What would be a better Autocross car?

[nostatic]

I wouldn't track a $2K 914. I'm not even sure I'd drive it on the street. You will have to sink a lot of money into it to make it competent/reliable, and you'll continue to put money into it.

Miata would be the cheapest and best performer of anything mentioned. Or just use the 944. It's just a car...

[porsche4life]

No I have not done much autocross at all but I don't want to get really used to how the 944 handles and then have to relearn a car.

I'm not seeing that many cheap Miatas around here. The cheap ones would need as much work as the 914s to be reliable.

[porsche4life]

Oh and since when are you guys the crowd for talking someone out of buying another car? I didn't ask for a voice of reason. I asked for opinions on some cars.

[trekkor]

If people were damaging their cars you wouldn't see people doing it.

I'd say about 90% drive to the events, unpack, flog and drive home.
I'm one of the 10% that trailers to all events.

Bring the 944 out and give it a shot!


KT

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I'm not seeing that many cheap Miatas around here. The cheap ones would need as much work as the 914s to be reliable.

I find that hard to believe (cost, not availability). Way cheaper to get the Mazda sorted and keep it that way. Odds are a cheap 914 will be a rust bucket. The same money can buy a good driver Miata, at least in CA.

[porsche4life]

I did. Thing is I could tell I wasn't pushing to the limits for fear of tearing up the car. I know its dumb but this is my first car and I am attached and really try to take care of it. I know if I bought a cheap beater with primer paint and just ragged it out I would push the limit harder and have more fun/less stess. And I know thats about 99.9999% mental.

I already trailer just because I am almost 2 hrs away from the events and my dad likes to go and us and a little bit of gear just about don't fit in the car plus my dad hates riding in that car.

[trekkor]

Yep, a $2k Miata you could probably drive from the seller to the a/x.

The 914, at $2k may not run...



KT

[porsche4life]

Miatas were never really that common around here. The cheap ones have been owned by the fast & furious types.

[slodave]

Veyron.

[trekkor]

Driving on the public roads is more dangerous than an a/x...


Hammer it!!!


KT

[porsche4life]

Sure dave. I have an extra 1.5 million. If I did I would just buy both, prep, compare, and post results.


Now back to the matter at hand. Would I be better off buying a rabbit GTI or a 914. Forget why I don't wanna rag the 944. I do that plenty on public roads.

[Heel n Toe]

FastFred knows what he's talking about... you'd probably be happier with the GTI, all things considered.

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

If you are looking for a budget auto x car, the GTI is the way to go. While a sorted 914 is a super fast auto cross car, you will spend a small fortune getting it there. Unless you buy someones already set up car. Stock 4 cyl 914's were pretty slow at our local auto crosses.
I hand grenaded my sc a while back, and while I was reassembling ( 2 years), I ran a 1991 16V GTI. I think I spent about $1500.00 on it , to set it up, and it was a blast to drive, easy to drive, and was fairly competive. I ran the snot out of it for 2 seasons, broke one motor mount, and ate one set of tires. I think my set up was real simple, H@R sport springs, koni sports, a large rear addco sway bar, lots of negative camber ( $15 crash bolts ) and victoracers. While I never FTD'd, I was usually pretty close to the fast guys, and this car was an absoloute blast . Add a limited slip, and you are really talking. Just my .02

[porsche4life]

Thats really what I am leaning towards. Parts are cheaper and my dad is a pretty salty rabbit mechanic.

[porsche4life]

Oh and in my PCA region FTD is almost always taken by an SVT Cobra that is very well driven and very well prepared.

[J P Stein]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Oh and in my PCA region FTD is almost always taken by an SVT Cobra that is very well driven and very well prepared.

Time to knock him off that perch then.
I've had a 914 for about 10 years. It started out stock as a stove, but isn't now.
I have slid all the way to the bottom of the slippery slope with it now but the journey was a great one. Thru the progression it was competitive when I started
autocrossing it seriously in 2002......now days TTOD is expected locally ...amongst the doorslammers. Using selected bits, it has only missed a run twice.....both electrical screwups on my part.





The 914 is like an artist's bare canvas. You limited only by your imagination (and pocket book). My only regret is I didn't start Autocrossing when I still had balls & reflexes.

BTW, I know that blue car referred to in this thread. It's a good place to start as it's already half way down that slippery slope.

[URY914]

I can't let my friend JP post a pics of his car without me posting a few before/afters of mine.

[URY914]

[futuresoptions]

I would say a 914 just cause I fancy them, but I think that a Scirroco would also be a hoot....

[futuresoptions]

That 914 (With the Washington plates) above looks like it has some black centered BBS type wheels on it.... anyone know what they are called or where to get a set... anymore pics of them???

[J P Stein]

We meet a bunch of VW guys from the Salem/Eugene area each year at the Packwood National Tour event and they are very nice, fun guys. They run D/E Mod with their FWD Jettas, Rabbits, & what not. One of em' got us due to rain on day 2 in 2007. It didn't rain in 2008. I think we'll run XP (tho I hate to add ballast) this year as the competition is tougher.

BTW, I am mistaken, Paul is at the absolute bottom of the slippery slope to the tune of about 400 lbs.