Left-field road-legal track car choice
Discussion
Ello all,
Looking to get back to the track at some point in the next 3-4 months and am now looking at cars to buy.
I have a hankering of a automotive oddity, fwd or rwd doesnt bother me, but I'd like to steer clear of MR2/TF/MX5's as I've had those before and feel like driving something a bit less generic (and yes, that probably means not as good!).
I don't have a totally unrealistic set of criteria but the ones I have are:
- Max budget of 2k
- Inexpensive to run, so reliability is quite important
- Doesn't have to be fast, would much rather go for a well handling slow car
- Cam chain is ideal
I had been looking at the ZS KV6, FTO but having to change the V6 belts turns me right off, and I've also been taking a serious look at the Ignis Sport but am having second thoughts about that now after complaints about HG becoming common place. Still in the running though for sure as there's something about driving a terrier of a car appeals to me.
What doth my fellow pistonhead members suggest?
Looking to get back to the track at some point in the next 3-4 months and am now looking at cars to buy.
I have a hankering of a automotive oddity, fwd or rwd doesnt bother me, but I'd like to steer clear of MR2/TF/MX5's as I've had those before and feel like driving something a bit less generic (and yes, that probably means not as good!).
I don't have a totally unrealistic set of criteria but the ones I have are:
- Max budget of 2k
- Inexpensive to run, so reliability is quite important
- Doesn't have to be fast, would much rather go for a well handling slow car
- Cam chain is ideal
I had been looking at the ZS KV6, FTO but having to change the V6 belts turns me right off, and I've also been taking a serious look at the Ignis Sport but am having second thoughts about that now after complaints about HG becoming common place. Still in the running though for sure as there's something about driving a terrier of a car appeals to me.
What doth my fellow pistonhead members suggest?
was going to say prelude 2.2 as above
Nissan almera GTI - rmemeber they made those?
Corolla Tsport - see the celica but duller looking
suzuki swift sport - not the most powerful but should be reliable, parts should cost buttons, rallied to direct fit upgrades available
Alfa 147 2.0 - £500 will buy a cheap one and i expect there are a lot of cheap upgrades from the v6 156's like roll bars and brakes, ok it might break but plenty of budget left for that.
Nissan almera GTI - rmemeber they made those?
Corolla Tsport - see the celica but duller looking
suzuki swift sport - not the most powerful but should be reliable, parts should cost buttons, rallied to direct fit upgrades available
Alfa 147 2.0 - £500 will buy a cheap one and i expect there are a lot of cheap upgrades from the v6 156's like roll bars and brakes, ok it might break but plenty of budget left for that.
I'd be looking for a 172 cup if it were me. Catch one while you can scenario. Whilst not cam chain the engine is very good and incredibly strong. These were Mechachrome fettled engines, F1 engine builders at the time. I took mine to 157k and drove it like I stole it everywhere. I did Anglesey track many times in it (pre track mods) and embarrassed many a special motor in the twisty bits. The car has a huge heart and a skinny body (1010kgs IIRC).
I have wonderful memories of roasting Caterhams in the wet and not being bested by a 997 Turbo with the PDK box. So much so that the guy who owned the Porsche (a good pal of mine) went out and bought one.
In my opinion, and I own a Trophy, the very last of the true hot hatch and never to be seen again. Watch their values creep up and up. I can see a good one being £10k in the next ten years.
I have wonderful memories of roasting Caterhams in the wet and not being bested by a 997 Turbo with the PDK box. So much so that the guy who owned the Porsche (a good pal of mine) went out and bought one.
In my opinion, and I own a Trophy, the very last of the true hot hatch and never to be seen again. Watch their values creep up and up. I can see a good one being £10k in the next ten years.
Clio 172/182 or an RX8 at that budget with that criteria surely? There's also the odd half decent early Impreza turbo available at that sort of money. Early Octavia VRS if you don't care about FWD? Wouldn't be half as good around a track one of the Clios though. I'd only pass on a Clio personally because I prefer AWD or RWD to FWD. Very capable little cars.
SloppyClock said:
Wow some great ideas, best of the bunch for affordability looks to be the Celica for sure, 190 no doubt are top pic but they tend to break the 2k budget but non-dogger 140's go for around 1200 which is great.
Seeing how slow the 140 is in the MR2 I couldn't be paid to drive a Celica with one.SloppyClock said:
Wow some great ideas, best of the bunch for affordability looks to be the Celica for sure, 190 no doubt are top pic but they tend to break the 2k budget but non-dogger 140's go for around 1200 which is great.
Someone here bought my old 190, and as far as I know was very happy with it after an Italian tune-up. All for about £1,200. 51 plate, 123k miles with loads more to give.SloppyClock said:
Wow some great ideas, best of the bunch for affordability looks to be the Celica for sure, 190 no doubt are top pic but they tend to break the 2k budget but non-dogger 140's go for around 1200 which is great.
There are lots of Corrola TSports for under £1500. Mine was about £500, now it's gutted out, fitted with harnesses, low eibach springs, camber bolts, good discs, track pads and semi-slicks and it's a really fun track day shed. Under £1200 all in.I know you've said left field, but you've pretty much described an EP3 Civic Type R.
You can pick early ones for about 2k.
Timing chain (I got mine changed, but I'm supercharging mine)
Good fun on the road or a circuit.
A mate of mine runs a Mg ZS V6, as suggested, and he beats on it relentlessly, and it takes it. Sounds gorgeous too!
You can pick early ones for about 2k.
Timing chain (I got mine changed, but I'm supercharging mine)
Good fun on the road or a circuit.
A mate of mine runs a Mg ZS V6, as suggested, and he beats on it relentlessly, and it takes it. Sounds gorgeous too!
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