(Very) Cheap track car...

[theboyfold]

I'm going to save up some pennies over the winter and in time for the spring, I'm going to hopefully get a new car for the track. I just don't like the idea of killing the 182 on the track.
So I'm thinking upto about a grand on a car for the track, so I'm thinking of drawing up a short list of cars to get. They have to be easy to get cheap parts for and be reliable (well as reliable as a car for £1000 can be!)

Thinking of:

MkII Golf GTi
16v Clio
Renault 19 16v
205 Gti
Suzuki Swift GTi
Fiesta XR2i (1800)

Any thing else people can think of? I might be able to get my hands on a 200sx (not the hatch, but the saloon like one) for that sort of money as well...

What do you all reckon?

[trackcar]

None of the above .. get yourself onto ebay and look for Dutton .. an early b plus or any pheaton before the series 3 will be a great track car for under a grand.



edietd to add this :


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DUTTON_W0QQitemZ4581424776QQcategoryZ29750QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

>> Edited by trackcar on Saturday 15th October 09:22

[agent006]

3 series BMW?

www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?carId=26344

[theboyfold]

agent006 said:

3 series BMW? www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?carId=26344

That could be a good option, what have you done to it mate? How is it on the track?

[agent006]

Just bought it a few weeks back, so not done much to it yet. My reasons for buying it were that it's the only thing i could think of that's got more than 4 cylinders, a manual gearbox and rear wheel drive.

[Digital]

I'm currently considering doing exactly the same, the cars on your list are more or less what I was considering.

I'm now thinking of a Mk1 Toyota MR2 however: RWD, Japanese (so hopefully fairly reliable) and you can pick them up for < £1K. Only problem seems to be a tendency for the wheel arches to rust... Should be fun on track though

[filmidget]

If looking for a FWD hatch, what about a Scirocco?

Same floorpan as Mk1 Golf GTI, but more aerodynamic than the Mk1 and lighter than a Mk2...

And due to being hideously unfashionable,very very cheap... £3-400 for a nice one, leaving plenty for secondhand tuning bits.

[Digital]

filmidget said:

If looking for a FWD hatch, what about a Scirocco?

Good choice, owned 2 of these before. Best bet is to go for a 1.8 GTX/Scala (same engine as the Mk2 Golf Gti 8V), and the money you save should go on uprating the brakes - they're barely up to road use let alone track use...

[dougie_wh]

Recently tracked a 93 1.816v clio (see posts on snetterton 12th oct), bought off a friend who had recently done some engine work. Has had head skimmed, new cambelt and tensioners, induction kit etc. Drove brilliantly and with no major problems i'd highly recommend one of these. The 16v block is proven and although some say they are not the best engine one that has been looked after will take a lot. The one I co-own is now for sale although at just over 2k may be a bit dearer than what you want to spend. There are others around though and the handling etc (as long as set up right) is top.

[smckeown]

205 gti with some suspension mods

[jitsukadave]

Another one for a MkI MR2 - the only thing you have to worry about is the body, and a few other small areas - like it has some oil in the block, and some water in the rad.

If you ask for info on the JapChat forum a lot of people there will be able to give you pointers on what to look out for.

[iguana]

Don't see a strict £1k budget for a car taking serious continual track abuse tho, decent suspension & proper overhaul & track prep of the brakes & a darn good check over will pretty much cost that alone.

Way cheaper in the long run to spend a few more ££ but buy something already prepped- maybe an ex racer.

Anyhow

Id say if FWD-

-Golf (16v waaaay more rewarding than 8v on track)

- Swift GTi Mk1- but only if you are light & will go solo most of the time- not as easy easy to get bits for tho.

- Pug

- Corrola 16v

RWD-

-325i (touring & 4 door unloved & cheaper)

-318IS

-Mk1 MR2

few more ££ then ex 924 racer or a 944

[jezza l]

Owning a 182 myself i'd defo track that. In fact i've just bought a 182 trophy so i can have even more fun on the track. No mods needed for it really, maybe some better brakes. Probably just take out the waste of time rear seats and that's it!

Just get trackday insurance and go to bedford for a few trackdays (loads of runoff area)

[theboyfold]

Thanks for the advice

The budget is about £1k, which will be for the car, I'm planning to spend some money on it in the long run. I'm sure I'll end up going over budget though, everything I do ends that way!! But I am still open for something that already has some track mods to it, so this is why the budget is looking to double at the moment!!

As for the 182, it's awesome round the track, I'm just think with the amount of excess on the trackday insurance I could get a cheaper car and mod it and not have to worry about the insurance. I've had my 182 on the track twice now and really want to get back out, but I'm too nervous about killing my everyday car.

>> Edited by theboyfold on Monday 17th October 18:12

[rallycross]

I'd say a Golf or a Pug 205/309.

I'm selling my own Golfs for under £1k so there's no doubt it can be done on a budget!

www.pistonheads.com/sales/53302.htm

[theboyfold]

rallycross said:

I'd say a Golf or a Pug 205/309. I'm selling my own Golfs for under £1k so there's no doubt it can be done on a budget! www.pistonheads.com/sales/53302.htm

Gutted you aren't selling these are next year, I would have snapped them up! Just don't have the money at the moment

[Munter]

I personally would beware of the MK1 MR2. I got one for £1000 to thrash about. Engine blew on it....

[holbrooknr]

iguana said:

RWD- -325i (touring & 4 door unloved & cheaper)

4 door is unloved, but the touring certainly isnt.

theyre better balanced than the saloons (weight distribution) hence a fair few ppl using them for track and drift cars atm.


im currently selling a late touring.
J plate, 137k
15" bbs alloys
mot may '06

£975 for a quick sale.
needs paint on one wing and the bonnet due to peeling lacquer - that aisde its in excellent conditon, and runs really well.

email me on [e-mail] for pics and more details.



e30 makes a cracking trackday car, reliable, quick, plentiful supply of cheap spares and advice available from www.e30zone.co.uk

>> Edited by holbrooknr on Friday 21st October 23:03

[agent006]

holbrooknr said:

theyre better balanced than the saloons (weight distribution) hence a fair few ppl using them for track and drift cars atm.

Better balanced but wibbly wobbly chassis, and no premade rollcages available though. I'd have bought a touring if it wasn't for that.

[holbrooknr]

agent006 said:

Better balanced but wibbly wobbly chassis, and no premade rollcages available though. I'd have bought a touring if it wasn't for that.

the ppl on e30zone dont seem to have a problem with the chassis, and some of them are using them as cars at drifting competitions and others as track cars.