Best hyper hatch for trackdays?

[Derek182]

I've done quite a few trackdays over a lot of years in a TVR, a Caterham, several Westfields, every variety of Clio and a Megane RS250 Cup.
Before I finally give up and lease an electric car I have a budget of around £15k, maybe a little more, to buy a really quick daily/occasional track car.
I'm thinking of a BMW M135i/M140i, Mercedes A45, Audi RS/S3, Golf R or Seat Leon Cupra?
Not looking to modify them other than the usual uprated brake fluid and pads, definitely not running semi slicks and I've never been accused of being quick so shouldn't be too hard on the car.
I know something lighter may be more fun and cheaper to run but it's a type of car I've never owned and I like the idea of one.
Or is the answer a Megane 275 Cup?

[Cambs_Stuart]

I'm doing exactly the same consideration at the moment. In the next few months I need to go from two cars (A Subaru Legacy and a clio 172) to one car plus a leaner for my eldest son.
My £12k Shortlist is :

Vauxhall GTC VXR (Brembo's, Recaros and LSD)

Megane RS (Brembo's, Recaros and LSD, if you get the right car, but mainly pre 2013 cars available at this price. Plus they've got dodgy gearboxes)

308 GTI by Peugeot sport (Horribly expensive brakes, but LSD, five doors and only 1200 Kg)

Seat Leon Cupra (5 door, LSD, but pretty rare)

M135 (RWD)

Leftfield would be a Subaru Hatch (up to 2012). But these have the 2.5L engine, which isn't one of their best...

Then cars which would probably make better daily drives, but worse track cars, Like a Golf GTI, Focus ST, Or Alfa Guiletta Cloverleaf. With these the risk is that I spend time and money making them better on track and then make them worse daily cars.

Then there is always the risk of blowing up/crashing the daily, which so far I've not really considered.
For the purists, they're all too heavy for a proper track car.

[popeyewhite]

Out of your list I'd go for the Leon. Cheapest and most fun, easy to tune.

[Brett748]

The answer is the Megane, they are unreal on track.

[Heathwood]

I can’t help feeling that the RS 250 cup with a few tweaks would have been perfect. Any reason why you got rid?

[Derek182]

I had a bad experience with a local Renaultsport specialist.
Second trackday I did it suffered from brake judder, took it back to him expecting to need new discs and better pads, perfectly happy to pay for this but he said it was just "pad transfer", cleaned up the discs and sent me on my way.
Next trackday had bad judder from the start of the day, tried to persevere having spent the money for the day but it got so bad it fractured a turbo cooling pipe, got it back to him and he again insisted there was nothing wrong with the discs but by now it was noticeable on the road so I took it to the local garage who I use for my other cars, they did a proper job, took the discs off, measured them, clearly warped.
Had them fit new discs but by now I was so pi$$ed of with the car that I sold it!

[Cambs_Stuart]

The issue I've got with the megane and the VXR is that the rear seats are dark and cramped, which is not good when driving children around.

[hunt123]

Derek182 said:

I've done quite a few trackdays over a lot of years in a TVR, a Caterham, several Westfields, every variety of Clio and a Megane RS250 Cup.
Before I finally give up and lease an electric car I have a budget of around £15k, maybe a little more, to buy a really quick daily/occasional track car.
I'm thinking of a BMW M135i/M140i, Mercedes A45, Audi RS/S3, Golf R or Seat Leon Cupra?
Not looking to modify them other than the usual uprated brake fluid and pads, definitely not running semi slicks and I've never been accused of being quick so shouldn't be too hard on the car.
I know something lighter may be more fun and cheaper to run but it's a type of car I've never owned and I like the idea of one.
Or is the answer a Megane 275 Cup?

OP 15k wouldn't buy a good Merc A45 or RS3. I'd go for the Golf R, in fact i did very recently, after weighing up several options I bought a good example for £15k. Not tracked it although i think it'd be good on track as it's got good pace. A rwd BMW would be more fun on track.

[Xcore]

10k m135i with the rest of the 5k on a baffled sump and an lsd

[Glenn63]

Iv an M140, great engine and rear wheel drive but standard suspension no good for track, standard brakes be gone after 3 laps. If you could find a cheap one leaving a few quid for some light mods they can be very quick.

[e46m3c]

I’m in a similar boat at the min. Want to spend about 10-15k on a car which can do some trackdays but I also have some desire to drive on the road.

Right now I’m thinking 987 boxster or cayman due to the light weight. I’ve also been considering m140 but unless the practicality is required they don’t really seem fit for purpose of joyride / trackday.

An Elise would be good but stretching the budget and worries 150bhp would feel slow. I also like to slide the tail around so probably not appropriate for that?

Z4m roadster seems about the best bank for buck these days but I just sold mine as 700 to tax started to get annoying.

[Cambs_Stuart]

Anyone considered a fast mini?

[popeyewhite]

hunt123 said:

Derek182 said:

I've done quite a few trackdays over a lot of years in a TVR, a Caterham, several Westfields, every variety of Clio and a Megane RS250 Cup.
Before I finally give up and lease an electric car I have a budget of around £15k, maybe a little more, to buy a really quick daily/occasional track car.
I'm thinking of a BMW M135i/M140i, Mercedes A45, Audi RS/S3, Golf R or Seat Leon Cupra?
Not looking to modify them other than the usual uprated brake fluid and pads, definitely not running semi slicks and I've never been accused of being quick so shouldn't be too hard on the car.
I know something lighter may be more fun and cheaper to run but it's a type of car I've never owned and I like the idea of one.
Or is the answer a Megane 275 Cup?

OP 15k wouldn't buy a good Merc A45 or RS3. I'd go for the Golf R, in fact i did very recently, after weighing up several options I bought a good example for £15k. Not tracked it although i think it'd be good on track as it's got good pace. A rwd BMW would be more fun on track.

The Golf r will handle better and be quicker. they really are very good. But so is the Cupra and they're very capable in standard trim, and more fun IMO.

[paradigital]

S3 is better in saloon form. Stiffer chassis, wider track, magnetic suspension as standard.

Sod the hatch.

[Derek182]

I keep coming back to an M135i, if I could find one already fitted with LSD, baffled sump, charge pipes, decent suspension and brakes I'd buy it.
But most seem to have one or two of those and a noisy remap which is bottom of my list of must haves!

[rawenghey]

Out of the FF hatches, I'd go some form of Renaultsport Megane. They're so fking fast on track.

However, out of the list you posted, I'd go M135i/M140i with a few upgrades due to the rear wheel drive. It just adds another layer to the driving experience.

[SpudLink]

hunt123 said:

Derek182 said:

I've done quite a few trackdays over a lot of years in a TVR, a Caterham, several Westfields, every variety of Clio and a Megane RS250 Cup.
Before I finally give up and lease an electric car I have a budget of around £15k, maybe a little more, to buy a really quick daily/occasional track car.
I'm thinking of a BMW M135i/M140i, Mercedes A45, Audi RS/S3, Golf R or Seat Leon Cupra?
Not looking to modify them other than the usual uprated brake fluid and pads, definitely not running semi slicks and I've never been accused of being quick so shouldn't be too hard on the car.
I know something lighter may be more fun and cheaper to run but it's a type of car I've never owned and I like the idea of one.
Or is the answer a Megane 275 Cup?

OP 15k wouldn't buy a good Merc A45 or RS3. I'd go for the Golf R, in fact i did very recently, after weighing up several options I bought a good example for £15k. Not tracked it although i think it'd be good on track as it's got good pace. A rwd BMW would be more fun on track.

The cars in bold are all fast road cars, but almost never see them on a trackday. Not sure why.

[Crudeoink]

e46m3c said:

I’m in a similar boat at the min. Want to spend about 10-15k on a car which can do some trackdays but I also have some desire to drive on the road.

Right now I’m thinking 987 boxster or cayman due to the light weight. I’ve also been considering m140 but unless the practicality is required they don’t really seem fit for purpose of joyride / trackday.

An Elise would be good but stretching the budget and worries 150bhp would feel slow. I also like to slide the tail around so probably not appropriate for that?

Z4m roadster seems about the best bank for buck these days but I just sold mine as 700 to tax started to get annoying.

I've noticed a lot of porsches at trackdays as they really do hold up to track driving very well, just top off the fluids, take the wear sensors out the pads and go for it. My Boxster S has no issue keeping up with some serious machinery and is often one of the quickest cars on track if its wet. Would thoroughly recommend!

[blue al]

Cambs_Stuart said:

Anyone considered a fast mini?

Yep 1250 kg turbo with full fat interior will get 250bhp or more for little outlay. Can corner and stop quickly
Will loose a little to a hyper hatch on a power circuit, but nimble enough to keep up on the twisty ones
Jcw will run a lower compression pistons.

The r53 will be much cheaper and more fun, but also leggier and slower if that matters to you.

[dunc_sx]

Crudeoink said:

e46m3c said:

I’m in a similar boat at the min. Want to spend about 10-15k on a car which can do some trackdays but I also have some desire to drive on the road.

Right now I’m thinking 987 boxster or cayman due to the light weight. I’ve also been considering m140 but unless the practicality is required they don’t really seem fit for purpose of joyride / trackday.

An Elise would be good but stretching the budget and worries 150bhp would feel slow. I also like to slide the tail around so probably not appropriate for that?

Z4m roadster seems about the best bank for buck these days but I just sold mine as 700 to tax started to get annoying.

I've noticed a lot of porsches at trackdays as they really do hold up to track driving very well, just top off the fluids, take the wear sensors out the pads and go for it. My Boxster S has no issue keeping up with some serious machinery and is often one of the quickest cars on track if its wet. Would thoroughly recommend!

I've used both Cayman and Exige (s2) on track and they are both OK, I ultimately chose Cayman (and bought another) as the difference on track wasn't enough to overcome the lack of creature comforts on the road.

Caymans do need some work to be track worthy as with most road cars but as stated you'll keep up with some semi decent machinery if you know how to pedal plus they are very forgiving and easy to drive

Dunc.