Are Kia Soul approved by SCCA/NASA for autocross?

As the title says. Also, has any one driven or seen them autocross?

Looking at these and having driven one enough but not in anger, they are a good bang for the buck with space for the family and dog.

Not that I currently have time for autocross but would like to have the option. I know they are a little tall and probably push at the limit but they have the space needed. Would look for a base manual. They are advertised under $14k. Normally wouuld not buy new otherwise.

Need room for a baby and his belongings plus a german shepherd in the back. That is where the soul's flat hatch helps vs a lot of others angled back.

Have also look at kia sorento and other suv but that removes the option of fun driving.

thanks

from scca forum about a 2010 soul said: In order to be eligible for stock class competition, the rollover rating (SSF) must be 1.30 or over. the Soul is 1.27.

Just sayin'

That is on the visor of the GF's Soul. It is an unnerving car to chuck around tight corners. You really feel the distance between the suspension pivots and your head.

Having driven my mom's `14 I feel confident in saying that I would not trust it at an autocross, especially one at a track with banked ovals.

Hmm. My niece has one and I wanted her to do a PCA drivers skills day or a teen survival training class with one. Bad idea?

In reply to 4Msfam:
If that is what she will have to "survive" in then it is probably the perfect choice to do the class in.

In reply to MrChaos: " from scca forum about a 2010 soul said:

In order to be eligible for stock class competition, the rollover rating (SSF) must be 1.30 or over. the Soul is 1.27. "

It seems the 2014 soul's track is .6 inches wider and the wheelbase an inch longer but not sure if that is enough to change the rating.

What I really need is a mix of my '99 jeep cherokee space and my '05 MINI driving manners. Is there such a beast?

NoBrakesRacing wrote: What I really need is a mix of my '99 jeep cherokee space and my '05 MINI driving manners. Is there such a beast?

Lowered 2wd Cherokee? Look at the one that did the challenge.

NoBrakesRacing wrote: In reply to MrChaos: " from scca forum about a 2010 soul said: In order to be eligible for stock class competition, the rollover rating (SSF) must be 1.30 or over. the Soul is 1.27. " It seems the 2014 soul's track is .6 inches wider and the wheelbase an inch longer but not sure if that is enough to change the rating. What I really need is a mix of my '99 jeep cherokee space and my '05 MINI driving manners. Is there such a beast?

CTS-V, Legacy or German station wagon. The actual usable space is similar and they are low enough to avoid the rollover issue. The Legacy wagon is the cheapest of the bunch and they aren't as desired on the used market as a WRX or Impreza wagon, plus the flame six sounds better, IMO.d

The challenge cherokee had given me some very bad ideas and of I were to build a car I might go that way.

I like the cadillac cts wagon but I don't think they are on my price range. . The NA 4 cylinders subaru have left me under whelmed and seem to have a lot pod miles on my price range. The german wagons scare me with their reliability, but really like the bmw 3 and 5 series looks.

The track on the soul is 62 and over all height is 63 so on that graph is acceptable but not sure of the '14 SSF.

Thanks for the ideas, the search is also fun. Of course SWMBO usually disagrees on ask my choices.

Its hard to type on the phone one handed while trying to rock a one month old, sorry for the auto correct.

Which is why is suggested the flat 6 legacy. More power and more importantly, torque without the added ongoing expense of the turbo 4's.

pretty much everybody had a go at decent wagons at one point in time. You could also look at the is300 wagon or a Volvo or Saab wagon. Even the Escort wagon can be fun with some parts swapping with the GT or Protege.

I agree with you on the german rigs, only way I'd get one of those would be if it was old enough to be fairly robust, reliable and easy to maintain or brand new with a warranty and a plan to ditch it once the warranty is up.

Another idea would be to buy a small kart that you can pull on a trailer to the autocross or a Karting venue. Even a real TAG Kart would be fast enough to keep you very busy on course, but the maintenance costs should be lower and your kid(s) could race it once they are old enough.

You are correct in that it may be easier to have a dedicated fun car or Kart, than try to have one car do everything.

Only problem is that I already have the cherokee for boat towing and dog, home depot duty. Not really an everyday car with its mileage, MPG and lack of modern safety improvements.

I also have an acquired pre-marriage triumph spitfire in need of complete once over which I would love to get fully drivable (have gotten it running) but probably would never get to.

Smart man would sell it to buy some other running project but that is hard to justify to the wife, she is fine with me selling it, not getting another project. I understand the need to have four cars for 2 drivers, but she doesn't for some reason...

Thanks, I'm sure I'll have more questions from future ideas.

My wife drives a Soul, and it is a great car. I would not autocross it, ever.

Local regions can make exceptions. When I first joined the SCCA I had the '06 Scion xB, specifically a no-no. But since I had lowered it, strut brace, rear sway bar, etc they let me in.

find the nicest and most expensive e46 touring you can. it'll be cheaper than the soul, and superior by every measure. they're also not that complicated of a car.

Protege5?

A Mazda 5 sounds like a good choice for your needs. More space than a Soul in the back.

NoBrakesRacing wrote: What I really need is a mix of my '99 jeep cherokee space and my '05 MINI driving manners. Is there such a beast?

Does it have to be new? As mentioned earlier, I started in a '06 Scion xB with some modifications. Probably same/more space as the Jeep, and with the mod's it can handle some fun.

Veloster. Turbo. done.

GMC Syclone/Typhoon. Done.

Thanks for the comments. I guess it's turned into a what car thread.

It does not have to be new, just newish. At least 05 but better '10 or better. Would prefer around $10k or under but may go to $15k for the right one. Mostly as a family car I want reliability, safety features and wife approval.

That takes out the Syclone/Typhoon twins out of the picture, plus the difficulty of finding an unmolested one.

Veloster could be fun but would not have the need space in the hatch for the dog. About a 30x30x32 high box is what seems to be needed now.

E46 touring is a nice option but can't seem to find one on my price range.

I was seriously looking at the Mazda5 but it's still minivan. Hard to to get passed that but not impossible.

Going to deal with baby now, will continue later.

Since it hasn't been really answered, I don't think the Soul is on the exclusion list. Its only excluded due to the SSF # in post #2 - which would require someone at tech to turn you away IIRC. If you lower it and widen the track, the SSF# will become more favorable and it will be allowed.

In conclusion, the solution is the same as with all cars: lower it and put wider wheels/tires on it

That's a good point Darwin. Does any anyone have the SSF after the 2014 model changes?

Probably would not lower it at first, maybe after a year or two cut half a spring turn. Wider tires/wheels are a better probability.

Speaking of the Mazda5, here's Javelin's now dead Mazda 5 testing the autocross course at one of the Porsche Club events last year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55b6AY2BjJI