So, other than a Miata, what is a cheap RWD car one can autocross that is relatively competitive?

Is there such a thing? I would offer up that I'm open to the idea of modifications as long as the classing does not involve me buying Hoosiers or making the car undriveable on the street.

e30, e36, e46, mustang, cramit, 240sx,

MR-2 Spyder

moxnix wrote: MR-2 Spyder

^^^ THIS, though it's only marginally different from a Miata.

Affordable E46s are not competitive because all E46s get thrown together in F Street. So anything less than an M3 is going to be M3 food if one shows up.

Mazda RX7 and RX8. Nissan and BMW Z cars. Boxster.

Look out for IMS failures, apex seal failures, prematurely failed transmission syncros, oil in the plug wells.

Maybe just buy the BMW.

Lotus Elise

Define cheap.

Mazda MX-5

AW11 MR2, E36

Define competitive (what class? What cars are currently in that class in your area?)

Robbie wrote: e30, e36, e46, mustang, cramit, 240sx,

Cramit?

moxnix wrote: MR-2 Spyder

This. They're surprisingly cheap and a top E-Street competitor.

jstein77 wrote:

Robbie wrote: e30, e36, e46, mustang, cramit, 240sx,

Cramit?

His bad, he meant camero.

jstein77 wrote:

Robbie wrote: e30, e36, e46, mustang, cramit, 240sx,

Cramit?

AKA "camero". Small C intentional.

EDIT: Treed.

So, other than a Miata, what is a cheap RWD car one can autocross that is relatively competitive?

Emphasis on relatively...
Infiniti Q45

(I give this answer because I think people have come to expect it out of me.)

airwerks wrote:

jstein77 wrote:

Robbie wrote: e30, e36, e46, mustang, cramit, 240sx,

Cramit?

His bad, he meant camero.

Haha, I literally went to Google and searched "Cramit car".

This came up as one of the images:

KyAllroad wrote: Define cheap.

This.

Find a salvage title BRZ/FR-S, and prep for STX. And before people go all crazy, guys were trophying at Nationals on the base FEAL coilovers and a front bar.

And apparently no one is still really doing a FULL prep (weight loss, etc) and are cleaning up STX.

Coilovers, front bar, 17x9 245/40 sticky tires, header, tune.

JohnRW1621 wrote: So, other than a Miata, what is a cheap RWD car one can autocross that is relatively competitive? Emphasis on relatively... Infiniti Q45 (I give this answer because I think people have come to expect it out of me.)

1. We do expect it
2. By "relatively" you of course mean - faster autox than my 7 series BMW, which was in turn the fastest BMW at the event. So the q45 was faster than a 7 series, an e36 m3, a supercharged e30, and one other I think.

To hell with "the answer", go with the E36 M3! It's the other white meat...

Volvo 240!

docwyte wrote: To hell with "the answer", go with the E36 M3! It's the other white meat...

I have wanted one of these for a while.

STX class 300ZX... HS class 240SX (although finding one stock enough for street class would be a challenge)

If you change your mind on R-Comps, an FSP 924... or my personal favorite crazy-idea build for FSP, the Chevy S-10 (shortbox, reg cab, 4.3 and 335s all around)

Maybe just get the bimmer?

B-Street Corvette?

jstein77 wrote:

Robbie wrote: e30, e36, e46, mustang, cramit, 240sx,

Cramit?

How did you miss this?

I'm going to second the Volvo 240.

Also... nobody has said Fiero yet?

Came here to say mr-s, but clearly was beaten to the punch. Loose the close coupled cat and keep the oil level at full on track and you've got a super reliable, awesome little car that's great on gas and is great to get to know on the street and track. Mods Really improve these cars, especially a turbo or 2zz swap. They handle big horsepower like nothing and it really makes them come alive. People seem to say that aftermarket is limited for them but that has not been my finding at all. Practicality is a little tough but not a big deal once you get used to packing light and smart.