GTi for trackdays? Your experiences

[jkp]

Hi folks, got a bit of a quandary going on in my head at the moment. Years ago I used to do a lot of trackdays and keen to get back into them after a few spectator visits to Knockhill. The smell of petrol, rubber and clutch triggered the good times. I'm now in a place where the GTD, although a very capable quick road mile muncher with quality and top fuel economy, is just pain boring.

So a quick question to the folks with Mk6's who actually track them. How do you find them compared to other cars you have tracked? Previously I've had Evo's and Scoobs on track.

What reliable performance packages are proven for trackdays?

I've been out looking at a Focus RS and Evo X but the trade value of the GTD is just stupid. 

[mkviken]

hows about a clio 182 or 197

really cheap and they're a proper drivers car. the 197 is built for the track.

a mk6 gti is too new/expensive/'nice' as a track car

[jkp]

I had looked at the clio, but not being of small frame I'd be stuffed in there like donkey kong in mariokart 

I'm looking at a car that I can use everyday, modify and do track play at about 80% of my ability (slow) to keep it safe and have fun. 

[mkviken]

I'm 6ft4 and I've had no problems with room in the Clio. The 197 is actually a pretty big car and with the recaros the drivin position is great and the pedals are really well placed too. Only downside to them is they eat ball joints (revo knuckle is expensive) torque is poor and the gearbox isn't great but otherwise they class.

[SteveP]

Personally I found the Mk6 OK on track but to really enjoy it you had to take away a lot of the road compliance / comforts.

That why I built a dedicated track car rather than condemning the Mk6 to an early grave 

[mkviken]

yeah thats what i mean. a mk6 gti is just too nice to turn into a track whore

something like a 106 gti/rallye/saxo vts or a clio would be my choice. cheap and loads of spares available

[PenguinGTI]

I've not driven a GTD but even the stock GTI has enough grunt to be fun on a track.

The first thing I'd be looking at would be brakes though. That having been said though I managed 4 consecutive fast laps of the Ring and the brakes held up fine. 

Aside from that to be honest I've found my MK6 pretty much perfect on track. It's easy enough to drive fast, accurate and really good fun.

I did have experience a few years ago in a bug eye Impreza WRX which I have to admit didn't impress me. The steering was too light and vague and it didn't really have enough grunt to work the chassis.

On a whole, I wouldn't write the Mk6 off as a track car. It's maybe not the type of car you want to strip out and stiffen up, but it can certainly handle a bit of track action. That's been my experience.

[SteveP]

^^^ I see your point, I thought my stage 2+ Edition 30 was great as a track car around the Ring, but only you experience a properly setup track car you will see how massive difference the difference is.

For example at Castle Combe my Mk5 Golf GTI track car is able to reach speeds at least 20mph higher down straight compared to my Mk6.

Track cars also looks better too

[bcarlin]

i would say the get a clio 197, i had a f1 edition with the better chassis
at knockhill i watched a clio 197 match a turbo impreza round the track

[PenguinGTI]

That's a seriously nice Mk5 Steve. Personally I'm not too keen on the lime but that's a very minor criticism and purely down to each individual.

I really wish the dash came flocked as standard. 

Back on topic, I do concede that you are right. At the end of the day while a Mk6 is a good compromise, it is not a fully set up track car. For such a project, there are plenty of options that are perhaps a bit more suitable - or at least ready.

Just to add though, I did also have the pleasure of taking a Clio 197 Cup - I think it was actually the 200bhp edition - around the Ring. At the time I thought it was great as the steering, gear box and handling were all very sharp and precise and the whole experience felt decently quick despite the definite lack of grunt (particularly on the Ring's many uphills).

But then taking my Mk6 around the same track - yes it's not as "pure", but the GTI felt far more forgiving and better suited the varying track conditions. The brakes definitely weren't as strong, but on turn in the chassis offered IMO just the right amount of play while remaining very stable. The suspension was also supple enough to soak up the bumps quite well. (Although I know the Ring is quite unique in that a super stiff setup is actually less preferable to a more road based setup due to the number of bumps and camber changes).

So all in all, I agree with you Steve. A proper track car will always be better on the track but to the OP, don't right off your GTD. It's certainly worth a go in!