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92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
4/6/11 10:46 a.m.

And you felt like utterly dominating ST for a year or two before SCCA ruled the car into another class like the Civic.

What would you use?

Just for fun discussion purposes... i don't want to get into the SCCA politics or any of that junk.

So... the following are out of the question. What would you use?

Honda Civic (86-2000)
Acura Integra (90-2001)
Sentra SE-R (91-94)
Nissan NX2000 (91-94)
Toyota Celica (94-2005)
Dodge/Chrysler Neon
Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS (98-2001)
Nissan 240SX

Per Schroeder
Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director
4/6/11 10:49 a.m.

Funny, I'm thinking about building a car for this 'new' class for 2012.

My wife wants another MINI, but we've also been discussing the RSX.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
4/6/11 10:55 a.m.

I'm thinking about it, too... i already have 3 interesting stand-out ideas, just waiting to see what everyone else says out of curiousity.

Per, you guys need another Celica project, or an MX6.

Love, your resident fanboi.

Per Schroeder
Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director
4/6/11 10:58 a.m.

I don't see a lot of advantage of the MX6 or the 5th gen Celica over the RSX---which has much wider appeal/support.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
4/6/11 11:00 a.m.
Per Schroeder wrote: I don't see a lot of advantage of the MX6 or the 5th gen Celica over the RSX---which has much wider appeal/support.

I meant in general... i don't think the MX6 is even ST-legal, to be honest. I think it goes from stock class to STX.

Looking at "newer" cars, i think the RSX would be a pretty solid choice.

The only Celicas that would stand a chance (a dubious one, at that ) would be the 88-89 GTS or the 92-93 ST i think.

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt Dork
4/6/11 11:07 a.m.

I'd probably go with one of these:

'93-'97 Mazda MX-6 LS or Probe GT - Not as much aftermarket as I'd like, but they did very well in G/Stock for a long time and have a pretty low curb weight for their size and horsepower.

MINI Cooper - While these were tops in a slower class, they're newer and have better aftermarket support.

If I am budgeting it, it would have to be the Probe / MX-6.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
4/6/11 11:09 a.m.
MadScientistMatt wrote: I'd probably go with one of these: '93-'97 Mazda MX-6 LS or Probe GT - Not as much aftermarket as I'd like, but they did very well in G/Stock for a long time and have a pretty low curb weight for their size and horsepower. MINI Cooper - While these were tops in a slower class, they're newer and have better aftermarket support. If I am budgeting it, it would have to be the Probe / MX-6.

I need to look at the rules again... i could have sworn they weren't ST legal...

moxnix
moxnix Reader
4/6/11 11:15 a.m.

My feeling is that there will be a good number more cars added to that list before any reorg goes thru.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
4/6/11 11:24 a.m.
moxnix wrote: My feeling is that there will be a good number more cars added to that list before any reorg goes thru.

Probably, but just for now, trying to stimulate a good old bench racing discussion.

My picks?

MX3 GS
Mazda 323GT
88-89 Celica GTS

EricM
EricM Dork
4/6/11 11:25 a.m.

<-- building the Audi 90 Quattro 20V to run in ST.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
4/6/11 11:25 a.m.

Anybody got a link to the most up to date Classification guide?

White_and_Nerdy
White_and_Nerdy Reader
4/6/11 11:25 a.m.

It's funny - with a couple of mods I'm making this year, my Miata goes from ES to STS. If I take those same 15" wheels and put them on my bone stock 91 SE-R, with the proposed rule change it, too, would run in STS. I suspect with other ST legal mods, the SE-R could run circles around many of the current STS cars, particularly on larger, more open courses where it would have a power advantage. But on tight, twisty courses like we run locally I think the Miata's handling would still win.

DaveEstey
DaveEstey HalfDork
4/6/11 11:36 a.m.
Per Schroeder wrote: Funny, I'm thinking about building a car for this 'new' class for 2012. My wife wants another MINI, but we've also been discussing the RSX.

I gotta tell you the rear suspension on the RSX is kinda wonky. It takes a lot more spring to get it to do what you want.

Fun cars though.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
4/6/11 11:48 a.m.

Guess i'm dumb.... the MX6/Probe is ST legal.

HRM. I like an MX6 LS for ST, too, then.

I'm still sticking with my 323GT as the dominator.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
4/6/11 11:50 a.m.
MadScientistMatt wrote: I'd probably go with one of these: '93-'97 Mazda MX-6 LS or Probe GT - Not as much aftermarket as I'd like, but they did very well in G/Stock for a long time and have a pretty low curb weight for their size and horsepower. MINI Cooper - While these were tops in a slower class, they're newer and have better aftermarket support. If I am budgeting it, it would have to be the Probe / MX-6.

Think they'll stay legal, though? I know they'd be limited by tire, but you can get a good amount of power out of those things if the engine management proposal goes through. I think they'd be VERY fast on the longer, faster courses.

I think the MX6 would be a better choice over the Probe. They're lighter, and gearing is longer, less likely to need to shift to 3rd on the longer courses.

Bobzilla
Bobzilla Dork
4/6/11 12:20 p.m.

2004 Accent hatch. 15x7.5 with 225/45/15 RS3's, whiteline 22mm rear bar, K-sport coilovers. The 1.6L Alpha likes the normal intake/exhaust mods to push that 110hp car to the 105-110whp car it needs to be at 2300lbs.

Capt Slow
Capt Slow Dork
4/6/11 12:32 p.m.

Bob, do you think your old swift would now be competitive in ST?

4cylndrfury
4cylndrfury SuperDork
4/6/11 12:43 p.m.

Tiburon? Cavalier (3rd Gen) Z24? Neon? I have no idea about autox classing, so Im just spouting off things that pop into my head...

I love lamp!

Bobzilla
Bobzilla Dork
4/6/11 12:50 p.m.
Capt Slow wrote: Bob, do you think your old swift would now be competitive in ST?

No? I only say that because sourcing parts is hard going on impossible, and the peglegged front diff is too much to overcome. Power to weight is awesome. Ruh-tarded rear suspension, tiny wheel wells and weird transmission gearing is not.

Honestly, I would look towards the RD Tib (97-01), the second and a half gen Accent (2003-5), XD Elantra (01-03) for the new ST class. They'er all 3 mac-strut cars, they all have suspension options, and they can all successfully stuff 225's at all 4 corners plus they have a solid midrange punch perfect for slow auto-x corners.

steverife
steverife New Reader
4/6/11 1:48 p.m.
White_and_Nerdy wrote: It's funny - with a couple of mods I'm making this year, my Miata goes from ES to STS. If I take those same 15" wheels and put them on my bone stock 91 SE-R, with the proposed rule change it, too, would run in STS. I suspect with other ST legal mods, the SE-R could run circles around many of the current STS cars, particularly on larger, more open courses where it would have a power advantage. But on tight, twisty courses like we run locally I think the Miata's handling would still win.

You'd be wrong.

procainestart
procainestart Dork
4/6/11 1:54 p.m.
EricM wrote: <-- building the Audi 90 Quattro 20V to run in ST.

Well, I don't autocross any more but when I did we had a guy running a 90 in HS -- he did very well in it. So an ST car would be cool to see...

HStockSolo
HStockSolo New Reader
4/6/11 2:31 p.m.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: My picks? MX3 GS Mazda 323GT 88-89 Celica GTS

The MX3 GS is way too front heavy. The base DOHC MX3 might be okay.

No question--the Saturn S-series is the best car left in ST. Anyone want to buy a fully rebuilt 1995 SC2?

Some of the better also rans would be the 1991 318is, the 2.2L Impreza L, and the MK2 GTI. Maybe the Swift GT/GTi.

92CelicaHalfTrac
92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork
4/6/11 2:43 p.m.
HStockSolo wrote:
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: My picks? MX3 GS Mazda 323GT 88-89 Celica GTS
The MX3 GS is way too front heavy. The base DOHC MX3 might be okay. No question--the Saturn S-series is the best car left in ST. Anyone want to buy a fully rebuilt 1995 SC2?

Wait, so you're saying that an all-aluminum 1.8 litre V6 is way heavier than a cast iron 1.6 litre i4?

K8 weighs less than 400lbs with all accesories including exhaust back to the cat.

RS and GS are within ~100lbs of each other, depending on options.

I think the ZX2 S/R would be the best ST car, but not one that i'd actually want to race.

HStockSolo
HStockSolo New Reader
4/6/11 2:53 p.m.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Wait, so you're saying that an all-aluminum 1.8 litre V6 is way heavier than a cast iron 1.6 litre i4?

I am going by published weights. Let's see GS 1650 lbs on the front tires, DOHC 1540 lbs. No, I don't think any MX3 has much chance on 225 width street tires.

I think the ZX2 S/R would be the best ST car, but not one that i'd actually want to race.

There is no Mazda/Ford that I would trade for a Saturn in ST. Not to say they aren't better than a lot of cars people think would be decent in ST. I might pick one over a Isuzu/Geo for instance.

If you want to carry so much weight you might as well go with the MX-6 LS or Focus SVT for some power. Though I have to think one of the 6 cylinder BMWs might be the way to go for power. If I could just have my clutch pack LSD in ST!

Matt B
Matt B HalfDork
4/6/11 3:15 p.m.

Out of curiosity (and without doing the research myself), what kind of weight is your SC2 putting down on the front tires?

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