Cheap Track Project Saxo VTR
Discussion
Hello everyone.
Go gentle......never done a blog or anything like this before but thought it would be good to keep a record of my project.
Firstly, a bit of background. I've always had an interest in cars since I was little, but growing up and starting my career in the forces left me little time to follow my hobby. I've had a few nice cars in my time (2 x Monaro's, an Elise S2, Golf GTI) and have been on track a few times as well, but never got involved in mechanics/motor sport to the extent I would have liked.
A few years ago I got into karting and competed and won an MSA endurance series for pro karts within my organisation. It was then I decided to look into track days properly. I bought an MOT failure Ford Puma with the intentions of creating a track car and learning about mechanics on my way. A year later and not much had happened due to work and family life so I sold the project as a package to someone who finished the job and i watched on jealously as he took it around tracks in the UK.
Now, a few more years have passed and this time i'm doing things properly.
I want something easy to work on so that I can learn as I go along, cheap and fun! I'm not out to be the fastest thing on track..........I just want to finally be able to drive around the racetracks of the UK and achieve a lifelong dream.
The plan was to spend no more than a grand on a car that had the majority of work done, but left room for me to make it my own. The first choice was a road legal one or not? Weighing up the expense of Tax/Insurance and keeping it MOT'able against a trailer and something I could tow to the track, I decided that the latter would make more financial sense.
I managed to source a very sad looking, unloved second hand twin axle trailer in Hampshire which I saw for sale on a Banger racing Group on FB. I was lucky to see it when I did as I believe he had massively under valued it due to the sheer amount of interest it had.
An hours drive, a handshake and £300 later, I had hooked it up to my Ford Galaxy and was towing it back home. It towed as straight as an arrow. He had sorted the wheel bearings, put brand new tyres on, fixed the braking system and had bought a brand new light board. It has a few rust holes and requires a bit of work and paint but structurally, it was fine.
Then came searching for a car that would come within my remaining £700 budget. Originally, I wanted a Clio 172 or MX5 as that is what the majority of budget track cars are. I would discover that Clio's would just be in budget, but with no mods or in bad condition......and MX5's were just rust issue after rust issue. I debated getting another Puma but again, rust would be an issue I didn't want to deal with.
It was then I started looking at Saxo's. They were cheap......fun.....easy to work on and above all else, had plenty of scope for modification.
A few came and went on FB and I went to have a look at one nearby in Gloucestershire. But it had been sat for years, was in a sorry state of repair, and didn't have enough mods to justify the price. Finally, one came up on ebay that i liked. It was advertised for £1000 but didn't have much information on the advert. Any questions I emailed to the seller went unanswered. I bit the bullet anyway and put in a bid of £700 which was accepted! The next day, I was off to Birmingham, trailer on tow, to pick it up.
It's a 1997 Phase 1 Saxo VTR. Previously used for sprints and the occasional track day.
Here are some of the pictures off ebay:
and here it is on the trailer after bringing it back:
(before anyone asks....it was reverse loaded as I didn't have the clearance to load it forwards. The ramps on the trailer are pretty short, so this will be something else i'll improve. But, because the axles on the trailer are so far back, surely the bulk of the weight is better if its over them? Thoughts?
I've had it a few days now and have so far discovered that it has the following:
Stripped interior
Full roll cage - possibly OMP? No markings however
Front vented and grooved disks with EBC yellow stuff pads
Rear disc upgrade
Lowered front springs - unsure of shocks or brand
Corbeau Monza seat
2 x 4 point harnesses - 1 x securon, 1 x r.evolution
Racing wheel - unknown brand
Inside isolation switch
powder fire extinguisher
front and rear TRS tow straps
Quick release bonnet pins
Quick release boot pins
Bonnet spacer
Upper e-tech strut brace
lower strut brace - unknown brand
The cambelt has been done recently, along with a new crank sensor/relay/battery and new standard exhaust system with cat. (the previous owner had this done so that it passed its MOT test at a cost of nearly £600.
I'm going to go through everything with a fine tooth comb and come up with a list of jobs to do. First will probably to get rid of the majority of stickers on it!
Overall though, i'm very happy with it and I look forward to working on it over the winter ready for some track days early next year!
Go gentle......never done a blog or anything like this before but thought it would be good to keep a record of my project.
Firstly, a bit of background. I've always had an interest in cars since I was little, but growing up and starting my career in the forces left me little time to follow my hobby. I've had a few nice cars in my time (2 x Monaro's, an Elise S2, Golf GTI) and have been on track a few times as well, but never got involved in mechanics/motor sport to the extent I would have liked.
A few years ago I got into karting and competed and won an MSA endurance series for pro karts within my organisation. It was then I decided to look into track days properly. I bought an MOT failure Ford Puma with the intentions of creating a track car and learning about mechanics on my way. A year later and not much had happened due to work and family life so I sold the project as a package to someone who finished the job and i watched on jealously as he took it around tracks in the UK.
Now, a few more years have passed and this time i'm doing things properly.
I want something easy to work on so that I can learn as I go along, cheap and fun! I'm not out to be the fastest thing on track..........I just want to finally be able to drive around the racetracks of the UK and achieve a lifelong dream.
The plan was to spend no more than a grand on a car that had the majority of work done, but left room for me to make it my own. The first choice was a road legal one or not? Weighing up the expense of Tax/Insurance and keeping it MOT'able against a trailer and something I could tow to the track, I decided that the latter would make more financial sense.
I managed to source a very sad looking, unloved second hand twin axle trailer in Hampshire which I saw for sale on a Banger racing Group on FB. I was lucky to see it when I did as I believe he had massively under valued it due to the sheer amount of interest it had.
An hours drive, a handshake and £300 later, I had hooked it up to my Ford Galaxy and was towing it back home. It towed as straight as an arrow. He had sorted the wheel bearings, put brand new tyres on, fixed the braking system and had bought a brand new light board. It has a few rust holes and requires a bit of work and paint but structurally, it was fine.
Then came searching for a car that would come within my remaining £700 budget. Originally, I wanted a Clio 172 or MX5 as that is what the majority of budget track cars are. I would discover that Clio's would just be in budget, but with no mods or in bad condition......and MX5's were just rust issue after rust issue. I debated getting another Puma but again, rust would be an issue I didn't want to deal with.
It was then I started looking at Saxo's. They were cheap......fun.....easy to work on and above all else, had plenty of scope for modification.
A few came and went on FB and I went to have a look at one nearby in Gloucestershire. But it had been sat for years, was in a sorry state of repair, and didn't have enough mods to justify the price. Finally, one came up on ebay that i liked. It was advertised for £1000 but didn't have much information on the advert. Any questions I emailed to the seller went unanswered. I bit the bullet anyway and put in a bid of £700 which was accepted! The next day, I was off to Birmingham, trailer on tow, to pick it up.
It's a 1997 Phase 1 Saxo VTR. Previously used for sprints and the occasional track day.
Here are some of the pictures off ebay:
and here it is on the trailer after bringing it back:
(before anyone asks....it was reverse loaded as I didn't have the clearance to load it forwards. The ramps on the trailer are pretty short, so this will be something else i'll improve. But, because the axles on the trailer are so far back, surely the bulk of the weight is better if its over them? Thoughts?
I've had it a few days now and have so far discovered that it has the following:
Stripped interior
Full roll cage - possibly OMP? No markings however
Front vented and grooved disks with EBC yellow stuff pads
Rear disc upgrade
Lowered front springs - unsure of shocks or brand
Corbeau Monza seat
2 x 4 point harnesses - 1 x securon, 1 x r.evolution
Racing wheel - unknown brand
Inside isolation switch
powder fire extinguisher
front and rear TRS tow straps
Quick release bonnet pins
Quick release boot pins
Bonnet spacer
Upper e-tech strut brace
lower strut brace - unknown brand
The cambelt has been done recently, along with a new crank sensor/relay/battery and new standard exhaust system with cat. (the previous owner had this done so that it passed its MOT test at a cost of nearly £600.
I'm going to go through everything with a fine tooth comb and come up with a list of jobs to do. First will probably to get rid of the majority of stickers on it!
Overall though, i'm very happy with it and I look forward to working on it over the winter ready for some track days early next year!
Sounds like you’re well set up there OP! Good price to fun ratio!
What was the nose weight on the trailer hook? If that is good then I’d reckon you’ll be fine. Agree the weight “looks” well distributed over the trailer wheelbase, if my mental picture of where the weight is on a front drive hatchback is anywhere close to correct;)
What was the nose weight on the trailer hook? If that is good then I’d reckon you’ll be fine. Agree the weight “looks” well distributed over the trailer wheelbase, if my mental picture of where the weight is on a front drive hatchback is anywhere close to correct;)
The Saxo VTR/S was a dream car of mine when I was 17, unfortunately insurance and anti boy racer parents decided a Furio was a more sensible option. 
I hope you enjoy this project bud. I have started a similar project but on a 330ci which was completely standard. How come you decided to get a car pre-modified? For me, I prefer to either do the mods myself or pay a garage to do them, as that way I know everything wouldn't have been bodged.
Excellent idea for having a trailer, that is something I'd like to invest in sometime soon.
PB
I hope you enjoy this project bud. I have started a similar project but on a 330ci which was completely standard. How come you decided to get a car pre-modified? For me, I prefer to either do the mods myself or pay a garage to do them, as that way I know everything wouldn't have been bodged.
Excellent idea for having a trailer, that is something I'd like to invest in sometime soon.
PB
Why am I now on Auto Trader looking at Saxos?! What's wrong with me?!
They're fun cars though, all my mates had them when we were younger, I've driven them all and all the engines, VTS, VTR, Furio etc, I even had a C2 VTS myself but that was rubbish and just felt heavy and slow compared to the Saxo.
They're fun cars though, all my mates had them when we were younger, I've driven them all and all the engines, VTS, VTR, Furio etc, I even had a C2 VTS myself but that was rubbish and just felt heavy and slow compared to the Saxo.
An update already!......I'm getting the hang of this blog thing! 
So after having a look at the car over the past few days, I've come up with a little list of jobs and issues to work on over the winter before the car gets used in earnest for the first time.
Radio Antenna - Remove and insert rubber blanking grommet. Waterproof
Rear Spoiler - Loose, re-seal
Stickers - Remove majority and insert PH smiley!
Fire Extinguisher - Remove and relocate to passenger foot well....don't fancy killing my passenger with an extinguisher to the head in case of an accident!
Bonnet Stay - missing, replace
Driver Skirt - Loose. Remove and re-fit door moulding body panel clips
Wipers - Rubbish, replace
Bonnet & boot quick releases - clean, de-rust and improve
Sunroof - Remove, clean, drain vents and reseal with silicone or remove and fit plate?
ECU - loose, re-tighten
Air Box - Loose. Refit and check filter for brand/type. Replace
Drivers foot well - Remove sound deadening, clean and apply grip tape
Power Steering - has been deleted or faulty? Check pump/ram/rack/pipes and fluid.
Immobiliser - not needed. remove
Tyres - 185/55R14. Currently Hankook Eco something or other. Replace.
Full Service - Spark plugs, oil (5w40 Synthetic), oil filter, gearbox oil (75w-80)
Brakes - Check pads, clean disks front and rear. Change fluid.
First things first though, I decided to have a look at the seats and harnesses.
Seats - The Corbeau seat i'm happy with. It's an old Monza type, but is on runners with no signs of rips/damage. However the roll bar above the door looks very close to where my head will be whilst wearing a helmet. I'll test fit it and see if it's an issue. If it is, I'll look into the possibility of a lower seat bracket as the one its currently on looks like the original.
For the passenger seat, I want a matching seat (it's the OCD in me!), but due to the age of it, I might struggle to find one. So i'll be on the lookout for a cheap matching pair of seats in my area. Will probably mount this direct to the floor as it won't need to be adjustable for passengers.
I removed the standard passenger one and after a bit of research, decided it came out of a Citroen AX! I've currently got it advertised online for offers but more likely than not, it'll go in the skip.
Harnesses - The blue one is a brand I've never heard of (maybe a ebay special?) and the red one is a Securon one of some description. They are both 4 point and seem in good condition but for piece of mind, will purchase two new ones to fit in the car, so these have come out.
Next jobs will be to get the car on a ramp that's available at work and have a look underneath at the suspension/brakes and floor to see if there's any issues.
So after having a look at the car over the past few days, I've come up with a little list of jobs and issues to work on over the winter before the car gets used in earnest for the first time.
Radio Antenna - Remove and insert rubber blanking grommet. Waterproof
Rear Spoiler - Loose, re-seal
Stickers - Remove majority and insert PH smiley!
Fire Extinguisher - Remove and relocate to passenger foot well....don't fancy killing my passenger with an extinguisher to the head in case of an accident!
Bonnet Stay - missing, replace
Driver Skirt - Loose. Remove and re-fit door moulding body panel clips
Wipers - Rubbish, replace
Bonnet & boot quick releases - clean, de-rust and improve
Sunroof - Remove, clean, drain vents and reseal with silicone or remove and fit plate?
ECU - loose, re-tighten
Air Box - Loose. Refit and check filter for brand/type. Replace
Drivers foot well - Remove sound deadening, clean and apply grip tape
Power Steering - has been deleted or faulty? Check pump/ram/rack/pipes and fluid.
Immobiliser - not needed. remove
Tyres - 185/55R14. Currently Hankook Eco something or other. Replace.
Full Service - Spark plugs, oil (5w40 Synthetic), oil filter, gearbox oil (75w-80)
Brakes - Check pads, clean disks front and rear. Change fluid.
First things first though, I decided to have a look at the seats and harnesses.
Seats - The Corbeau seat i'm happy with. It's an old Monza type, but is on runners with no signs of rips/damage. However the roll bar above the door looks very close to where my head will be whilst wearing a helmet. I'll test fit it and see if it's an issue. If it is, I'll look into the possibility of a lower seat bracket as the one its currently on looks like the original.
For the passenger seat, I want a matching seat (it's the OCD in me!), but due to the age of it, I might struggle to find one. So i'll be on the lookout for a cheap matching pair of seats in my area. Will probably mount this direct to the floor as it won't need to be adjustable for passengers.
I removed the standard passenger one and after a bit of research, decided it came out of a Citroen AX! I've currently got it advertised online for offers but more likely than not, it'll go in the skip.
Harnesses - The blue one is a brand I've never heard of (maybe a ebay special?) and the red one is a Securon one of some description. They are both 4 point and seem in good condition but for piece of mind, will purchase two new ones to fit in the car, so these have come out.
Next jobs will be to get the car on a ramp that's available at work and have a look underneath at the suspension/brakes and floor to see if there's any issues.
Pig benis said:
How come you decided to get a car pre-modified? For me, I prefer to either do the mods myself or pay a garage to do them, as that way I know everything wouldn't have been bodged.
PB
For me it was down to cost. A car with the stuff already on it will normally be cheaper than one which you do yourself (or so all the forum's tell me anyway). But with this one, there's still scope to make the car my own. Plus, hopefully it won't turn into one of those track projects where the intention is there to build one ready for the track......and then it never sees a circuit as there's always "one more job to do" before it's ready. PB
Gary29 said:
Why am I now on Auto Trader looking at Saxos?! What's wrong with me?!
They're fun cars though, all my mates had them when we were younger, I've driven them all and all the engines, VTS, VTR, Furio etc, I even had a C2 VTS myself but that was rubbish and just felt heavy and slow compared to the Saxo.
I think its taken a while....but Saxo VTR's and VTS's are now looked at semi-admiringly as apposed to scorn in the late 90's as they were doing drifts and reverse donuts in McDonald's car parks around the country!They're fun cars though, all my mates had them when we were younger, I've driven them all and all the engines, VTS, VTR, Furio etc, I even had a C2 VTS myself but that was rubbish and just felt heavy and slow compared to the Saxo.
I would have a harness bar added to the roll cage, those rear hardness bolts don't look great to me, I would also replace the harnesses for known good ones (there are a lot of fake/Chinese ones out there that are just plain dangerous).
I would also get a proper seat frame for the drivers one at the very least as those seat bars look terrible as well.
Is the extinguisher plumbed in or just there? If it is just there then I would just remove it, as you wont be driving to and from the track its unlikely you'll need/be able to use it should the worst happen on track. If you are going to replace it into the passenger foot well anyway i would look at a plumbed in system with a nozzle under the bonnet (or two) and one pointing at you.
ALWAYS remember, first you make it safe, then you make it fast, then you make it pretty!
Other than that, great project OP, enjoy
I would also get a proper seat frame for the drivers one at the very least as those seat bars look terrible as well.
Is the extinguisher plumbed in or just there? If it is just there then I would just remove it, as you wont be driving to and from the track its unlikely you'll need/be able to use it should the worst happen on track. If you are going to replace it into the passenger foot well anyway i would look at a plumbed in system with a nozzle under the bonnet (or two) and one pointing at you.
ALWAYS remember, first you make it safe, then you make it fast, then you make it pretty!
Other than that, great project OP, enjoy
Mr Red Barron said:
For me it was down to cost. A car with the stuff already on it will normally be cheaper than one which you do yourself (or so all the forum's tell me anyway). But with this one, there's still scope to make the car my own. Plus, hopefully it won't turn into one of those track projects where the intention is there to build one ready for the track......and then it never sees a circuit as there's always "one more job to do" before it's ready.
Ouch, that cut a little too close to home Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff