'Budget' track car idea's ???
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'Budget' track car idea's ???
Right then folks, after an assorted history af pretty nice cars and an understanding wife I have finally settled down and found myself with a mortgage, baby and an estate !
At the moment the wife has a Astra VXR which I 'borrow' every so often and we have a newage WRX as the daily hack.
Until now I have been hanging onto my motorbike, a Yamaha R6, waiting for summer so i could justify to myself that i should keep it, but now everyone i know seems to have sold up theirs and the thought of tear arsing around on the bike on my jack doesn't appeal as much? Plus i worry a bit now i have more commitments as to what could happen if i came off !>?
Anyway, I have pretty much decided that I am going to give it a good detail and sell my up in the spring selling boom and put some of the cash into a BUDGET track car to keep me entertained tinkering on on sundays and a few track days on the summer.
Now as much as I would like to, modding the scooby (or the astra for that matter) for track is out of the question, so this is where i turn to you lot!
What could i buy for a budget of around £1 - 1.5k which wouldn't need a great deal more than stripping weight, a bit of tinkering and maybe some decent suspension, exhaust and filter? Would like to try and sell any unnecesary parts to fund mods.
I need to be able to keep it road legal but the over riding priority is FUN ! Idea's this far are a 106 GTi or an E36 bimmer, bit dfferent i know!
So, lets have your idea's on what I could have some fun with ?
At the moment the wife has a Astra VXR which I 'borrow' every so often and we have a newage WRX as the daily hack.
Until now I have been hanging onto my motorbike, a Yamaha R6, waiting for summer so i could justify to myself that i should keep it, but now everyone i know seems to have sold up theirs and the thought of tear arsing around on the bike on my jack doesn't appeal as much? Plus i worry a bit now i have more commitments as to what could happen if i came off !>?
Anyway, I have pretty much decided that I am going to give it a good detail and sell my up in the spring selling boom and put some of the cash into a BUDGET track car to keep me entertained tinkering on on sundays and a few track days on the summer.
Now as much as I would like to, modding the scooby (or the astra for that matter) for track is out of the question, so this is where i turn to you lot!
What could i buy for a budget of around £1 - 1.5k which wouldn't need a great deal more than stripping weight, a bit of tinkering and maybe some decent suspension, exhaust and filter? Would like to try and sell any unnecesary parts to fund mods.
I need to be able to keep it road legal but the over riding priority is FUN ! Idea's this far are a 106 GTi or an E36 bimmer, bit dfferent i know!
So, lets have your idea's on what I could have some fun with ?
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If you want dirt cheap get an MG Montego Turbo. 0-60 in 7.2 and despite looking like a heap they are actually pretty easy to work on and make into a track car.
Otherwise a VTR is good, you will get an XR3 for pennies now, and of course a classic scooby.
Otherwise a VTR is good, you will get an XR3 for pennies now, and of course a classic scooby.
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yeah, big power is definately NOT on the cards. More trouble than it is worth and to be honest as much as I rate myself as a competant amatuer i would prefer something thats a bit closer to lego to work on.
Have done whole engine changes on mini's and fiesta's but everytime I open the bonnet and look at the scooby lump it makes me shudder lol I actually quite like the idea of the maestro but i think finding one might be easier said than done. Something retro could be cool but the option of small frenchness is an obvious one.
Plans would be the same whatever i buy along the lines of decent suspension, minor tuning and then strip it to within an inch of its life and maybe even attack it with the trusty hole saw! haha!
Have done whole engine changes on mini's and fiesta's but everytime I open the bonnet and look at the scooby lump it makes me shudder lol I actually quite like the idea of the maestro but i think finding one might be easier said than done. Something retro could be cool but the option of small frenchness is an obvious one.
Plans would be the same whatever i buy along the lines of decent suspension, minor tuning and then strip it to within an inch of its life and maybe even attack it with the trusty hole saw! haha!
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Biased but a 205 GTi track car set up well, will (and does) embarass a lot more expensive exotica.
For £1,000 you could pick up a tidy example 1.6/1.9 (115/130bhp) and strip it/prep it yourself. For £1,500 you may get an already prepped 1.6/1.9, ie stripped, cage etc. You may get lucky and grab a cheap Mi16/GTi-6 conversion for the top end of your budget. Then you are looking at a lot of fun. 900kg, 160bhp+, one of the best handling hatches of all time
I personally (having owned my 205 for nearly 2 years) wouldn't look anywhere else. Certainly doesn't drive like a FWD car, and are very popular. Parts are dirt cheap and always spares going and plenty of mod parts.
Just my tuppenth anywho
For £1,000 you could pick up a tidy example 1.6/1.9 (115/130bhp) and strip it/prep it yourself. For £1,500 you may get an already prepped 1.6/1.9, ie stripped, cage etc. You may get lucky and grab a cheap Mi16/GTi-6 conversion for the top end of your budget. Then you are looking at a lot of fun. 900kg, 160bhp+, one of the best handling hatches of all time
I personally (having owned my 205 for nearly 2 years) wouldn't look anywhere else. Certainly doesn't drive like a FWD car, and are very popular. Parts are dirt cheap and always spares going and plenty of mod parts.
Just my tuppenth anywho
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1990 CITROEN AX GT GREY on eBay (end time 11-Feb-10 21:35:10 GMT)
Just stumbled across this, had one as a lad, A LOT of fun! Will be interesting to see what it goes for, cant beat platic panels !
Just stumbled across this, had one as a lad, A LOT of fun! Will be interesting to see what it goes for, cant beat platic panels !
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The MX5 is the only thing I would be looking at with your budget TBH.
Drive this away Mazda : 1991 Mazda MX5 1.6 16v DOHC UK Car with Hardtop sell the hard top to help the budget.
Or this is one that needs work most of which you would be doing to track prep it anyway?
Mazda : UK MX5 1.8i
Some vid clips
YouTube - Ma5da racing
Things I overtook on the nordschleife
Drive this away Mazda : 1991 Mazda MX5 1.6 16v DOHC UK Car with Hardtop sell the hard top to help the budget.
Or this is one that needs work most of which you would be doing to track prep it anyway?
Mazda : UK MX5 1.8i
Some vid clips
YouTube - Ma5da racing
Things I overtook on the nordschleife
#12
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Mk2 Golf GTi 16V? A few mods get the power up, they can be easily stripped down and they are ultra reliable. A mate has one with 240bhp and it's a total track beast.
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The MX5 is the only thing I would be looking at with your budget TBH.
Drive this away Mazda : 1991 Mazda MX5 1.6 16v DOHC UK Car with Hardtop sell the hard top to help the budget.
Or this is one that needs work most of which you would be doing to track prep it anyway?
Mazda : UK MX5 1.8i
Some vid clips
YouTube - Ma5da racing
Things I overtook on the nordschleife
Drive this away Mazda : 1991 Mazda MX5 1.6 16v DOHC UK Car with Hardtop sell the hard top to help the budget.
Or this is one that needs work most of which you would be doing to track prep it anyway?
Mazda : UK MX5 1.8i
Some vid clips
YouTube - Ma5da racing
Things I overtook on the nordschleife
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MX5 here again, I had a tuned Mk1, and currently got a tuned mk2, they make ideal track toys as they are so cheap and reliable, and there's loads around, as a result they are common on trackdays these days. If you are going down the track route with a mx5 buy a proper roll cage for it.
If you want to be a bit different, then try a Peugeot 306 Gti-6 Phase 2 - buy a real high miler, as long as its the best you can find mechanicaly for £1k, ie. as long as cambelt has been changed. I had one and loved every minute, fantastic adjustable handling, great 6 speed box, great stock brakes and quicker than you think.
Take the rear seats out. With a further £1k spent carefully on ebay you can change the pads to DS2500's (or 3000's), fit decent suspension, strut braces, exhaust, filter, Toyo R888's and some harness.
Job done. Have fun.
If you want to be a bit different, then try a Peugeot 306 Gti-6 Phase 2 - buy a real high miler, as long as its the best you can find mechanicaly for £1k, ie. as long as cambelt has been changed. I had one and loved every minute, fantastic adjustable handling, great 6 speed box, great stock brakes and quicker than you think.
Take the rear seats out. With a further £1k spent carefully on ebay you can change the pads to DS2500's (or 3000's), fit decent suspension, strut braces, exhaust, filter, Toyo R888's and some harness.
Job done. Have fun.
Last edited by nisr227; 09 February 2010 at 05:31 PM.
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Corsa B with a 2.0 16v already fitted, 1K should get you one with a good quality conversion, fully mot`d etc Strip it out, fit some semi descent quality suspension and tyres with the rest of your budget. Makes fro quite a fun track toy.
#20
honda crx mk1/2 or rover 216 gti.
dirt cheap, weigh next to nothing, bombproof engine and gearbox and fantastic handling once slightly fettled.
can pick up 216 gti track race cars for less than 2k
dirt cheap, weigh next to nothing, bombproof engine and gearbox and fantastic handling once slightly fettled.
can pick up 216 gti track race cars for less than 2k
#21
http://www.wrda.co.uk/for_sale/for_sale.htm
i dont know how old this advert is, but this is the kind of thing id go for.
i dont know how old this advert is, but this is the kind of thing id go for.
Last edited by rovermb6; 09 February 2010 at 06:32 PM.
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Ive liked the sound of a mx5 for a while, could be great fun and a pretty boyant market for selling off the bits i dont need, also like the fact that its small enough to tuck away at the end of the drive? Oh and of course rear wheel drive!
I had noticed that the corsa's go for good money but i dont think i could bring myself to drive a corsa lol ! That and the chances of them having been thrashed to **** already is pretty high !
Surprisingly i quite like the idea of the rover, my bro knows his way round a K series having fitted one in the rear of his old mini, also have mates with a K series fiesta and a supercharged K series Hillman Imp of all things.... weapon doesnt come close to describing it !
Cheers for your thoughts tho guys, lets see some pics to wet my appetite !
I had noticed that the corsa's go for good money but i dont think i could bring myself to drive a corsa lol ! That and the chances of them having been thrashed to **** already is pretty high !
Surprisingly i quite like the idea of the rover, my bro knows his way round a K series having fitted one in the rear of his old mini, also have mates with a K series fiesta and a supercharged K series Hillman Imp of all things.... weapon doesnt come close to describing it !
Cheers for your thoughts tho guys, lets see some pics to wet my appetite !
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Well i am waiting on a mate of a mate with a 205 1.9 gti that he needs shifting but other than that I am sold on the idea of an mx5! Like that low stance and rwd fun, plus the fact that it would still be great fun for the drive to work on a suny morning?
Fromt he guys that suggested it are there any recomendations on which web sites to scour for a bargain mx5?
Cheers Dave
Fromt he guys that suggested it are there any recomendations on which web sites to scour for a bargain mx5?
Cheers Dave
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Well i am waiting on a mate of a mate with a 205 1.9 gti that he needs shifting but other than that I am sold on the idea of an mx5! Like that low stance and rwd fun, plus the fact that it would still be great fun for the drive to work on a suny morning?
Fromt he guys that suggested it are there any recomendations on which web sites to scour for a bargain mx5?
Cheers Dave
Fromt he guys that suggested it are there any recomendations on which web sites to scour for a bargain mx5?
Cheers Dave
#27
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you have mentioned working on mini's in the past, how about that, cheap easily tunable and probaby the best fun car out there, plus there are the racing clubs out there.
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The MX5 is the only thing I would be looking at with your budget TBH.
Drive this away Mazda : 1991 Mazda MX5 1.6 16v DOHC UK Car with Hardtop sell the hard top to help the budget.
Or this is one that needs work most of which you would be doing to track prep it anyway?
Mazda : UK MX5 1.8i
Some vid clips
YouTube - Ma5da racing
Things I overtook on the nordschleife
Drive this away Mazda : 1991 Mazda MX5 1.6 16v DOHC UK Car with Hardtop sell the hard top to help the budget.
Or this is one that needs work most of which you would be doing to track prep it anyway?
Mazda : UK MX5 1.8i
Some vid clips
YouTube - Ma5da racing
Things I overtook on the nordschleife
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306 Gti-6 for me i think, you can get go faster bits direct from Peugeot as well iirc
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1472934.htm
Need a bit of engine work but worth a look...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1444598.htm
This would be my prefered option though
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1472934.htm
Need a bit of engine work but worth a look...
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1444598.htm
This would be my prefered option though
Last edited by scoobysmiff; 16 February 2010 at 08:49 AM.