Car too boring for $2K9?

Hokay, here we go:

After reading for too long and not building for long enough, I've got a potential Challenge car. The question is, is it too editorially uninteresting to bring?

It's a '98 Saturn SL2. Sports a bunch of bolt-ons (header, kyb's, springs, bars, old falkens.) Was a buddy's STS autocrosser and daily driver until it was hit in front coming out of his driveway. His insurance buyback was $200, and I paid him $400...for which I got the car and all his spares, including 2 sets of wheels/tires. Bought a complete nose in the same color for $500ish, and put it back together. All in, I've got $1180 in it not counting reg./inspection fees.

Right now, it's a decent street car (even has cold AC) with some suspension work, and it's going to its first autocross on Sunday.

So...what do I do? I'm limited in time and skill to do anything insane to it this year. I know it will take boost, and I have money left in the budget. Do I run it as-is, strip it and see if I can sell off enough to go for the sub-$1000, try to squeeze a little more out of it at the risk of making it into a $2009 pile of melted plastic, or leave it home?

I'll also entertain ideas re: a theme/name. So far, the front runners are "Tupperware Tornado" and "Fanplastic Concraption."

Not too boring at all IMO.

My take (as someone who's never been to the Challenge) is that if you have a car that meets the rules and have the ability to go and play - go.

If your car doesn't have a sucker system or even has the original engine, you will at least be there to witness and partake in the whole experience.

Go for those of us who can't.

if you can swing both nitrous and a sub 1000 entry, that should be formidable.

It would look way cooler on fire.

No such thing as too boring.

The question is, what are your long term plans?

If it's just an opportunity to have a cool challenge car, then I would just do ONE set of things for this year- take things out.

Drop a cool $600 on the best of the best tires you can get, and gut it.

Which brings me back to my original question- if you are willing to, then invest in a decent saw, and REALLY gut it. If you can find a source for Lexan (which isn't all that cheap), all windows, window mechanisms, door panels, impact bars, seats, sound material, bumpers, etc etc etc. Since you are somewhat limited on time, start with the easy things and work in segments that removal (and needed replacement) can be done.

If you want to keep a car that appears to be in really good shape, I would still think about stripping it, even down to the sound deadening material (since there are some good replacements at HD). There are a lot of parts in a stock car that can be taken off and put back on w/o damage that weigh a lot.

And look into making trunk and hood molds. I was stunned how cheap CF can be found on e-bay.

Just go after all the weight you can right now. It's free to take stuff off.

Eric

Hm...may have a point there on the weight. Should I start by putting down this cheeseburger?

Not sure I'm ready to go all sawzall on it, as the fact that I've been maritally approved for a third car means I might be able to carefully CraigsList it into an ES Miata when the Challenge is over. Even takes the same tires...

They're 205/50-15. Anybody got a set for cheap?

Needs b00stz! Stat!

If I look at past winners, then yes it is a little boring. the challange seems to reward engine swaps of an unusual nature.

that is my opinion and is not binding in any form.

I would boost it and enjoy it, but certainily not expect to win.

Come on down chief. You'll have a blast hanging out at the hotel and checking out the other mongrels.

Seriously. Only one car, probably made by a team of guys spending metric kilotons of time, is gonna win. Only a handful of similarly-lavished cars are going to be in the upper reaches of the ranking. The rest are just also-rans.

So what? Participating is winning.

Do you have a track you can go to and beg Spec Miata drivers for free takeoff tires? If so, you don't have to spend another cent.

Beyond that, who cares what you bring. If I was within a reasonable drive of the event, I'd probably go whether or not I had a car at all.

Awright, awright...filling out entry forms now :)

TJ wrote: Go for those of us who can't.

Yep. Also... I realllllly like that car, and wouldn't mind having one for myself. Not too boring at all.

Go flat black and dark tint on the windows and go as a stealth bomber.

Who cares if it's boring. The fun is in the running and being there. Just don't go hoping for top prize and you'll be fine.

I have seen some great YouTube videos of turbo Saturns. I would boost the heck out of it, and leave it as stock-looking as possible. Go for stealth!

its ...so .....civilised....judges ruling

no seriously, I am jealous of working AC. I don't even have a heater.

Bring it and wring it.

poopshovel wrote: It would look way cooler on fire.

I hear you can get high concours scores this way, just say you're going for the "real flame" look.........

Is this one of the Saturns that will operate with all the body panels stripped off? If so, do that, only because I've always wanted to see it.

Strip it, gut it, NAWS it, slap on some sticky rubber you beg off a Spec Miata team, head down to FL.

Boring = sleeper

aussiesmg wrote: Bring it and wring it.

My new favorite phrase for potential challenge entrants.

It's an excuse/reason to go to the challenge. Doesn't matter where you place, just have fun!

What your car lacks in gee-whiz, it will probably make up for in dependability. You'll be able to spend your first challenge soaking everything in, instead of being buried under the hood chasing some weird fuel delivery issue, or something.

its not the car thats important, it's what you do with/in that car. thats where the real fun comes in. my best car memories are 99% in vehicals worth less than a new, really nice microwave or toaster oven. any car + racing = good fun. even old golf cart + gravel road = hilariously entertaining. and that only has 5 horsepower!

edit: and any 'boring' car + duct tape covered everything = interesting car

EricM wrote: If I look at past winners, then yes it is a little boring. the challange seems to reward engine swaps of an unusual nature.

Unless it's a turbo Honda.

Put a turbo Honda engine in there for ultimate challenge victory?