First track day car ideas?
Discussion
I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for a good first track day car?
I am only 16 at the moment but I turn 17 in just over a week, and I have been thinking about getting a car that I could strip out for track use and take on a few track days when I get the opportunity. I haven't got a massive amount of money to play with so my ideas so far have consisted on saxo VTR's or nova GSI's and other cars like these as they are pretty cheap to buy but are still quite nippy which is what I am after. Any ideas, thoughts or words of advise would be much appreciated
Thanks,
Tom
I am only 16 at the moment but I turn 17 in just over a week, and I have been thinking about getting a car that I could strip out for track use and take on a few track days when I get the opportunity. I haven't got a massive amount of money to play with so my ideas so far have consisted on saxo VTR's or nova GSI's and other cars like these as they are pretty cheap to buy but are still quite nippy which is what I am after. Any ideas, thoughts or words of advise would be much appreciated
Thanks,
Tom
Insurance will be your biggest issue.
You'd never get an insurer to touch a new driver on a stripped out VTR etc. - and you really don't want to get into the realms of having a car you can't drive to and from the track, as that starts to look very expensive - plus, you'd probably struggle to get insurance on a car to tow it with anyway.
My current track toy is a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting.
People may laugh, but it's cheap as chips to insure (group 3), and just about quick enough to be fun on twistier tracks - might not be so great at somewhere like Silverstone, though.
Again, though, if you start modding the car, you'll be shafted by your insurers, but they have to be one of the cheapest ways to do it - cars start at 300 quid.
I'm running -40mm apex springs with Bilstein shocks, a Punto 75 cam, induction kit, stainless exhaust and chip on mine - but, because of my age, fully comp. insurance still comes in at under £180 / year.
You'd never get an insurer to touch a new driver on a stripped out VTR etc. - and you really don't want to get into the realms of having a car you can't drive to and from the track, as that starts to look very expensive - plus, you'd probably struggle to get insurance on a car to tow it with anyway.
My current track toy is a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting.
People may laugh, but it's cheap as chips to insure (group 3), and just about quick enough to be fun on twistier tracks - might not be so great at somewhere like Silverstone, though.
Again, though, if you start modding the car, you'll be shafted by your insurers, but they have to be one of the cheapest ways to do it - cars start at 300 quid.
I'm running -40mm apex springs with Bilstein shocks, a Punto 75 cam, induction kit, stainless exhaust and chip on mine - but, because of my age, fully comp. insurance still comes in at under £180 / year.
Depends how much cash you have.
You could look at a Robin Hood Kit car, Cheap to buy or build. Easy to insure, will be good fun on track.
Lots of engine options, you could start on something small to keep insurance down, and when insurance allows drop bigger and bigger engines in.
Plus you will learn a hell of a lot about the working of a car.
You could look at a Robin Hood Kit car, Cheap to buy or build. Easy to insure, will be good fun on track.
Lots of engine options, you could start on something small to keep insurance down, and when insurance allows drop bigger and bigger engines in.
Plus you will learn a hell of a lot about the working of a car.
Dan Friel said:
Something classic is an option. An mg midget perhaps. Cheap, naff all insurance, easy to work on and modify. Mg's also have their own trackdays which are cheap and visit the best tracks.
Otherwise insurance will murder your plans.
New drivers don't get offered classic insurance policies, especially if it's their only car.Otherwise insurance will murder your plans.
CinqAbarth said:
Dan Friel said:
Something classic is an option. An mg midget perhaps. Cheap, naff all insurance, easy to work on and modify. Mg's also have their own trackdays which are cheap and visit the best tracks.
Otherwise insurance will murder your plans.
New drivers don't get offered classic insurance policies, especially if it's their only car.Otherwise insurance will murder your plans.
If you are keen on Saxo's bear in mind that some insurance companies will bump prices up because of the image of the car, because of this Peugeot 106's can be a better alternative, they are both the same car underneath.
In my opinion at least, Saxo's are good fun to drive and cheap to own. Although a VTR would be a good first car, I would bet that you would have just as much fun with the smaller 1.4 engine, i.e. Westcoast or Furio model's.
However, if you like the thought of an MX5 (or any other rear wheel drive car for that matter) and can get insured, I would seriously consider it. I've been driving front wheel drive hatches all my life and while they're fun and have a good image, I do regret not switching over to rear wheel drive and learning how to drive properly sooner...
In my opinion at least, Saxo's are good fun to drive and cheap to own. Although a VTR would be a good first car, I would bet that you would have just as much fun with the smaller 1.4 engine, i.e. Westcoast or Furio model's.
However, if you like the thought of an MX5 (or any other rear wheel drive car for that matter) and can get insured, I would seriously consider it. I've been driving front wheel drive hatches all my life and while they're fun and have a good image, I do regret not switching over to rear wheel drive and learning how to drive properly sooner...
looks like an MX-5 is the favourite then. I never really thought of an MX-5 as a track car but i certainly do now
If that's a bit steep on insurance I was speaking to someone who recommended getting a daihatsu charade gtti. They have a 1 litre turbo engine but weigh next to nothing so they are a true pocket rocket.
Im going to do some research into insurance and see how much an MX-5 will cost,
thanks for all the help and more help and ideas would be appreciated
Thanks,
Tom
If that's a bit steep on insurance I was speaking to someone who recommended getting a daihatsu charade gtti. They have a 1 litre turbo engine but weigh next to nothing so they are a true pocket rocket.
Im going to do some research into insurance and see how much an MX-5 will cost,
thanks for all the help and more help and ideas would be appreciated
Thanks,
Tom
CinqAbarth said:
I think as a new driver you can forget insurance on an MX5 and almost certainly on a Charade GTti.
You'll be paying well over a grand, maybe close on £2k just for a 1lt Corsa.
My friend's brother turned 18 today and when he first passed his test 6 months ago he was paying £1200 for a 1.1 Saxo, TPFT with Quinn Direct. I know insurance did go up around May time so would probably be slightly higher than that now.You'll be paying well over a grand, maybe close on £2k just for a 1lt Corsa.
I'm not sure whether they'll be any good for you, but I would definitely try speaking to Adrian Flux. I've had very mixed experiences with them in the past, but sometimes they can be very competitive. They were the only company that would insure me on a Saxo VTS when I was 19 for example.
TomCooper said:
I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for a good first track day car?
I am only 16 at the moment but I turn 17 in just over a week, and I have been thinking about getting a car that I could strip out for track use and take on a few track days when I get the opportunity. I haven't got a massive amount of money to play with so my ideas so far have consisted on saxo VTR's or nova GSI's and other cars like these as they are pretty cheap to buy but are still quite nippy which is what I am after. Any ideas, thoughts or words of advise would be much appreciated
Thanks,
Tom
Forget driving a stripped out car on the road. Insurance will kill you as the others have said. I recently heard of: 18 yr old, clean history but 0 NCB, living in admittedly grotty area: £5000 for TPF&T on a STANDARD 106 1400cc...I am only 16 at the moment but I turn 17 in just over a week, and I have been thinking about getting a car that I could strip out for track use and take on a few track days when I get the opportunity. I haven't got a massive amount of money to play with so my ideas so far have consisted on saxo VTR's or nova GSI's and other cars like these as they are pretty cheap to buy but are still quite nippy which is what I am after. Any ideas, thoughts or words of advise would be much appreciated
Thanks,
Tom
The Cinq Sporting idea seems a good one to me, if you can find one. Nova GSi / Charade GTti - I doubt if you'll find one to be honest. It's 2010 don't forget and these 20 year old cars are getting few and far between - there will be a handful of standard cars left.
Don't forget that any car can be fun on a track day, unless it's something stupid like a Smart.
The alternative if you can manage it is to get a cheap kit car and keep it to just trackday use - ie don't use it on the road and don't insure it. You'd have to trailer it and find somewhere to keep it, but it might be more rewarding than trackdaying a standard 1.0 litre Polo or something.
It might be best to team up with someone else to share costs.
robg2 said:
Don't forget that any car can be fun on a track day, unless it's something stupid like a Smart.
Quick - No; Fun - Yes.I've thoroughly enjoyed a couple of trackdays in smarts, both my old roadster coupe and the ugly one. Of course you always want more power and better handling, but who doesn't?
Not sure what the insurance would be on a SportKa, but they are quite good fun to throw around - even the standard Ka can be good fun.
The key to a trackday car for me is weight. Get something really light (circa 700kg), with the right set of tyres it will be great round smaller tracks. RWD is the way to go IMO but you might struggle to find something to suit at your age insurance wise. Older cars would be better to look at as they tend to be lighter (no aircon etc etc)
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