Fun stock vehicle

So, the question is (for you), is there a stock vehicle that is "good enough" for fun driving and autocross use that you're not tempted to modify, because it would potentially ruin something already nearly perfect?

Wrong forum?

Zo6?

Jarod wrote: Wrong forum?

No, it's exactly the right forum. If there's a stock vehicle that even modding nuts are happy with, then I know I can be happy with it.

I'm saying that most people on this forum will never be happy. Two cars that stick out in my mind like that are Zo6 Like Apexcarver said, and maybe an Evolution 9MR. I remember sport compact car having a project MR that they left stock for a long time because it was so nice out of the box.

As always, the answer is Miata. Even a stock one can be a blast to autocross.

I'm pretty sure I don't want to modify my 964. I may need to refresh some things, but unless I head out on track I can't see anything that will make it a better street car. I think a Z06 would also work like that for me, and probably an Elise.

Everything needs tires. And brake pads. And braided brake hoses. And a better shifter. And lighter wheels.

Yeah, there's nothing "good enough" stock.

There's a small, two-seat, Japanese car that comes to mind. It's RWD, convertible, starts with an M....

jstein77 wrote: As always, the answer is Miata. Even a stock one can be a blast to autocross.

You know, I've never actually driven a Miata.

It depends entirely on your goal.

Some people will never be happy with a stock vehicle; there are just too many compromises made in the design in an effort to balance road use and sports use. A stock vehicle will rarely be as quick as one that has been modified, and some people feel like the MUST have the quickest car in order to win. (...and those who MUST win are usually right.)

OTOH, there are some people who are never going to put serious money into modification. I'm one of them. I don't see the point in spending thousands of dollars to go fractions of a second faster just to win a $7.00 plastic trophy. (I'd don't make much, and I'd be better off investing that money for my retirement. YMMV.) Almost all my driving has been in bone stock cars in HS. (i.e. cheap, worn out beaters) I'll never win, but that's not the point. As I've said in the past here

Motor sports are something I'd rather do than sit and watch. Even at the 'junior woodchuck' amateur level, doing something beats sitting on the couch and watching other people do it

I may not be competitive, but I have more fun driving than I would sitting around wishing and dreaming that I could do so.

The only ones that come to mind are the Lotus Elise/Exige. Everything else would be at least incrementally improved with modification.

Javelin wrote: *Everything* needs tires. And brake pads. And braided brake hoses. And a better shifter. And lighter wheels. Yeah, there's nothing "good enough" stock.

Depends on how strictly you define "stock".

There are colossal DBs who lower, tint, respray and put bling rims on their Ferraris, but I can't really see why an owner would feel the need to 'improve' a car like an F430 or 458 Italia.

ReverendDexter wrote:

Javelin wrote: *Everything* needs tires. And brake pads. And braided brake hoses. And a better shifter. And lighter wheels. Yeah, there's nothing "good enough" stock.

Depends on how strictly you define "stock".

I define it roughly SCCA stock.

+1 for Exige. Even an Elise would get modded by me. In fact I'd be tempted to do aero stuff to the Exige too, to be honest...maybe a TVR Sagaris?

Basically only track-oriented cars, full race cars or supercars would be remotely safe from me modding them.

scardeal wrote:

jstein77 wrote: As always, the answer is Miata. Even a stock one can be a blast to autocross.

You know, I've never actually driven a Miata.

I've driven a stock Miata or two. I wanted to kill myself.

I can't think of a single car i would ever be able to actually buy, that would be "safe" from me modifying it.

Also, I've seen some people travel down the path of modification until they build something that is very powerful, but also very brittle; i.e. prone to breaking so often that it becomes a money sink. Everybody needs to find a point on the spectrum where they are happy, but I'd rather use a durable car that I can enjoy each month than one that needs repairing each month.

Z06, Camaro 1LE, Boss 302 Laguna Seca. Yeah, I like V8s and RWD.

I vote C5 Z06. Skip shift eliminator, short shifter & better knob, sticky tires, and you're done!

hrdlydangerous wrote: Z06, Camaro 1LE, Boss 302 Laguna Seca. Yeah, I like V8s and RWD.

add to this any current Aston Martin or a Ford GT and I agree

Swank Force One wrote: I can't think of a single car i would ever be able to actually buy, that would be "safe" from me modifying it.

+1 don't see myself even being able to afford an Exige, looks like the depreciation stage has ended and the classic pricing stage has begun

Swank Force One wrote:

scardeal wrote:

jstein77 wrote: As always, the answer is Miata. Even a stock one can be a blast to autocross.

You know, I've never actually driven a Miata.

I've driven a stock Miata or two. I wanted to kill myself.

+1. Bonse stock there's enough body roll to make a Caddy jealous, not enough power to get out of it's own way and tires are so skinny they can do double duty as pizza cutters.

Bobzilla wrote:

Swank Force One wrote:

scardeal wrote:

jstein77 wrote: As always, the answer is Miata. Even a stock one can be a blast to autocross.

You know, I've never actually driven a Miata.

I've driven a stock Miata or two. I wanted to kill myself.

+1. Bonse stock there's enough body roll to make a Caddy jealous, not enough power to get out of it's own way and tires are so skinny they can do double duty as pizza cutters.

I should clarify.... i've driven two stock NBs that i didn't hate. Both were 99-00 Sports.

Every stock NA i've driven has left me infuriated at just how terrible it feels.