Beater Rallycross car: what the heck am I doing here?

Brett - I'm with Jerry in that an MR2 might be worth a look. they're affordable, light, have good weight over the drive wheels, and you can go with a couple different driveline choices. I would think the big open courses would suit it well since you have time to get the car really settled into the turn and just punch it. engine work could require some acrobatics but whatever, hopefully you're not under the hood much unless its routine stuff. very fun street car when you aren't pounding dirt, too.

i know i told you about my experience riding in an SVT focus - the regular ones make a strong case too. if you can find a 2003 or 04 2.3 duratec ZX3 they are almost as quick as the SVTs. cheap, neat cars and they like to rotate. plenty 'o aftermarket.

it would be cool to see your Golf out there but it sounds like you might be getting burned out by it, maybe its time to cut that thing lose if its going to stress you out just getting it to the course. its hard to argue with the market right now too if you want to make a couple bucks....no doubt some flatbrimmed brah-dubber would be sweating all over it the second you put it up on craigslist, and you can laugh all the way to the bank.

i think in the end, you need another spinny dorito in your life, either gutted FC with a nice port job or a cheap RX8 shell.

Why not just a cheap old Forester or Impreza?

240SX doesn't have a ton of suspension travel, but the suspension is pretty decent, lsds are easy to find, and the stock engines are really available and pretty torquey. Aftermarket is huge. Relatively balanced and easy to drive, and with no AC and a battery moved to the back, the weight distribution is near 50/50. Hatch versions can swallow a lot of gear, too.

I drive a Forester now.

MR2 is interesting, but I'd want to immediately swap in a later model engine. Plus, one of the guys in the area kept breaking his. Granted, his was a 1st gen with a monster turbo setup, so it might not be representative of the breed.

I saw a Miata with a missing headlight cover, broken headlight and softball sized dent in the fender go for $500 at the salvage auction today. If I had room, it may have gone for $525.

I was thinking something like mine:

That's all of $1,900 glory right there. S model with the rear LSD & 5-speed. I cut the bottom coil off the springs and it went down 3/4". Much better ride height IMO.

Mine is in here: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/2004-forester-xt/55111/page1/

It does everything I ask it to do. I just want to stop asking it to rallycross for now.

Might look at this:

Green FTW.

Pictures show that the interior is beat, but is leather, so it has an LSD. It also has the appearance package, but I suspect that would be removed.

The Miata FAQ is great. I was trying to figure out why it had splash guards and side sills. Now I know.

The top looks like it's totally leakproof too! I'd call that an excellent beater!

Best rally car ever:

Buy a 4 door, they're $1000 or less in running, driving condition. Best combination of style and handling in the dirt. Plus tough as hell. I used to beat on my 2 door all day long at Rallycross events and then drive it home 3 hours. Had a b20 and 4.3 gears, with 195/65r15 rubber. 6500 rpm was just about 100 mph. That 2 liter four-banger sucking through dual carbs sounded great.

EvanB wrote: I have recently been thinking about a rx8 or FD rx7 for my next rallycross car, although I don't really believe in beaters for rallycross. My Miata has been my daily driver and rallycross car for the past couple years. I did get a ride in a "slightly" modified WRX yesterday and I can definitely see the appeal of a turbo AWD car.

finding a good rx8 candidate would be easy too. I have had the same thought. FDs are too expensive though for rallycross.

Both FD/rx8 have limited suspension travel so getting into modified class might require some extra attention.

Knurled wrote: So don't go sideways... problem solved!

ignore that comment.

I'd imagine that an FD roller is just as expensive/cheap as an RX-8 roller.

I know it's the popular attitude to hate on or discount the Nissan Z31 as a rallycross car, but I'm telling you that it's competitive as can be, tough, and cheap to maintain. 3 points championships for a whopping grand total of $1500 including the price of the car. And it's not pampered, we run 4 drivers in it at every event, it's working harder than any other car out there.

If you scoff at the idea of rallycrossing a Z31, ask some of our CFR region competition, including BMW E30s, if the Z31 can be discounted as a joke.

At our last rallycross, it was quicker than many of the AWD entries, the results this car has earned don't lie.

[URL=http://s114.photobucket.com/user/hotrodhabit/media/1a1529_zps913fa684.jpg.html][/URL]

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Best rally car ever: Buy a 4 door, they're $1000 or less in running, driving condition. Best combination of style and handling in the dirt. Plus tough as hell. I used to beat on my 2 door all day long at Rallycross events and then drive it home 3 hours. Had a b20 and 4.3 gears, with 195/65r15 rubber. 6500 rpm was just about 100 mph. That 2 liter four-banger sucking through dual carbs sounded great.

Gentleman, we have a winner

fidelity101 wrote: Both FD/rx8 have limited suspension travel so getting into modified class might require some extra attention.

Have you forgotten what my current rallycross car is?

Aeromoto wrote: I know it's the popular attitude to hate on or discount the Nissan Z31 as a rallycross car,

I don't discount them at all. I was just never a fan. If I see the right one (no T-Tops or sunroof), maybe.

Volvo 240 is also on the list. Same deal, it would have to be the right one.

My RX-8 shell is also on the list. Engines are still spendy, though. If I dump the shell, it sounds like there may be a few buyers around.

• B

One thing I like about the Z31 is that the VG30ET, even though it's turbocharged, it still has some available torque down low before the boost comes on, unlike rotaries or some of the smaller displacement turbo engines, which is a plus coming off corners or when a bit of throttle feathering finesse is required.

of the RWD options i'd go volvo 240 over any of the other options, just my opinion though (maybe too much JVL rubbing off on me)

1988 Mazda 323 Gtx Awd Turbo - $2000 (myrtlebeach)

89 Mazda 323 GTX AWD Turbo - $3000 (Andalusia AL)

In reply to Gasoline:

I love mazda hatches, but with transmission and transfer cases made of the rarest forms of glass known to man, i'd run far far away. Now a FWD BG chassis car is ripe for a dirt cheap and easy as pie dohc 1.8L BP motor swap, which happens to be very boost friendly.

You boneheads are all after the wrong car.
Mazda 323 GTX - $600 (Maryland Heights)

1988 mazda 323 gtx rally - $1000 (creston) 1988 Mazda 323 GTX For Sale - $2300 (West Orange, NJ) >

captdownshift wrote: In reply to Gasoline: I love mazda hatches, but with transmission and transfer cases made of the rarest forms of glass known to man, i'd run far far away. Now a FWD BG chassis car is ripe for a dirt cheap and easy as pie dohc 1.8L BP motor swap, which happens to be very boost friendly.

Yea, but think of the incredible amount of fun you can have for the brief 5 minutes before they blow up.

EvanB wrote:

fidelity101 wrote: Both FD/rx8 have limited suspension travel so getting into modified class might require some extra attention.

Have you forgotten what my current rallycross car is?

Your Miata may lack suspension travel, but it makes up for it by using every millimeter available.

Aeromoto wrote: One thing I like about the Z31 is that the VG30ET, even though it's turbocharged, it still has some available torque down low before the boost comes on, unlike rotaries or some of the smaller displacement turbo engines, which is a plus coming off corners or when a bit of throttle feathering finesse is required.

The only power problems I have are driver related - usually push down the skinny pedal too far on corner exit.

I'm more and more of the opinion that for best performance, 2wd shouldn't have a displacement over about 2.3-2.5l. More than that and there's just too much driveline inertia to be able to pedal the car very well.

AWD, I don't know the limits there, but grip isn't nearly as much of an issue there.

Gasoline wrote: 1988 Mazda 323 Gtx Awd Turbo - $2000 (myrtlebeach) 89 Mazda 323 GTX AWD Turbo - $3000 (Andalusia AL)

source some transmissions later non-US GTX transmissions with the purchase and this would be a great idea. When the stock one breaks you then have an amazing car. Might as well get the BPT too while your at it.

Knurled wrote: I'd imagine that an FD roller is just as expensive/cheap as an RX-8 roller.

You can buy a running driving rx8 for about 5k. It may not be the best but hell you can get a clean FD roller for about 5-7k but I guess if you found a beat up one for rallyX it would be around the 4k range still.

EvanB wrote:

fidelity101 wrote: Both FD/rx8 have limited suspension travel so getting into modified class might require some extra attention.

Have you forgotten what my current rallycross car is?

This is true...

Brett_Murphy wrote:

Aeromoto wrote: I know it's the popular attitude to hate on or discount the Nissan Z31 as a rallycross car,

I don't discount them at all. I was just never a fan. If I see the right one (no T-Tops or sunroof), maybe. Volvo 240 is also on the list. Same deal, it would have to be the right one. My RX-8 shell is also on the list. Engines are still spendy, though. If I dump the shell, it sounds like there may be a few buyers around. - B

Who says a renesis has to go in it? cheap alternative is adapt brackets and make carb'd NA powerplant.