Sports car 2008...the plan!

olv · 13 Jan 2006 at 02:39

Dr Who said:
Build your own sportscar

For £250?

Nozzer · 13 Jan 2006 at 08:24

rossyl said:
So Red letter days...are a no.
Car limits is good but I would need the car, and it seems reasonably expensive for the use of your car, tyres, fuel, and I presume insurance. Those teachers seem pretty damn expensive. However, I am sure many of you will say that they are worth the cash.

You can rent an Elise from them, I think...

Don Palmer is also highly recommended.

weeble · 13 Jan 2006 at 09:22

I have done a skid control day, which I have found invaluable. They put you in a car on a trolley frame and simulate every possible scenerio you'll encounter on the road and how to counter-act it. It proved incredibly useful when I encountered ice, on a lane, all the way down a very long hill, with an 8 foot drop on my right. Changing down gears made the car slide, deacceralting made it slide. Basicly any weight change caused it to slide but this course taught me loads about skids and weight control. I crawlled down the hill in first, having gone down the gears - 3rd, slide, 2nd, slide, 1st, slide, corner, slide. Was a proper heart in the mouth moment.

After you've done that I suggest going on a trackmaster day to understand racing lines and fast car control - teaches you to plan ahead and anticipate the road. They make you think 2 corners ahead.

You should be able to do either of these at any race track, but I do suggest the skid control first. Speed is nothing without control!

teaboy5 · 13 Jan 2006 at 10:50

With the price of oil going the way its going, the last thing you will be driving in 2008 will be a petrol sports car.

rossyl · 13 Jan 2006 at 17:34

weeble said:
I have done a skid control day,

Sounds great, where diod you do it and what was the cost.

Thanks

Ross

weeble · 16 Jan 2006 at 07:54

It was a few years ago, at silverstone, and cost around £150. They do do these at most tracks now, so if there's a different track nearer you, check them out too.

lordrobs · 16 Jan 2006 at 09:57

rossyl said:
I WANT or rather need a sports car.

However, before I throw myself into a 5sec 0-60mph car I thought i better improve my driving skills and prepare for such a thing.

I'm thinking for my bday (June ages away) I'd ask for one of those red letter days. But until then what else?

Ahhh, I have fond memories of my "i'll have a decent car when i'm 25 plan" unfortunatly unless I want to be living with my parents for the rest of my life its going to have to remain a what might have been. anyway enough of my self pity

IMO just get some driving experience in whatever car you happen to have then go for it. Just because you have a car that does 0 to 60 in 5 seconds it doesn't mean you have to do it the first day you own it. If you take your time to learn the car before exproring what the pedel on the right can do then you'll be fine.

Ollie's Gadgets · 16 Jan 2006 at 11:50

I am suprised no one has suggested taking an advanced driving course. Some useful sites are:

Advanced Driving, Driver Education and Road Safety unbiased information site
The Institute of Advanced Motorists
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
HPC - High Performance Advanced Driving Course Relevent for your sports car

An interesting diagram to guage advanced driving skill levels http://www.advanced-driving.co.uk/adr/skill_level.php

This type of training will be far more useful then track day training. After all I take if you will be driving your car on the public roads the majority of the time.

http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/article-appropriate.htm This is an interesting diary of a sceptic who went on an advanced driving course after buying a TVR Cerbera. Makes for an interesting read.

Goliath · 16 Jan 2006 at 12:03

See Ollie's post above. For £85 on a skill for life package from the IAM you will get a 10-12 week course covering all aspects of your driving, from in-town to fast A road and everything in between. This will also give you an advantage when it comes to track days/ skid pan days etc, as the decent understanding of car stability/weight transfer you pick up with IAM gives you a head start.

Ollie's Gadgets · 16 Jan 2006 at 16:19

Have you done the IAM test Goliath, or anyone else for that matter? If so what were your thoughts?

P.S Did you own another focus before the RS?

[TW]Fox · 16 Jan 2006 at 17:52

Ollie's Gadgets said:
Have you done the IAM test Goliath, or anyone else for that matter? If so what were your thoughts?

I have, and I'm training as an observer. Found it very useful indeed, learnt a lot about perception and anticipation etc.

Goliath · 16 Jan 2006 at 18:33

Ollie's Gadgets said:
Have you done the IAM test Goliath, or anyone else for that matter? If so what were your thoughts?

P.S Did you own another focus before the RS?

Yes, I'm an observer for IAM. People have a tendency to think of it as a "Pipe & Slippers" job (and there is a little bit of this if i'm honest) but i found it incredibly useful when i took the test. I thought beforehand that i was a pretty good driver (who doesn't

) but realised pretty quickly that i had an awful lot to learn - i still do. If you drive for satisfaction and enjoyment then it's well worth it. Depending on your group you can meet some pretty interesting characters, i spent a sunday a couple of months ago driving with one of the senior driving instructors for the Greater Manchester Police advanced driving school, he was just about the best driver i've ever been in a car with.

Yup, lady Goliath still runs around in my 1.6 LX.

Ollie's Gadgets · 16 Jan 2006 at 18:35

Which IAM group do you to belong to? Fox do you intend on teaching new members when you or an observer or are you just doing it for the qualification?

I take it you like the focus then Golliath

I am just about to get one myself. Deciding between 1.6 and 1.8 engine, not sure if the performance gain is worth the extra cost. Any thoughts?

The_Dark_Side · 16 Jan 2006 at 18:41

[TW]Fox said:
You must really want other drivers to know your name if you'd buy a brand new car and suffer all that depreciation just to get a private plate

the amount he loses in depreciation,even if he sells the car within 1 year/6 months could be dwarfed by the increase in value his chosen plate will appreciate by.
of course this does depend on what demand for that particular plate is.
it could actually be pretty good business sense IMHO.

Ollie's Gadgets · 16 Jan 2006 at 18:45

I am not convinced getting involved in number plate speculation is exercising good business sense! :confused:

The_Dark_Side · 16 Jan 2006 at 18:55

Ollie's Gadgets said:
I am not convinced getting involved in number plate speculation is exercising good business sense!

it's not speculation if the DVLA sell you the plate for the usual few hundred quid as ANY name on a plate will change hands for considerably more than that

[TW]Fox · 16 Jan 2006 at 18:59

The_Dark_Side said:
the amount he loses in depreciation,even if he sells the car within 1 year/6 months could be dwarfed by the increase in value his chosen plate will appreciate by.

I doubt if, if its a half decent plate it won't be sold through the regular DVLA site it will be auctioned off - and if it is sold on the site it'll be for a fortune.

The_Dark_Side · 16 Jan 2006 at 19:05

[TW]Fox said:
I doubt if, if its a half decent plate it won't be sold through the regular DVLA site it will be auctioned off - and if it is sold on the site it'll be for a fortune.

you're right it does of course depend on the initial purchase price...but in many cases the initial sale price tends to be a lot lower than when the plate changes hands between private buyers.

Goliath · 16 Jan 2006 at 19:20

Ollie's Gadgets said:
Which IAM group do you to belong to? Fox do you intend on teaching new members when you or an observer or are you just doing it for the qualification?

I take it you like the focus then Golliath I am just about to get one myself. Deciding between 1.6 and 1.8 engine, not sure if the performance gain is worth the extra cost. Any thoughts?

You could say I'm fond of them

It really depends on your mileage - the 1.8 does give a reasonable extra wedge of power (99bhp for the 1.6 - 113bhp for the 1.8 - these figures are for the mk1). However the 1.8 has a reputation as a drinker, and a lot of people who've driven both have said there isn't much to choose between them. I can say the 1.6 is still a hoot to drive, it likes to rev and the chassis is so good you soon learn you can carry a lot more momentum through the twisties than most

Hit up the Ford Focus Owners Club if you want more info - a lot of helpful souls there and a quick browse of the forums will probably answer most of the questions you have.

rossyl · 16 Jan 2006 at 20:52

Thanks a lot guys IAM seems an excellent idea and cost sensible.

I have been thinking about car costs etc, and may have to scale down a bit for the £20k. However, I am sure I will be able to sort something out, be it slightly older or whatever!

Sorry to be a pain, but do you mind taking the private plate debate to another thread.