New TD car ideas?
Discussion
After many, many dozen Trackdays and club sprints with my TVRs, I am now looking for something completely different.
The TVRs are gone, I have retired and I'm looking for something which will be fun, reasonably low maintenance but enough to keep me involved and still enjoying Trackdays.
My last Chimaera was 400 BHP and very, very quick. I also had a MK1 vRS Octávia which I had an absolutely fantastic day at Bedford Autodrome last year. That was standard but with sticky track tyres and uprated pads. To be honest, that was one of the best Trackdays that I have ever done!
Looking for an easy life with a bit of fun. Don't want to be the fastest on track but looking to enjoy the twisties more. I have a Boxster S as a fun convertible. As great as the car is, handling and performance are fantastic, it is far too good to put on the track, (As much as I would like to). I shall save it for Euro tours when all this s
t is out the way!
Open to any ideas. Maybe some of you guys are giving up Trackdays and have something you no longer need which might suit me. I am in Surrey and don't want to travel a 1,000,000 miles for obvious reasons! Cheers
By the way, I am very handy with spanners and don't mind doing a bit of upgrading.
The TVRs are gone, I have retired and I'm looking for something which will be fun, reasonably low maintenance but enough to keep me involved and still enjoying Trackdays.
My last Chimaera was 400 BHP and very, very quick. I also had a MK1 vRS Octávia which I had an absolutely fantastic day at Bedford Autodrome last year. That was standard but with sticky track tyres and uprated pads. To be honest, that was one of the best Trackdays that I have ever done!
Looking for an easy life with a bit of fun. Don't want to be the fastest on track but looking to enjoy the twisties more. I have a Boxster S as a fun convertible. As great as the car is, handling and performance are fantastic, it is far too good to put on the track, (As much as I would like to). I shall save it for Euro tours when all this s
t is out the way! Open to any ideas. Maybe some of you guys are giving up Trackdays and have something you no longer need which might suit me. I am in Surrey and don't want to travel a 1,000,000 miles for obvious reasons! Cheers
By the way, I am very handy with spanners and don't mind doing a bit of upgrading.
Turn7 said:
Budget ?
Good point. Maybe in between 2– 5 K Max.Will probably only be used for track days although I would like it to be rather legal. What with coronavirus, Lockdowns and being retired I have to make a real effort to actually use a car! Going from 16–18 K miles a year this is all a bit weird.
I get the Clio thing but there must be other sensible choices.
If I’m honest, as competent as the Clio is, it doesn’t grab me. I haven’t ruled it out but I’d like to look at alternatives. Probably my age, but French cars have never figured in my life.
For instance, I like the Fiesta ST150. The driving position and ergonomics for me are spot on. As standard, they are a bit breathless although they can be tweaked to 185bhp fairly easily. I have a low mileage 07 plate one on the driveway. Belongs to No3 son’s fiancé and will be sold on shortly. I am tempted as it’s there. Thoughts on these please?
If I’m honest, as competent as the Clio is, it doesn’t grab me. I haven’t ruled it out but I’d like to look at alternatives. Probably my age, but French cars have never figured in my life.
For instance, I like the Fiesta ST150. The driving position and ergonomics for me are spot on. As standard, they are a bit breathless although they can be tweaked to 185bhp fairly easily. I have a low mileage 07 plate one on the driveway. Belongs to No3 son’s fiancé and will be sold on shortly. I am tempted as it’s there. Thoughts on these please?
I know a well set up MX5 is excellent on track, I have diced with enough of them over the years!
You have to like a car and I'm afraid the MX5 doesn't do it for me.
Out of interest, last night I sent a message to the guy I sold my last vRS to. Asked him if he was thinking of selling it sometime and coincidently his circumstances have changed and he is seriously considering selling it.
He's going to come back to me in the next few days and if so, I will buy it back from him. It is an early car which was one owner, low mileage when I bought it I have a lightweight set of Wallface wheels shod with a set of track tyres and a set of trackpads sitting in the garage. If it comes off then I will upgrade the suspension and move the engine on from its stage 1 remap. I know you track purists will shudder at the thought of the Skoda but it was absolutely hilarious fun on track. I did a TVR day in it at Rockingham last year as the crankshaft had snapped at Anglesey on my TVR! Don't ask.
Even with standard suspension and leaning at ridiculous angles in the bends it was up there with some of the quickest cars around the track. This was mainly due to the 40 odd cars that were there been driven by track virgins driving mainly Cerberas.
Anyhow, if this falls through then I will keep on looking.........
You have to like a car and I'm afraid the MX5 doesn't do it for me.
Out of interest, last night I sent a message to the guy I sold my last vRS to. Asked him if he was thinking of selling it sometime and coincidently his circumstances have changed and he is seriously considering selling it.
He's going to come back to me in the next few days and if so, I will buy it back from him. It is an early car which was one owner, low mileage when I bought it I have a lightweight set of Wallface wheels shod with a set of track tyres and a set of trackpads sitting in the garage. If it comes off then I will upgrade the suspension and move the engine on from its stage 1 remap. I know you track purists will shudder at the thought of the Skoda but it was absolutely hilarious fun on track. I did a TVR day in it at Rockingham last year as the crankshaft had snapped at Anglesey on my TVR! Don't ask.
Even with standard suspension and leaning at ridiculous angles in the bends it was up there with some of the quickest cars around the track. This was mainly due to the 40 odd cars that were there been driven by track virgins driving mainly Cerberas.
Anyhow, if this falls through then I will keep on looking.........
When I used the Octavia last I just swapped the standard road wheels for my spare set with track tires and changed the brake pads for a set of DS 2500s. You can easily drive the car there and back and if you pick a good car they are bullet-proof.
If my old car does come back to me I will change the springs and dampers to something more suitable for the track but of course it is still driveable on the road.
In fact, about five years ago I bought a high mileage vRS complete with uprated suspension, remap and the lightweight Wolfrace wheels which I have retained. I bought it at something like 165K on the clock for 1K, used it for 18 months and sold it to a friend who put about another 70K on it. All original Engine gearbox and running gear.
If my old car does come back to me I will change the springs and dampers to something more suitable for the track but of course it is still driveable on the road.
In fact, about five years ago I bought a high mileage vRS complete with uprated suspension, remap and the lightweight Wolfrace wheels which I have retained. I bought it at something like 165K on the clock for 1K, used it for 18 months and sold it to a friend who put about another 70K on it. All original Engine gearbox and running gear.
QBee said:
At least with the VRS you already have wheels and tyres for it, and plenty of understanding of the mechanicals from past VR esses, plus it is a VW so you shouldn't have to fix it too often. It's a good call.
Just need to up the base performance a bit and perhaps give the suspension and brakes a once over.
Bon chance mon ami.
Quite so. I already have a set of DS2500 brake pads and as you say a set of track tires and wheels. This particular car has AP suspension already fitted. I have no idea what that is like! Just need to up the base performance a bit and perhaps give the suspension and brakes a once over.
Bon chance mon ami.
FNG said:
I can see where the OP is coming from with the Octavia
And lots of other good stuff.
If this Octavia works out then it is pretty much track prepared for the standard I want it to be. I said I don’t want to be the fastest, just enjoy myself.And lots of other good stuff.
Keeping a car not in a track hardcore way also leaves it usable for the road which isn’t a total requisite but desirable.
I hope so. I know what you mean about the MX5 but I dislike the look of them no matter how good they are.
As I said before, the vRS in my opinion has charisma in spades. I love it’s looks and when I park it up I’ll have a little look over my shoulder and smile.
I did a wet, sleaty December TD years ago at Combe in my first vRS. I left the TVR in the garage because the weather was absolutely awful. That TD ranked as one of my favourites. Cars were falling off the track everywhere but the vRS was caned safety around the track. Obviously fwd, a bit of abs and traction played there part and it was fun!
The other TD I did with my third vRS in the dry was also great fun, completely different to all the other TD’s I have done in my TVRs.
OK, I may get bored with it but as I said it’s not about being fastest is just having fun and this is something different from the very many TD’s I’ve done in rwd TVRs.
We shall see.
As I said before, the vRS in my opinion has charisma in spades. I love it’s looks and when I park it up I’ll have a little look over my shoulder and smile.
I did a wet, sleaty December TD years ago at Combe in my first vRS. I left the TVR in the garage because the weather was absolutely awful. That TD ranked as one of my favourites. Cars were falling off the track everywhere but the vRS was caned safety around the track. Obviously fwd, a bit of abs and traction played there part and it was fun!
The other TD I did with my third vRS in the dry was also great fun, completely different to all the other TD’s I have done in my TVRs.
OK, I may get bored with it but as I said it’s not about being fastest is just having fun and this is something different from the very many TD’s I’ve done in rwd TVRs.
We shall see.
Lots of work done so far on the vRS.
Pressure washed the underside in preparation.
New wheel bearings all round. New rear hubs, Mintex discs and track pads. New flexi brake lines and HT brake fluid. New back plates all round.
Just about to remove front subframe and swap for Seat Cupra R subframe with quick rack, alloy lower suspension arms, thicker ARB and Cupra R hubs, (quicker turn in).
Lots of other stuff to do..............quite enjoying it!
Roll on spring!
Pressure washed the underside in preparation.
New wheel bearings all round. New rear hubs, Mintex discs and track pads. New flexi brake lines and HT brake fluid. New back plates all round.
Just about to remove front subframe and swap for Seat Cupra R subframe with quick rack, alloy lower suspension arms, thicker ARB and Cupra R hubs, (quicker turn in).
Lots of other stuff to do..............quite enjoying it!
Roll on spring!
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