£500 Field Racer?

[Djdan]

There is a fashion around me now of farmers opening up a field for one day a year when cut and hosting a park race. Now i fancy getting involved but want to think outside the box. Budget is around 500quid plus basic mods (tyres etc).

Weve been through the usual suspects - Impreza, Legacy, Forester, audi quattros etc but am struggling to think of any other cars that could meet the bill.

Ideally needs to be....4x4, fast, manual, cheap!

All suggestions welcomed!!

[lexusboy]

A cronky old GT4?

[DorisMk2]

Done this a few times and brought a Granada cosworth, Toyota supra, merc limo Sierra xr4x4, jag xj6 all for less than £500. Not all 4wd but had fun in them all!

[Mr MXT]

Bedford Rascal pickup

[Rich1973]

Tatty 3.0 X-type would fit the bill.

[leafspring]

Mr MXT said:

Bedford Rascal pickup

I have seen someone grass track race a Rascal van (like Hammond rolled in that top gear van test)

It was Bouncy... very very bouncy

[ALBA MELV]

An Impreza wiped the floor with everything on the last park race I attended although other good performers were a MGZR and a 2nd Generation V6 MX6.

So long as it's light with rally tyres you should have great fun.

[PhillipM]

Beetle, whack a cheap scooby engine in.

[Djdan]

lexusboy said:

A cronky old GT4?

Sadly they seem to be about 2k!

Thanks for all the suggestions so far...apart from the bedford and the beetle

[V8RX7]

Surely you'll find a tatty / damaged impreza for that kind of price.

Certainly you'll find 2.6/2.8 A4 Quattros / Passats

I suspect something lighter and RWD could prove faster though - struggling to think of any cheap enough - drifters have had it all.

[Jaaack]

MB6 VTi Civic? 170bhp, bulletproof and relatively decent handling. Not that heavy either. FWD but come with an LSD as standard. You could get a rough one for £500 easily and flog the engine/box and brake conversion for a profit. Or keep it and turbo it for a reliable 300-350bhp for very little money....

[V8RX7]

Just looked on Ebay BIN:

Mk2 MR2

Mitsi Galant

Stripped out LS400

Saab turbo

[vanordinaire]

I was involved in something like this about 30 years ago when the choices of car were a bit different. Winners that I remember were
1. several minis
2. an escort van (rear wheel drive)
3. a stripped out and tuned 2cv
4. a rover 3500 sdi with huge rear arches and landrover wheels

The main thing was the tyre choice.

[Djdan]

V8RX7 said:

Surely you'll find a tatty / damaged impreza for that kind of price.

Certainly you'll find 2.6/2.8 A4 Quattros / Passats

I suspect something lighter and RWD could prove faster though - struggling to think of any cheap enough - drifters have had it all.

Ud think so but the engines and running gear seem to be worth a few quid and most people break them!

[McWigglebum4th]

an MGF

engine in the right place and inflatable suspension

[Skyedriver]

These events aren't, I suspect, registered with the MSA or any other body.
Have they got LA permission?
Have they got any insurance?

[Corpulent Tosser]

Skyedriver said:

These events aren't, I suspect, registered with the MSA or any other body.
Have they got LA permission?
Have they got any insurance?

I was thinking similar, sounds a dodgy thing to get involved in.

[V8RX7]

Skyedriver said:

These events aren't, I suspect, registered with the MSA or any other body.
Have they got LA permission?
Have they got any insurance?

It's that kind of thinking that ruined lots of fun in the past.

Adults should be allowed to make their own decisions.

[Corpulent Tosser]

V8RX7 said:

Skyedriver said:

These events aren't, I suspect, registered with the MSA or any other body.
Have they got LA permission?
Have they got any insurance?

It's that kind of thinking that ruined lots of fun in the past.

Adults should be allowed to make their own decisions.

My general view is that if something does not impact on others then it should be allowed, however this is something that I certainly wouldn't get involved in unless it was licenced and complied with licencing requirements.
Maybe it is all covered, rescue, ambulance, marshals etc, but the way it is described in the OP I doubt it.

[Dave Hedgehog]

V8RX7 said:

Adults should be allowed to make their own decisions.

lol

adults will be told what is permissible for them to do by the government, they know best