MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Track Day Technical => Topic started by: QD MBE on October 15, 2011, 09:23:44 am

Title: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: QD MBE on October 15, 2011, 09:23:44 am
Good morning illustruous forum.

I am in the position to look for a Track Day toy.

I was going down the route of a=n Atom, but have decided that having an Atom in the garage (Circa £30K), and a sub £10k daily, was a touch imbalanced.

I have around £10-12k to spend.  Ideally would like to keep below 10k.

It needs to be road legal.

Suggestions............................

I have been looking at Suzuki Swifts (similar to the ones at the Ring), could go the route of the MK5.

I will be doing the majority of the fabrication/prep myself (Know my way around sheet metal, aerospace welder etc)

Any other cars I should look at?  I am not worried about what Nationality - Jap, German, French etc.
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: Deacon on October 15, 2011, 09:39:05 am
Swift sport was one of the most entertaining cars i've owned and closest modern car to the feeling of a 205Gti I've driven. As a fully sorted track toy could be amazing!
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: andrewparker on October 15, 2011, 09:49:13 am
Exige. Bit over budget but I guess very little would need doing to one.
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: andrewparker on October 15, 2011, 09:51:42 am
Or http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/3220198.htm (http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/3220198.htm)
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: QD MBE on October 15, 2011, 09:59:47 am
Thanks, not sure about a Beemer, a bit complex perhaps.

I like the below.  Imagine R888's, few more horses, stripped out, buckets, and a Cage.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3034690.htm (http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3034690.htm)
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: monte on October 15, 2011, 10:03:08 am
Def a colour more suited for track than road :happy2:

http://www.adoos.co.uk/post/8101517/audi_s3_tfsi_quattro_blaze_orange
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: monte on October 15, 2011, 10:06:19 am
I know what you mean about the suzuki's Dave.
They certainly are rapid track cars at the ring.

I've heard mx5's have huge potential at the track too but I think they need quite alot of work!
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: SteveP on October 15, 2011, 10:13:19 am
You need to try my Mk5 at Bedford then you will know the way to go  :happy2:
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: QD MBE on October 15, 2011, 10:16:07 am
^^^^

Best Bring the Piss-pot then!
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: Deacon on October 15, 2011, 10:30:29 am
If you go the swift route would definitely recommend going down to light weight 16's. It's what the car was sold with in Japan and mine made a huge difference plus the added bonus of cheaper tyres!
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: SteveP on October 15, 2011, 10:35:15 am
^^^^

Best Bring the Piss-pot then!

Yep, need to speak to you about a Spa trip as well  :wink:
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: rich83 on October 15, 2011, 10:36:31 am
What about a radical?
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on October 15, 2011, 10:38:14 am

When you say Suzuki I automatically think of the mental pikes peak hill car with the monstrous wing  :driver:
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on October 15, 2011, 10:43:47 am

When you say Suzuki I automatically think of the mental pikes peak hill car with the monstrous wing  :driver:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FPics_saved_from_the_net%2FCars%2Fcd05aa8f.jpg&hash=f1c494a8107acc402e060ec06fcc1229be6e45bc)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FPics_saved_from_the_net%2FCars%2F11087d41.jpg&hash=3b835663a62771726b123259417ee47e4efa474e)

Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: sub39h on October 15, 2011, 10:44:48 am
Wheeler Dealers bought an old Porsche 944 Turbo for no money and stripped that out. you'd get a right machine for £10k, they spent about half that (not including labour obv, but then it sounds like you wouldn't be either).
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: tony_danza on October 16, 2011, 04:50:14 pm
I had a Swift for a day at the Ring a few weeks ago, absolutely hilarious little cars. I'd have one in a heatbeat.

Aside from the obvious choice of a MK5, thinking about stuff I regularly see that doesn't blow up:

FWD
Megane
Clio (you might just squeeze into a 200 Cup at £10k?)
Integra Type R
1.8T'd MKII Golf
Swift
Ex-Mini Championship race car (quite often see these and they go for daft money)
205 GTI


RWD
MX5 (loads of turbo/supercharged ones about)
E36/46 M3
944/968
200 SX
RX8
Caterfield
S2000
Elise

I suppose it depends what you want out of it? An out and out track car or something capable that you can still travel distances in without wanting to burn it??
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: luckyGti on October 16, 2011, 05:02:17 pm
Have a look at this link,it should give you a few ideas http://www.racecarsdirect.com/
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: Hedge on October 16, 2011, 05:29:08 pm
Civic Type-R?
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: tony_danza on October 16, 2011, 08:52:53 pm
I chose the ITR over that, as it has a diff as stock - maybe some CTR imports do thought??
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: Top Cat on October 20, 2011, 11:35:54 am
Honda powered S1 Elise. After chasing SteveP round Blyton i want one myself.  Proper driving car with buckets of character.  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: Hedge on October 20, 2011, 11:49:32 am
I chose the ITR over that, as it has a diff as stock - maybe some CTR imports do thought??

I think some of the later specials do but I was thinking '02/'03 without a diff or an anniversary with recaros.
ATR would be good with the double wishbone suspenders, recaros and diff as standard plus bigger engine with more oomph.
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: daz_pd on October 20, 2011, 12:30:30 pm
if you are considering a swift, how about one of these:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3306428.htm

well proven in the Rallying circuit, modify easily and cheaply for track purposes.
look up the C2 R2 version, brochure here:
http://www.citroenpartsdirect.com/app/webroot/userfiles/files/c2r2maxbrochure.pdf
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: cupra_k1 on October 23, 2011, 01:39:48 pm
Westfield?
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: tony_danza on October 23, 2011, 05:05:31 pm
This week, I have mostly been looking at this... I'd have it in a heartbeat.

MX5 road legal racer (http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3344917.htm)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.images.pistonheads.com%2Faimg%2F3344%2F3344917-1.jpg&hash=f530a242e1a7cd80ca9d1099383adc0dc9a806a3)
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: MAT ED30 on October 23, 2011, 06:13:27 pm
Clio trophy these things are fast little sods on track and with all the crap taken out you get sach dampers as stock and a light weight shell so just plexi glass it cage it,track rubber better discs and pads and it will keep faster cars at bay hence why evo mag loves em
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: tony_danza on October 23, 2011, 06:24:48 pm
Agreed!

172 Cup too, the original no PAS/ABS/ESP/etc.. version - although not a lot of places insure them, due to their love of hedges.  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: MAT ED30 on October 23, 2011, 06:48:18 pm
I had a 172 cup good little car
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: gazbutS3 on October 23, 2011, 08:00:53 pm
Clio trophy these things are fast little sods on track and with all the crap taken out you get sach dampers as stock and a light weight shell so just plexi glass it cage it,track rubber better discs and pads and it will keep faster cars at bay hence why evo mag loves em

std GTI/ED30 shocks are Sach Matt :wink:
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: MAT ED30 on October 23, 2011, 08:02:18 pm
Yeah gaz but Clio are over 2k new and adjust too
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: DaveB@Vagbremtechnic on October 23, 2011, 09:09:43 pm
Gents we have a winner.....

Dave....... imagine it stripped,  race seats, standalone management, cage, huge following, lots of parts available cheaply from the EU

Plus you used to read about them in Fast Lane magazine in your twenties....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2894397.htm
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: tony_danza on October 23, 2011, 09:15:20 pm
Truck load of win, but I imagine it has a lot of potential to make you cry..
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: Tfsi_Mike on October 23, 2011, 09:18:51 pm
Gents we have a winner.....

Dave....... imagine it stripped,  race seats, standalone management, cage, huge following, lots of parts available cheaply from the EU

Plus you used to read about them in Fast Lane magazine in your twenties....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2894397.htm

Win Win WIN  :driver:

Dave yhpm  :wink:
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: fuscobal on November 13, 2011, 07:51:44 am
Damn, what an angle to that rear wing...I suppose drag doesn't matter too much here  :grin:
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: gillm on November 13, 2011, 11:56:55 am
junk , that thing will not last . i have worked on a few of these and all were painfully rubbish
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: TamA on December 04, 2011, 03:57:37 am
Looking at 182s myself

Watch out for ones that haven't had the timing belt dont. 5 years or 75k (less depending on who you listen to). Its a big job - engine mount off etc £600 from most places which have the special locking tools. Electronics are a bit funky too. Volkswagen branded multiplugs throughout the car though so it must be the wiring itself at fault!

Looked at three this week. Two were buckets and had been smashed. Managed to find a good one locally and I pick it up tomorrow.
Title: Re: Track toy suggestions.
Post by: Dw1 on December 21, 2011, 05:22:29 pm
If you already have another car and want a pure track toy then I'd suggest you go for something more extreme than a souped up road car. Light weight and tactile are what rule on the track (and dare i say it rear wheel drive).
You can't beat the Westfield for value for money, light weight, low wear and tear, feedback from the road, sheer, pure driving experience (Caterham if you have more cash).
If you really have to have something with a roof then I'd second the S1 Honda elise.  :happy2:

Anything less extreme than those is a compromise and if it's a dedicated track car then why compromise?