Golk mk4... As a track/race car?!

[LennyM1984]

So long story short, I can get a free mk4 Golf GTi (which I used to own 10 years ago) which needs some minor work to get an Mot. I'm thinking of turning it into a car to do a bit of grassroots competitive racing in. I can do the spannering myself but I don't want to sink too much money into it. Is this possible and if so what cheap changes should I do to make it handle better?

I already have a track day/weekend Cayman so I don't really care if the golf isn't the fastest/sharpest tool out there. I just want it to be "okay" and not frustrating

[Nampahc Niloc]

As is always the advice in these situations, check the regs of the events/series you’re thinking of entering before doing anything to the car. You wouldn’t want to rule yourself ineligible.

Edited by Nampahc Niloc on Wednesday 9th December 07:28

[brillomaster]

strip all the weight out, then upgrade tyres, brakes and suspension, then get the geo done.

but as already stated, check the regs for anything you want to enter, they may use a control tyre or brake setup, for example.

[aka_kerrly]

One of the best things you can do on a MK4 platform car is upgrade the anti roll bars, usually just a rear is preferred.
Then if you can find a TT 225 and have the front hubs,lower arms and steering rack an a MK4 becomes a pretty good steer

[LennyM1984]

Thanks for the advice. A rear ARB makes sense and they are usually fairly cost effective.

Is polybushing the suspension a yay or a nay for the Mk4? It needs a new bush and a ball joint up front so polybushing it would kind of make sense.

[FNG]

You're probably in "may as well" territory.

If one side has gone, do both sides anyway as the other may soon fail too.

And don't replace, upgrade. Can't hurt and a mk4 Golf isn't the most feelsome car so a bit less compliance can only be a good thing for a track car.

[TheMuu]

What would it be eligible to race in?

I mean the bad obsession guys started with a £800 car that was a fair bit more expensive once race compliant

[culpz]

You could do a lot worse for free! I'm guessing it's the 1.8T GTI and not the 2.0 N/A version?

I'd go for it. There's much better track cars out there out of the box, but I'm sure with a bit of fettling, you can make it into something enjoyable.

[Truckosaurus]

Or... Not exactly 'racing' but you could do some speed events (hillclimbs/sprints) without having to strip the car or add a cage. (a 1.8 turbo fits nicely into the SW region class championships if you are anywhere near there).

As others have said the cost of the base car is not much of an issue once you start having to properly prep it for circuit racing.

[LennyM1984]

I ought to clairfy that when I said, "Grassroots" I meant it...literally I was thinking sprints, autograss etc (if I can find a suitable class) rather than 750MC racing. I may also use it to "test" new tracks before taking my Cayman there (the Cayman isn't worth a fortune but I have spent the last year fettling and upgrading it for track duties and I'd be annoyed if I pranged it).

It's a 1.8T (150bhp) which I bought back in 2003 and then gave to my dad in 2008/9 when I bought a new car. He's had it since then but having bought a new car last year, he hasn't bothered to MOT it. He now just wants *something/anything* to happen with it. The MOT repairs it needs will cost me less than a £100 and so I figured that I'd get it MOT'd and then thrash it around a bit. Once I have had my fun, I can sell it or give it to my sister.

I'm happy to spend a few hundred on it (polybishes for the golf appear to be pretty cheap and there looks to be plenty of rear ARBs kicking around on ebay) but anything beyond that and it doesn't really make sense. Hence, stripping out interiors = fine, welding in roll cages/fitting Nitron suspension = not fine.

[Nampahc Niloc]

It depends if you want to be competitive. It doesn’t take much work before you find yourself in the Modified class, up against some highly upgraded vehicles.

[Galveston]

Yeah, be cautious about stripping interiors if you have any aspirations to do hillclimbs or sprints. Even removing door cards bumps you straight into the 'Modified Production' category which massively increases safety requirements - cage, seat, HANS etc. Leave the interior standard and you only need suit, helmet and gloves.

[Tommie38]

I must say I wouldn’t be falling over myself to use a MK4 Golf GTI as a track car.

Said as a former owner of a 1.8T MK4 GTI...

Maybe as a stop gap? The moment you start modifying, I think I’d rather be in a standard RWD car.

[LennyM1984]

Tommie38 said:

I must say I wouldn’t be falling over myself to use a MK4 Golf GTI as a track car.

Said as a former owner of a 1.8T MK4 GTI...

Maybe as a stop gap? The moment you start modifying, I think I’d rather be in a standard RWD car.

I already have a Cayman I use on track so this is purely something to repair, rag around, and then sell on. Thanks to lockdown it'll be on hold for a while but hopefully I'll have it back on the road soon

[Tommie38]

LennyM1984 said:

Tommie38 said:

I must say I wouldn’t be falling over myself to use a MK4 Golf GTI as a track car.

Said as a former owner of a 1.8T MK4 GTI...

Maybe as a stop gap? The moment you start modifying, I think I’d rather be in a standard RWD car.

I already have a Cayman I use on track so this is purely something to repair, rag around, and then sell on. Thanks to lockdown it'll be on hold for a while but hopefully I'll have it back on the road soon

Sorry if I wasn’t clear - your original post said ‘frustrating’ which is what I would expect of a MK4 GTI on track, particularly coming from a Porker.

I found mine so boring that I didn’t even remap it. Was absolutely left standard! Nothing against hot hatches (although I am not into FWD for track work) but the MK4 was always such a disappointment as a drivers car.

As a quick ish runaround I thought it was great, just not the fun stuff.

[LennyM1984]

Tommie38 said:

Sorry if I wasn’t clear - your original post said ‘frustrating’ which is what I would expect of a MK4 GTI on track, particularly coming from a Porker.

I found mine so boring that I didn’t even remap it. Was absolutely left standard! Nothing against hot hatches (although I am not into FWD for track work) but the MK4 was always such a disappointment as a drivers car.

As a quick ish runaround I thought it was great, just not the fun stuff.

Ah I see what you mean. I'm that case I might just get it mot'd and then sell it