Saxo VTS
Clio 172
Mazda MX-5
MG ZR/S/T
Honda Civic
Volvo 850 (has actually been done)
Something original will always be good for a laugh!

Only likely if he’s done some significant engine work or is a driving god

The 106 GTI and Clio were ones I looked at, I remember the 106 GTI winning the car of the year on a Clarkson DVD due to the great handling.

In the end was given a Puma for a track car. Can’t comment yet as I haven’t driven it on the track yet, just started preparing it for track days at Castle Coombe this year.

great handling on a 106? with torsion beam rear axle.
they’re fun to drive! I’ve owned its bigger brother the 306gti and a 306 rallye.

Millie – I might see you there, Combe is my local track and I take my Westfield up there when I can.

do it. or a vts saxo, same car, worse interior but you won’t care about that if you’re stripping it out.

Loads of cheap bits about and with the cars having a full group n programme and he 106 cup a few years back proper bits are plentiful to get a lot from them. Most cars have about 120-129 bhp as standard, a filter and a proper group n exhaust will have you over 140, cams and head work are simple to do and will have you over 150. Car is 975kg as standard, not hard to lose the 75 off that.

Brakes are an easy upgrade too as long as you run 15 inch wheels, 306 gti/hdi calipers will work with standard master cylinder and servo, 406 coupe brembos go for about £200 and will work with 288mm xantia discs but you’ll need a bigger master cylinder.

Clutches are cheap but they will go through them, gearbox is good but a good upgrade on a track car is a lower geared box from a rallye.

Can you tell i want another one? Currently have an S1 rallye with no engine in a shed but no funds to do anything with it.

Take a look at Badger 5s Ibiza cupra 😀

Build thread here knocking out >500BHP at the last count

Yea Puma 175bhp… Easy… IF you take it somewhere like this and pay over £2K. 😯

If there is a much much cheaper way… I would love to know!

I believe that it pounded round the track all day without an issue

Rather than buying a standard car, I would probably look at buying a car that has been converted to a track car. It will probably work out a lot cheaper in the long run, as you never get the money back for what you have spent on it.

If you can look past the taxi image & remember they won the BTCC then something like this (with proper coilovers rather than just lowering springs) can be had for around £1k (infact this can be right now ..)