Best autocrossing/road racing vehicle for under $15,000?

ok, let's say that I had $15,000 to spend. What car would you purchase that would be a great car to start out with for autocross/road racing.

I know this might be a really hard question to answer.

I don't know whether to go with another Honda or whether or not there is another car out there that would be great for this kind of application. Whether it's a Subaru or a VW, I don't care. I just want to hear your input.

thanks for your time.

aj

 

1993-1995 RX7. Hands down, for a stock car, and that price range it cant be beat.

 

The problem is the motors only last around 70,000 miles or so.... turbos even less. If you can find a relatively stock FD3S that had the engine replaced/rebuilt by a reputable shop (Rotary Performance, PFS, etc) for that price it would be a good buy.

For a purely track car, the 944 Turbo is a great car, even in stock form.

Ryan

 

For autocross--get a 914 (you can find some CHEAP) and rebuild/have someone rebuild the engine. Get some Konis and it'll pull 1.0g easy. Learn to stir oatmeal really well (change gears ) and you'll have a monster of an autocross car. That'll be for about 5-6k. For 15k you could probably find a decent track-prepped one that'll run with/beat 911s

 

One...

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=80856

Two...

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=73322

Three...

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=54024

Most of those are a little cheaper than you asked...

Do you want a out-of-the box racecar? Or one that you can put the rest of the 15k into mods?

Do you want to stay with FWD, go to RWD/AWD?

15k JUST for a racecar or 15k for a racecar/autoxr/daily driver?

Andy - who enjoys making questions harder...

 

actually, I would like to build the car myself. So, $15,000 for a stock car + parts

thanks for all the info guys,

keep them coming,

later,

aj

 

WELL. In that case, Factory Five Cobra. Build away!! (And hope you don't race in the rain...)

 

Mazda Miata 10ae I have seen the for around 13 to 15,000 miles.

 

Here's some more info





Check out http://www.grmotorsports.com/ too, they're doing a project 914

 

Late third generation Camaro ('90-'92) or LT1 fourth generation Camaro ('93-'97). Extremely competitive in FS or ESP trim autocrossing, even if you get the 305c.i. third gen. If you get the 305ci, then you can also prep it for A Sedan roadracing....

Though, I have to ask.... do you mean real road racing, or are you actually asking about a car for open tracking (that is, track time, not competition)?

Karen

 

maybe a 93+ MR2 Turbo

 

competition maybe in the future.

But for right now, I am looking for a car that would be: daily driven, autoxer, and open tracker (I don't know if that made sense ).

I would probably just get a seperate car for competition on the track.

thanks for all the info guys,

drive safe,

aj

 

What she said.

Pat, who today helped pull an engine on a 2nd gen Camaro and drove a 4th gen Camaro

 

Well, that's what I bought my car for (plus drag racing), and look where it's gotten me. 214,000+ miles later, and it's still going strong.... I love my car!

Karen

 

Porsche 944 Turbo?

Or...a '70s porsche ('72 911 I think). I've heard that you can make early 70s Porsches sickeningly fast for not too much money.

 

Spec RX-7 (or Pro 7 or whatever your region calls them).

The only streetable, fully prepped race-car that I can think of.

1981-1985 Mazda RX-7 GS
$1000

Spec RX-7 parts package
$1500

Rebuilt front end
$600

Major tune-up
$400

Wheels and tires
$1000

Brakes
$300

Misc.
$200

Total:
$5000

That leaves $10k for entry fees, tools, and other stuff. Should be enough to get you through a season of HPDE and a comp school or two.

 

E30 M3, awesome examples are available for 9500-12k. Just get one that has been maintained and you are set. I did. Contrary to popular belief they are quite bulletproof, just give some attention. Or...a C4 corvette. If its going to be a track car it doesn't have to be pretty. I was looking at a 90 6sp at Corvettes at Carlisle last year it needed a front bumper for 8500. Low mileage and all. PLENTY of REAL RACE parts. You can have a ball with a pretty stock car with just bolt ons. My dad did for YEARS.


[Modified by DBurke, 11:40 PM 2/24/2002]

 

There are some really good suggestions in here, but all of them seem to be working under the premise that he has to spend the full $15k. My vote is to keep it simple and cheap. Get a CRX Si. It will cost you about $2500 (I bought my DX last year for $1400), used performance parts are all over the place, they are cheap to fix, they handle great out of the box (anybody remember the old Car and Driver test where they put a stock CRX up against a stock Lotus Esprit in a handling test, and the CRX won), reliable enough to use every day, and are surprisingly quick. Invest in some good rubber and used performance parts, and you'll do just fine for around $6k or so. AND, if something happens on the track, take all the performance parts off, buy another one for a couple grand, and you are back in business.

Matt

 

I have to go with Matt on this one. The CRX is a great choice and is a car that you can be competitive in both aspects autocrossing and road racing. It is easy to work on. Parts are cheap. You are already familiar with the honda civic platform with all the work you have done on your current civic. You can easly have a Regionally competitve GS or CSP autocross CRX for half the $15,000 you spoke of. And have a car that is good for track events when you are ready as well.

 

Miata

 

My pick would be a 1988-1991 CRX Si or a 1992-1995 Civic Si. They are fun cars in stock and C Street Prepared. Figure the car around $2000-5000, shove on some new shocks, brake lines, brake rotors, brake pads, a harness, some custom sized Panasport (to stay in stock) and some V700 tires and you will still have lots of mulla left over. No need to spend LOTS of dollars for a car.

AJ - since you just started just worry about getting seat time. I know the first event you were at was your FIRST event ever get lots of seat time and put the money towards the Evolution School in April at Camden. You will get more rewards and prolly better times with that than spending money on a car.


[Modified by CivicSiRacer, 10:41 AM 2/25/2002]

 

Miata (any of them, even the 1.6 L)
late 80s-early 90s CRX/Civic Si
91-94 Sentra SE-R
Obviously $15K would get these cars and LOTS of go-fast parts. Out of these, the Miata is probably the best. Not the fastest, but it's hard to beat a Miata for smiles per gallon. I have a **** eatin' grin for hours every time I get out of one.

Rumor has it, a smart shopper can get an early E36 M3 for right around $15,000 these days

[Homer Simpson voice]Mmmmm.....M3.....[/Homer Simpson voice]

 

Spec Miata




[Modified by Crazydave, 9:04 AM 2/25/2002]

 

Sport Compact Car Has blown 2 motors in their project RX7 that has seen alot of track time.... but then again, they seem to break everything they get their hands on, but 2 motors w/in 2 years is pretty bad. Overheat it once and its done, not that hard to do with the marginal (at best) stock cooling system. I was advised that if i were to buy a 3rd gen RX7 to find one with a new engine, and then put money away in my savings account every month - that way when i do need a new engine, i've already saved the money for it and the $4K bill wont hurt so bad.

Stolen from Drew:




[Modified by Type-RJ, 12:11 PM 2/25/2002]

 

I think their Project SE-R's are doing OK.

Although, last I saw, the B13 SE-R had those fugly rally lights on the front, so it may as well be considered dead.