Which 2.0 car for road/track/racing?

[Dommett]

I'm looking to buy a car for the track, but keep road legal, something that has a standard 4 cylinder 2.0 normally aspirated engine (or smaller capacity) and is quick/handles in factory spec, so doesn't require much fettling
Must be around 10 - 15 years old so modern, but not too expensive and can be purchased for under £5k.

My ideas so far are:
Ford Focus ST170 (Mk1)
Honda Civic Type R
Honda Integra Type R
Peugeot 306 GTI6
Peugoet 206 GTI 180

Love to hear some other ideas.

[Dommett]

paulshears said:

mk2 Seat Ibiza Cupra Sport

Just found this for the Seat - http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=162&i=260... should imagine given its kerbweight, it would be pretty quick.

I also meant to add if there's any special editions of cars that could be sourced with racing style bodykits or homologation specials that came with trick parts (suspension, bodykit, lsd etc) as standard.
Another that I saw was the Citroen Xsara VTS which I've seen with the WRC bodykit, but not sure if it was ever sold like that?

Want it to be quick, but also want it to look like a race car without adding non-standard bodykits.

[Dommett]

The Clio 172/182 sounds good, i have no doubt they handle well and are rapid, but my mum drives a Clio, it's tiny!
Also, I have been racing a Clio Williams and fancy something a bit larger.

As for the mx5, again great idea, if I wanted a soft top, it would be the Honda s2000, but I want more of a btcc look a like kind of car.

[Dommett]

VX Foxy said:

What series have you been racing in?... BMW of some kind would be my choice.

I guess from your profile you're a BMW person

I did use a BMW 325 (E30) a couple of years back in the CTCRC and I agree with you, but I want a 2.0 for class entry eligibility and that precludes competitive BMW's to be honest.

I want it road legal to allow me to simply (and uncomfortably!) get to driver training/skid-pan and track days, as I've felt in my first three years of racing that I've had little on-track time when you add up qualy & race, and I could do with making more use of the vehicle.
And being road-legal (along with my vanity) I simply want it to be a good looking car that I can be proud of.

So, Clio is on the list, but Honda Civic or Integra Type R is top right now.
The Alfa 146 looks the part (if only it was the dreamy looking GTA!) but is a bit short of horsepower.

I was hoping to find a special edition that had just the right spec, somebody did say Honda made a detuned Euro Accord with the 2.0 Type R engine from the Civic instead of the 2.2 that we got, but I can't find anything about it, might have been a myth.

[Dommett]

Spankey Monkey said:

Rover BRM.

Interesting, that reminds me of the MG ZR 160, effectively the same car with a few more horsepower, not sure if it has the same diff, but they seem to have their own championship and look quite good with all the bodykit trinkets.
About 200kg lighter than a type r according to Wikipedia.
Thanks

[Dommett]

Pumajay said:

ford puma 1.7

It's a shame the racing puma's are a little on the expensive side, the puma's not an ugly car to start with, but the racing puma looks pretty damn good.