New TD car ideas?
Discussion
I know a well set up MX5 is excellent on track, I have diced with enough of them over the years!
You have to like a car and I'm afraid the MX5 doesn't do it for me.
Out of interest, last night I sent a message to the guy I sold my last vRS to. Asked him if he was thinking of selling it sometime and coincidently his circumstances have changed and he is seriously considering selling it.
He's going to come back to me in the next few days and if so, I will buy it back from him. It is an early car which was one owner, low mileage when I bought it I have a lightweight set of Wallface wheels shod with a set of track tyres and a set of trackpads sitting in the garage. If it comes off then I will upgrade the suspension and move the engine on from its stage 1 remap. I know you track purists will shudder at the thought of the Skoda but it was absolutely hilarious fun on track. I did a TVR day in it at Rockingham last year as the crankshaft had snapped at Anglesey on my TVR! Don't ask.
Even with standard suspension and leaning at ridiculous angles in the bends it was up there with some of the quickest cars around the track. This was mainly due to the 40 odd cars that were there been driven by track virgins driving mainly Cerberas.
Anyhow, if this falls through then I will keep on looking.........
You have to like a car and I'm afraid the MX5 doesn't do it for me.
Out of interest, last night I sent a message to the guy I sold my last vRS to. Asked him if he was thinking of selling it sometime and coincidently his circumstances have changed and he is seriously considering selling it.
He's going to come back to me in the next few days and if so, I will buy it back from him. It is an early car which was one owner, low mileage when I bought it I have a lightweight set of Wallface wheels shod with a set of track tyres and a set of trackpads sitting in the garage. If it comes off then I will upgrade the suspension and move the engine on from its stage 1 remap. I know you track purists will shudder at the thought of the Skoda but it was absolutely hilarious fun on track. I did a TVR day in it at Rockingham last year as the crankshaft had snapped at Anglesey on my TVR! Don't ask.
Even with standard suspension and leaning at ridiculous angles in the bends it was up there with some of the quickest cars around the track. This was mainly due to the 40 odd cars that were there been driven by track virgins driving mainly Cerberas.
Anyhow, if this falls through then I will keep on looking.........
An octavia vrs was among the many many cars on my shortlist this summer so if you do go that route I’ll be watching with interest, as I’m starting to wonder if I could get away with one car to commute and track. My clio isn’t really that but a vrs (or Cupra R, or S3, or classic Impreza, or G60 Corrado) could be.
When I used the Octavia last I just swapped the standard road wheels for my spare set with track tires and changed the brake pads for a set of DS 2500s. You can easily drive the car there and back and if you pick a good car they are bullet-proof.
If my old car does come back to me I will change the springs and dampers to something more suitable for the track but of course it is still driveable on the road.
In fact, about five years ago I bought a high mileage vRS complete with uprated suspension, remap and the lightweight Wolfrace wheels which I have retained. I bought it at something like 165K on the clock for 1K, used it for 18 months and sold it to a friend who put about another 70K on it. All original Engine gearbox and running gear.
If my old car does come back to me I will change the springs and dampers to something more suitable for the track but of course it is still driveable on the road.
In fact, about five years ago I bought a high mileage vRS complete with uprated suspension, remap and the lightweight Wolfrace wheels which I have retained. I bought it at something like 165K on the clock for 1K, used it for 18 months and sold it to a friend who put about another 70K on it. All original Engine gearbox and running gear.
phazed said:
Just sat in the fiesta on my drive. I only have an inch maximum above my head for fresh helmet space so a bit tight.
My friend just sent me this. A bit left-field as it is probably a bit of a wallower The performance is good as a manual though!
My friend just sent me this. A bit left-field as it is probably a bit of a wallower The performance is good as a manual though!
HustleRussell said:
Yuck.
In my defence, you set a £2k budget limit, but still wanted some decent performance. I had already sent you several BMW and hot Clio ads........ok, as James May said, side-on the Chrysler Crossfire looks like a dog parking it's breakfast, but it has a 3.2 litre Merc SLK engine up front, rear wheel drive and a manual gearbox.A fair amount of parked breakfast for your £2k.
Edited by QBee on Tuesday 1st December 14:17
At least with the VRS you already have wheels and tyres for it, and plenty of understanding of the mechanicals from past VR esses, plus it is a VW so you shouldn't have to fix it too often. It's a good call.
Just need to up the base performance a bit and perhaps give the suspension and brakes a once over.
Bon chance mon ami.
Just need to up the base performance a bit and perhaps give the suspension and brakes a once over.
Bon chance mon ami.
QBee said:
At least with the VRS you already have wheels and tyres for it, and plenty of understanding of the mechanicals from past VR esses, plus it is a VW so you shouldn't have to fix it too often. It's a good call.
Just need to up the base performance a bit and perhaps give the suspension and brakes a once over.
Bon chance mon ami.
Quite so. I already have a set of DS2500 brake pads and as you say a set of track tires and wheels. This particular car has AP suspension already fitted. I have no idea what that is like! Just need to up the base performance a bit and perhaps give the suspension and brakes a once over.
Bon chance mon ami.
I can see where the OP is coming from with the Octavia, I'm a fan of the first iteration myself. On reading into how to get them handling nicely, it seemed that quite a lot of SEAT Cupra R needed to be swapped over - entire front subframe and suspension was one significant very useful upgrade.
But, refreshingly OP doesn't want to be the fastest on the track, "competitive" as I saw one person describing their track day car recently, or rank their trackday enjoyment by "overtaking much more expensive cars". What matters is that you like the car, and you enjoy driving it. For me that means it's easy ish to get to the limits of and extract the best you can from, without feeling like you're having to drive around a car's inherent shortcomings. I don't know if an Octavia is that, or not.
I've also looked at classic (pre 2001) imprezas as they do seem to be track capable with a decent set of brakes and tyres fitted, and usually have enough power that their weight doesn't completely neuter them. Rear arch rot can be fearsome and extends into the rear damper towers and boot floor; with an engine worth 1500 quid the worst of them are a couple of grand, so you'd need to spend 3000 upwards at the very least for one that didn't need extensive bodywork. Whether a 5 grand impreza is then a good track candidate compared to other 5 grand cars is then another matter.
And if you're that enthusiastic about the car to say stuff it I want one of those regardless so I'll pay more for a good one, would you then be happy to track it?
But, refreshingly OP doesn't want to be the fastest on the track, "competitive" as I saw one person describing their track day car recently, or rank their trackday enjoyment by "overtaking much more expensive cars". What matters is that you like the car, and you enjoy driving it. For me that means it's easy ish to get to the limits of and extract the best you can from, without feeling like you're having to drive around a car's inherent shortcomings. I don't know if an Octavia is that, or not.
I've also looked at classic (pre 2001) imprezas as they do seem to be track capable with a decent set of brakes and tyres fitted, and usually have enough power that their weight doesn't completely neuter them. Rear arch rot can be fearsome and extends into the rear damper towers and boot floor; with an engine worth 1500 quid the worst of them are a couple of grand, so you'd need to spend 3000 upwards at the very least for one that didn't need extensive bodywork. Whether a 5 grand impreza is then a good track candidate compared to other 5 grand cars is then another matter.
And if you're that enthusiastic about the car to say stuff it I want one of those regardless so I'll pay more for a good one, would you then be happy to track it?
FNG said:
I can see where the OP is coming from with the Octavia
And lots of other good stuff.
If this Octavia works out then it is pretty much track prepared for the standard I want it to be. I said I don’t want to be the fastest, just enjoy myself.And lots of other good stuff.
Keeping a car not in a track hardcore way also leaves it usable for the road which isn’t a total requisite but desirable.
Agreed.
Also you mentioned AP coilovers. I had a set on the white Fiesta ST I mentioned above. They weren't bad - bit crashy but not awful, the ride wasn't bad but I wouldn't want to run them with bucket seats - which you're not, so no problem there.
As usual the spring rate is high compared to the damping rate, and they're not adjustable, but they're ok to get a suitable ride height, increase roll stiffness, and you can corner weight the car to some degree if you want to go that far.
Also you mentioned AP coilovers. I had a set on the white Fiesta ST I mentioned above. They weren't bad - bit crashy but not awful, the ride wasn't bad but I wouldn't want to run them with bucket seats - which you're not, so no problem there.
As usual the spring rate is high compared to the damping rate, and they're not adjustable, but they're ok to get a suitable ride height, increase roll stiffness, and you can corner weight the car to some degree if you want to go that far.
LondonTom said:
BMW 130 or e90 330, just add some decent tyres, suspension and a set of rs29 pads.
Horses for courses, but I had a E91 330i and while it had a lot of grip and impressed me at how quick it could go and corner, it wasn't engaging (lots of steering weight, not so much steering feel and feedback) so I didn't find it particularly enjoyable. Don't know if the 130i of the same era was similar but for me it had passed that point where faster doesn't mean more fun.An E46 330ci I got to replace it was more fun, albeit still a bit more inert than I'd have liked. I'd say a E36 328i but prices are generally pretty high for them now - although if you were happy with a 4dr or convertible you get a lot more for your money.
phazed said:
I have a lightweight set of Wallface wheels
I'm sorry, I cannot just let this go, it's a car forum, and the track day section, I'm not being a pedant, I am doing you a friendly service, Mr. phazed. Are Wallface wheels like the face palming cousin of Wolfrace wheels, perhaps?
I have to know
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