Ford focus as a track day car

[dfen5]

Might get one of these rather than go down the usual 205/golf gti route (I only wnat to put about £5k into it) so was thinking 2.0 zetec 3 door then I can pretty much do what a I want with it as and when.

Panel's verdict or a more suitable choice? Other thought was a 306 rallye

[edh]

How about a 944 turbo for 5k? (or less)

5k gets you into all sorts of interesting cars

if it's FWD you want, what about an Integra Type-R - there's a few in the classifieds

[birdthom]

We've a got a 2.0 Focus 3 door as our everyday car. I always wondered about taking it on track to see how it was but never did because we've ended up with a Clio 172 Cup as well.

The Focus handles nicely but is VERY heavy and slow compared to the clio - not even in the same league. The clio is pretty much ready to go as a practical track car too (I'll only be changing the pads on mine, but even the standard pads aren't too bad) whereas the Focus would need a lot of tweaking and money to make a decent track car. The focus chews fuel as well (you're lucky to get 30mpg even driving gently, whereas I get almost 40mpg out of the clio most of the time).

The focus is a much comfier everyday car, but the Clio is definitely the one to go for if you're planning on going on track. I guess the same would be true for a 306 Rallye.

Just my 2p...

Tom

[theboyfold]

Rallye!! I love mine! Few simple upgrades and it's great fun.

Should get a good one for around £3k spend a bit on making it go round corners even quicker and you are on for a great time

[birdthom]

*waves*

[slinky]

Eunos Roadster... Supercharged, roll cage, 1.8 stoppers, e-manage or link, Tein suspenders... job done..

Focus.. might be ok.. but a little lardy for easy fun methinks..

slinky

[theboyfold]

birdthom said:

*waves*

Hello mste, I'm trying to find out where that cheap day at Donny is listed. Hopefully have the new brakes on by then!!

[birdthom]

Mark

That Donny evening we did was with Bookatrack. I went to a Trakzone day there last weekend - I had heard lots of horror stories about trakzone (bad driving, overcrowding) which were true to some extent, but the thing that made me laugh was that 25/30 cars on track at once sounds terrible but they all drive along in a big queue so if you take the time to drop back and find some space you've practically got the track to yourself!

The trakzone thing wasn't a patch on the BaT evening for quality, but for £99 for the day it was worth doing. They run them pretty regularly (Sundays once or twice a month).

Drop me a line if you're going along.

Cheers

Tom.

PS - apologies for thread hijack!

[theboyfold]

birdthom said:

Mark

That Donny evening we did was with Bookatrack.....
...Drop me a line if you're going along.

Yeah I thought the BaT day was well run, tempted with Rockingham on Sunday week, but might have a look at that trackzone one, I'll let you know what I end up doing

editted to add: I now see why my post didn't make sense, I knew that the day was run by BaT, but I was was wondering who is running the cheap one at Donny next Sunday. I'm tired I really should be in bed!!

Edited by theboyfold on Thursday 5th October 23:44

[smckeown]

For £5k you could get a seriously fast 205 track car. Here's a tip...start off with a light car to begin with:

I know you said something different, but if it doesnt go fast round a track you'll soon be kicking yourself.



Sean
track-monkey.co.uk

[dfen5]

smckeown said:

For £5k you could get a seriously fast 205 track car. Here's a tip...start off with a light car to begin with:

Sean
track-monkey.co.uk

I've been having a look at your build up the 8v car. Lots of changes of plan (exhausts, throttle bodies, carbs, carbon bits etc) I had a quick tot up and reckoned around 16k+ for that one? The Puma head must've been 650 + 400 for the ported manifold.

On the vid's it does seem quick, the Audi stomps it on straight line speed but got caught on the corners. I really found it hard to believe the Exige 190 was being pushed hard - is it really up there with the Exiges etc of this world?

Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely bit of kit and I'd love a motor like that, but would an elise do the same for less? Just thinking aloud as a stripped out focus with carbon , Zetec on throttle bodies etc would shift too. I understand the suspension was copied off a 205!

As a cheapo I've just been offered a long term stored Renault 21 turbo for nowt.

Decisions, decisions. Going to do a few driving days then see if I can drive worth a toss first anyway :-)

[smckeown]

dfen5 said:

I've been having a look at your build up the 8v car. Lots of changes of plan (exhausts, throttle bodies, carbs, carbon bits etc) I had a quick tot up and reckoned around 16k+ for that one? The Puma head must've been 650 + 400 for the ported manifold.

On the vid's it does seem quick, the Audi stomps it on straight line speed but got caught on the corners. I really found it hard to believe the Exige 190 was being pushed hard - is it really up there with the Exiges etc of this world?

Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely bit of kit and I'd love a motor like that, but would an elise do the same for less? Just thinking aloud as a stripped out focus with carbon , Zetec on throttle bodies etc would shift too. I understand the suspension was copied off a 205!

As a cheapo I've just been offered a long term stored Renault 21 turbo for nowt.

Decisions, decisions. Going to do a few driving days then see if I can drive worth a toss first anyway :-)

My build cost £15k, but shocking a sthis is, it's a complete grund up rebuild. Nearly everything on the car is race specification and new. A new exige is 35k so that's the only way to compare like for like. As to which is faster, well it depends on your driving style, i'm much faster in a FWD car with a good LSD, than I ever was in my caterhams. I'd say most poeple would be the same. The car is normally quicker than i nthe vids. I made a cam change and it ended up the wrong choice. Max toque is not only lower but 1500 rpm higher up the revs, plus the curve is a lot worse. even thoyugh it was still fast at anglesey, ut will be back to it's old self in a few weeks.

So in answetr to th question, "is it really up there with the Exiges etc of this world?" i'd say it's not a million miles away, but again it's all about the driver. In 205 land, a well driven 205 (of lesser spec tha nmine) keeps up with most things on the track, exiges included.

HTH

Sean