Novice Saxo VTS Track car - Donny style

[Doncaster _K9]

So I bought Matthew's VTS - which was previously someone's on the 106owners forum's girlfriends or something. I've wanted to do track days for about 5 years, but never had the balls with my own daily use car + funds etc etc. When the baby was born, I thought it would never happen but my wife has suprisingly allowed it to happen (cheers love).

Note: this is track day running on a budget.

Here it is the day I picked it up:



75k, lowered on Gmax springs at the front, torsion bar at the rear. Filter and exhaust also. Few dings and scars but nothing amazing to report. The car is solid underneath, a little cosmetically unclean but no problem.

I basically drove it home and parked it up and today was the only time to start getting a list together (which then turned into doing stuff - as you do)...
First thing was to sort the basics. The car needs to be road worthy and if something isn't right, It just pi$$es me off to the point I have to sort it anyway. I'll be stripping it and keeping all the parts - but before all that I cracked on with the basics I could do in 60 mins.

The nearside headlight was knocking. I had a look and found this:



Note: large washer, but still cracked plastic bracket.



Home made top bracket FTL.

I've removed the headlight and ordered a new one.



Looks like someone has nudged something with the bonnet and thus it's broken the light brackets.

Bit of panel beating:



It doesn't rest on the light now at least. One job done.

Next, the ECU cover...



It wasn't fitting right and rattling away, so much so its started to rub through some cables.



And rubbing on the bulkhead as pictured too.

Cable protection restored and made my own bracket adjustments so it fits snug with no rattles.



Next up was the air filter and cam breather...



Home made cam breather - oh dear. YES that is wirewool and a bottle top.

Whipped that off and the air filter. Will probably end up saving for a simota intake but have ordered a generic 19mm breather to go on for now.
Cleaned the throttle body whilst I was there too.

The previous owners had a sub, head unit, upgraded tweeters and door speakers. So whipped them all out as well (ebay). Found that the sub's power lead went under the car and in through the bottom of the passenger footwell then under the carpet to the boot.
Whilst I was pulling the cables through I found these under the back seat.



Technically by removing them I have gained £5 off No7 makeup (at boots) and saved 0.01grams on the track car kerb weight. The car parts receipt shows spark plugs and oil were done in 2011 - so that saves me doing them - will still check the quality later though, before her first outing.

Next up was the bodykit. Its not sitting right on the passenger side arch/side skirt and doesn't sit right on either side rear section of the side skirts.
Took the arch one off to find that all of the clips had broken and that it was actually tie-wrapped on the underside of the car.



Ordered the repair kit from Citroen, so they'll sit back nicely.

Guilty items: The metal bracket should actually be on the inside of the kit, but it has corroded and was just vibrating on the wing.




This is the driver side rear section of the side skirt. You can just see the white clip, which is broken.




That was it for today. Only had an hour.
Parts ordered from Ebay and the first stage will be complete at the weekend.

The next jobs (next week):

- Tracking
- New Brake Fluid
- Check plugs and oil
- Check coolant
- Check exhaust hangers
- New Discs and pads
- Check and tighten gear linkage - a bit of a mixing bowl atm.
- Stage 1 interior removal (+ spare wheel/cage)
- Spend the £5 voucher on some new blusher

[NFox]

Great start, you will have loads of fun with it on track once done!

[Matthew.]

That oil filter!!!!

No way that's what was under there, propper job!

In one day of ownership you noticed about 10 things I didn't mange to in 2 months!!!

Get cracking on mate, I want a passenger ride at Elvington still

[Doncaster _K9]

That oil filter!!!!

No way that's what was under there, propper job!

In one day of ownership you noticed about 10 things I didn't mange to in 2 months!!!

Get cracking on mate, I want a passenger ride at Elvington still

I did LOL at the filter mate - thought you'd like it. Even more so when I jacked it up (after parking it on some wood! damn this thing is lowz) and noticed the NSF wing body kit was completely held on by a cable tie pulling it underneath.

Just need to get a full day on it and she'll be ready - just finding the time, what with working and the young un.

You got a helmet? bring it along if so - passenger rides are for taxi's mate, you can take the wheel.

[172Ben]

clio projects? Not clear enough huh

Looks good though, always like the saxo vts

[Matthew.]

I did LOL at the filter mate - thought you'd like it. Even more so when I jacked it up (after parking it on some wood! damn this thing is lowz) and noticed the NSF wing body kit was completely held on by a cable tie pulling it underneath.

Just need to get a full day on it and she'll be ready - just finding the time, what with working and the young un.

You got a helmet? bring it along if so - passenger rides are for taxi's mate, you can take the wheel.

Cant beleive anyone would use wire wool and a bottle top for a filter though, must be a £5 part!?!

I took it to a place in Huddersfield for the tracking when I got it, they wouldn't do it due to being too low!

The joys of mega, and I do mean mega, handling!!

Yeah got a helmet mate, sounds good to me!!

[X200LOL]

Was this Martin's (Marvvv) girlfriends vts?

[MarcoB]

I don't think I would have tracked this one! 3 plug iirc? and Slooow I hope to god Marv didn't do those bodges!

[Doncaster _K9]

Was this Martin's (Marvvv) girlfriends vts?

If she was called Lisa, then it could be.
Don't tell them though, I want the £5 voucher.

[Doncaster _K9]

I don't think I would have tracked this one! 3 plug iirc? and Slooow I hope to god Marv didn't do those bodges!

huh?

[X200LOL]

If she was called Lisa, then it could be.
Don't tell them though, I want the £5 voucher.

Yes she is. Thought I recognised the plates. I look forward to seeing how this goes

[DanielJames]

Saxo VTS' are ftw. Subscribed!

[ch!ppen]

I don't think I would have tracked this one! 3 plug iirc? and Slooow I hope to god Marv didn't do those bodges!

3 plug isn't a problem unless you're going to start messing with ITB's or boost. He said budget track day car so i doubt either of those are on his agenda.

[Daniel]

Whats everyone on about 3 plug?!

[Doncaster _K9]

3 plug isn't a problem unless you're going to start messing with ITB's or boost. He said budget track day car so i doubt either of those are on his agenda.

Correct bud, donny is the poverty capital of the north, this is a budget spec machine.

[Doncaster _K9]

Whats everyone on about 3 plug?!

I think it's the ecu. This one has 3 plugs and the earlier (?) have single plug and are meant to be easier to tune or replace (?).

[Budgie]

Whats everyone on about 3 plug?!

The engine loom has three plugs, rather than just one. Came on the later 106 GTi's/VTS'.

Doesn't make a huge difference really if going for new ITB's/mods, but most of the second hand bits kicking about are based around a single plug ECU/Loom..

[Sir_Dave]

Will keep an eye on this!! Saxo's are most definately FTW

If you need some ideas, check out my Shed thread: http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showt...ect-Track-Shed Everything (inc. the car) cost less than £2.5 and that was built to a very decent track/fast road spec - all the bits that were fitted were best of breed.

[Rob]

Good effort with this! Lovely car and it'll make a perfect track toy.

[Matthew.]

Yeah this used to be Marvvv's old car, and his girlfriends before he owned it.

I had it, circa 3 months and it ran like a dream.

Its the 1st car I have owned without having any problems to fix (the irony its a 12 year old French tin can too)