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ideas for cheap track car
locoboy - 30/10/07 at 08:19 AM

I am looking for ideas for a cheap sub £1500 track car, preferably with a bit of tax and test but not essential.

Any ideas welcome.

I have 205 GTi stuck in my head at the moment and cant get past it!

Cheers


Gergely - 30/10/07 at 08:28 AM

I would have suggested 205 GTI as well. I have bee on my first track day two weeks ago and these things just fly around the circuit. They are very fast indeed. After seeing them I thought about buying one myself, but to be honest I need all money to be able to buy my MNR next year...

Just rip everything out of the car, put in a bucket seat, proper harness, sticky tires and off you go.

Gergely


Andybarbet - 30/10/07 at 08:32 AM

I keep getting a hankering for a 205 GTi, never had one but they still look great and handle very well too, what about a SEAT ibiza or something like it ? i drive a 2.0i Cordoba Coupe, Its a polo floor pan with a Golf GTi engine, handles well, pulls really well and you can probably get a good one for below a grand now, mines quite a rare car but the Ibiza is more plentiful and slightly shorter tail so improved handling, not sure if they did a 2.0 litre tho but definately did a 1.8 turbo........a mate has one and its quick !

Worth a look as 205's are keeping good prices now as they are classics.

Here's one : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-SEAT-IBIZA-GTI-CUPRA-SPORT-RED_W0QQitemZ220165124590QQihZ012QQcategoryZ18270QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Turns out that they do a 1.8 turbo (Cupra) or a 2.0litre (GTi) .....

[Edited on 30/10/07 by Andybarbet]


whitestu - 30/10/07 at 08:42 AM

Alfa 33 16V

Lovely engines. I had a 309GTI and the Alfa was miles quicker. They handle well too.

You might struggle to find a good one now though.

Stu


donut - 30/10/07 at 09:05 AM

How about a Citroen BX Yes really!! Believe it or not a mate of a mate has one and it does really well in it's class at circuit racing and wins on the odd occasion beating cars you would expect to wee over it.


twybrow - 30/10/07 at 09:07 AM

Another vote for 205 gti. I had one, bought for £60. It flew around the track, keeping up with Impreza and all sorts. Plus, it was easy to work on, and cheap parts. They are really hard to beat.


Duncan_P - 30/10/07 at 09:14 AM

PPC have got an article on cheap track day cars this month. The cars they feature are :-

BMW 318
Sieria Xr4x4
MR2
205 GTI
Rover 118

All those seem like reasonable choices, might be worth popping down to your locals WH Smiths and grabbing a copy.

Personally i would add 200sx to the above list if you want something turbo rwd.

ETA: oops PPC also suggested Alfa 75

[Edited on 30/10/07 by Duncan_P]


kendo - 30/10/07 at 09:45 AM

MX5. Loads on ebay sub £1000 some with suspension mods etc.


TimC - 30/10/07 at 10:24 AM

309 GTI - the informed (if ugly) choice!


Omni - 30/10/07 at 10:43 AM

NTTDWM

Fleabay 205 GTI

HTH

O


Humbug - 30/10/07 at 10:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by donut
How about a Citroen BX Yes really!! Believe it or not a mate of a mate has one and it does really well in it's class at circuit racing and wins on the odd occasion beating cars you would expect to wee over it.


I can just about believe that... if the track is fairly smooth, just let the suspension down so a) it won't roll and b) you might get some ground effect as it will be much closer to the track. I used to have one and every now and then I would let the suspension down on the motorway for a laugh. The other trick is at a long red traffic light, pump it up to max, then drop to the bottom. One end goes first, so it looks a bit like one of those yank jobs with the programmed shocks at each corner... just a LOT slower LD


Omni - 30/10/07 at 10:46 AM

Another....

205 GTI

NTDWM

O


martyn_16v - 30/10/07 at 10:53 AM

mk2 Golf 16v


mike smith1 - 30/10/07 at 11:28 AM

I have a Rover Metro 114 Gta that you could turn into a 118, good project over the winter, good track car and its cheap!!



Mike


hobbsy - 30/10/07 at 11:48 AM

For sure

My mate had a black BX GTI 16v as it was well quick.

Plastic boot (and bonnet?) for lightweightness

V similar engine to the MI-16 in 405 etc but a a lighter car and can be bought for less.

Can you overide the suspension so you can drive it on its lowest setting?

quote:
Originally posted by Humbug
quote:
Originally posted by donut
How about a Citroen BX Yes really!! Believe it or not a mate of a mate has one and it does really well in it's class at circuit racing and wins on the odd occasion beating cars you would expect to wee over it.


I can just about believe that... if the track is fairly smooth, just let the suspension down so a) it won't roll and b) you might get some ground effect as it will be much closer to the track. I used to have one and every now and then I would let the suspension down on the motorway for a laugh. The other trick is at a long red traffic light, pump it up to max, then drop to the bottom. One end goes first, so it looks a bit like one of those yank jobs with the programmed shocks at each corner... just a LOT slower LD


speedyxjs - 30/10/07 at 01:31 PM

4 litre xj40
Xjs
Early Impreza
MX5

[Edited on 30-10-07 by speedyxjs]


damien - 30/10/07 at 02:34 PM

MMmmmm 205


Jon Ison - 30/10/07 at 02:58 PM

205 ?

This one will be available soon, lap record holder, well sorted, plenty of spares, defo no tax or mot though. Will be nearer £2k than £1.5k.

Interested ? Want more info ?












[Edited on 30/10/07 by Jon Ison]


scottc - 30/10/07 at 03:15 PM

Porsche 924 or 924 Turbo. Should easily be within your budget.


locoboy - 30/10/07 at 03:25 PM

pictures not showing Jon


locoboy - 30/10/07 at 03:30 PM

showing now, you have U2U