track car/daily... what are the options?

[Justinas]

What car would be the quickest around the Ring in a standard form, with no mods?

[iguana]

Justinas said:

What car would be the quickest around the Ring in a standard form, with no mods?

Porsche 919 evo!

If you mean bog stock out the showroom cars I think its the gt2Rs 6.47 full lap so in region of 6.20 or less btg

Edited by iguana on Thursday 29th November 20:54

[Synchromesh]

Another vote for the 130i here.

I bought mine for the same purpose: something to spend most of its life on the motorway but do the occasional track day too, and for that brief it excels.

In fact, the only issue I've had is with the brakes – it will eat cheap pads. However, I've now fitted some Performance Friction Z-Rated ones which, three track days in, are less than half worn. Even without taking labour into account, it makes the motor factors pads (Brembo branded, mine were) look decidedly like a false economy.

In terms of your choice of car though, I guess it comes down to how much having RWD matters. For me, with track work on the agenda, it's a prerequisite.

[iguana]

Ahbefive said:

It certainly isn't as standard. No chance.

Well you might need to try harder! but anyway who tracks a stock car? pretty much all rubbish, my mate with the usual mods remap & what not, I'm not sure exactly what as fwd tat bores me to sleep, but I know it wasn't a silly big turbo etc & he was quicker than my crap 8 min in old e36 M3 pace, he seemed to get a consistent 7.5x, a quick youtube look & he's not out of the ordinary.

[Synchromesh]

To add, if we're talking 'Ring times, the 130i will do ~9 min laps driven by someone with a single-digit number of laps under their belt and not much skill

The handy drivers are knocking out 8 min BTGs in them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFZDqU4r0c0

[iguana]

Synchromesh said:

To add, if we're talking 'Ring times, the 130i will do ~9 min laps driven by someone with a single-digit number of laps under their belt and not much skill

The handy drivers are knocking out 8 min BTGs in them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFZDqU4r0c0

Yeh but he is indeed handy, was in the 7.20s in his e36, all pale into insignificance vs matey with his v basic track mods old Mx5 sh!tbox rocking a 7.37 btg!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhWwl4bqeoY

[nickfrog]

iguana said:

Well you might need to try harder! but anyway who tracks a stock car? pretty much all rubbish, my mate with the usual mods remap & what not, I'm not sure exactly what as fwd tat bores me to sleep

I had fun in a standard M135i on road pads/tyres, 3.01 at Spa wasn't too shabby. As for fwd, I'll have to disagree, while they can be boring, I really had fun in a Megane 275 out of the box and easily 8.30 btg, again on road consumables, and far more neutral than many performance rwd cars. Both those cars eventually got what they deserved for track use in terms of fluid / pads / tyres though. The daily + track single car was almost impossible 20 years ago. Far easier nowadays for a variety of reasons IME.

[W211]

Wow, thanks for all the replies folks. I think the list looks like:

Renaultsport clio
Renaultsport Megane rs
Bmw 130
Bmw 330
Bmw 325ti compact
Mazda rx8
Honda civic type r
Golf gti

Anything ive missed?
I suppose i would prefer rwd, but only because we already have a Subaru and a Polo GTi at home so it would complete the "drivenwheels set"

[nickfrog]

I would discount the 330i, too heavy. We tried once with friends (E46) and the money needed to make it half decent was significant.

[redandwhite]

forget ring times, meaningless unless you know the track like the back of your hand

[nickfrog]

Yes I used to agree. But then I realised it's quite entertaining to check your lap time there once in a while. And I really don't know it like the back of my hand with only about 200 laps.

[Ahbefive]

What times have you managed in your megane. Must be pretty quick after 200 laps, I've only done about 25.

Edited by Ahbefive on Friday 30th November 19:04

[nickfrog]

8:25 on NS2Rs, probably at 9/10ths and even 8/10ths in some particular hot spots like Schwedenkreuz. I am sure the car can be quite close to 8.10 but I am probably not ever going to venture there !!

[Ahbefive]

Impressive. I hope to shave 20 seconds off my time next year. So many places where I should be going flat out instead of wondering whats coming next.

[Justinas]

iguana said:

Porsche 919 evo!

If you mean bog stock out the showroom cars I think its the gt2Rs 6.47 full lap so in region of 6.20 or less btg

Edited by iguana on Thursday 29th November 20:54

Thanks. What about a car within the OPs budget - £5-6K?

[vanman1936]

Megane R26.....I use it for exactly that....selling it if interested 😉. Great on track and road in pretty much standard trim.

[C70R]

iguana said:

Synchromesh said:

To add, if we're talking 'Ring times, the 130i will do ~9 min laps driven by someone with a single-digit number of laps under their belt and not much skill

The handy drivers are knocking out 8 min BTGs in them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFZDqU4r0c0

Yeh but he is indeed handy, was in the 7.20s in his e36, all pale into insignificance vs matey with his v basic track mods old Mx5 sh!tbox rocking a 7.37 btg!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhWwl4bqeoY

That's a seriously impressive time in a seriously well-prepped car. Even though he hasn't gone for 'power' mods, that chassis has had a lot of work.

[Ahbefive]

Synchromesh said:

To add, if we're talking 'Ring times, the 130i will do ~9 min laps driven by someone with a single-digit number of laps under their belt and not much skill

The handy drivers are knocking out 8 min BTGs in them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFZDqU4r0c0

That is not a standard car. KW coilovers, Michelin Cup tyres, rollcage and probably lots of other mods. Great driving though.

[C70R]

Ahbefive said:

Synchromesh said:

To add, if we're talking 'Ring times, the 130i will do ~9 min laps driven by someone with a single-digit number of laps under their belt and not much skill

The handy drivers are knocking out 8 min BTGs in them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFZDqU4r0c0

That is not a standard car. KW coilovers, Michelin Cup tyres, rollcage and probably lots of other mods. Great driving though.

Not sure I can see a rollcage in there... In the comments the owner mentions tyres and coilovers, but nothing else. The fact that it isn't even sporting a bucket seat should lead to the conclusion that it's probably not a track special. A very impressive time indeed, up there with some serious metal.

[HustleRussell]

IMO a lot of time and energy wasted in this thread with 'ring times, it's irrelevant, it's all about driver familiarity. You are going to have a variation of whole minutes between the PHer who has done nine laps and the 'ring specialist racing driver on youtube.

Moreover 'ring times are a useless tool for comparing trackday cars anyway, seeing as trackdays aren't competitive and timing is not permitted. Is the car with the fastest 'ring lap the best trackday car? My first trackday and race car would be monstered around the 'ring by one of the faster BMW X5s, does it make the X5 the better trackday car?

Edited by HustleRussell on Tuesday 4th December 10:27