s2000 vs modified NC miata vs ??

2ZZ SW30 MR2.

Have you considered looking at a normally aspirated Solstice or Sky? With under 2K of bolt ons they handle very well - see http://www.autocross.us/forums/topic/1199-review-of-the-2006-pontiac-solstice/ and http://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/1wy2rx/why_does_the_pontiac_solstice_gxp_and_saturn_sky/

They are in your price range, including the suspension prep. They won a lot of SCCA events.

MR2 Spyder? Luggage space was my only turnoff. For a 4 wheeled toy it seemed pretty cool.

I know you decided NA Miata, but for competitive autocross the only place you can drive one of those is in ES unless you put a ton of dough into running CSP.

I would go with the Corvette Z06 in AS if you wanted something great for lowish money.

Harvey wrote: I know you decided NA Miata, but for competitive autocross the only place you can drive one of those is in ES unless you put a ton of dough into running CSP. I would go with the Corvette Z06 in AS if you wanted something great for lowish money.

Really? They seem to do pretty well in my region in STS as well.

Spoolpigeon wrote: Unfortunately, anything that changes the actual geometry of the suspension automatically bumps you way up into some of the high mod classes. On the same topic though, you can get a rear bumpsteer kit for an AP1 that changes the toe curve and is easier to install than an AP2 subframe

I haven't seen the rear bumpsteer kit, bit IIRC the reason the AP2 rear subframe change works is it changes the points where the upper control arms mount at the inboard side (this was about 5+ yrs ago so memory may be fuzzy). Also, I wouldn't think the AP2 subframe swap should change your classing, as the AP1 and AP2 S2000s are in the same class from what I remember; I'd think that would fall under the OEM parts update/backdate allowance.

Matt B wrote:

Harvey wrote: I know you decided NA Miata, but for competitive autocross the only place you can drive one of those is in ES unless you put a ton of dough into running CSP. I would go with the Corvette Z06 in AS if you wanted something great for lowish money.

Really? They seem to do pretty well in my region in STS as well.

Then you gotta run a non limited slip car, but I will admit that this is not a bad option for those Miatas without a limited slip.

jsquared wrote:

Spoolpigeon wrote: Unfortunately, anything that changes the actual geometry of the suspension automatically bumps you way up into some of the high mod classes. On the same topic though, you can get a rear bumpsteer kit for an AP1 that changes the toe curve and is easier to install than an AP2 subframe

I haven't seen the rear bumpsteer kit, bit IIRC the reason the AP2 rear subframe change works is it changes the points where the upper control arms mount at the inboard side (this was about 5+ yrs ago so memory may be fuzzy). Also, I wouldn't think the AP2 subframe swap should change your classing, as the AP1 and AP2 S2000s are in the same class from what I remember; I'd think that would fall under the OEM parts update/backdate allowance.

You are correct on the ap2 suspension changes. The bump steer kits are just a simpler option with similar results. However, a subframe swap doesn't jive with the update/backdate rules. You'd have to change everything to ap2 , including motor and trans. The update/backdate rule is basically an all or nothing rule. Its that way to keep people from building dominant cars from oem parts.

2x the cost, but a Lotus Elise? With the announcement that they aren't going to import any more of them, you could potentially make money on it in a few years. Toyota reliability as well.