205 as a track car?
Discussion
Went to my first track day at Bedford on Saturday. Have always loved all things to do with cars and this proved to be no exception! I went as a guest with my mate's dad and his Porsche 968. The atmosphere was fantastic and I even got a ride in a rather quick Caterham R500 which was amazing. Quickest car there. I will have access to a day to day car when I need it and am thinking along the lines of a 1.9 GTI to use at such events. What are peoples thoughts on this? I work at a garage so maintaining it shouldn't be a problem and although 20, the insurance wasn't as bad as I thought. I want to try and get started so any ideas would be much appriciated! If not a 205 any other suggesstions would be great. Also any potential problems with a 205 or what to look out for....or indeed any other vehicle for that matter. Cheers.
>>> Edited by dougie_wh on Wednesday 3rd March 16:29
>>> Edited by dougie_wh on Wednesday 3rd March 16:29
The first decision you need to make is fwd or rwd.
if FWD then the 205 or the 309 gti is an excellent choice, with plenty of parts available.
IF rwd then somthing like a sierra or an old BMW are you best bet as they are cheap and parts are avialble to tune them.
Avoid anything obscure as parts both for repairs and tunning will be difficult.
at anglesey there was even a Rover mini cooper pounding around with the porker gt3....
if FWD then the 205 or the 309 gti is an excellent choice, with plenty of parts available.
IF rwd then somthing like a sierra or an old BMW are you best bet as they are cheap and parts are avialble to tune them.
Avoid anything obscure as parts both for repairs and tunning will be difficult.
at anglesey there was even a Rover mini cooper pounding around with the porker gt3....
Frankly, based on what you've said so far I don't think there is a better car for you.
Personally I would'nt worry about it being 1.6 or 1.9 because over time you can turn it what ever you want. Just get the best example of a 205GTi you can find for your budget, make sure all the important stuff is working in tip top shape....Brakes, suspension, Drive shafts and engine and of you go. Join the Pug 205 owners clubs and web sites and you'll soon have a car that does what you want without costing the earth.
Enjoy.
Personally I would'nt worry about it being 1.6 or 1.9 because over time you can turn it what ever you want. Just get the best example of a 205GTi you can find for your budget, make sure all the important stuff is working in tip top shape....Brakes, suspension, Drive shafts and engine and of you go. Join the Pug 205 owners clubs and web sites and you'll soon have a car that does what you want without costing the earth.
Enjoy.
*cough* get an e30 318is or 325 sport *cough*
I know i always suggest this but:
318is - 137bhp
325 sport - 170bhp
Both rear wheel drive and very chuckable!
Strip them out - probably loads and loads of excess weight and i think you'd have a proper tool.
Both easily tuned - i know the 318is can make 170 with just a few modifications. Dont know about the 325.
Plenty of breakers about for spares.
Do it, do it now!
I know i always suggest this but:
318is - 137bhp
325 sport - 170bhp
Both rear wheel drive and very chuckable!
Strip them out - probably loads and loads of excess weight and i think you'd have a proper tool.
Both easily tuned - i know the 318is can make 170 with just a few modifications. Dont know about the 325.
Plenty of breakers about for spares.
Do it, do it now!
I think a 205 would make an excellent track car (but then I'm biased as I drive one on the road). There are loads of them about and parts are plentiful and cheap. They are even one of the few FWD cars that you can practice serious oversteer in (albeit the lift-off variety!!)
In the end I don't think it would really matter what car you got - as long as you get out there and enjoy it!
In the end I don't think it would really matter what car you got - as long as you get out there and enjoy it!
I can vouch for a 205 gti 1.9 - I had one for 4 years and it was brilliant. (Didin't use it at the track when I had it though).
They handle brilliantly.
Don't piss about with the exhaust (ie don't buy a fat one) - the stock item is excellent - Peugeot did an excellent job at tuning the intake and exhaust. If you have to buy a grp A or N exhaust.
Alot of 1.9 owners swap their 1.9 gearboxes for the ones on the 1.6 (it's shorter geared and what you lose slightly in top speed more than make up for in acceleration).
There are loads of Pug fanatics on here so I'm sure if you post in the Pug forum you'll receive lots of good advice.
I don't mean to blaspheme but have you considered a Nova. Stop! Don't turn the PC off. I was at Croft for the RallyCross at the weekend and a Nova (a very well sorted Nova admitedly) won.
Again - cheap (cheaper than a 205) to buy, plenty of parts, easy to look after, bullet proof and if tuned correctly go like stink.
And you'd piss a lot of people off in more expensive machinery especially if you kept the orginal 'Spin' paintwork!
They handle brilliantly.
Don't piss about with the exhaust (ie don't buy a fat one) - the stock item is excellent - Peugeot did an excellent job at tuning the intake and exhaust. If you have to buy a grp A or N exhaust.
Alot of 1.9 owners swap their 1.9 gearboxes for the ones on the 1.6 (it's shorter geared and what you lose slightly in top speed more than make up for in acceleration).
There are loads of Pug fanatics on here so I'm sure if you post in the Pug forum you'll receive lots of good advice.
I don't mean to blaspheme but have you considered a Nova. Stop! Don't turn the PC off. I was at Croft for the RallyCross at the weekend and a Nova (a very well sorted Nova admitedly) won.
Again - cheap (cheaper than a 205) to buy, plenty of parts, easy to look after, bullet proof and if tuned correctly go like stink.
And you'd piss a lot of people off in more expensive machinery especially if you kept the orginal 'Spin' paintwork!
Cheers for the replies! Definately fed my enthusiasm! The 205 seems the way to go - you seem to be able to pick them up fairly cheap, insurance found to be around £900 which I didn't think was too bad considering I have never had a policy in my own name due to being on the garage's policy. What about track day insurance...is it essential? How much? Can you do it at an event by event basis - I don't fancy having nothing and hitting someone in an expensive piece of machinery!
Re the insurance, how old are you? I am paying just under £400 TPFT on a car valued at £1200 at 23. There are some special schemes through the Peugeot Sport Club and the Peugeot Gti Autosport Club which can give decent discounts through companies such as Adrian Flux
www.psooc.com
www.pgac.co.uk
www.psooc.com
www.pgac.co.uk
could always have a cheap stripped out second car with a bit more grunt than a 205 for the track with a cheap trailer & no insurance. then run a small boring reliable car for daily use. this is the best compromise, the track car can use up worn road tyres at £10 a set from your local tyre place -- if it breaks down you can still get to work!!
paul
paul
You don't pay if you hit someone elses car. On track days you're responsible for damage to your own car however its caused. i.e. you hit armco, you pay. Someone hits you, you still pay for the damage to your car. To that end I keep out of other peoples way as much as possible. How far away I am depends on how I judge the other persons driving!!
Washy
Washy
washy said:
You don't pay if you hit someone elses car. On track days you're responsible for damage to your own car however its caused.
They'd be pretty annoyed tho!?!
I'm just trying to find out the legalities of it. I'm not worried bout the car I buy, the ferraris, porsches etc concern me - expensive kit!
>> Edited by dougie_wh on Friday 5th March 11:50
have a look at rwd cars too if you can.
At bedford a fwd car can be pretty dull at there are some fast corners. Every fwd car Ive seen there gets shat on because they understeer horribly through them.
205 would be great on a twisty little track....consider Brands indy or Bassinbourne airfield.
But I think that if you want to improve your driving skills in the long run, a rwd is the best option.
At bedford a fwd car can be pretty dull at there are some fast corners. Every fwd car Ive seen there gets shat on because they understeer horribly through them.
205 would be great on a twisty little track....consider Brands indy or Bassinbourne airfield.
But I think that if you want to improve your driving skills in the long run, a rwd is the best option.
RWD an option - you can pick up old 3 series BM's pretty cheap. If trailered it about insurance wouldn't be a problem either! Bedford better for me as live in Kettering (30mins from Autodrome) and as I know legaleagleboy can go with him in the mean time!!!
Washy, notice you once owned a 309 GTi, what was that like?
>> Edited by dougie_wh on Friday 5th March 18:45
Washy, notice you once owned a 309 GTi, what was that like?
>> Edited by dougie_wh on Friday 5th March 18:45
309 GTI was awesome. Glad you raised the point. Get a 309! The handling is more neutral for starters. It only weighs 50Kg more than a 205 too. My 309 made a good 160bhp on a Longman engine. Used to take great pleasure in overtakinng 205's at full chat! Also I had bilstein shocks and eibach front springs. Seriously, as a track day tool I reckon the 309 is the way to go. The 205 has killer lift off oversteer. The 309 doesn't suffer from this to anything like the same extent. Whilst a rear drive car would probably be better a 309 has to be the next best thing. Understeer is nowhere near as big a problem as it is in other front drive hatches. If you can mod the front end to give you some negative camber you'll be laughing.
Happy to help you out if you go the Pug route. I never forgot all the stuff I learn't about those things back in the day
Washy
Happy to help you out if you go the Pug route. I never forgot all the stuff I learn't about those things back in the day
Washy
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