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Which cheap hot hatch for trackdays ?
sonic - 7/3/11 at 10:17 PM

Hi all

Toying with the idea of a trackday car,must be road legal so i can drive it to and from the track and won't be a daily driver.

So far i was thinking of one of the list below and wondered what you guys would think the best for messing with and future tuning handling mods etc.

Pug 205 1.9 GTI (all ready had one and fancy abit more modern)

Pug 206 GTI

Pug 306 GTI 6

Clio sport

MG ZR

Saxo VTR

Any other suggestions would be great,the car wants to be as cheap as possible say circa a grand so i can spend the rest on tuning roll cage etc etc.

Thanks

norfolkluego - 7/3/11 at 10:23 PM

205 every time I would have thought, Clio is a good second choice

austin man - 7/3/11 at 10:30 PM

Saxo VTS and VTR can be had for not much money

pekwah1 - 7/3/11 at 10:38 PM

mk1 or mk2 golf.
have you considered a mk1 mr2?

austin man - 7/3/11 at 10:39 PM

MK4 golf 1.8 turbo with a remap

Omni - 7/3/11 at 10:42 PM

Clio 172 :-)

woolly - 7/3/11 at 10:43 PM

puma, love ours

sonic - 7/3/11 at 10:49 PM

Thanks for the replies

Don't like the MR2 to be honest and having had a couple of GT4 Celica's they are great cars but parts are very expensive when they go wrong.

Clio 172 good choice but i would struggle to buy one for circa a grand even at trade money

Golf turbo again to much money before you start tuning caging etc.

Saxo VTR would be ok as they can be bought for peanuts but how tunable are they?

There seams to be a few 206 gti 140 bhp cars about cheap,i was thinking strip it out inside two bucket seats and a cage then sort the suspension and brakes which sould make a nippy car and them start tuning the engine.

Any thoughts welcome

loggyboy - 7/3/11 at 10:52 PM

If i had 1k to spend on a trackcar it would be a Redtop'd Nova.
If it had to be standard it would be a 106 GTI or Saxo VTS.

Omni - 7/3/11 at 10:56 PM

Hi,

I have seen 172's at a Grand quite a few times. Saw one only last week

Can get cheaper ones looking for CAT C or D's too

O

Omni - 7/3/11 at 11:01 PM

If your looking to tune anyway then £800 for this! 2000 RENAULT CLIO SPORT 172 SILVER FOR REPAIR on eBay (end time 08-Mar-11 15:43:21 GMT)

Needs a newhead.

O

MK9R - 7/3/11 at 11:13 PM

Easy, what dominates the hot hatch series, saxo and 106, leaves the 205's , xr2's and novas for dust

loggyboy - 7/3/11 at 11:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MK9R
Easy, what dominates the hot hatch series, saxo and 106, leaves the 205's , xr2's and novas for dust


Engines are a large factor in that, the 106s n Saxos have modern, tuneable engines. Stick a redtop in a nova (i built mine for £500) and u'l go faster than any £1000 pug/saxo.

blakep82 - 7/3/11 at 11:38 PM

front wheel drive, bleugh

why not mx5s or something? there must be some decent rwd cars for that price too?

Simon - 7/3/11 at 11:42 PM

Renault 5 GT turbo, always far far quicker than any Pug

ATB

Simon

sonic - 7/3/11 at 11:50 PM

What about a 206 done up as a rally car,wrc body kit etc part seam cheap for suspension etc

Steve Hignett - 8/3/11 at 12:23 AM

Porsche 944
BMW e36 323 upwards
MX5
Golf MK3 V6
Clio 172
Sack (et al)

Oh what I would do for a track car and the money to do track days!

Hope my choices make sense...

franky - 8/3/11 at 07:45 AM

bmw 328I, RWD, easy 220bhp, you can fit a LSD and loads of cheap parts/spares around.

FASTdan - 8/3/11 at 07:49 AM

XR2 + 2.0 Zetec dead easy to do, and XR2's are the bestest. Cheap classic ins too unlike your more modern ones.

944 is a good one though, something bit different and I should think once stripped even the 155bhp 2.5 will be pretty entertaining. Great handling too. Or a 924S (same engine).

whitestu - 8/3/11 at 08:20 AM

What about a Citroen Xsara VTS? Dead cheap and about 170 bhp.

Stu

TimC - 8/3/11 at 08:34 AM

309 is a better handling car than it's 205 sibling...

loggyboy - 8/3/11 at 10:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by FASTdan
XR2 + 2.0 Zetec dead easy to do, and XR2's are the bestest.


I dont even know where to begin on how I suddered at the above!! lol

Ive had a few mk1/2 festas and I can honestly say they were nothing compared to a Nova for handling or bolt on power. Pug 205 Mi16 is a fairer comparison due to the slightly better chassis, but the engine is not as good as the redtop.

nick205 - 8/3/11 at 11:00 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Simon
Renault 5 GT turbo, always far far quicker than any Pug

ATB

Simon



That they were (when they worked), but by god they were flimsy machines

ChrisW - 8/3/11 at 11:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
quote:
Originally posted by FASTdan
XR2 + 2.0 Zetec dead easy to do, and XR2's are the bestest.


I dont even know where to begin on how I suddered at the above!! lol

Ive had a few mk1/2 festas and I can honestly say they were nothing compared to a Nova for handling or bolt on power. Pug 205 Mi16 is a fairer comparison due to the slightly better chassis, but the engine is not as good as the redtop.


But the Nova says 'Vauxhall' on it, so that's out

XR2 Zetec for the win!!

Chris

loggyboy - 8/3/11 at 06:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ChrisW
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
quote:
Originally posted by FASTdan
XR2 + 2.0 Zetec dead easy to do, and XR2's are the bestest.


I dont even know where to begin on how I suddered at the above!! lol

Ive had a few mk1/2 festas and I can honestly say they were nothing compared to a Nova for handling or bolt on power. Pug 205 Mi16 is a fairer comparison due to the slightly better chassis, but the engine is not as good as the redtop.


But the Nova says 'Vauxhall' on it, so that's out

XR2 Zetec for the win!!

Chris


Ive had more than my fair share of Vauxhalls and Fords, and I can quite happily say the stigma of Fords is just as bad if not worse than that of Vauxhalls. If I could buy a brand new GM engine to get my Striker on new reg as cheap as I did the zetec, trust me, I would be! That is the only reason ive stooped to the four letter swear word tha is Ford!!

morcus - 9/3/11 at 03:14 AM

944's are awesome, I'd get one as my everyday car If I wasn't terrified of what would happen when it broke.

van cleef - 9/3/11 at 07:08 PM

I second the 309 gti as i sold mine to make room in the garage for my Toniq r.

You can pick one up for half the price of a 205 and the bit's are interchageable i planed on putting a turbo engine in mine from a 406 but never got round to it .I still have the engine which i paid £150 for and 200 bhp + is achievable whith some cheap mods and i recon this could be done with a 1.5k budget,this includes buying the car.

Metro possibly with a K series vvc 160 bhp?

ian locostzx9rc2 - 9/3/11 at 08:35 PM

I have a R reg seat ibiza gti for trackdays at present which i share with my son had lots of fun last year .
First outing this year is abingdon airfield 15th april with motorsport events. Dirt cheap bullet proof and cheap to run and always over looked .
Ideal first trackday car...

johny p - 9/3/11 at 08:47 PM

I used to have a nova gsi and loved it for track days, very tunable and very cheap....

sonic - 9/3/11 at 08:51 PM

Thanks for all the replies guy's

Plenty to think about but still have not made my mind up.

Gordy - 9/3/11 at 08:53 PM

Puma is a great little car, or a corrado 16v.

britishtrident - 9/3/11 at 09:28 PM

Anything RWD every time.

MikeRJ - 9/3/11 at 09:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy

Pug 205 Mi16 is a fairer comparison due to the slightly better chassis, but the engine is not as good as the redtop.


Except it's about half the weight!

Pug 206 is worth avoiding IMO, not particularly quick and feels like a jelly compared to a 205 GTi. 306 GTi is a nice car though.

I would avoid a Mk2 MR2 if you want to press on, they aren't the easiest cars to control on the limit and they don't handle particularly well in standard form anyway. A Mk1 would be better, but most of them are rusty dogs. If you want front engined/RWD then you are probably going to be limited to an MX5 or an old BMW/Merc etc. for your budget.

The MG ZR is ok, but the ZS is the better handling car. If you don't mind a bit of spanner twirling it's not a particularly difficult job to fit the 2.0 T-series turbo engine to either car.

loggyboy - 9/3/11 at 10:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy

Pug 205 Mi16 is a fairer comparison due to the slightly better chassis, but the engine is not as good as the redtop.


Except it's about half the weight!



Pretty sure they both weight about 130kg, even if the pug is all ally. If you really wanted to beat anyone using an Mi16, you would just have to go round a few tight bends till the mi16 died of oil starvation!

ChrisW - 10/3/11 at 12:07 AM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
The MG ZR is ok, but the ZS is the better handling car. If you don't mind a bit of spanner twirling it's not a particularly difficult job to fit the 2.0 T-series turbo engine to either car.


I know where there is a cheap ZS available. It needs an engine thought. I was going to convert it to T16 for him, but the guy is so indecisive I've given up.

Chris

big_wasa - 10/3/11 at 08:01 AM

Ive got a zs 180 And the prices are really taking a dive with petrol prices ect You can get an 02 with plenty of mot for a grand or less.

Filter and exhaust will get you near 200bhp and they really do handle.

loggyboy - 10/3/11 at 10:18 AM

arent the zs' quite heavy? circa 1200kg?

MikeRJ - 10/3/11 at 11:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Pretty sure they both weight about 130kg, even if the pug is all ally. If you really wanted to beat anyone using an Mi16, you would just have to go round a few tight bends till the mi16 died of oil starvation!


Having attempted to lift both I can assure you the Mi16 is much lighter, my wife could probably lift one without breaking a sweat. In fact you can easily lift the bare block with one hand held at arms length. The 20XE is a really hefty lump of metal, certainly weighs a fair bit more than a Zetec E.

Oil starvation is certainly a problem on them in standard form, but with a dry sump conversion they are excellent engines.

PAUL FISHER - 10/3/11 at 12:13 PM

Its got to be the Clio for me, I loved mine, cheap to buy and run, and great fun


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJz2efnfBlA&feature=channel_video_title

and


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNvy37kooEs&feature=channel_video_title

[Edited on 19/05/04 by PAUL FISHER]

jenz - 10/3/11 at 04:05 PM

Why not look for a HONDA CIVIC ?

You can get the old shape on about an L 1994 reg british car called the VTI, it has 1.6 b16 vtec and 8500 rev band, with a standard 160bhp, filter & pipe will see you up to 180bhp! top speed will make 150mph, only 850 kg you do the maths!

I owned one and used to go through a vts saxo, clio 182, new type R etc! even wrx subs have fallen to my old civic! Some will say this is bull shit, i would say ask any one who has owned one!

The SIR is much the same but comes in from japan and costs more!

b16mts - 10/3/11 at 04:27 PM

just read through this thinking - honda civic, honda civic, honda civic. only to find the last post beat me to it!!

2000 civic 1.8 vti 169bhp and japanese, so shouldnt go pop, less than £1000 for a road legal sub 100k car.

sounds good to me.

though in all honesty i would really fancy a trackday with RWD, so second the MX5 idea,

or maybe on old nissan skyline gtst 240bhp single turbo RWD could be within budget.

200sx?

I love jap cars!

skydivepaul - 11/3/11 at 12:08 AM

pug 205
mi16 engine with hot cams
309 rear beam and suspension
full race front suspension

strip it out and you can have a sub 800KG car with 200+ BHP on throttle bodies or 45 webers

tremendous fun

will eat scoobies and exotic machinery at track days...............oh and you can drive them like a hooligan and they dont bite back

jenz - 11/3/11 at 07:49 AM

All the above for less than a grand, i luv what you are saying but you carnt buy a decent standard 205 1.9 gti for less than 2k! If you can find one then send me the details and i will come with the cash!

I will admit that given the cash and the 205 spec above i would go down that road as i have owned 1 years back and have always wanted an other!

skydivepaul - 11/3/11 at 09:34 AM

quote:
Originally posted by jenz
All the above for less than a grand, i luv what you are saying but you carnt buy a decent standard 205 1.9 gti for less than 2k! If you can find one then send me the details and i will come with the cash!

I will admit that given the cash and the 205 spec above i would go down that road as i have owned 1 years back and have always wanted an other!


didnt know i had a 1K budget

ahhh as with all locost projects they go over initial budget

sonic - 11/3/11 at 08:53 PM

Some good info there guy's

I am not stuck on the £1000 budget.

As i am in the motor trade i could pick up what ever i decide to buy at trade money, but the idea was to buy it cheap in standard form and spend the money on tuning etc.

Plus if it was to nice i wouldn't track it in case it got wrecked!!

Thanks

Ninehigh - 12/3/11 at 01:06 PM

Toyota?

I also remember a tiny car with a 1 litre turbo engine, Daihatsu iirc... Was pretty damn quick

loggyboy - 12/3/11 at 01:16 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Toyota?

I also remember a tiny car with a 1 litre turbo engine, Daihatsu iirc... Was pretty damn quick

Daihatsu Charade GTTi - nippy but hardly a performance chassis.

[Edited on 12/3/11 by loggyboy]

Ninehigh - 13/3/11 at 08:55 AM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
Toyota?

I also remember a tiny car with a 1 litre turbo engine, Daihatsu iirc... Was pretty damn quick

Daihatsu Charade GTTi - nippy but hardly a performance chassis.

[Edited on 12/3/11 by loggyboy]


That's the one, reminds me of the cr@p car collection I'm building on GT5, foot to the floor all the way round because even after the tuning they have stuff all power but it works

Simon - 20/3/11 at 12:01 AM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
quote:
Originally posted by Simon
Renault 5 GT turbo, always far far quicker than any Pug

ATB

Simon



That they were (when they worked), but by god they were flimsy machines


Yeah, but that's why they were quicker

I had a week off between jobs in August '87 and drove RS Turbo Escort (crap), Toyota MR2, (booorrriing), 1.9 & 1.6 GTI 205's (nicely put together, but not that quick), Mazda 323 4x4 Turbo (excellent - got sideways on test drive on long sweeping left hander - saw salesman looking at me from corner of me eye, think he wondered how long he had to live ); Ren 5 GT Turbo (deffo best of the bunch).

Alternatively, a proper Mini with bike/Vauxhall (or why) engine swap

ATB

Simon

loggyboy - 20/3/11 at 12:10 AM

Might as well sugest this!!

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=152104

Craigman9 - 22/3/11 at 04:47 PM

I have just got rid of a clio 172. I know it's a Renault and can be prone to the off fault but for shear fun it was excellent. I would definitely recommend one

Craig

loggyboy - 22/3/11 at 09:51 PM

Funily enough ive just bought one of those (172) to replace the 16valver Ive just sold. Has had a Time belt failure so gonna rebuild it add get it ready for the rest of the seasons Solo's