Well, my plans for STS domination in the 'wrong' car in '05 have been put to a grinding hault as I was in an accident and my integra has gone off to the junkyard in the sky.

Now I have to pick a replacement car, and since it's officially silly season I figured my fellow members of the H-T RR/AX forum might enjoy helping me pick said replacement.

Here are some parameters:
The car will be a daily driver/autocross warrior. After daily driving my STS prep'd integra I've decided that my next car will remain stock, so the car must have championship potential in stock form. My sponsors (parents) have handed down the "no V8" and "must be FWD" orders, so I must work with that.

The suspects in no particular order:
Sentra SE-R Spec V
Mazdaspeed Protege
Mini (base)
Mini Cooper S (insta-2005 GS National Champ? )
ITR (must have AC)

At this point I'm heavily leaning towards a Cooper S just because they are neat. I can't deny the fact that I'm a honda fanboi through and through so I also keep coming back to the ITR. My only concern is finding a reasonably priced, bone-stock example in St. Louis (my dad is against getting one in another state...).

The Sentra and MSP are two un-proven DS cars, but both with potential. I'm just not sure I want to do the development on them, and I don't think I'm a talented enough driver to win in an unknown car.

So what would H-T do?

 

Eric Kriemelmeyer has done reasonably well in a DS SpecV locally... but it's still going to be a Nationals underdog. Go with a Mini... you won't regret it.

Karen

 

cooperS

 

You know how I feel.

You're screwing around and wasting time if you get anything but the ITR or Mini. So, between those two, the Mini is new, a potential overdog in GS and a definite contender if it ends up in DS, and it's also a much much much nicer car.

 

spend $5k on a decent daily driver capable of towing an inclosed trailer. spend the other $15k on a Formula Ford and enclosed trailer.

nate - had to throw out the "not even on the list" response

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by solo-x &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">spend $5k on a decent daily driver capable of towing an inclosed trailer. spend the other $15k on a Formula Ford and enclosed trailer.

nate - had to throw out the "not even on the list" response</TD></TR></TABLE>

my trailered race rig will consist of a kart trailer, 'cause I'm going to karting school immediately following graduation from college. I think a mini or an ITR could easily tow a kart trailer

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">cooperS</TD></TR></TABLE>

Really that's what I'm thinking right now. I really like how I could trophy on the stock shocks, since I won't have a surplus of money left in my racing budget and Mini's eat fronts like whoa

 

well im parital to mini's after seeing this thing https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1056610

 

05 Cooper S is a no brainer. But if you want to stay Honda then what about a Civic Hatch in HS? An ITR is a real bad choice as a daily driver (theft potential is so damn high), otherwise its the best Honda for stock (discounting the RWD S2K).

 

The only downside I see to the Mini is that I've heard they're not all that reliable. Apart from that (if it's even true), I think they're great cars. I'm assuming you're referring to the 05, with more power and the LSD.

Of course, $25K will buy one hell of a lot of car on the used car market...all depends on how competitive you want to be in something Nationally. For me, $25K would buy a damn nice used 911.

If you've got new Mini money to play with, you could also consider a WRX (another good D Stock car) or...shudder...a used STi. There was one at Carmax months ago for I think 28K.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">05 Cooper S is a no brainer. But if you want to stay Honda then what about a Civic Hatch in HS? An ITR is a real bad choice as a daily driver (theft potential is so damn high), otherwise its the best Honda for stock (discounting the RWD S2K).</TD></TR></TABLE>

I thought of that. My university happens to be in a not-so-savory part of town, but we have great security. I also haven't heard of overwhelming ITR theft in St. Louis, it seems to be more towards the coasts, but it is something to consider.

I did think of the EF Civic Si in HS, but finding that ever elusive rust-free, low mileage, pristine condition example is going to be a challenge. Plus, I suspect my sponsors won't be too keen on getting another 10+ year old car, no matter the price.

Really I would prefer something that won't have a ****-ton of quibbly, nick-picky things to deal with that are normally associated with an older car. If I went the civic route I'd want to refresh everything, and even go so far as building another engine for it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The only downside I see to the Mini is that I've heard they're not all that reliable. Apart from that (if it's even true), I think they're great cars. I'm assuming you're referring to the 05, with more power and the LSD.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've heard about questionable reliability as well, but I suspect that at this point they pretty much have all the bugs worked out, plus there is always warranty

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
If you've got new Mini money to play with, you could also consider a WRX (another good D Stock car) or...shudder...a used STi. There was one at Carmax months ago for I think 28K.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I like WRX's, but they just don't move me like the Cooper S. I'm pretty sure an STi is totally and completely out of the picture. Plus, my dad swore off subaru's after both mine and my sister's crapped out.

 

Cooper S

I drove my dad's (with a 15% pulley) on the interstate the other night and on one of the bigger interchanges I dropped it into third between two pickups that were slow and stepped on it and was plesenty suprised. The thing handles better than my EF, and the stock suspension is stiffer than my, well, stock+koni's. BMW has been a little retarted with some of their ECU software but other than that there a good bit of aftermarket support. The engines are stong and seem to be able to take abotu 400hp before you really have to do serious bottom end work; O'm not sure how much more you could get out of it though. It does have a power band, you don't get full boost aruond 4000rpm. They are fun little cars and if I totaled my EF tomorrow and the money appeared in my mailbox I'd have an 05 with the LSD and extra power.

 

I'd avoid the ITR if at all possible. Nothing says "girl repellent" like owning the same car as .RJ.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd avoid the ITR if at all possible. Nothing says "girl repellent" like owning the same car as .RJ. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, the ITR panty-drop factor went down several points across the nation when he picked his up. At least it is black and we can tell everyone it is an RS 5-lug.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sean O’Gorman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd avoid the ITR if at all possible. Nothing says "girl repellent" like owning the same car as .RJ. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'd be sure to get PY or CW if I go ITR

 

i get an ITR since it is a bit bigger than the mini for daily driving comfort.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kapao &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i get an ITR since it is a bit bigger than the mini for daily driving comfort.</TD></TR></TABLE>

actually, that's not entirely true. you obviously have never been in a Mini. They are surprisingly roomy, with way more headroom than integra's. Plus, the hatch can swallow just as much gear (tires and tools), if not more, than an integra

 

Me- 6'2"
Dad- 6'0"
GFather- 6'1"
Little Brother- 5'4"

All comfortably fit into mini for hour drive to huntsville for my sisters wedding.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by carl_aka_carlos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought of that. My university happens to be in a not-so-savory part of town, but we have great security. I also haven't heard of overwhelming ITR theft in St. Louis, it seems to be more towards the coasts, but it is something to consider.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Check out my "stolen" and "recovered" threads in the ITR forum. I live in KC, and thieves broke into my house to steal my R. Don't think for a minute that we're safe in the midwest.

 

You might want to look @ a Civic SI 1990-91 They have been doing remarkably well in STS.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by carl_aka_carlos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Mini Cooper S (insta-2005 GS National Champ? )
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Go for that!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jeb99lude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You might want to look @ a Civic SI 1990-91 They have been doing remarkably well in STS. </TD></TR></TABLE>

well, if I could win STS with a bone stock car they I think we have a winner.........

 

I haven't looked at this year's HS results too much, but don't discount the non-S Mini Cooper. My wife drives an '04, though my son and I had to agree not to autox it, yet...

We love it, though room in the "boot" is limited, with the rear seats up.

 

Damn, how'd I get dragged into this?

Anyways, rest up Carl