Yet another opinion Q...

I know this forum is up to its ears in which car which this that and another blahblahblah...well, heres another one.


I recently had an encounter on a new found backroad that is uninhabited and in the middle of nowhere. I was running pretty quick and it had been raining and i was late getting home and i swear every corner just wanted to kill me. Every time around every corner my rear end wanted to jump out on me, and its made me re-think my perfect autox car.

So what im asking is...would i be better off (handling-wise) with an '95 Acura Integra GS-R or '98 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS than my '90 240? Or any other not WAY expensive great handling moderatly powered cars?

Im soon to graduate high school and relatives have made me deals with automobiles and paying for them if i sold my car, so it needs to be something relatively new. Nothing older than a '95...speaking of, do you think a newer (S14) 240 would out handle the S13s?

the GSR isn't a very good autocross car in stock class, it can be decent in STS or DSP though. but it has too much flex to compete with the dominant cars in GS like the SI, Cooper S, and Neon ACR.

The 2.5RS is a great STS car as it has more power and torque than most STS cars yet doesn't understeer like most of the STS-legal sedans.

There are some competetive STS 240's, but you need wheels with the lowest offset you can run and the widest, stickiest, tires you can run.

Tein coilovers or another extemely damped shock system also helps immensely.

if the roads were wet then that's the problem. no car is gonna handle like a go kart in every situation. if your looking at the Imprezia RS, it's a nice car. there's a couple here in Tucson that autoX and they put down good times.

go get an eclipse/ talon. those things stick like no other! they also make decent numbers when stock. you can pick one up for a few grans still in good shape. just be sure to get the AWD Turbo (TSI, GSX) im planning one buying this december to replace my 01 eclipse.

better tires could fix your "problem"

but then again, so can driver's school.

a new car isn't the answer, new skill is.

it's always easier to say "it's the car..."

what IMHO would be best, if you have relatives who are going to give you gifts of that caliber... upgrade your suspension and see if you can take a driver's school. a HIGH PERFORMANCE driver's school, like Skip Barber, or Bondurant...

if you have the option of a new car that is lighter/more modable/better etc... remember that you will have to re-learn how to drive it and that will significantly reduce your proficiency with it.

it's best to put money into developing new skills, that is the one upgrade that you will always be able to apply to EVERY car you own.

Yes, i understand about the wet roads thing, but this was ridiculous trying to handle. And i am far but a "bad" driver...yes i could be better, but so could everyone.

And i know its not all the car, i just feel better, i can control a FWD or AWD better. Just how i learned maybe. Ive driven them all and my preference is with FWD...i think. I just dont feel safe "pushing" a RWD car around a sharp corner. And yes i can recover if i lose it, its fun sometimes. But its slower that way, and i wanna be as quick as possible because im going to get into somw AutoX when i get out of high school. Racing the roads is a way of life around here, more curves the better...i just wanna put my talent to good, SAFE, use. And im sortof interested in the Integra GSR...its a wee bit less cash than the Subie 2.5RS. And i strongly oppose DSMs...ive got an eclipse FWD and driven the talons...there just not for me. I wish i could afford one of the new Evos.

Tires... Suspension.

240sx's handle great, there are ways to keep them from being drifty. Tires and proper Suspension tuning are the key.

Well, under much debate, i think ive decided to keep the 240. Since i already have it and its potential to be a great handling car. Just wondering if it would abide by the rules(STS among others) if i put a newer (S14) engine in it? Basically same thing, just DOHC instead of SOHC. Mine has a few(250xxx) miles on it.

And just curious which suspension would you go with for all out great handling...as for the ride quality i dont care, i like em stiff. Im saving for a roll cage of some sort in the near future. so that should help too. What width wheel would you recomend? Looking for 17s preferably...but nothing thats more than the car is worth... ex. Advans. Thanks for all the advice and help so far...Ill be back.

Don't get 17"s, get 15 or 16. 17 is for show, not much tire wall on them

you'd be in SM if you swapped in a KA24DE.

Just try to improve your driving. The rain just changes the limits of your car. As you become a better driver, you'll sense that the limits have changed and drive within them.

Don't wait till after highschool to autocross. If you are going to do it, do it now. Start as young as possible if you want to get good. It will also give you a good idea of what your skill level is right now.