mike16v

I have been wanting to get involved in track days and don't think the Golf would be up to much. I'd be looking to spend around £5k so that I had money spare to uprate brakes etc if required.

Anyone got any suggestions as to the sort of things to be looking into?

The car will be used as an everyday car too, so nothing too wild!

Cheers
Mike

rallycol

iTrader: (4)

WRX RA see for sale section!

catflap

westfield

Kev-G

Mike,

What makes you think that the Golf will not be upto much if you have never done a track day B4? I would suggest either trying the next Hot Hatch @ K'hill, or if you don't fancy being out with so many 'no brainers', then join the Aberdeen + District Motorsport Club (v. little cost) and attend one of the trackdays which they run occasionally.

A modded Golf valver (suspension/tyres/exhaust) will handle itself well enough (and surprise alot of more expensive machinery in the right hands) until you have some laps under your belt and know what you want.

Go along to some track days and see the cars on track and try and get some passanger rides so that you can make up you own mind.

Kev-G.

ChrisB

Last year I looked at the idea for putting together a 205 GTI as a dedicated track car.

I would have thought an old Golf would be ideal as well. Easy to get parts from Halfords etc.

For £5k should be able to get it caged up as well.

MattN

track = RWD
RWD for 5K = 200sx

mike16v

Cheers for the advice Kev-G. I've changed the exhaust & filter, tyres & springs on my Golf (Mk3 16v) and so may look into changing the shocks as it is still a bit wallowy in the bends. I guess I do need to take the plunge and experiment with the Golf to see how it copes.

NBW

I've been thinking on this too, now that I have my diesel Golf tractor thingy.

My conclusion was that a Pug 205 would be a good bet - for your budget you could probably afford to put in a recon engine with exhaust/filter, upgrade the brakes, suspension and fit a roll cage.

Other considerations are:

How far are you likely to travel to get to the track?
Are you going to drive or trailer your track car there?
Have you got somewhere safe to keep a dedicated track car?
How much do you depend on your daily driver?

I reckon though, as has been said, your best bet for now is to sort the suspension (as you're not happy with it anyway) on the Golf and try it out on the track a few times.

Cheers
Tim

Reffro

My bet for the best track car would be this one advertised on Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1750433642

280bhp in Peugeot 205 sounds like fun to me....

Freak

Stripped out Nova shell (dont laugh) with 2.0 16v lump in.
Build it for peanuts....
Dump it -60mm on some 15" wheels and will stick to the track like turd on a blanket and will waste a lot of things.
Push the budget and get a 2.0 16v turbo in there and scare yourself.

ChrisB

Hmm, turbo nova...

I could afford the petrol but not all the new pairs of pants

skiddusmarkus

A mate had a badly put together 2l 16v Nova for a while and it was very quick- as quick as a lot of 2lturbo Jap machinery in a straight line and wasn't too sloppy on the bends either.With the 16v brakes front and rear it stopped well too.
It was a shed though.

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

Well, I know a couple of people with 2.0 litre 16v Nova's and they bl00dy fly!

Need to get the car welded up properly and there is a chassis plate kit to buy, which stiffens up the whole car and transforms the handling with the larger/heavier engine up front.

Rip all the trim out, fit a couple of bucket seats & harnesses, then get some better suspoension and brakes then you'll have a very fast and well handling track car for peanuts.

I actually know a lad that has a 2.5 V6 engine in his Nova...




Now that is *really* quick!


However, if it were me...

I'd get a Pug 205 1.9 GTi, throw twin 40's on it, a cam, full zorst, better brakes and get it lowered then strip out the interior and you have a very quick and superb handling track car for even less money than a 2.0 litre Nova.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

How about a 309gti, cheap as anything and handling is just as good as the 205's you just have to look out for the worn rear beams on pugs as they cost a bit to sort out if they are knackered
(and 2ltr engines fit better into the 309's )

Tony

Kev-G

Mike,

Don't bother changing shocks until you see how it goes, but you WILL find that the car rolls FAR more on track.

IF you do go down the route of another car I would avoid a Turbo motor. While not true in all cases, I believe that they are more trouble with the kind of stress that constant thrashing provides as there are simply more elements to go wrong. They CAN be faster, but handling leads to better lap times than more power.

Chris B,

If U R capable with the spanners a caged 205 Mi16 could be built for approx. £3K no probs.

Tim,

No need for a re-con engine - Just make sure that the 1 that you buy or transplant (bigger engine - better option) is a good one - My Mi16 has done approx. 180K and has never been to bits. 150BHP @ Star Performance with Std. (+ knackered) GTI exhaust.

Freak,

16v Novas are quick in a straight line, but their handling leaves MUCH to be desired. If you were planning on getting a Nova then you need to have a welder on-hand as I doubt that you will get one without the front end (and remember the 16v is a big heavy engine hanging out in front of the driveline), bodywork and back arches hanging with rust. I am in the process of building one for a mate just now and the whole front end has had to be welded up on what appeared to be a mint J plate.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Well there is a 1.6 205 gti with engine probs for sale in the auto trader (manchester area) for 150 quid, thats a starting point for you if your going to bung a new engine in it a 1.9gti rear beam may be required but dont most prefer the 1.6box due to the lower ratios anyway?

Tony

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

PEUGEOT 205 1.6 GTi 3dr Hatchback
Repair or Spares, E reg, red. Problem with engine, great condition otherwise, buyer to take away. Tax and Tested mid Sept. '02. 94000 miles. £150.



Tel: 01535 273 468
Email: paulwjordan@hotmail.com
Distance: 27 miles
Price: £150

hope this helps

Tony

[Edited by TonyBurns - 7/25/2002 6:14:49 PM]

NBW

That's got to be worth a punt!

If only it wasn't so far away (oh, and the fact that my wife would murder me).

Freak

Kev-G, i already have one....

Blackscooby

I use a 1.9 GTi in Hillclimbs and sprints. Very competitive to be honest.

Fully caged, cheap(ish) bucket seats, harnesses. Engine wise it's been fitted with a wild cam (310 duration), been ported a little and runs a group A exhaust. Rolling roaded at around 160BHP using a Quaife ATB diff to try and put it to the road.

This year its been totally rebuilt with lightened and balanced everything, DTA 3d ECU, forged pistons, AP 4 paddle clutch. Looking for around 200bhp from it, but it will probably need looking after very well to keep it in one piece.

Excellent laugh, but not as good as my brothers MK1 Escort which is just amazing in the handling department (Adjustable Leda suspension).

CC

Sapphire Cosworth, 4.5k will buy u an honest, good, early example. Throw £500 at it to get it to 300bhp (if it's standard which it probably wont be) and it'll keep up with/outrun most things.

hades

Has to be a lightweight kit - say a westie or better IMHO sylva striker. Even 100bhp in 500kgs = power to weight to beat an STi7. Same 100bhp in a striker will keep with an elise round a track, with sorted rear drive handling - often adjustable - and not enough weight to knacker the brakes.

I have driven on track a £7k (to build) Zetec engined Fisher Fury which does 4 dead to 60 (300bhp/ton) and handling in Elise/Caterham type bracket - great for lap times, but you have as much fun with less poke.