I've owned a an Integra GS 2001 for about 2 years and am looking to sell it, its just time for it to go. I really want to get into auto-Xing and have been looking at a wide range of cars. I am looking for a car that can easily be modded, is built around N/A or has a factory built FI option. It would not be stripped out or anything as I will need it for a DD and I want some creature comforts. Gas economy is important and the largest I will go is a V6 (I looked at US V8s but after factoring in gas, I was like ) I just wanted some feedback on what everyone here thinks is the best option that I have listed or provide some makes which I have yet to think of. I want something relatively new as well.

This is what I am looking at:

2005 RSX Type S
2005/2004 Mini Cooper S (I have a really odd liking for these cars, its kind of weird)
Used WRX
Used 350Z

I did searches on various cars, both archived and recent. Got a little feedback but not as much as I would like. Found a lot of good info on the Mini Cooper S and its handling.

Thanks a ton

 

If you can't stand to keep the Integra for a learner car then I suggest getting the Cooper S. Of the ones you listed it has the most potential in my opinion. Just make sure you get the optional limited slip differential.

Also, DO NOT under any circumstances go out and get race rubber. Run at least one season on the OEM street tires and learn from thier lower limits. Yes, you will get your butt handed to you many times over but you will be a better driver because of it. Trust me, I know what I'm saying.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Blue Si #72 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you can't stand to keep the Integra for a learner car then I suggest getting the Cooper S. Of the ones you listed it has the most potential in my opinion. Just make sure you get the optional limited slip differential.

Also, DO NOT under any circumstances go out and get race rubber. Run at least one season on the OEM street tires and learn from thier lower limits. Yes, you will get your butt handed to you many times over but you will be a better driver because of it. Trust me, I know what I'm saying.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I really just want to learn. I have priced out a Cooper S already and only added and LSD and the driving lamps for looks. For 23K all said and done and a good finance race, its at the top of the list. 6 Gears and a LSD, its a little monster.

The Integra is auto as well, I got it when I was living in DC and thought it would suffice, and its just left me really angry. Ho Hum..

I really just want to get some auto-x time and take a few weekend driving clinic classes. I really am about learning, not about dumping money. Just want a good base that is fun to drive and good to learn on with a practical flavor. I thought when the Cooper was debuting, it was going to be the next fad, but I'm happy to see that it has a particular market.

Thanks! Your rally outfitted Integra is ******* awesome! Keep the advice coming.

 

I have been wanting to try a Scion Tc out myself. But, the minis are very competitive.

 

miatas are definitely one of the best bang for the buck auto-x cars around

 

If you don't mind staying w/ a dc2, try looking for a '01 ITR w/ low miles. In its stock form it is a great beginner car at the auto-x

 

Reaper - I love the Miata but I need something with more space, I do a fair amount of moving because of my job and I just need the extra room but yeh, that is a fantastic little piece of work.

Jaa - I was thinking about an ITR with low miles but I am moving back out to California and I will only own one car. I can't bare the inconvience and constant worry of the car being stolen. Thats one of my reasons for getting rid of the Teg and trying to stay away from Honda/Acura.

Great suggestions but circumstances dictate...

 

'91-95 MR2

Cheap, reliable, competitive.

 

Civic Si... if you can find one that's in decent shape. It's THE car to have in STS. It has much more room then it seems from the outside. It's inexpensive, though it might take a bit of money to get into autocross shape.



If not for your need of room, I'd also suggest Miata or MR2.

 

Thanks for all the help. I am leaning towards a new Cooper S with LSD. But I will take a look at some of the other suggestions here. A MR2 might actually work, it would be a tight squeeze.

Thanks for all the help. I'll post when I acquire something new

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GetAwayDriver &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks for all the help. I am leaning towards a new Cooper S with LSD. </TD></TR></TABLE>

For my DD / AutoX requirements, this would probably be my choice if I was buying new. Real fun, real potential.

If I was looking for just fun, it'd probably be the Miata or S2000.

 

mini's are probably your best bet.

the WRX's are pretty competitive in STX too.

 

The Mini's seem to hold their own in stock class quite well. If you are dead set on buying a new car from the choices you gave, I think the Cooper S with LSD would probably be your best bet. Just keep it stock and learn how to drive. Get a good season under your belt and then maybe try your hand at competing in stock class. Minimal cost and VERY competitive.

 

As noted above, the Cooper S is a petty neat car if you're looking for new.

It does well Nationally in it's assigned Stock class. Or if you must tinker, it should do well locally in STX or SM (depending on how radical you want to get).

 

Since they seem to be in your price range a new mr2 spyder might be worth looking into. Ive gone to a few auto x's locally and they always seem to be very competitive.

Might be a dumb question, but have you ever test driven or spent time in a miata? My mom has an 04 that i like to occasionally beat the snot out of, and I dont find it uncomfortable at all. Im reasonably sized (5'11/ 170lbs) and I find it quite comfortable even on longer trips, and my mom has no problem ******** groceries in it. Just putting that in because I really like her car, really fun to drive and handles great.

 

Mini for sure if you're looking for nearly new.

 

I work for US Customs right now and am currently in the process of getting back into the military, point being I move a fair amount. Miata and S2000 are killer cars, I really love the newer Miatas and have read really great things about them as both stock and modded competitors. But I am required to move a fair amount and its just easier to be able to toss stuff in a hatch. Although an English Racing Green Miata and British Luggage rack may also suffice (I wish)

I am a rally fiend and love the WRX, practical and pretty ballsy. I would love to compete in SCCA rally, but obviously rallying taxes the **** out of the car and it would be unusable as a daily driver.

I really want to get out of just dumping money into a car. That was the problem with my Teg, I felt like I kept on needing to buy parts and other stuff for it. I have read really great things about the Cooper S out of the box. I really don't plan on modding the car for some time. I assume when you mean keep it stock you mean bone stock right? (Thats what I want to hear) When you say a good season, I assume you mean both in Solo events as well as training/clinics?

SM? STX? I searched SCCA and ran into the acronyms several times, but no solid definition. Care to enlighten?My friend has an 04 MR2S that he has tuned the **** out of. Its the only roadster he could fit in too, he's 6'3. Just last night we were setting up his air/fuel mapping and senors and all that great stuff. Its an awesome car and I have driven it several times. Just enough power, unique in design and a solid build. However, the space really is lacking, the interior is a bit... how do you say this... weird, sounds like a stupid reason but interior design is something very important to me. However, I will check it out now that you mention it. Love the Miata as well, I am going to see what the space is like on the newer ones, but when I went to Mazda Rev It Up, I recall them being a bit to small for the "Stow and Go" move. Whoever says its gay just should have their mouth stapled shut.

Seems like its the best option so far.

Thanks again for all the help. I really appreciate it and I am looking to get something by the end of May. Please if you have any suggestions or pointers, please enlighten me, I want to do this right the first time around.

 

I have been doing some reading had a quick question for all of you.

Reference is the SCCA Solo Rules handbook.
http://www.scca.com/_filelibra...s.pdf

Under the definition of a stock production car I understand everything except for the factory options and how that affects your class and the vehicle. My question therefore, would getting certain factory options available by Cooper, i.e. Cooper Works Brakes, keep me in the stock class or bump me from it?

Just want to be clear on this for my own well being.

 

STX = Street Touring Extreme
SM = Street Modified

The rules can be found here:
http://scca.org/_filelibrary/F...s.pdf

Overview:
Stock allows wear items to be replaced (shocks, tires, plugs, plug wires, oils/fluids, pads) and front swaybars and cat-back exhaust. Tires can be DOT racing type, but not true slicks. Classes are divided based on performance and car type (Super Stock is exotics, AS is S2000 and other sports cars, BS is high power cars like M3, CS is small sports cars like Miata and MR2, DS is lower power sports coupes and sedans, ES is older sports cars like early Miata and Porsche 944, FS is Mustangs and Camaros and other V8 cars, GS is low power but nimble cars like Mini Cooper S and CRX, HS is everything else including standard Mini Cooper and old Civics).

STX (which is one of the series of Street Touring classes). All the ST classes require street tires with a treadwear limit. Most allow shocks, springs, header, cat-back, camber kits, some sort of minor brake upgrade, swaybars, shock/strut braces, and new seats. Emissions gear stays in place for the most part.

SM is an everythign goes class for nominally streetable cars (versus the Prepared and Mod classes which are all out race cars). Interior stays in place for the most part, suspension is open/free but must use stock chassis, engine is open/free but must be of same manufacturer (Honda/Acura, Chevy/Pontiac, and a few oddball cases like Eclipses that can use Mitsu or Chrysler because they came with one of each from the factory). DOT racing tires allowed, but not true slicks.

The Mini Cooper S is currently the car to have in GS, especially the 2005 with LSD. It should also do pretty well in STX. In SM, it can do well locally, but this is a big money class, so you could be competing against cars that have 500hp and very trick suspensions.

 

Also, unless something has changed, the Cooper S is far more reliable than the standard Cooper. It costs a bit more, but between the extra power and the increased reliablity, it's probably worth it.

And you are right about the current Miata and MR-Spyder - they are useless if you need to haul anything. The Miata slightly less so than the Spyder, but still pretty bad. My current track car is a 97 Miata and I use a small trailer to haul my jack, tools, etc.

 

Thanks a lot, this has helped a ton. The Cooper S is the only version I would buy just to be clear. When you say "replaced" do you mean modded with something with a performance advantage or do you mean can be substituted with something close to the stock specs. With regards to the exhaust, and saying "replaced", I assume you/SCCA mean you can install a more free flowing exhaust.

The MRS is an extremely tight squeeze and unlike some MR and rear engine, the MRS front cargo bay is about as big a foot long foot tall Igloo cooler. I just remember my dad's Porsches and how the company did a decent job with making the actual front compartment usable.

Thanks again!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GetAwayDriver &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When you say "replaced" do you mean modded with something with a performance advantage or do you mean can be substituted with something close to the stock specs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The items I listed above in the Stock overview can be replaced with higher performing items (there are some limits, read the rules for details). So, Koni shocks, free flowing exhaust, etc. All parts that are not specifically allowed to be upgraded/replaced must remain stock. The history of the Stock rules had wear items being replaced with whatever you wanted. And, in the name of safety, the front swaybar was allowed as well (certain older cars had a tendency to spin out of control and flip over without one).

Again, as always, read the rules closely before making any changes.

 

Thanks again.

Another car that just popped into my head is the new Golf GTI. I read some info on it in a VW/GTI enthusiast magazine back in March that the new GTI is supposed to go back to its roots of being light weight and getting back to its pocket rocket origins. The last GTIs I know are pretty overweight and in my eyes, are nothing particularly special. Anyone know anything else about the new GTI? I know VWs don't have the best rep for reliability.

Thanks!

 

WRX Wagon

 

Love the team name "Angry Pork Racing." Ha, its the MassHole that recommends the wagon.

I've narrowed it down to a new Cooper S w/ Sport Package and LSD or a used/new WRX. The WRX wagon hasn't really caught on with me, but I'll give it a chance.

Thanks!