or the occasional jaunt out on the road. Which Car...
Discussion
Hi
I'm looking for a track-biased car, but one that could also be used for the occasional jaunt on road. Not really considering a Locost/Caterham type.
Am thinking of something like:
Megane 225/R26 with a few mods to increase performance
Clio 197 - ditto
Clio 182 Cup - ditto
Mini Cooper S - ditto.
Unfortunately I haven't driven any of these cars. Budget will be c£10k which is stretching things for the R26 other than as stock.
Have any of you got/driven the above and can make informed comparisons? As mentioned the cars will get modified brakes, and bhp/ft lbs gains too. Meg/Mini up to c260bhp.
Thanks.
I'm looking for a track-biased car, but one that could also be used for the occasional jaunt on road. Not really considering a Locost/Caterham type.
Am thinking of something like:
Megane 225/R26 with a few mods to increase performance
Clio 197 - ditto
Clio 182 Cup - ditto
Mini Cooper S - ditto.
Unfortunately I haven't driven any of these cars. Budget will be c£10k which is stretching things for the R26 other than as stock.
Have any of you got/driven the above and can make informed comparisons? As mentioned the cars will get modified brakes, and bhp/ft lbs gains too. Meg/Mini up to c260bhp.
Thanks.
I have been lucky enough to own all 4 of the cars you mentioned and loved them all. If I was to say which was best, I would say the 182 Cup. Lightest of the bunch, easy on brakes, chews front tyres but less than the Megane and 197. Can get one much cheaper than £10k now too. Or a 172 Cup, even lighter/cheaper and much more rare.
stumpy67 said:
Hi
I'm looking for a track-biased car, but one that could also be used for the occasional jaunt on road. Not really considering a Locost/Caterham type.
Am thinking of something like:
Megane 225/R26 with a few mods to increase performance
Clio 197 - ditto
Clio 182 Cup - ditto
Mini Cooper S - ditto.
Unfortunately I haven't driven any of these cars. Budget will be c£10k which is stretching things for the R26 other than as stock.
Have any of you got/driven the above and can make informed comparisons? As mentioned the cars will get modified brakes, and bhp/ft lbs gains too. Meg/Mini up to c260bhp.
Thanks.
Cilo 182 Trophy ! Best of bunch and under budget! Really good on the road! I'm looking for a track-biased car, but one that could also be used for the occasional jaunt on road. Not really considering a Locost/Caterham type.
Am thinking of something like:
Megane 225/R26 with a few mods to increase performance
Clio 197 - ditto
Clio 182 Cup - ditto
Mini Cooper S - ditto.
Unfortunately I haven't driven any of these cars. Budget will be c£10k which is stretching things for the R26 other than as stock.
Have any of you got/driven the above and can make informed comparisons? As mentioned the cars will get modified brakes, and bhp/ft lbs gains too. Meg/Mini up to c260bhp.
Thanks.
Edited by Stu_00 on Thursday 29th April 14:39
I'd say either a Fisher Fury (kit car with a Caterfield style chassis and similar all up weight but better aerodynamics and a little more protection from the elements) or an S1 Elise.
If you must look at the mass production hatchback route I'd be tempted to get something like an Mi16 engined 205 GTi or a mk2 Golf which has been properly prepared. If it's predominantly a track car then you really don't need to spend as much as R26Rs and the like go for.
I do have to say that a traditional sports car does give a far more full on experience than a hot hatch though. I'd urge you to give something more extreme a go, because the joy of cars like the MINI Cooper is the fact you can drive them to work every day or stick a week's shopping in them and still do the occasional track day, but they remain a compromise. To put it into context a Cooper S - by no means a bad car - weighs twice as much as a Caterham and still over 300kg more than a fully trimmed Elise. A sports car, be it a Caterfield, Elise, TVR or whatever will also have more sense of occasion on the road as well as being quicker on the track.
If it was an only car that had to handle all the boring sensible stuff that life chucks at you (as well as trtack days) I'd go for a hot hatch in a heartbeat, but if you don't need the practicality and the convenience it might be worth considering something more extreme.
If you must look at the mass production hatchback route I'd be tempted to get something like an Mi16 engined 205 GTi or a mk2 Golf which has been properly prepared. If it's predominantly a track car then you really don't need to spend as much as R26Rs and the like go for.
I do have to say that a traditional sports car does give a far more full on experience than a hot hatch though. I'd urge you to give something more extreme a go, because the joy of cars like the MINI Cooper is the fact you can drive them to work every day or stick a week's shopping in them and still do the occasional track day, but they remain a compromise. To put it into context a Cooper S - by no means a bad car - weighs twice as much as a Caterham and still over 300kg more than a fully trimmed Elise. A sports car, be it a Caterfield, Elise, TVR or whatever will also have more sense of occasion on the road as well as being quicker on the track.
If it was an only car that had to handle all the boring sensible stuff that life chucks at you (as well as trtack days) I'd go for a hot hatch in a heartbeat, but if you don't need the practicality and the convenience it might be worth considering something more extreme.
Edited by Chris71 on Thursday 29th April 17:07
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff