Track car for her.....auto
Discussion
Ok, so I know it wouldn't be what the majority of us would go for given the choice but my girlfriend has decided that she would like to start doing track days now too.
Story part:
I had taken her out on track in a couple of my cars but she absolutely hated it, to the point where she would cry because she thought we were going to crash and die in a flaming ball of death every second. Fast forward a bit and she buys a 320d 190bhp version - having come from a 1.6 207, a golf mk6 and a mk7 both of which being 1.6 TDI with all of 105bhp she seemed to catch the power bug and turned into a bit of a speed demon.
Then I take her Karting (something she would never have considered before) and after starting with a lap taking her 53 seconds (Her best after 10 min session - mine being mid 28 seconds) to getting down to 33.5 after another 3 sessions she wants more. To say I was impressed with her progress is an understatement.
I myself like a change of car every now and again and have a hankering for a change very soon so if I could get something that I could live with every day that she can enjoy on track then that would be ideal.
Budget wise I think £5k would be about tops.
The Kicker though is that she only has 1 leg, it therefore must be an Auto and there is no way around this. My thoughts so far have lent me towards a mk5 golf GTI DSG. she liked her golfs and it would feel familiar for her, plus be much quicker than her old ones and still very useable every now and then for me to use.
What is our collective thought? Is there a better choice out there? I would not be wanting to modify the car as if she likes it we would look to get her something more focussed at the end of next year and if she doesn't I'd like to be able to sell it relatively easily within a short period of time.
Story part:
I had taken her out on track in a couple of my cars but she absolutely hated it, to the point where she would cry because she thought we were going to crash and die in a flaming ball of death every second. Fast forward a bit and she buys a 320d 190bhp version - having come from a 1.6 207, a golf mk6 and a mk7 both of which being 1.6 TDI with all of 105bhp she seemed to catch the power bug and turned into a bit of a speed demon.
Then I take her Karting (something she would never have considered before) and after starting with a lap taking her 53 seconds (Her best after 10 min session - mine being mid 28 seconds) to getting down to 33.5 after another 3 sessions she wants more. To say I was impressed with her progress is an understatement.
I myself like a change of car every now and again and have a hankering for a change very soon so if I could get something that I could live with every day that she can enjoy on track then that would be ideal.
Budget wise I think £5k would be about tops.
The Kicker though is that she only has 1 leg, it therefore must be an Auto and there is no way around this. My thoughts so far have lent me towards a mk5 golf GTI DSG. she liked her golfs and it would feel familiar for her, plus be much quicker than her old ones and still very useable every now and then for me to use.
What is our collective thought? Is there a better choice out there? I would not be wanting to modify the car as if she likes it we would look to get her something more focussed at the end of next year and if she doesn't I'd like to be able to sell it relatively easily within a short period of time.
hoegaardenruls said:
The Golf would be a very good option.
The only other thing that springs to mind might be a Boxster, although the gearbox in the Golf would be better suited to track use..
Tiptronics aren't all that bad on the track - I did, however, get my steering wheel converted from rockers to flappy paddles. Makes a big difference.The only other thing that springs to mind might be a Boxster, although the gearbox in the Golf would be better suited to track use..
Tiptronic seems like it could be an option, reckon the 350z would be a bit big on track, same with a supra - for the money it would be a n/a one too so not exactly all that brisk.
So far the z4 and golf seem to be winning, plus the added factor of a decent amount around to choose from.
So far the z4 and golf seem to be winning, plus the added factor of a decent amount around to choose from.
Here's an option:
Audi 3.2 250bhp it's an N/A unit so less prone to heat soak at track days also you can fit the paddles if you want.
2004 62k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Here's a modified one so you can see what can be done.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Audi 3.2 250bhp it's an N/A unit so less prone to heat soak at track days also you can fit the paddles if you want.
2004 62k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Here's a modified one so you can see what can be done.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
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