A modern car for hillclimbs?

[targa6226]

I would like to venture up to the speed hillclimbs in the Midlands. Where I live is 180 miles away and I do not have the space for a trailer and a tow car. Having competed for a few years I know that tuned older cars are always quick because of their light weight. I'm a bit worried that an old car from the 70's might not welcome a 180 mile trip followed by a blast up a hill. Is there a reliable modern car that might prove competitive in the up to 2L modified production class. I don't want a Caterham etc as I would also need to take my gear, tyres and suitcase. Any thoughts?

[Dan Friel]

If you live in Cornwall can I suggest that you consider more local venues?? Wiscombe, Castle, Mamhead, Werrington and Gurston. I can't believe that a true roadgoing car can be competitive in modified production (and you may well face caterhams etc), but there are standard classes to run in down in the south west. These may fit the bill.

[MGDavid]

over 2 litres, but I'm about to try an MG ZS180...

[St Eval]

Originally Posted by Dan Friel

If you live in Cornwall can I suggest that you consider more local venues?? Wiscombe, Castle, Mamhead, Werrington and Gurston. I can't believe that a true roadgoing car can be competitive in modified production (and you may well face caterhams etc), but there are standard classes to run in down in the south west. These may fit the bill.

Sorry, road going classes in the Southwest are far from standard, many of the engines are more highly tuned than in the modified classes.

[chrisdrewett]

I would go for a Megane or Clio Sport
Chris

[targa6226]

Thanks Dan but I've done all the West Country hillclimbs, some many times. I did the Prescott Drivers School last year and enjoyed it so much which is why I want to go up to the Midland hills.
I checked times of a Clio Sport and its not really quick enough because it weighs so much compared to the bhp . I think a 182 weighs 1,300kg. which is 140bhp per 1000 kg. Ideally, I think you need something like 200bhp per 1000kg.

Thanks so far, any other possibilites please?

[LCRTrackcar]

Originally Posted by targa6226

Thanks Dan but I've done all the West Country hillclimbs, some many times. I did the Prescott Drivers School last year and enjoyed it so much which is why I want to go up to the Midland hills.
I checked times of a Clio Sport and its not really quick enough because it weighs so much compared to the bhp . I think a 182 weighs 1,300kg. which is 140bhp per 1000 kg. Ideally, I think you need something like 200bhp per 1000kg.

Thanks so far, any other possibilites please?

Sounds heavy but possible
The Megane R26R is 1,230Kgs with a 230 BHP motor but space not so good for tyres etc as its standard with roll cage and perspex windows etc

[Westysprinter]

Civic type R?

[firehawk]

Vauxhall VX220 turbo ??
Elise
Exige

[911thillclimber]

Remember a turbo increases you engine capacity for the class limits by 1.4 x engine size, so Vaux is over 2 litres.

Elise?

Perfect I would think esp if you ran Kumho list 1B tyres.

[Dommy]

The Evo's do very well, many turn up, compete and drive it home

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by Dommy

The Evo's do very well, many turn up, compete and drive it home

but again, with turbo multiplier it's over 2 litres...

[CNHSS1]

Elise or Exige gets my vote, all the benefits of a Locaterfield (good handling, high power low weight) but with more practicality

[targa6226]

Isn't the Megane R26R also a turbo which would put it over 2L and in the same class as a Subaru. For the Elise would you go for the Toyota engine model. Also bear in mind they can be tuned depending on the size of your wallet. Last years Gurston Down Champion won in a very tricked Elise. Looked and sounded like a mini LeMans car but you couldn't drive it on the public road not for any distance anyway.
I've been thinking about this for awhile and it is difficult to come up with a suitable car.
Any other ideas please. Thanks.

[St Eval]

The big problem is that the better they are on the hill the worse they are to drive on the road. A nice to drive road car is rarely any good on the track. It's always a compromise. By the way I must know you I've been around the Southwest Hills and Sprints for long enough.

[911thillclimber]

For a competative car in the 2 litre class you must find a car that is light to start off with and can be 'compromised' for track and road.
The advice above is spot-on; any good hillclimb car will be awful to go a distance home in.

I found the perfect position with my warm Impreza, slicks in the back seat, tools in the boot and 340 bhp in the front.

Air Con if I wanted too.

You could do FAR worse than set your sights on the over 2 litre class. Lots of very nice cars that will fit your bill for the right money., and these cars are rust-free and easy to tune and maintain.

I started in that class in 1991 in my 911 and towards the end went to an Impreza and went far quicker and drove there and back, many times with a pot for the fire place, and the odd hill record too even!

I've moved now to sports libre for a change of pace (and effort/cost) but C1 will get you well and truely hooked on this great sport for little money and max excitment.

[Dan Friel]

How about buying a cheap ZR 160. Enter the MGCC series and you get to visit the Midlands hills and those in the south west when you don't fancy a drive? Should hold it's own in the sub 1800 classes as well.

[Dermot Healy]

errrrrrrr......not that i know anything about hillclimbs......but what about a W reg year 2000, BMW 540i, 4.4 liter V8, 6 speed manual....nice traditional rear wheel drive & loads of torque.........and best of all you could have it for a mere £2250 and it will return a 26mpg average whilst whisking you back to the sunny south west in air conditioned luxury. You know it makes sense!

[targa6226]

911thillclimber , I've been thinking on the same lines. It seems more practical to go over 2L where there are quick cars almost off the shelf and with room to carry tyres and luggage.
Elise good but too small for carrying same.
I would really like a 3.2 911 Carrera from the late 80's as I like 2 door coupes but I suspect the Impretza is quicker ?

[CNHSS1]

if you ran the elise on 1B rubber you wouldnt need spare tyres/wheels

[Pugdriver205]

Type R integra ?

[911thillclimber]

Targa:
Would you believe I hillclimb a 3.2 Porsche 911!?
I started with it in 2.2 litre size in 1991 and re-engined it over the years to 3.2. I found it absolutly FAB but slow against others in the class, so did the Impreza thing for 4 years. It was much faster but less involved to drive.
I sold it 2 years ago and bought the 911 out of road retirement all last year. Back to slow, but what a great car.
Built a Lola now with a 3.2 flat 6 but just today, raced the 911 for the last time, it's second retirement promise.

They are magic cars, but will NEVER compete for top spot against today's cars. I would go for a good 350 bhp road going Impreza on Kumho V 700 list 1B tyres and have the time of your life for about £8K.
After sorting the car, a 10 meeting season will cost about £2K tops.

[targa6226]

Thanks all for responding. Replies much as I expected but was hoping for something I may have forgotten.

[Rich_p]

What about a 205/309 gti or is that still to old?

An idea on budget would help too.

[andye30m3]

I would look at clio 172/182's or civic/integra type R's in the up to 2.0 class.

But I would say that as I've been running a clio 172 and an Integra type R in the up to 2.0 standard production class of TWMC sprint series.