Cheap racing car?

[joshwa]

I've put my Scirocco up for sale... (it's not as much fun as I was expecting)

As I was thinking about getting a cheap diesel to run on veg oil... *

But I was also thinking about trying some track days...

Do people race diesels at track days?
What power to weight ratio is "average" or should I be aiming for as a beginner?
How much would it all cost?
What car should I go for, and can I get something for under £500?
(presumably a bit quicker than the Scirocco at 112bhp **)

Josh

* eg Rover 220 Di (~103bhp) ** eg Mk3 Golf GTI 2.0 16v (~150bhp)

[SilentDeath]

and a diesel would be more fun? :/

I find diesels are generally in far higher demand (and probably going to get higher) so old bangers cost a lot more...

For track days look at owners clubs.. I guess thats where most are organised... they usually cost around £100 per day + fuel etc... depending on time of year and how many people go.

BUT dont expect it to be cheap. Also if the car is not in good condition.. or it will just fall apart.

[Howard]

An old diesel engine will be about as much fun around a track as walking it Get something with a reasonable petrol engine and it'll be far more enjoyable

[kalniel]

What are your reasons for wanting a diesel? I'd have thought they are the polar opposite to everything about a track day. Get a diesel for day to day running and get an XR2 for the track

[joshwa]

My reasons for a deisel were so that my 2nd car would be as cheap as chips as possible - but my main car is deisel so it would be pretty daft to get a 2nd diesel - especially if I'm thinking about doing track days...

What cars have decent petrol engines? And what cars are cheap-ish to insure?

For example, I've seen a Mk3 Golf GTI 2.0 16v which for me to insure is around £550, whereas a Subaru Impreza WRX is around £2k, so obviously the Impreza is not suitable

[kalniel]

Even if your milage is going to be rock bottom?

Good condition bangers should be fairly cheap to insure as the write off value will be next to nothing. So mk 1 & 2 golf GTIs, pug 205, fiesta XR2i, rover 200/25 etc. have all got good power/weight characteristics.

[J4MES]

Pug 205 XS

[joshwa]

I was thinking:

Rover 200vi 143bhp (or BRM LE if cheap enough, but probably not)
Golf GTI 2.0 16v
Mazda MX-3 1.8 V6 (apparently 130bhp)
VOLVO 480 1.7 Turbo (apparently 125bhp)

XR2i's seem a bit too rare.

Any other suggestions?

[kalniel]

I wouldn't go with a mk 3 onwards golf - too heavy.

pre-92 Honda CRX could be perfect.

[MrP]

I was thinking:

Rover 200vi 143bhp (or BRM LE if cheap enough, but probably not)

bu**er, i never knew how special they were.

i bought a 200vi years ago and loved it, at the same time i saw a brm, but wasnt that keen on the snout and interior (esp as an ali trim panel by the handbrake was comming off)

just read this and realised i missed out on something rather nice.

hmmm, maybe time to flog all my ICE and bits and bobs and buy one, i quite fancy one now!!

[Lowe]

Under 500 quid sees you right for an R19 16v.

1.8l 137bhp, with one of the best sounding 4 pot engines about when fitted with an induction kit. Close to 40mpg on a run, and it'll handle like it's on rails around a track.

For the money, if you can live with the looks, they're superb.

[joshwa]

Is the FORD Probe 2.5i V6 24v (163bhp) any good?

[kalniel]

Can that do a lap without refueling?

I wouldn't have thought it'd be a very enjoyable experience no.

[MaddAussie]

Is the FORD Probe 2.5i V6 24v (163bhp) any good?

Those things handle like a arthritic 200 year old cow!

I'd go with the 200Vi (the Vi and BRM where the forerunner of the MG ZR, a lot of the development that went into the ZR came from work that was done on the BRM) or if you can find a cheap ZR (even the 105 is nippy due to its setup)

[joshwa]

1989 BMW 325i any good?

[Moby-Dick]

Under 500 quid sees you right for an R19 16v.

1.8l 137bhp, with one of the best sounding 4 pot engines about when fitted with an induction kit. Close to 40mpg on a run, and it'll handle like it's on rails around a track.

For the money, if you can live with the looks, they're superb.

qft i used to have a phase 1 chamade 16v and it was a cracking little car