Cheap track car for noobie

DannyW · 24 Jun 2017 at 16:32

I've got a few clios lined up to see tomorrow and next week but one of my mates sent me this he said stock suspension no good but once lowered will be fine
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142421916439

sovietspybob · 24 Jun 2017 at 19:24

I'd thought about a 'lude in the past but as they're more of a GT cruiser from factory i thought they'd end up taking too much work to turn into something track focused, not sure on how big the trackday aftermarket part scene are for these? Im sure there'll be a load of stuff for the slammed honda scene boi crowd mind

adam cool dude · 24 Jun 2017 at 22:34

DannyW said:
I've got a few clios lined up to see tomorrow and next week but one of my mates sent me this he said stock suspension no good but once lowered will be fine
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142421916439

That must be worth a look. LSD and fantastic engine as standard. Shed the weight out of it and you will have a capable car. No doubt the lude shares many Honda parts with the hot civics so parts will be cheap and plentiful.

Also please try a Celica T-Sport before going head first into a Clio.

MrKnifey · 25 Jun 2017 at 08:15

problem is with the lude, celicas, etc is they will instantly require mods to keep up with a bone stock cliosport around a track! Im not saying they are the be all and end all but the op is after a cheap track car

adam cool dude · 25 Jun 2017 at 10:39

MrKnifey said:
problem is with the lude, celicas, etc is they will instantly require mods to keep up with a bone stock cliosport around a track! Im not saying they are the be all and end all but the op is after a cheap track car

And your evidence for that is?

paradigm · 25 Jun 2017 at 11:08

adam cool dude said:
And your evidence for that is?

He's clearly got a thing for the Clio, which is fine, but not at the expense of belittling other vehicles without the knowledge of them.

All cars need fettling in some way or another to be suited to track use, even if it's something small like better brake discs/pads, or something like a baffled sump (I'm certainly never tracking a car without one again!).

adam cool dude · 25 Jun 2017 at 12:30

paradigm said:
He's clearly got a thing for the Clio, which is fine, but not at the expense of belittling other vehicles without the knowledge of them.

All cars need fettling in some way or another to be suited to track use, even if it's something small like better brake discs/pads, or something like a baffled sump (I'm certainly never tracking a car without one again!).

All the evidence I have of Clio's on track are ones being blacked flagged because it was dumping oil on the track and the poor chap with a cambelt in his hand before even half the day had gone.

MrKnifey · 25 Jun 2017 at 13:59

My evidence? Most track days are littered with them! They are cheap and easy fun way to get into track days! Not a 2.2 prelude! I don't even own one anymore, I have an MX5. I've had many track day cars and done loads of track days and for what the op has asked for which is cheap track day car I don't see the point in suggesting anything else! They literally will do a track day out of the box with the addition of some decent pads!

I've never seen a Clio dumping oil down the track and timing belts snap on any car which hasn't seen a replacement!

Evo8 · 25 Jun 2017 at 16:13

MrKnifey said:
I don't see the point in suggesting anything else!

EP3 CTR. They're cheap and quicker in my experience.

Will · 25 Jun 2017 at 16:47

The Ep3 will cost more to buy for a half decent one and cost more in consumables (tyres and brake pads) than the clio.

Evo8 · 25 Jun 2017 at 16:51

True but they're far more reliable so might cost less in the long run?

sovietspybob · 25 Jun 2017 at 16:57

Evo8 said:
True but they're far more reliable so might cost less in the long run?

You say that but from what i've seen they're no more reliable than the Clio, and you've got the Honda scene tax on all the parts which gets old fast. Apart from the electrics the Clios are very well built cars with no major inherent faults.

Lopéz · 25 Jun 2017 at 17:36

If you're choosing something based purely on speed, you're doing so quite possibly at the expensive of having more fun.

Faster doesn't always mean more fun.

MrKnifey · 25 Jun 2017 at 18:36

Will said:
The Ep3 will cost more to buy for a half decent one and cost more in consumables (tyres and brake pads) than the clio.

The one in the last Llandow track day I done which had quite a fair few mods on certainly wasn't that quick, just all noise the same as most other Hondas I see (why they fit ear deafening exhausts on them is beyond me). But also I know it is down to the driver.

vanpeebles · 26 Jun 2017 at 13:15

Rover Metro with a 1.8 VVC

Steeps · 26 Jun 2017 at 13:39

vanpeebles said:
Rover Metro with a 1.8 VVC

Normally I'd laugh at such a suggestion, but saw one of these at Bedford and it was fluffing quick through the corners and out the other side, only running out of power at the top end on the straights.

vanpeebles · 27 Jun 2017 at 09:21

Steeps said:
Normally I'd laugh at such a suggestion, but saw one of these at Bedford and it was fluffing quick through the corners and out the other side, only running out of power at the top end on the straights.

I just saw this site today http://www.talonsportscars.com/100rt.php you could have a lot of fun doing sleeper trolling in that

sovietspybob · 27 Jun 2017 at 09:57

I really really wanted one of those a few years ago when i first heard of them, a friend of a friend had one and they are mental.

vanpeebles · 27 Jun 2017 at 11:05

I wonder if they still make them? Not sure if the site has been updated. I'm tempted

adam cool dude · 27 Jun 2017 at 21:03

vanpeebles said:
I wonder if they still make them? Not sure if the site has been updated. I'm tempted

I doubt they are very hard. They are mostly like lego. Considering the MGZR 160 exists I do not really see the point. Chassis dynamics are more important than power to weight. Cannot see a metro being a great chassis. At the least the MGZR had Honda input.