Best First Rallycross Car?

Hiya. My first post:

Would like to start rallycross this season or next. Starting the planning process and just want to learn. I have no fantasies about being competitive. Needs to be low-budget and stay street-legal. I'm in Mid-Michigan.

What would you do and why?

Thanks!

Anything you've got. Smaller is better.

Michigan runs a very eclectic group, everyone runs everything.

Define low-budget. $2000? $1000? $500?

Neon's are cheap and parts plentiful. I went the alternative route and an 87 Toyota MR2 for my first. Doubt you'll find an AWD low-budget so probably decide if you want to go FWD (fun) or RWD (more fun).

I won't be the only reply here I'm sure. EDIT - yup, Knurled was already typing as I posted...

Lighter and durable is good. A non low-hanging oil pan/other fluid containment parts help, but not a big deal if decent skids are easy to come by. Most of the Mod class Rwd cars in our region are street legal, so it really doesn't matter.

Look at what classes have the most numbers in your area, then consider if you think you'd enjoy rwd/awd/fwd more.

Ok, some more specifics. Ideal budget target is around $2k, with around another $1k in prep/safety, etc. is that doable? Would prefer RWD, but inexpensive options seem harder to find. Light, simple, easy to work on, cheap and available parts, and cheap. It would be good if it was cheap, too. My domestic approval ratings are - ahem - challenging. :)

Miata or e30

Ford zx2, they are super cheap, decent power and performance parts are available

FB RX-7. Give me one reason (other than apex seals and oil economy) why not.

G_Body_Man wrote: FB RX-7. Give me one reason (other than apex seals and oil economy) why not.

Because you will have to modify it extensively to be on the same level as a stock Miata.

In reply to EvanB:

Air mods do a lot for a 12a. Buy Pacesetter headers and a K&N filter, and you've got miata power-to-weight.

In reply to G_Body_Man:

Then you have to work on turning...

quit your bickering and get an FC then.

honestly just get something that you don't care about and wail on it.

make sure its cheap and easy to repair though.

fwd I'm a fan of BG chassis mazdas, 16v neons, B13 SE-R sentras, ZX3 focuses and ZX2s are solid as well

RWD beyond the answer and E30, Volvo 240s can be decent with rear end modifications and turbo bits from a 740/960 swapped onto the B230T, merkurs and 4DR RWD corollas are tougher to find and to find rallyx related bits for, but would be fun, same for AW11 MR2s.

I'll let you know how a Volvo 745 turbo does after this weekend.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/4728850999.html

or a GTX that should be close to you

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/4702890589.html later then the protégés that I'm familia with, but factory boost and LSD should be fun.

Bro-lite spec ranger.

I took a stock suspension e36 (93 325i - very nearly stock everything else) to a rallyx a few years ago. I had snow tires on.

I got second place of all the RWD cars there. Lost to a gutted 240sx by less than a second. Beat a camry-swapped MR2 and an awesome late 70s camaro among others (not that I would naturally believe the camaro to be a fast rallyx car, but it was so cool I remember it). Got absolutely ruined by a plethora of stock FWD econoboxes. But RWD!!

Just saying so when you search e30, you also include e36.

I wish I lived near an event like this.

Sanchinguy wrote: Ok, some more specifics. Ideal budget target is around $2k, with around another $1k in prep/safety, etc. is that doable? Would prefer RWD, but inexpensive options seem harder to find. Light, simple, easy to work on, cheap and available parts, and cheap. It would be good if it was cheap, too. My domestic approval ratings are - ahem - challenging. :)

You just described my old MR2, which is for sale here actually. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/open-classifieds/1987-aw11-mr2-rallycross-car-no-rust-4k-obo/91029/page1/

I'll sell my Miata. It is a national championship winner and still has most of the pieces.

SOHC 1st gen Neon, then go pick up the back issues of GRM where they built one of these for rallycross. Apparently the SOHC was under rated on power and had more torque, so it might be better.

In Michigan I'd be looking for a Neon, Focus, ZX2, bunch of Saturn's, Cavalier. I was just driving around up there and the roads are flooded with cheap domestic econo cars. Buy one. Go drive it. Having driven both FWD and RWD pretty extensively, I don't think one is necessarily more fun than the other. They're different, but they're both fun.

Cheap Ford Escort:

Most expensive thing on the car (including the car) is the windshield. I'm sure you can find one which still has some interior, windows, and lights for cheap. It's also an automatic, not that it matters much.

It placed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at our last event with old free all-seasons. Fifth was this Subaru on rally tires piloted by a very good driver:

G_Body_Man wrote: In reply to EvanB: Air mods do a lot for a 12a. Buy Pacesetter headers and a K&N filter, and you've got miata power-to-weight.

A nearly stock Miata was running competitive times in MR at Nationals. 1-2-3-4 for much of the event was Evan's Miata, modded FB, modded FB, nearly stock Miata. In one of the largest classes of the weekend and probably the only class with no attrition, meaning no fast guys broke out of contention.

edit: Pacesetter headers are dyno-proven to be more restrictive than the stock exhaust manifold. The Pacesetter is junk with a capital S. K&Ns also do nothing useful, air filter is not the choke point in a stock 12A car.

Do not, under any circumstances, underestimate the nimbleness of the Miata. The only counter to this nimbleness is to fight back with excessive power and forceful driving. Play to your own strengths.