Sprint/hillclimb car for the Mrs

[ChevronB19]

Looking for the above basically. It would be used solely for this purpose. My race car is too ‘extreme’ for her, so she wants ‘fast road/light race’ spec. Roll cages etc not necessary, so not a fully prepared car, a road car would do.

She has experience in hillclimbs in NI, and having seen the times she is quick as hell, but she doesn’t want to do it ‘seriously’.

Thoughts on car? I was thinking Clio 172/182 (although all her experience is in RWD classics), Mk1/2 MX5 (she currently drives a new RF) or an RX8?

Budget maybe up to about 3k, and it would have to live outside.

[LordHaveMurci]

Clio is a great car but in the SW it’s just not competitive due to the class structure.

MX5’s are very popular, I’m sure there are a lot of reasons for that but it does make the class very competitive.

[Trev450]

Civic Type R's can be picked up within your budget and come with a virtually bomb-proof engine.

[df76]

Safety would be my biggest factor. If no other safety kit is going in, make sure you have all the airbags (including side). Then, what’s the local road going class structure?

[andy97]

If she is used to RWD and MX5 what about a Mk3?

Tuneable Duratec.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Gregor Marshall]

ChevronB19 said:

Thoughts on car? I was thinking Clio 172/182 (although all her experience is in RWD classics), Mk1/2 MX5 (she currently drives a new RF) or an RX8?

Budget maybe up to about 3k, and it would have to live outside.

RX8 is a good car if you can get one with a looked after or re-conditioned engine. The only thing is you have to really rev it and 6 speed, so not great for hillclimbs and sometimes a bit alien to non-racecars or maybe I just mean my wife!!

[TroubledSoul]

Lots of Imprezas for that sort of money but that's usually an ultra competitive class... How about an MR2 Roadster if she fancies competing with the MX5s et al? In the hillclimb I compete, induction is free on road going, so you could always turbo it later if you wanted.

[Steeeve__]

In my area, (SW UK), classes are awkward for MX5's. Boundary A2 is 1400-1800cc and A3 is 1800-2600cc, so as the 1.8 MX5 is 1839cc, its plonked in the bottom of the 1800-2600cc class and very outclassed.
Anyway, I was in the same boat last year, similar budget and looking to enter the sport and looking at options. I needed a car to be my daily too due to lack of space at home so needed something usable or that too. I considered:

BMW 325
BMW Compact 325
BMW Mini Cooper S
Civic Type R
Clio 172/182
Twingo Sport 133
Suzuki Ignis Sport
Suzuki Swift Sport
Smart Roadster
My left field option would be a Seat Ibiza Cupra Diesel. They are very quick stock - had one in 2007 but hard to find now.

Ended up going with a Civic 1.8 Type S. 60hp down from a type R which is a 2L but was a class lower and more livable with as a daily. Type Rs are rock hard on normal roads. The Type S is fine, but was under no illusion it would be competitive.
I am upgrading this year, probably a mk1 S3, more grip higher torque and still fits in the 1800-2600cc group even with the 1.4x modifier for the turbo.

[Grayedout]

I'm looking for something similar with a bit of autotesting thrown in as well and I'm leaning towards a Mk3 MR2 and swapping the engine to the 180hp 2ZZ-GE whcih is a well known conversion.

[TroubledSoul]

Grayedout said:

I'm looking for something similar with a bit of autotesting thrown in as well and I'm leaning towards a Mk3 MR2 and swapping the engine to the 180hp 2ZZ-GE whcih is a well known conversion.

As an ardent MR2 enthusiast, I had similar ideas. However, where I compete, an engine swap like that would put you into Sports Libre, where you'd be one of the slowest competitors unfortunately. Always check the series regs before buying a car.