BHP/TON needed to make the nurburgring worth while

[(steven)]

What’s the minimum BHP/TON needed to make the nurburgring worth while? Now I know this is a massively subjective matter but here is the background to my question.
Last year I did my first ever laps of ‘The ring’. Due to various reasons I brought a cheap car specifically for the trip, in this case a rover 827 with around 180bhp and an auto-box. Despite hardly being the most suitable vehicle for the challenge it handled itself beautifully (a bit of a surprise really) and much fun was had by all.

Next year (2007) I’m thinking about doing this again, however this time I want to take a car with a manual gearbox. However, very cheap, manual, powerful cars which aren’t completely knackered are about as common as hens teeth. (The rover worked well because despite having a fair shove from 0-60 it was so unfashionable some people I knew refused to sit in it!). I know loads of people use old golf GTI’s but in general most of the £500 golf gti’s I’ve see are nothing short of death traps.

What can I really get away with in terms of power? If I lay my hands on an old 130bhp (0-60 9.5) mondeo am I going to be chugging up the hills at 75 MPH or have people tried this and still had a good laugh? I’m not looking to set any lap records but I don’t want to be so slow that it’s dangerous.

Any thoughts?

[spokey]

[quote=(steven)]I’m not looking to set any lap records but I don’t want to be so slow that it’s dangerous. [/quote]

Personally, I don't think there's any such thing. As long as your chosen car is fun to corner with, you'll be fine.

[stew-typeR]

any car you can get that is road worthy and 'safe' will be worthwhile. how fast you want to be going depends on your budget and type of car you want(fwd/4wd/rwd)

maybe something like a saxo vts, old bmw 325, astra sri, etc

[george 500]

You won't get one for £500 (well not one you'd want to drive anyway) but a couple of years ago I took the old midget round which is lucky if its wheezing out 60bhp and it was brilliant. Going to prove that its not speed that's the crucial element. Have also been round with the old man in his 1933 Railton which was a giggle
If you do go in something slow however remember to take a spotter so you avoid those loony motorcyclists!

Edited by george 500 on Wednesday 27th December 12:25

[gutmann pug]

My 205 has 126bhp and weighs 864kg. It chugs up kesselchen but then so does everything without big bhp.

The simple fact of the matter is no matter what car you have you will have a great time. Power isn't everything, nor is the circuit itself. It's everything which goes with it that makes for the full experience.....

I have been round in a few cars with less power than yours and laughed from start to finish, nuff said

Gary

[Guillotine]

alot of locals drive diesel golfs...and are very quick!

andy
tvrmonster.com

[thegreenhell]

My Alfa barely musters 100bhp per ton and can hit an indicated 97mph up Kesselchen, but for the rest of the lap, when you're revving the nuts off it and cornering on the door handles, it certainly doesn't feel in the least bit slow or boring. Given that most of the tourist lap is made up of twisty bits where outright power is less important, I'd be spending my limited budget on something that is fun to hustle in the corners if I were in your position. Any Jap or Eurobox with an engine of around two litres and that has some life left in the suspension and brakes should fit the bill.

[m bannon]

I'll put it to you this way, ,
I keep a 911 at the ring especially set uo for it by 'ring-racing'.,
have done more laps than I can count and even so ,
I have done it in an E class merc , vauxhall astra's etc which were just as much fun.
Fun is the main word, dont go there to drive fast untill you really know it, go to have a laugh.
The best advice I can give you is do lots of laps in a non powerful car, build up speed as the track changes dramatically as speed increases, minor bumps become something that can throw you into the amco.
Have fun...............
Ps. its a bug . the bloody ring.
Mark

[droptheclutch]

BHP/Ton is not important @ the 'ring - safety is!

I go there on a pretty regular basis and have been 'done' in the first few visits by the locals in their GTi Golfs with 140bhp(ish).

'They' say that (good) knowledge of the 'ring is worth 150bhp, and I am inclinded to agree.

IMOHO I'd suggest getting a 205/Golf/Ford, ripping it's heavy bits out, chuck in a couple of bucket seats and harnesses, get two helmets and away you go...

[theboyfold]

Pug 306 Rallye!! Born for the twisty stuff! Mine is going to be up for sale soon

[dynamix06]

any car that you enjoy driving - no need for power as such.

I know people that lap in mk2 golf's, pug 205 gti's, toyota avensis, as well as the usual scoobies and evos.

..... just drive it and drive it safely

[spokey]

droptheclutch said:

'They' say that (good) knowledge of the 'ring is worth 150bhp

Does that mean that gay people drive faster?

[combemarshal]

Get a Xantia Activa, 200 bhp for £30, just fit a boost controller as they run very low boost as standard (plus £500 for the car!) and show up most things out there!
I got 202 at the wheels, I was a tad surprised!

[V8 Archie]

steven said:

What’s the minimum BHP/TON needed to make the nurburgring worth while?... Any thoughts?

Sabine Schmitz in the transit on Top Gear last year would suggest that BHP/ton is immaterial. Personal experience (not on the 'ring) is that small underpowered cars can be huge fun too.

Edited by V8 Archie on Monday 1st January 16:36

[900T-R]

An acquintance of mine once took his wife's Kermit-green Renault Twingo (all of 58 hp) up the 'Ring for giggles, and surely embarrassed some of the big-bhp boys with it...

[smckeown]

My priority would be safety not bhp/per tonne. There are loads of ex racers or track prepped cars with cages/seats/harnesses for very little dosh. I think people get too carried away with power and forget drivers ability or fun factor of trying to squeeze every last ounce out of a given car.

Gary's story is a good example, my highly modified 205 costs many times more than his more of less standard one, but i'll never get around the ring as quick as he does.