Hey guys, I need a few suggestions. I'm looking for a rwd based car which will be a blast in the auto-x. I've been reading alot about S2k's and they seem pretty bada$$ although they are a bit steep in $$. If I get an 2k it will end up being my DD as well as autoxer. Anyone have any ideas as to what might be a good rwd platform car for going around the cones? I'd perfer something that isn't slow, and yes I have looked into the 240sx lol. Thanks.

 

Miata?

 

MR2?

 

BMW M3?

 

Camarobird?

 

I've seen a few 1st gen RX-7s that run auto-x. They aren't very expensive, but I doubt you'd want one as your DD.

 

Crack Monkey:
Miata's are nice but seem a bit too slow...that and rather girlie lol, but they can dfinately dish out a whooping with a good driver.

As for the M3...didn't think the E30's or 36's would be good, I know the 46 would be but I can't afford a 30k used car.

Hate Fbodys.

SJR:
Not a big fan of the engine bay.

FlyZlow:
Last time I went to an autocross, a 1981 RX-7 with stripped interior and about 190whp raped a C5 Grand Sport, Boxster, Carrera 4S, handful of tuned Evo's and STi's. Awesome car but never for a dd.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by n3o &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
As for the M3...didn't think the E30's or 36's would be good, I know the 46 would be but I can't afford a 30k used car.

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What's wrong with either of those cars? E36s M3s can be had for under 12k these days for a fairly clean one and are quite fast at autocross and on track. Not to mention, an E36 makes a great DD plus it has a trunk and back seats. For what it's worth, I would take an E30 or E36 over a fat-*** pig of an E46.

 

miata? slow? andy is expecting 125whp out of his STS2 1.6l car. 2050lbs, 125whp... sounds like the numbers my civic puts down (actually better since my civic weighs more) and with close gearing. the car will scoot.

nate - doesn't think a car that handles like a miata needs 200whp

 

You should see one go around the 'ring.

 

question.....

what does high levels of power and enjoyment in an autox have to do with each other?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by maxQ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You should see one go around the 'ring.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't get it - why a link to a van?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by n3o &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Crack Monkey:
Miata's are nice but seem a bit too slow...that and rather girlie lol, but they can dfinately dish out a whooping with a good driver.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Suit yourself, but I think 130hp and 2300lbs goes around the track just fine. And I replace brakes and tires less than once a season.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As for the M3...didn't think the E30's or 36's would be good, I know the 46 would be but I can't afford a 30k used car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

An E36 M3 is quite possibly the best mixed-use performance car value out there. The Miata and C4 and C5 Vettes come close, but lose because they lack back seats. The ITR loses because it's just a Honda.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hate Fbodys.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not a big fan either, but they are still a decent value for a track toy.

How fast do you want to go? Once you get faster than a mildly modified Miata/Civic, you have to start spending gobs of money on consumables, which IMO isn't worth the extra speed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't get it - why a link to a van?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry.. it was a Ford. It's RWD.

More fun in a van

 

ford pinto

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by maxQ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sorry.. it was a Ford. It's RWD.

More fun in a van</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's great.

 

E36's are not only a great DD, but hold their own around the cones.

 

Miata
944
MR2
M3/325
RX7

And you still can't beat a Camaro in F Stock.

 

if I need to get out of actual racing, and sell the big-*** truck, a 4-door E36 M3 is totally at the top of m list, although a 540i comes close. Either can be had for the low teens these days. I think either of these cars would be great all around, do-it all vehicle. And yes, for the more adventurous, a E30 3xx with a M3 swap would kick booty as well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by n3o &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Hate Fbodys.

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You know, I used to think the same thing. Just shitbox Chevys... Right.

Then, one day at VIR there I was in my fully race prepped GSR behind a bone stock Camaro SS on Hoosiers.
This was a DE, and he got held up behind traffic, so I caught him pretty easily. He pointed me by coming out of South Bend.
I hit Oak Tree HARD. Real hard. I had this odd notion that I'd hold off this POS Camaro before I got to roller coaster, then I'd waste his ***.

Yeah... Right.
He blew by me so fast that it sucked my car over towards him. Even then I couldn't get in behind him fast enough to get a draft. I balanced the distance in hog pen, maybe even gaining a bit.
Then... Bye bye. He was leaving turns 1 and 2 when I hit my brakes entering 1, and I was turning sub-2:20 laps (which ain't slow).

I changed my mind right then and there. I could seriously see myself driving that car. Screw up Oak Tree a little... F**k it. You'll still see 140 before you hit the brakes.

 

well, they are chitboxes, just really really fast ones. the interiors and build quality are quite questionable, but good lord do they scoot.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You know, I used to think the same thing. Just shitbox Chevys... Right.

Then, one day at VIR there I was in my fully race prepped GSR behind a bone stock Camaro SS on Hoosiers.
This was a DE, and he got held up behind traffic, so I caught him pretty easily. He pointed me by coming out of South Bend.
I hit Oak Tree HARD. Real hard. I had this odd notion that I'd hold off this POS Camaro before I got to roller coaster, then I'd waste his ***.

Yeah... Right.
He blew by me so fast that it sucked my car over towards him. Even then I couldn't get in behind him fast enough to get a draft. I balanced the distance in hog pen, maybe even gaining a bit.
Then... Bye bye. He was leaving turns 1 and 2 when I hit my brakes entering 1, and I was turning sub-2:20 laps (which ain't slow).

I changed my mind right then and there. I could seriously see myself driving that car. Screw up Oak Tree a little... F**k it. You'll still see 140 before you hit the brakes.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a 4th generation F-body and I hate it mostly...

Absolutely love it's handling (no problems staying with Lotus Elises or Corvette C5 Z06's anywhere the track is curvy) and it has acceptable power (have the V6 with stock rear end - needs MORE power or for me to install the 3.73 gearing!), but hate basically everything else about it. One of the worst cars to work on I've ever had and parts/consumables are not cheap. I'd much rather a second generation Integra to work on - they are easy!

My list of other RWD fun cars would be:
Mitsubishi Starion/Chrysler Conquest
Isuzu Impulse (pre '90 with lotus suspension)
Alfa GTV6 (if you don't mind an 'exotic' with hard to find parts)
Toyota Corolla GT-S (pre '87)

 

well, of course you hate it. the only reason to like those things is speed, and that's not exactly the v6's specialty.

it's like ordering a hamburger on a bun with nothing else. it's not bad, but add cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, and bbq sauce and you have something completely different.

2 more cylinders, 100hp, extra cog, lsd, stiffer suspension, and way bigger rubber and i bet you'd have some fun with it.

 

I went and looked at, and test drove, an S2000. It's a wonderful car to drive, and obviously makes a great autocrosser. But the thing is just too small. I could sit in it in exactly one position. Small trunk. No glove box. If you can afford a second beater or something, it'd be wonderful. As an only car? Not so wonderful.

How about a C5 Corvette? I've driven one on track and home from the track. Impossibly fast. Brakes for days. Comfortable. Independent rear suspension. Reliability I think you'd be surprised about.

Various Porsches come to mind. If you can afford a used S2000, you can afford a pretty good used 911, 928, 968, or 944/944 turbo. Just last week I had an afternoon with a 944S. Wonderful car. This *particular* one was a bit much as a daily, but start with a stock example and you're much better off. Be aware of the potential cost of maintenance...I understand the 928 is especially hateful in that regard.

E36 M3s can be turned into massively competent track cars; I've got a lot of miles in one myself. You won't regret buying one. Hell I'd even recommend an E36 328is. They're fast, comfortable, reliable, they make good noises, and are competitive in solo.

If storage isn't a concern, the Toyota MR2 Spyder is a brilliant C Stock autocrosser right out of the box. Here too I've got a fair number of runs in one...on its factory tires and alignment. Wonderful cars but limited utility.

Pick up this month's copy of the magazine "Sports Car International." It's got a pretty well done article called "Sports Car Buyer" showing what their editors like for under $20K. Some good picks there (and the magazine itself is usually quite good anyway)...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">2 more cylinders, 100hp, extra cog, lsd, stiffer suspension, and way bigger rubber and i bet you'd have some fun with it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This Camaro is an extremely fun to drive car - I love to drive it; it will put a smile on your face because of its responsiveness, grip level, and braking ability. It's almost 'better than miata' fun to drive! It's how it is put together and how stuff fails from poor design I absolutely hate. If you want to make somebody really irritated have them replace the clutch on a 4th generation camaro without doing it the "easy way" (seperating the whole front suspension/engine assembly from the car). Stupid GM designers/engineers obviously didn't consider ease of maintainance or ability to work on it a priority!

I could remove the A/C system and add a centrifugal supercharger in place of the compressor to give just as much power as a V8 while still maintaining the handling advantage of the V6 because of having 100 less pounds on the front axle and having the engine CG farther rearward. And what benefit does the 0.5 ratio sixth gear in the T56 transmission give, other than fuel economy?

4th gen F-Bodies : Excellent handling and fun to drive but agony to own.