Saxo VTS as a track car

[mr bognor]

So after going to the ring last year and going for the rent for ring Swift sport I have just booked up to go again on the 07/08/17 to the 14/08/17 but not wanting to take the Fiesta ST round the track the GF and me will be getting a car for track days / ring trips .

Plan is to be around £ 2000 max and to be std to do up a bit or already done up for some track work .

Looking at all different options but the Saxo VTS ticks a lot of boxes for small ,light , cheep , tuning parts .

Does this sound like a good plan or is there others I should be looking at .

Alan

 

[imprezaworks]

Clio.

 

[Budgie]

VTS' are too expensive now mate. Most will either have rotted away, or be sheds.

172 is the best option at the minute.

 

[McGherkin]

Plus there's the slim chance of survival if you stuff it. Strong, they ain't.

 

[Advikaz]

172 surely?

 

[imprezaworks]

If he had said a grand then maybe. But at 2k the clio is a much better choice

 

[McGherkin]

If he had said a grand then maybe. But at 2k the clio is a much better choice

Or an MX5.

 

[imprezaworks]

Nah

 

[leeds_182]

They work as Track cars if you get the right one...

 

[Goodj]

Or an MX5.

This. Basically.

For £2k you'll have an actual sports car, not a shopping trolley with short springs. It's also be 4000000% more reliable than any french tincan you care to mention, fact.

Nah

Any actual reason?

 

[imprezaworks]

Fun yes, speed no unless turbo etc

I know you or whoever will say yeah but there more fun, they handle like a sports car blah blah blah. But they are slow.

Awaits the mx5 vs clio video on track and the latter getting owned.

Disclaimer. I do like the mx5 and did consider one to mess about in. Kept the clio.

 

[Goodj]

Fun yes, speed no unless turbo etc

I know you or whoever will say yeah but there more fun, they handle like a sports car blah blah blah. But they are slow.

Awaits the mx5 vs clio video on track and the latter getting owned.

Disclaimer. I do like the mx5 and did consider one to mess about in. Kept the clio.

A 150hp MX5 is just as quick as a 170hp clio, or a 120hp saxo, until you're pushing down the latter half of Conrod Straight, and where are the cheap options to speed up the clio and Saxo?

Of course, if your idea of "an MX5" is a 1.6 with peado headlights and a welded diff, then you're missing out

However, sprint-trial guys with blown VTEC caterhams and such have said that the best starting point in tracking (especially competitive tracking) is the Mazda. I didn't prompt them either, I just asked what would be a good car to start with.

ANYWAY! each to their own. And you can't deny that having a saxo/clio gives you more room to store all your track clobber en route, making them practical, trackable vans. And I do like a good clio

 

[bashracing]

172/182 for straight forward fun with low maintenance ( if belts already done )

MX-5, Ford puma or 306 gti6 ( if you're a welding enthusiast )

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

I have a lot of time for the Saxo VTS, I think they're awesome. The trouble would be finding a good one I think. It would be much easier to find a good Clio than to find a good VTS, so that would sway me I think.

As for the MX-5....they're mobile chicanes, so no thanks. I have never come across one that can live with a Clio on track. Even on road tyres, my boggo 172 Cup has the measure of an MX-5 on R888s. And, if you're planning on going to the 'ring, the 172 is also better because you can actually put people and things in it. The MX-5 is a good car if you're into that sort of thing, but from a performance perspective, it isn't even in the same league in my experience.

I am a big fan of the Puma also. It won't match a Clio for space, but they can be bought for absolute peanuts and the steering and gear shift is even better than the Clio. Just rust badly, lack a bit of power and there are fewer modifying parts available. A friend of mine bought a 50k minter for £300 though and it is a riot.

 

[Jekyll]

@SimpleJoee

 

[Goodj]

As for the MX-5....they're mobile chicanes, so no thanks. I have never come across one that can live with a Clio on track.

According to ClioSport, even a Formula 3 car can't keep pace with a stock Clio 172,

 

[imprezaworks]

It can until twisteeeeeeezzzzzzz

 

[SimpleJoee]

Cheers for the tag @Dr Jekyll , but unfortunately mine is being stripped for parts due to the bodywork being a bit tatty, and needing a few bits.

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

Clio. Or an MR2 (Mk3). Not as fast as a Clio in a straight line. Neither are cheap to improve straight line performance, but you bought the wrong car if you just want to go fast down the straights.

 

[Jekyll]

@SimpleJoee The tag was more of what your views are/were.

 

[SimpleJoee]

@SimpleJoee The tag was more of what your views are/were.

Ah fair enough mate

 

[SimpleJoee]

I would say the VTS is a very good contender, but as people have mentioned, Clio hands down.
In standard form the VTS are incredibly bad. Handling is okay at best, acceleration wise a standard 1*2 will leave it on the straights. Throw some simple mods on it, and remove excess weight and you're in a completely different league. Mines around 860KG's and is about on par with a 1*2 up to around 80Mph, then I'll get left. I'm running a Bilstein/Gaz GHA suspension combination, with a lowered axle to 40mm, AD08R's, 421 manifold, Saxsport exhaust, lightened pulleys and catcam 743's and is has completely transformed the car.

But, if I were to do it again, it would be in a 1*2. Strip it, chuck some Cooksports/Semi slicks on and you'll be in front of me without a doubt.

 

[Goodj]

Probably also worth bearing in mind things like the price of parts. Standard and upgrade.
And the labour costs / effort required to do them.

A Saxo may be easier to work on with cheaper consumables. Equally, a Clio may cost more for a new clutch, for example.

Also, this is a track day car, not a race car, yeah? Then it could just as easily be a Corsa 12v with airbags and full aero, the laptimes aren't relevant

 

[mr bognor]

Probably also worth bearing in mind things like the price of parts. Standard and upgrade.
And the labour costs / effort required to do them.

A Saxo may be easier to work on with cheaper consumables. Equally, a Clio may cost more for a new clutch, for example.

Also, this is a track day car, not a race car, yeah? Then it could just as easily be a Corsa 12v with airbags and full aero, the laptimes aren't relevant

Correct im not after anything super quick ( the GF will be driving too ) just a good small cheep thing that handles ok and parts are cheep .

Alan

 

[imprezaworks]

Mx5 then

 

[mr bognor]

Picked this up on Saturday

80K miles and stored for the past 8 years new cam belt water pump and service .

Now to get it ready for the ring in August .

Alan

 

[Stay Puft]

That looks great.. must have been pricey?

VTS wheels have to be one of the best looking standard alloys!

 

[imprezaworks]

Tidy

 

[Goodj]

That's too good to ruin.

Pull a Brewer, sell it for £300 profit and get a different one that's already sheddy :smile:

:up::up::up:

 

[Budgie]

f**king love it.

 

[mr bognor]

That looks great.. must have been pricey?

VTS wheels have to be one of the best looking standard alloys!

£ 1100 and lots of S/H

Tidy :smile:

It is

That's too good to ruin.

Pull a Brewer, sell it for £300 profit and get a different one that's already sheddy :smile:

:up::up::up:

Its going to the ring and will be played about with so as good as it is and could make me money if I just store it that is not going to happen

 

[leeds_182]

It'll still be rotten. They all are.

 

[mr bognor]

It'll still be rotten. They all are.

Had a good look under and over and not any rot and the past owners have re under sealed the car .

Alan

 

[mr bognor]

Got some plans but with regards to shocks ( B8 Bilstein ) what are the best springs to match them with ?

Alan

 

[Budgie]

Got some plans but with regards to shocks ( B8 Bilstein ) what are the best springs to match them with ?

Alan

Faulkner 155lb's used to be the in ones when i had 106's/VTS'..

 

[Mr Plums]

That looks great, i would love a thrash around in one.

 

[Tarmac Adam]

Love them mate it's a stunner for that money #bargain , brilliant little cars alway wanted one but I went the 106gti route as every man and his dog had one round hear sure the dealers were doing them on mega cheap finance with free insurance for the first year so everyone had one so I had a 106 gti getting rare now

 

[imprezaworks]

Yeah I remember that, way back when. Vtr was the deal on insurance iirc?

 

[JoeyD]

Firstly, well done for actually managing to find a Saxo VTS - they seem to be like rocking horse poo nowadays. Looks very tidy!

Just wanted to give a bit of an input on the MX5 thing. They are SLOW. A 106/VTS would be much easier/cheaper to make much quicker having owned both - so good shout!
Here's my 151hp MK1 MX5 just about catching a (seemingly standard) 172 Cup after many, many prior laps of slowly gaining. And I reckon if the 172 had a more confident driver it would have left me for dead. (Yes it takes all 4:03 to catch him)

I'm not claiming to be any sort of fast driver either BTW, that's only my third ever track-day.. A driver with a bigger pair of stones would clearly be quicker.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Faulkner 155lb's used to be the in ones when i had 106's/VTS'..

Think thats what i had in mine, that was then yours, that was then @mr bognor 's?
OP, have a read of this: http://www.cliosport.net/threads/sir_dave-project-track-shed.452785/
Car looks mint btw, saxo's make excellent track cars!!