One thing I have been looking into is how to upgrade the front brakes without having pay 1k+

standard front discs are only 266mm in size so the obvious first option would of been to go for a set of GTi 180 calipers/discs which would up the size to 283mm.
After a bit more of a search I fount out that a model of the 307cc had 302mm brakes and they are also interchangeable with my car.
So a quick trip to eBay and I fount the calipers required for £40 and got straight onto euros for a set of brembo discs and ebc green stuff pads (will run yellowstuff for track use).