiving and controllable when it oversteers.

[GTWayne]

m4tt said:

GTWayne said:

Silver940 said:

...1500 quid gets you one with full leather...

Try £420 from ebay ( and that includes LSD )

With tax and test? lets have a look at it, that sounds like a monumental bargain!

Rest of the months tax and 10 X months ticket . It did in all fairness have a dodgy clutch release bearing which promptly expired half way through its first outing at Goodwood but I sold the leather interior for £160 so it worked out almost even
I have just bought a set of coil over suspension from the same place for a 'pot of glue', delivered and sure, they do look cheap and nasty but I can alter the ride height now and maybe even get the car corner weighted eventually. I am at Goodwood again on Friday and will see how the shocks perform but to be perfectly honest, as long as they are no worse than standard, I will be happy.