What car, hill climb edition

[eggchaser1987]

After a long discussion between my 'old man' and I and a tuition day we have decided that we want to give hill climb racing a try. he is looking out for cars as am I. So we are on the look out for a small hatchback/coupe type, he does not want a soft top as it will not be used much and be stood up when not on a track.

As it's a first try we don't want to break the bank too much so are looking around the £2,000-£2,500.

I have come up with three ideas but wondering if any one else had any ideas or any experience with any of these.

1- Mini cooper S-
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2- Audi TT-
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3- Peugeot 207 Gti
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Any more ideas would be great or any advice on what to look for on the three above.

Thanks

[HustleRussell]

Simplify and add lightness.

[Robmarriott]

I'd suggest looking at regulations prior to buying a car, even if you're not expecting to be competitive, you'll struggle against significantly faster stuff which will inevitably mean spending loads more money to keep up as motorsport is an addiction.

Anything 4 wheel drive will be in a class you won't be able to compete in, it'd be up against Evos and Subarus for example.

Anything with forced induction will be subject to an equivalency rule which will make it's effective capacity 1.7 times it's actual capacity, meaning the Mini or 207 could be competing with a Fiesta with a 2.6 Duratec and 300bhp...

There will probably be certain classes which allow stuff which is closer to stock, in which case you might be ok but believe me, even if you start out doing it 'for fun' you'll soon be thousands of pounds in!

If you want something which would work quite well straight away, as mentioned above, go simple, buy a small, light, NA hot hatch like a Clio 182 or a Civic Type R

[Davie]

Clio 172 .... the championships are full of them and for good reason too.

[eggchaser1987]

Sounds like we will be on the lookout for a Clio then.

Suits me, I had a 1.2 Clio for my second car, first being a 1980s Land Rover, and loved it so can only imagine what a sport is like

[Pica-Pica]

Robmarriott said:

I'd suggest looking at regulations prior to buying a car, even if you're not expecting to be competitive, you'll struggle against significantly faster stuff which will inevitably mean spending loads more money to keep up as motorsport is an addiction.

Anything 4 wheel drive will be in a class you won't be able to compete in, it'd be up against Evos and Subarus for example.

Anything with forced induction will be subject to an equivalency rule which will make it's effective capacity 1.7 times it's actual capacity, meaning the Mini or 207 could be competing with a Fiesta with a 2.6 Duratec and 300bhp...

There will probably be certain classes which allow stuff which is closer to stock, in which case you might be ok but believe me, even if you start out doing it 'for fun' you'll soon be thousands of pounds in!

If you want something which would work quite well straight away, as mentioned above, go simple, buy a small, light, NA hot hatch like a Clio 182 or a Civic Type R

I used to love this years ago on TV - where can it be watched?

[Gareth1974]

Pica-Pica said:

Robmarriott said:

I'd suggest looking at regulations prior to buying a car, even if you're not expecting to be competitive, you'll struggle against significantly faster stuff which will inevitably mean spending loads more money to keep up as motorsport is an addiction.

Anything 4 wheel drive will be in a class you won't be able to compete in, it'd be up against Evos and Subarus for example.

Anything with forced induction will be subject to an equivalency rule which will make it's effective capacity 1.7 times it's actual capacity, meaning the Mini or 207 could be competing with a Fiesta with a 2.6 Duratec and 300bhp...

There will probably be certain classes which allow stuff which is closer to stock, in which case you might be ok but believe me, even if you start out doing it 'for fun' you'll soon be thousands of pounds in!

If you want something which would work quite well straight away, as mentioned above, go simple, buy a small, light, NA hot hatch like a Clio 182 or a Civic Type R

I used to love this years ago on TV - where can it be watched?

http://britishhillclimb.co.uk/index.php/datesvenues-2/

[Efbe]

find your local track, then find what classes they run, then think outside of the box to get something with half a chance.

such as these:
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/classes.asp

this will give you some ideas for cars to use:
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/recordtrack.as...

Smaller engine classes will be more fun to get into.
There also used to be a 0.5 multiplier on diesel engines, and a 1.7 multiplier on turbos, so a 2.0 NA diesel could race a 1.4 petrol, which could be interesting?

[Wuzzle]

Lupo GTI?

Colt CZT?

[Efbe]

oh, I forgot, the answer is actually MX5... with a hardtop.

[Wuzzle]

SportKa

[Blanchimont]

5k will get you a Megane R26.

Cracking cars, decent out of the box, add some coilovers, semi slicks and some lightweight bits and you'll be laughing.

[PositronicRay]

A buddy of mine has recently purchased a Reliant SS1 just for this purpose. I was surprised it had an Isuzu turbo engine, we'll see how quick it is when he starts next years season.

[Wuzzle]

Efbe said:

oh, I forgot, the answer is actually MX5... with a hardtop.

Or MK3 MR2.

[Wuzzle]

There's been some fairly rapid Seat Ibizas over the years. Grande Punto Turbo too.

[Wuzzle]

Mazda 323 MPS or whatever they were called.

[Wuzzle]

Twingo 133.

[Gareth1974]

Something lightweight and non turbo would be good. A Metro GTi is unfashionable, but might work well.

[HustleRussell]

Gareth1974 said:

Something lightweight and non turbo would be good. A Metro GTi is unfashionable, but might work well.

I was thinking of something similarly crap but brilliant... an old 205 or one of the unpopular Saxo models... cheap, small, lightweight, will sneak into the 1400cc or less class or wherever the other newbies are playing.

[eggchaser1987]

Thanks, we have found a Clio 182 to go and see this weekend. Reasonably local also. So win win if you ask me