What To Do With My 205?

[2052006 10]

As per title really, I'm looking for a bit of inspiration with what to do with the Pug. I'm not really considering selling it as I don't need to.

 

I've had it for 7 years now, most of that time it's been a daily driver, but gone through various configurations - 1.6, 1.9 and now gti6. Since March it's been superseded by a new daily driver and so sits in the car port looking forlorn.

 

I took it on a track day at the beginning of the month and it was great, but now the tax, mot and insurance has all run out and I'm not going to renew it when it won't get used much - at least not at the moment.

 

As I say, I don't need to sell it, and don't really want to. It doesn't owe me anything, isn't worth much and besides, it's my favourite car I've owned and driven by quite some margin. The question is what I do with it

 

I had half an idea, once I got my new car, of turning the 205 into a proper track car - much more focussed suspension (it's currently SBC phase 2 - excellent for fast road, but too soft on track imo), roll cage, buckets, harnesses etc. But now I'm not so sure. This would render it pretty useless as a road car and I would probably, in reality, only ever do a handful of track days per year.

 

It definitely needs a respray (even as a track car) as it looks awful at the moment. Rust wise, it's in pretty good condition from what I can tell. I've just poked a screw driver through the usual rust spot above the fuel tank, but apart from that there's very little. Sills, boot floor, seem to be fine.

 

So I'm pretty set on getting it resprayed and the minor rust sorted - but then what - I need to visualise what direction I'm going to take it

 

I'd like it to be more capable on track, though still useable on the road - I fear this might be asking the impossible. Can I make the suspension/brakes much better for track work, whilst still keeping it compliant enough to be used occasionally on the road. Will I quickly reach the point where I need to cage it (and therefore proper seats and harnesses) to get the best from further suspension mods?

 

Ideas?!

 

May help to know the current spec is:

 

Standard gti6 lump

Basically SBC ph 2 suspension:

SBC front struts, matching Billies at rear (grp N?)

23mm arb

21mm torsion bars

ZX arms

306 rear hubs

1.9 calipers, braided flexis, 5.1 fluid, carbone lorraine rc5+ pads.

Standard interior

Crap paint

 

[welshpug 1,657]

just use it

 

it will be perfectly capable as it is on track, you'll need to spend a significant amount more to make it any more capable, and that doesn't mean just binning the interior and bunging a cage in.

 

take it down the classic "track car" route and IMO you will use it even less.

[Goliath 94]

Why did you get a new daily driver?

[Batfink 201]

Have it as a fun weekend car and tart it up as needed.

[2052006 10]

just use it

 

it will be perfectly capable as it is on track, you'll need to spend a significant amount more to make it any more capable, and that doesn't mean just binning the interior and bunging a cage in.

 

take it down the classic "track car" route and IMO you will use it even less.

It is ok on track, you're right, but it could clearly be better! I guess i just want to improve it - make it more capable. What would you suggest then, rather than a cage etc? What is a significant amount more? I wouldn't be averse to changing the suspension again.

 

You're right about the classic "track car" route, I would use it less, which is why I'm having second thoughts about that option.

[2052006 10]

Why did you get a new daily driver?

Good question. I was quite happy with it, but fitting babies, child seats, prams, blah blah blah in it, made it a pain in the arse. I did it for a while, but got fed up with it frankly. My wife was not happy about driving it with children in the car either (and tbh, neither was I. It certainly made me think about how fragile 205's are). And the chance came up to have another car - I wasn't going to turn it down!

[2052006 10]

Have it as a fun weekend car and tart it up as needed.

Or buy some expensive suspension from Kam Racing;). Seriously, I was looking at the website (that is you, right?). Would the AST/KW/Gaz Gold stuff offer much of an improvement over what I have now. Obviously, I realize I would no doubt have to combine with other improvements, maybe a bit of neg camber on the front, changing bars and arb on the back etc...

[Banjo 1]

Dont strip it out and fit a cage, just use it as it is, would be inclined to keep the suspension setup you have as its perfect for sunday blasting country roads and I'm sure its good enough to have fun with on track. I'd be thinking lsd

[notamondayfan 44]

LSD and some track tyres for the twice a year thrash.

 

Sorn / repair it over winter, and enjoy the B roads in summer.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Get some throttle bodies.

[rallyeash 155]

I love my full on track spec 205 but because it's so track dedicated I never use it on the road which I do really miss.

 

It's a hard one as when out on track I want no compromise in suspension, engine, brakes and grip etc but then that leaves a car outside of trackdays hardly used.