What would you build?

[ken o]

If you were going to build a car for autocross what would you build? Bonus points if it can be driven to the event and pull a small trailer.

[Miatamoto]

Bsp s2000?

Ssm rx-7?

[jrj512]

Street Prepared 996 GT3.

[modernbeat]

Lotus 7 like this.



But now I'm building a naturally aspirated Subaru coupe for Street Mod.

[jrj512]

He tried a 7. He sold it in hours.

[OZMDD]

2006 MX-5 for STR!

In all seriousness, with some high-zoot HVT shocks, bbk and a nice race seat, this car could easily get even faster, and it'd be an easy transition to CSP or beyond. I can only imagine how much fun it'd be with FI on wide-ass Hoosiers.

[jrj512]

But now I'm building a naturally aspirated Subaru coupe for Street Mod.

Think you'll finish yours before Paul M?

[modernbeat]

Think you'll finish yours before Paul M?

Only started working on it two months ago. Barring any parts acquisition issues (not using anything exotic) I'll be finished first. FWIW, most of the parts are being recycled from the car we took to WRC. Got a new 2006 RS engine and upgrading to STI uprights, hubs and heavy brakes.

[blackzx3_13]

STR/CSP NB or if I get an unlimited budget, street touring/street prepared FRS

[altiain]

The biggest question: what is your ultimate goal? Are you after a jacket in Lincoln? In that case, your odds are arguably better in one of the higher prep classes, where you can afford to have the ultimate car built and tuned for you. I'm not saying that it would be easy, but I believe equipment plays much bigger role versus talent in the Prepared or Modified classes. Look at something like FP, where this year's winner won by 3.2 seconds. That gap to the winner would have left you 14th in Super Stock, 18th in STR, or 22nd in STX.

On the other hand, you can't drive an FP car to events. Nor will you find much competition to gauge against outside of National level events.

If your goal is to have a fun and competitive car, along with plenty of competition, I honestly don't think you can top something like STR or STX. There is plenty of local talent to race against at almost any event, but there is also a much deeper talent pool to overcome at the National level if you're after a jacket.

Some suggestions:

'08 Honda S2000 CR for STR or BSP.
'06+ Mazda MX-5 for STR or CSP.
FRS/BRZ for STX.
'09 Lotus Exige S260 Sport for ASP.
996 Porsche 911 GT3 for SS.

[OZMDD]

You might see if you can get a codrive in Stan and Sue's Cayman some time. That is a fun fast car that seems to fit your style/tastes. Also, JFo is probably selling his Evo, which is Nationally competitive. Both would be relative bargains for the performance they give, and are nice street cars.

Of course, you already know the answer to the question, since you've told me yourself: Corvette.

[ptech]

Don't think this one is gonna have a problem with the trailer...

http://youtu.be/gJPSX4esGDE

[ken o]

WRX in ESP?

[jrj512]

Seems to be the new in thing.

[wrx74]

WRX in ESP?

....and you do plan to drive it to events....

[Davidss]

I want a car that is:
- In a class that allows a good bit of mods (not-stock)
- Easy and inexpensive to work on
- Cheap enough that I could afford to wad it up
- Really low consumable costs
- Good competition

That narrows it down to just street touring classes.

....and you do plan to drive it to events....

The ESP car that won at nationals is street driven. He even drove it from SoCal to Nebraska and back!

Look at something like FP, where this year's winner won by 3.2 seconds.

Tom is an amazing driver.

[altiain]

Tom is absolutely an amazing driver. But you're never going to see that kind of margin of victory in the other classes I mentioned for two reasons:

1) In a more limited prep class, far more people will have cars built to the absolute limit of the rules, which limits the ability of any one person to "build a better mouse trap".
2) The talent pool is deeper.

[BMcCann]

Dream build? XP Sky with an LS7, tube frame, carbon fiber panels, 13" slicks, and aero for days.

Realistic build? STX Gen Coupe because no one has done it yet.

[miata_racer]

Easy build? STF Mini.

Seriously...where else can you have a car with lowering springs, rear bar, bilsteins, Vorshlag camber plates and tires and run times fast enough to win EVERY national event you attend? And get 28-32mpg towing and 35-40 without a trailer? Nowhere :)

All the parts on the STF car added up to about $2000 or less. AND I'm selling them Ken

AND Mini pays $$$ for national event wins :) So does BFG...in tires.

[OZMDD]

sshhhh!!