Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Cheap Autocross Car 1 2 3

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  Nov. 27, 2008 4:58 p.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

  This is going to be a two part question.

  I am looking to get back into autocross racing. The season is over for a few months so I have a little time to decide what I'm doing. What would you recommend as a good/cheap autocross car. I'm looking in the under $2500, ready to race. I don't mind doing suspension upgrades but I'm not real interested in doing extensive engine work at this time. It would be an added bonus if I could run the car in local autocross and also take it to next years challenge.

  At the same time I need to sell the project in my garage. http://bham.craigslist.org/cto/923506003.html
  I put a price on it but have gotten no interest. How much do you all this it's worth.

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  Nov. 27, 2008 5:15 p.m. neon4891 Dork

  Miata!

  edit unless your like me and cant find a cheep miata for sale within 100 miles

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  Nov. 27, 2008 5:19 p.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

  I missed a $900 miata last night by a few hours.

  1985 Mazda RX-7 - $2009 Challenge Car, 1977 Honda Civic - $2010 Challenge Car, 2003 Toyota Echo - The DD, 1999 Volvo V70 GLT - The Family Car

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  Nov. 27, 2008 5:23 p.m. Travis_K Reader

  For under $2500, anything thats in good mechanical shape and it fun is about all you would be able to worry about. Miata, Neon, Mazda MX6, Civic SI (88-91), Subaru impreza (awd 2.2 around 97 or so), or a Saturn SC2. Really though, the only good autocross cars are farily new or modified alot.

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  Nov. 27, 2008 6:09 p.m. Acesanugal New Reader

  What you want is either an RX-7 GSL-SE ('85 only) or an FC (Second gen) non-turbo. Why do I say non-turbo? You can drive it to the autocross, autocross it and then drive it home without having blown it up. I'm sorry, but for less than $2,500 you're not going to find a well looked after TII RX-7. It just won't happen.

  $1,200 will buy you a pretty decent Series Four car...go for the GXL as it has the big brakes and the five-lug hubs.

  If you were to spend $400 on O.K. KYB cores with $275 on Racing Beat springs...you'd still have enough dough left over to purchase used, older Racing Beat exhaust...go for the header first...and if you have to, custom straight-pipe it all the way back. It'll be loud, it'll be proud and it'll be so much fun after you slap some RT-615s on it and some new Hawk pads.

  -Collin

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  Nov. 27, 2008 6:29 p.m. clownkiller New Reader

  You have a few months, finish the RX7. It's a win, win situation....the car gets finished, and you have something to autocross. See you at the Challenge.

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  Nov. 27, 2008 7:36 p.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

  Travis_K wrote: Really though, the only good autocross cars are farily new or modified alot.

  I haven't autocrossed in years. I'm really just looking to have fun for a season or two and then possibly buy a nicer car.

  clownkiller wrote: You have a few months, finish the RX7. It's a win, win situation....the car gets finished, and you have something to autocross. See you at the Challenge.

  The reason I'm thinking of selling is that I don't have enough time to finish it in any reasonable amount of time. Anybody in the area want to come help get it on the road one weekend?

  1985 Mazda RX-7 - $2009 Challenge Car, 1977 Honda Civic - $2010 Challenge Car, 2003 Toyota Echo - The DD, 1999 Volvo V70 GLT - The Family Car

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  Nov. 27, 2008 8:16 p.m. m4ff3w Dork

  Fiat X1/9

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  Nov. 27, 2008 9:22 p.m. ReverendDexter Reader

  $2500 ready to race to me means finding a car priced under $1500. Any rotary that I can find under $1500 needs a rebuild, and rebuilding rotaries isn't exactly cheap.

  I'm a big fan of just about anything RWD Toyota made before 1988. Mk I MR2s can be found in that price range, as could '85 and earlier Celicas, pre-AE86 Corollas, SR5 AE86s, and Cressidas.

  '98 Cobra; '96 Bronco; '77 Celica GT Liftback; 7 other projects scattered to the 4 winds...

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  Nov. 27, 2008 10:36 p.m. Capt Slow Reader

  IF you don't mind FWD the CRX si are cheap, readily available, and at least in the STS2 class, seem to give the miatas a hard time.

  1995 subaru impresa -- Future project | 2006 Mazdaspeed6 -- Daily Driver

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  Nov. 27, 2008 11:47 p.m. JeepinMatt New Reader

  How about a Starion/Conquest? Miatas are good, but everywhere. 3rd gen F-body would be good if you get a stick, which means buying a 305. Handles better than many think. '88 Fiero, with all the suspension mods they did that year, would be a fun one. Or go pick up an E30. Cheap, fun and relatively forgiving. You'll find them everywhere for under 2.5k. I got mine for just under 2grand. Bought new by an elderly lady, then sold to her neighbors/family friends. Bought it from them. No accidents, almost no rust, and no major mechanical problems.

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  Nov. 27, 2008 11:58 p.m. NYG95GA Dork

  Neon.

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  Nov. 28, 2008 5:34 a.m. aeronca65t Reader

  Buy my ~Escort GT #909 NASA Racer~

  $1800

  Current NASA race logbook, full cage, spare wheels, spare engine, etc. See link above for more details, pictures and videos.

  

  Enjoy Every Sandwich ~ W.Z.

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  Nov. 28, 2008 8:01 a.m. PorschesOnTheCheap New Reader

  Why not a second-gen VW GTI? The 8-valve 1985-92 GTIs are practically free around here.

  My preference would be an older Porsche 944...but I'm a little biased on that one. Good luck!

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  Nov. 28, 2008 10:20 a.m. Autolex Reader

  miata. just wait, the right one will make itself known.

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  Nov. 28, 2008 11:13 a.m. Travis_K Reader

  Fiero would work, starquest, 944 and mk2 vw are too old to be gotten in autocross ready shape for $2500. A Saturn SC2, Mazda MX6 gs, neon, or miata would be my top choices for stock class cars that are that cheap, if you want something youcan modify later and still be competitive, a rabbit or protege lx for FSP wouldnt be bad. I think they moved neons to FSP too, so that is another possibility.

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  Nov. 28, 2008 11:17 a.m. VWguyBruce Reader

  I'm with Porsche guy, A2 Gti or Jetta. For the money you're looking to spend, a sorted SCCA/NASA race car could be found pretty easily. You might even find an A1 car with a trailer for $2500.

  Sent you PM with a possible solution to your RX7 issue :D

  I miss my Dork status.

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  Nov. 28, 2008 1:05 p.m. Keith SuperDork

  A kart.

  If you're looking to have fun and not necessarily be competitive, run whatever. Anything is fun when you're driving the wheels off it, although it may not be rewarding.

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  Nov. 28, 2008 7:40 p.m. fastx19

  Fiat X1/9 autox one just one time and you will be hooked. I have been going to autox events for 18 years I have owned and raced 4 Honda’s and 2 VW’s I ran my brothers X1/9 on a fun run and was just as fast as my Honda and a lot more fun to drive that was it I was hooked found one for 500 bucks and have had it for 12 years now. The last autox a 60k Lotus Exige with R compound tires only got me by 1.424 and I say only it’s a 60k car it should bet me .Get an x1/9 run it a season or 2 and the make it a better car it doesn’t take much and if you still want more throw a K20 in it or on the cheep a Dodge 2.2 turbo like my friend Mike by the way he beat the Lotus Exige for les thane 3K. On top of all that it’s different I love the Miata but if you want to turn heads get an X1/9.

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  Nov. 28, 2008 8:17 p.m. jwdmotorsports Reader

  I looked around at X1/9's. It seems like they aren't the easiest car in the world to find.

  They remind me of a first gen MR2. How comparable are they?

  1985 Mazda RX-7 - $2009 Challenge Car, 1977 Honda Civic - $2010 Challenge Car, 2003 Toyota Echo - The DD, 1999 Volvo V70 GLT - The Family Car

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  Nov. 29, 2008 12:50 a.m. fiat22turbo SuperDork

  Better, the MR2 was a heavier, less rust-prone, more reliable copy of an X-1/9 without the style.

  X-1/9's aren't hard to find, if you know where to look. Hit up xwebforums.com and mirafiori.com and connect with some local fiatsi in your area.

  Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town.

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  Nov. 29, 2008 3:34 a.m. JeepinMatt New Reader

  Stupid question - have you checked GRM's classifieds? There's an RX7 on there for 2.5 grand that sounds like it's good to go

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  Nov. 29, 2008 9:27 a.m. fastx19

  jwdmotorsports in what part of the Country do you live ?there is also FLU club witch stands for Fiat Lincia unlimited and they have local chapters like here in Chicago we have CHI-FLU. fiat22turbo is right xwebforum rocks I go on the forum 3 to 4 tims a day you will meat some of the best people there .one is Steve Hoelscher he is a 5 time National autox champion in a X1/9 he now runs a first gen MR2 and there is so meny more vary cool people.

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  Nov. 29, 2008 9:42 a.m. m4ff3w Dork

  MR2 has more power but is heavier.

  I'd wager that most parts are not any cheaper on the MR2 if buying new, though they may be easier to find in the local junkyard.
  

  Parts prices for the X1/9 are pretty damned cheap, check out http://www.vickauto.com/cgi-bin/store/

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  Nov. 29, 2008 11:09 a.m. Travis_K Reader

  X1/9s are cool, you have to be pretty sort to fit in one with a helmet though. They were too fast when they were newer to be classed competitively though. It just depends on what you want to do though. Personally, id look for a car that did well in stock class 10 years ago or so and you can still get enough stock parts for to keep legal, and have fun beating all the people with the spec car for that class that cant drive it well enough. lol I havent ever owned a car in good enough mechanical condition to autocross yet, but maybe someday I will actually do it.

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