HELP PLEASE!! Track day car for the novice???
Discussion
this has been done a thousand million times before but as you are new you are forgiven!! from your profile you already have the car for the job so to speak. what could be more fun than a 205GTI 
just buy some sticky yokos for the 205 and go for it! on the few occasions i have taken mine onto the track i have loved every minute of it. there are a lot of "frontophobics" here, those who detest fwd cars but i dont think they have ever driven a well sorted fwd car such as an early golf gti or a 205gti, just take their comments with a smile!
if you are after something different and under 2K i would go for a capri or something similar purely for some cheap rwd fun as it might make a nice alternative from the 205
just buy some sticky yokos for the 205 and go for it! on the few occasions i have taken mine onto the track i have loved every minute of it. there are a lot of "frontophobics" here, those who detest fwd cars but i dont think they have ever driven a well sorted fwd car such as an early golf gti or a 205gti, just take their comments with a smile!
if you are after something different and under 2K i would go for a capri or something similar purely for some cheap rwd fun as it might make a nice alternative from the 205
Did this myself last year, can't recommend a MK1 MR2 enough. Paid £1100 for it, G reg with 87k, used it on track a few times and 10k road miles, nothing went wrong with it and sold it for £1750....perfect
Only regret was that I sold it! The reason they are so fun on track is:
1.Rear drive
2.Rear Engine
3.Designed by Lotus for Toyota under a confidential agreement
4.Very netrual balance (fuel tank located between driver and passenger to help this)
5.High Reving engine (7800rpm redline)
6.Superb short throw gear box
7.Non assisted steering
8.No ABS
9.No need to upgrade anything (even pads)
10.925 kgs and 122bhp
11.Not to stiffly sprung so progressive handling
things to watch are:-
1.If your over 6 foot you will struggle to fit with a helmet on (verytight headroom)
2.Understeer badly in the wet
My MR2 kept with most road cars around the slower corners and there is a big following for the earlier mk so lots of forums and upgrades if you feel the need.
Drop me a line if you are interested in some buying advise
Best of luck with whatever you choose
Only regret was that I sold it! The reason they are so fun on track is:
1.Rear drive
2.Rear Engine
3.Designed by Lotus for Toyota under a confidential agreement
4.Very netrual balance (fuel tank located between driver and passenger to help this)
5.High Reving engine (7800rpm redline)
6.Superb short throw gear box
7.Non assisted steering
8.No ABS
9.No need to upgrade anything (even pads)
10.925 kgs and 122bhp
11.Not to stiffly sprung so progressive handling
things to watch are:-
1.If your over 6 foot you will struggle to fit with a helmet on (verytight headroom)
2.Understeer badly in the wet
My MR2 kept with most road cars around the slower corners and there is a big following for the earlier mk so lots of forums and upgrades if you feel the need.
Drop me a line if you are interested in some buying advise
Best of luck with whatever you choose
How about this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2451510350&category=2192
No way is this car ever going to be worth restoring properly, but... Strip out the plush leather interior, aircon etc and sell them (recovering the cost of buying the car), weld up the rusty bits, paint it matt black, fit some sticky tyres and there you have it. A thoroughbred Italian trackday exotic for less than a grand.
Mmmm... I'm SO tempted. Shame I don't have anywhere to work on it.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2451510350&category=2192
No way is this car ever going to be worth restoring properly, but... Strip out the plush leather interior, aircon etc and sell them (recovering the cost of buying the car), weld up the rusty bits, paint it matt black, fit some sticky tyres and there you have it. A thoroughbred Italian trackday exotic for less than a grand.
Mmmm... I'm SO tempted. Shame I don't have anywhere to work on it.
bangernomics said:
How about this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2451510350&category=2192
Oh my god, don't bother with that one!, they are not very fast even when they do go which is not very often.
Get something Japanese to start with at least you won't have to worry about the car.
I apologise if this is a stupid question but....
Are there any regs regarding the condition of the cars used for track days? I ask because several posts relate to buying a car and stripping it out etc, but surely there must be some form of control in order to prevent dangerous vehicles being on track.
Is there any scrutineering apart from db levels?
Pete
Are there any regs regarding the condition of the cars used for track days? I ask because several posts relate to buying a car and stripping it out etc, but surely there must be some form of control in order to prevent dangerous vehicles being on track.
Is there any scrutineering apart from db levels?
Pete
Nope. But I guess common sense prevails. If it's not going to pass an MOT are you really going to take it out on track? Given the decision, I'm sure any sensible organiser is going to tell you to piss off if it looks dangerous, or if you cause more than a single red flag due to break down.
JakeR said:
Dontlift, are they reasonable money to run then? I had thought about one, but I too was put off by stories of big bi££s...
Cheap as chips.
On a lux I have even managed to get a Spanking new Cup Spec race engine FITTED!!!! for 1.5k
And they handle like a dream - just dont get a turbo as then the big bills will start
dannylt said:
If it's not going to pass an MOT are you really going to take it out on track?
YES!, i know a number of track cars which are fine but would not pass an MOT - lack of lights etc.
Your best bet would be to grab a copy of the MSA Blue Book - guidelines etc and ensure it is compliant
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