Celica v. Neon for rallycross

Carson wrote: Anything else I should be considering short of starting a new thread? Cheap, plentiful, tough. This isn't a pick two, those are the main requirements. This is also a time where I would prefer 2wd fwd, but I'm open. Volvo 240s (although rwd) are being considered but what else? Saab 900s aren't really around, what about NG900s after I strip them of their luxo interiors?

Celica still trumps those.... unless you get a Turbo Saab, they're dogs and the Celica will run circles around it, and be easier to find parts for. And a Turbo Saab probably won't have quite the toughness you're looking for.

Carson wrote: Here's something not too far off topic but potentially very laughable: What about a Corolla? Not the cooler 80s stuff, purely the mid-90s econo stuff.

The motors and trannies are rock solid.... the rest of the car... kindof cheap.

Any worth a damn will run you the same as the Celica, and you'll be slower, but will have about the same parts availibility.

Message me and tell me what would need to happen for you to consider the EGT trade for your MR2. For all intents and purposes, the car would be ready to go, you'd just need tires. I can put the stock suspension which was in very good shape back on it.

Message sent.

Carson wrote: What about a Corolla? Not the cooler 80s stuff, purely the mid-90s econo stuff.

Just out of interest, why not the cooler '80s stuff? An AE82 with the 4AGE is a proven low-budget rally-X platform.

Luke wrote:

Carson wrote: What about a Corolla? Not the cooler 80s stuff, purely the mid-90s econo stuff.

Just out of interest, why not the cooler '80s stuff? An AE82 with the 4AGE is a proven low-budget rally-X platform.

Someone local runs one for rallycross, they're just a lot harder to find than other Corollas.

Edit: Oops, someone runs a AE92 locally. I haven't seen a AE82 in quite some time, even here in the south where they don't rust. I think they must be more common down under.

I almost hate to suggest it at this point but... why not go with a late 90's Subaru?

I don't want awd initially, especially with stage rally stuff. I'll probably find myself in enough trouble with 2wd. Also, the 2wd cars are typically lighter, less complicated (things to go wrong) and cheaper.

I don't have much to add other than the neon rendered the celica obsolete in ES autocross.

MCarp22 wrote: I don't have much to add other than the neon rendered the celica obsolete in ES autocross.

This is true... but that's more Toyota's fault. The Neon started as a 1994 model year, and there's really no major difference between a 1990 celica and a 1999 Celica. Body looks different, different interior, that's about it.

This magazine did pretty well with their 6th gen ST Celica, and quite a few titles have been won with them.

The bigger reason is that Dodge/Chrysler supported the motorsports idea with the Neon through the ACR and such, while Toyota just simply built the cars to look pretty and last forever.

If you can find a decent one, an MK2 gti 16v can make a good rally car, and there are alot more rally parts avaiable for them than anything else that has been mentioned. For a more basic rally car a neon would be perfectly fine too though.

Travis_K wrote: If you can find a decent one, an MK2 gti 16v can make a good rally car, and there are alot more rally parts avaiable for them than anything else that has been mentioned. For a more basic rally car a neon would be perfectly fine too though.

While that is very true, I'm not looking to get another VW, they disagree with me. Constantly.

Oh... before i forget....

One MAJOR thing to look at in the 5th gen Celicas.

While the body and underbody as a whole may look pretty rust free, DO NOT forget to check the passenger side front swaybar mount. There is a higher percentage than i'd like to admit where this rusts out, and results in a very nasty clunking, to an extreme of almost sounding like a gunshot when the bar loads up, then snaps back against the bottom of the car. Makes the front end lean like a Cholo, too.

If you're good with welding, it's not that big of a deal to fix, just annoying. They'll start rusting for years before they finally go, it's actually very well designed, but when it does go, it's ugly.

That being said, i have the whole bracket, hardware, mount, and bushing assembly brand new still in Toyota bags if you end up having the need. Bought it for my 93 Coupe (would have been a PERFECT rallycross candidate, but you're about a year too late), sold it for exactly the budget you're looking for, and now my 92 has ZERO rust. Anywhere, so i have no need for it.

Carson, As much as I hate to turn down free stuff, you need this more than I do....

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/1016759794.html

I haven't called yet, so it may be gone but good luck anyway.

Posting deleted. :(

my fault. I must have it cached in my browser. As you were...........

Out of curiousity.... what was it?

93celicaGT2 wrote: Out of curiousity.... what was it?

Yeah what was it?

A free 1988 celica. Not sure what model, though. It was red and seemed to be in decent shape from the pic that they took.

D'OH!

4th gen Celica w/ blown motor + revision 2 5sfe = quick little car.

I Have an 88 GTS I used to autoX and i have been thinking about rallycrossing it ever since i saw a rally-fied 88 celica ST at the the SCCA booth at the Baltimore Auto show. I am in the same boat though - where to get springs? I was thinking maybe a cheapy set of coil over conversions on ebay and some dirt track springs.

Just throwing subaru back out there....they made fwd drive impreza's, just sayin'.

VW isn't a bad idea either. Have you looked at the classifieds on specialstage.com? Lot's of decent stuff suited for the task. There is a lot to be said for buying a car that has already had some of the rally prep taken care of.

Wow, I forgot I started this thread way back when.

For rallycross, stock springs will do you just fine. My current setup, although untested (I just installed them on Sunday), is a very slight spring rate bump over stock. (I have a 1994 Protege and used 2002 Escort springs, same chassis, the springs are just are just rated for the heavier Escort.)

I don't know Celicas very well, but I'd imagine you can take a similar direction, putting later coils on your older chassis if you need the higher rates. What I'd recommend, though, is just get out there on the stock suspension.

I agree with sachilles, while it's fun to be different, the knowledge and cheap second-hand parts for Golfs and Imprezas are very hard to ignore and very valuable.

prepped crx for 1500 with spares

prepped fwd dsm for $2500

In reply to sachilles:

Keep in mind that both of those ads were listed in 2008. Deals are out there but they usually don't last long.