New Autocrosser

Hey guys , I am just wondering what cars are best for autocross I know about the 240's and rx7's and hondas and stuff but what are some other good autocross cars to begin with. I was planning on getting a 2nd gen RX7 N/A but unfortunatly there are not many to be found around me. What are some other cars that are good for autocross.

comon fellow autocrossers i need your help

There are classes for almost every car on the road. But the better ones are "sporty" or performance cars with a manual trans. Because these cars tend to be built to "be abused" and can take the heavy suspension loads and sustained redline running.

And realistically it's not the car it's the driver. See my signature.

I've sen in person a $125,000 Ferrari who was 10-15 seconds slower than me. It was actually funny to see since he was bashing all our Hondas and Acuras.

I know someone who has a 67hp Fiat and just cleans house against bigger hp cars. He really drives the snot out of that little car :)

My pick of good autocross cars to start out with:
1988-1991 CRX Si
1992-1995 Civic Si
1989-1991 Civic Si
1999-2000 Civic Si
1992-1995 Civic Dx
1997-2001 Integra Type R
1988-1991 CRX HF
Honda S2000
Miatas (any year)
VW Rabbits
Ford Focus
Mini Cooper (base model)

miatas and corvettes are some of the fastest i've seen, but i think it really comes down to what you would enjoy driving the most

thanks for reviving a two month old thread

240..since you are in a rear drive, i would stick with the rear drive! real race cars are rear drive! you can drive anything out there, but how is your budget? for some cheap dollars, your present car can handle a few training years.

Originally posted by redimpss5
240..since you are in a rear drive, i would stick with the rear drive! real race cars are rear drive! you can drive anything out there, but how is your budget? for some cheap dollars, your present car can handle a few training years.

Actually you are wrong. The 240 is a boat. Very heavy, truck engine, low redline. Admittly it's is one of the few RWD cars allowed in STS, but I've never seen a 240 really competitive locally or Nationally. One guy in my class has a 240SX SE and he fairs well - I just wish he would get some better tires to see how that car would really perform.

yea civic, you are kinda right. i just like to see anyone come out to run what they got. i could'nt afford a race car when i started, and my first auto-x car was a 95 chevy impala ss. yes, not a record breaker, but after a few mods, i do have one first place in esp, (with four people in the car too) which out west here, we have about 25 cars n that class, and they are mustangs and camaros and stuff. after i beat my impala, i did buy a camaro, and now i am learning that car. anything you have on you drive way can be fun!

Originally posted by redimpss5
yea civic, you are kinda right. i just like to see anyone come out to run what they got. i could'nt afford a race car when i started, and my first auto-x car was a 95 chevy impala ss. yes, not a record breaker, but after a few mods, i do have one first place in esp, (with four people in the car too) which out west here, we have about 25 cars n that class, and they are mustangs and camaros and stuff. after i beat my impala, i did buy a camaro, and now i am learning that car. anything you have on you drive way can be fun!

Well see this guy: http://www.scca-susq.com/images/photos/large33.jpg

He just missed first place by a few points. He kicked Mustang and Firebird butt with his Lincoln Type R :) Amazing driver.

wow! now that kicks butt!

now back to the 240 sx! this is the same car that nissan made the shylane from! that is one bad ass player. all the suspension parts from the skylane will fit on the 240 and in the real world, horsepower is only part of the car to go fast! the driver with good skills (as we have seen in a couple pics) can post some good times!

Originally posted by redimpss5
now back to the 240 sx! this is the same car that nissan made the shylane from! that is one bad ass player. all the suspension parts from the skylane will fit on the 240 and in the real world, horsepower is only part of the car to go fast! the driver with good skills (as we have seen in a couple pics) can post some good times!

Well first of all it's SKYLINE not Shylane or Skylane.

And even if all the pieces from the Skyline would be put onto the 240SX you'd be in such a difficult class you would regret ever doing this swap.

CivicSIRacer, The 240 with some suspension mods and a good driver make good times. Noted, that it is a boat in stock form compare to a more nimble 200NX and civics, but they can do the job with the right set-up and driving technics.

S13 is the lightest 240 sx and getting the later model is better since it's twin cam instead of sohc. The so called boat can produce 180hp on the wheel with minor mods.



redimpss5 My suggestion is, read the rule book and build an autocross car that you're familiar with in the class you want to run. Do not build a car and try to look for a class that you'll be legal in, 9 out of 10, you'll be in the class that you won't be competitive in.

If you have a 240 get a rear drive car or another 240, change all the bushings and shocks and heavier swaybars, run it in stock class for 6 or more events before going to STX/S or Street prepaired. Seat time is one of the key to be competitive and money to setup your car correctly.

I'm not the quickest driver in my region, but I did manage to get FTD once in 2000 and I drive a Corolla GT-S and beat the national champion drivers.

Being competitive is all about knowing your car ans learning how to harness your skill with what you have. You can get a turn key WRX and typeR, win events instantly, but you'll get upset if you get beaten by an 85 civic with b16a or a even worst, A COROLLA.

This is just my point of view.

Originally posted by sprinter-ae86
CivicSIRacer, The 240 with some suspension mods and a good driver make good times. Noted, that it is a boat in stock form compare to a more nimble 200NX and civics, but they can do the job with the right set-up and driving technics.

S13 is the lightest 240 sx and getting the later model is better since it's twin cam instead of sohc. The so called boat can produce 180hp on the wheel with minor mods.


We had this discussion on another board. Take a well prepped Car A that weighs 2200lbs and has 120hp, and a 240SX that has 180hp. And Car A will always win. You can brake later (being on the gas makes times drop), and tires are not overheated as much on a lighter car. Which is why a 1989 Civic Si has won Nationals twice so far.

But locally the 240SX should do well if done right.

I agree 100% with everything you just said, but no one even attempted to bring a 240SX in the nationals. And if someone did, the person is still a novice in the nationals and can get to exited and make mistakes.

And, if said driver won nationals with a 240SX, could one assume that said driver has greater driving skills than his front-wheel driven predecessors?????:devil:

Yes and No. We can never really tell until we get a various skilled drivers to test and tune the car with all skill level to compair it with.

A rear wheel drive driver, may be better driving a front wheel drive car and vice versa or an awd driver might be better in fwd and rwd driver be better in awd.

But the driver who's familiar and confident with the car he drives always have the wining advantage. Autocross is not just cars and skill, it's also a mind game and you have to feel your car can give you it's 100% so you can give your 100%.

Autocrossers with trailers can push their cars harder becasue they know if it breaks, they can still take it home and go to work the next day. Other guys and gals like us, dependon the car to get us to and back from work everyday is affraid to push their cars becasue of fear.

_______________________________________________

Now having a 240 SX in stock class and just having koni double adjustable, bigger swaybars, and hoosiers, can be competitive againts any other cars. youjust have tohave the right setup and driving skills for that setup.

it's not magic that you'll be fast after the first run with your new shocks, you still have to tune it with your driving style. Same goes with tire presures and swybar adjustments.

AGAIN, DRIVE THE CAR YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH AND ENJOY.



:)

i would imagine a porsche 944 would be at the top too... great handling and good acceleration. what do you guys think? (i've never autox'ed)

There are lots of classes and of course each class has a top dog or two that are the best cars to have for that class.

But I've never see a Porsche 944 up there. Too heavy and not enough power to get it past (I think it's in B stock) past the Porsche Boxters.

There are lots of classes and of course each class has a top dog or two that are the best cars to have for that class.

But I've never see a Porsche 944 up there. Too heavy and not enough power to get it past (I think it's in B stock) past the Porsche Boxters.


I meants the 944 turbo like an '89

Autocrossing is the only form of motorsports where a 80HP Civic can run with a 400HP Corvette. If you are lucky enough to have a course designer that has a FWD low HP car then you will see nothing but tight turns and no straightaways long enough to get moving.

That list of good Autcorss cars is somewhat biased as far as I could see.

Want a really well balanced car that is very well behaved? Get a c-5.

Want something to zip around with Miata or Mini Cooper.

I say mini cooper with reservation because I am not a fan of FWD cars in preformance driving. The front wheels are working too hard. I love my Mini but it does not handle as well as my RX-7. The front tires start to give up after abuse they are just too busy.

I would not recomend an RX-7 for Autocrossing its classing is bad and it is hard to be competative. The only class RX-7's are doing well in right now is B-Prepared and the SCCA is looking into rule changes to slow it down and make the Corvettes faster to "even things up". The RX-7 is the red headed step child of the SCCA SoloII the rules are just so in most classes to keep them out of the running. Now they are dominating BP and the rules are needing a changing. Go figure.

To do it all over again? I would get a C-5 and run in SS. Thats a drivers class 50 of the smame car at the nationals.

As far as bringing back a 2 month old thread dont worry I see threads that I posted in and they sit for 4 weeks easy. 2 months is nothing here.

I ran my daily-driven '01 Mitsubishi Mirage through the cones. It was fun to push my little 92hp (+/-), 2100lbs car around the course. I ran one race this past season just to have the experience... my brother was right, it's intoxicating.

I'll be joining the SCCA over the winter and getting ready for next seasons races in my region.

Here's my contribution - a spin at 70mph :)

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4288807155&p=4207222708&idx=19

civicsi...i love the part in the sig with the cone...its hilarious :grinno:




btw how did you get sponsors for auto-x?

Thanks!

I got most of my sponsors because I've been doing this for so long (about 7 years). I picked up my 1st sponsor 6 years ago because I shopped at his store alot. My 3 other sponsors were by chance. Falken saw me instructing and racing at Carlisle Fairgrounds for the Custom Compact show. He knew someone else that might be interested in sponsoring me - and that's how it started :)

I now have a video packet I send out to perspective sponsors with all info and such.

Thanks!

I got most of my sponsors because I've been doing this for so long (about 7 years). I picked up my 1st sponsor 6 years ago because I shopped at his store alot. My 3 other sponsors were by chance. Falken saw me instructing and racing at Carlisle Fairgrounds for the Custom Compact show. He knew someone else that might be interested in sponsoring me - and that's how it started :)

I now have a video packet I send out to perspective sponsors with all info and such.



that is sweet...btw do you have a dedicated racing car or you use your street car?

Also i do not want to pry but i'm curious...do those sponsors pay you or just give you free stuff? And if they pay is it more a token amonut or some good cash....I'm asking this because in about two weeks i'll be do with college so i'll have a job and more money and time to go racing regularly and some sponsors would be nice to help aleviate the costs.

Btw i do plan to have a second car just for racing so i could push it to the max without being afraid of losing my only car.

that is sweet...btw do you have a dedicated racing car or you use your street car?

Also i do not want to pry but i'm curious...do those sponsors pay you or just give you free stuff? And if they pay is it more a token amonut or some good cash....I'm asking this because in about two weeks i'll be do with college so i'll have a job and more money and time to go racing regularly and some sponsors would be nice to help aleviate the costs.

Btw i do plan to have a second car just for racing so i could push it to the max without being afraid of losing my only car.

I use my daily driver. Although I'm looking for a 2nd car at the moment and converting my Si back to stock.

I let my sponsors choose what they want to do. In all cases though I've received product - about $8000 worth of free items.

If you win you get sponsors and you get good stuff for your car for next to nothing. If you loose you get nothing.

Multi national champs such as Steve O'bleans in his BP RX-7 get lots of stuff for free. I heard last winter he got a whole new suspension for his car, top of the line. It makes it harder for the everage guy to step up and win.

I own my own company so I sponsor me. I get whatever I want all I have to do is ask myself. :D

A 240 with a sr20 and some teins and tires would kick the shit out of a lot of cars in autocross. But IMO a 240z or 280z would be pretty Ideal