A selection of cars for autocross...my word, the choices!

[Duke]

I would assume any modifications what-so-ever would be considered prepared?

I posted a link to the rules for you so you wouldn't have to assume...

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Do you get the Ford Fiesta in America? I drove an auto version the other week, and while it looked crap inside and out, I must say it handled very well, better than the Falcon I drove today even. Just make sure your only option is a manual. Perhaps there are only new ones of these though costing way too much.

 

[Joey D]

Do you get the Ford Fiesta in America? I drove an auto version the other week, and while it looked crap inside and out, I must say it handled very well, better than the Falcon I drove today even. Just make sure your only option is a manual. Perhaps there are only new ones of these though costing way too much.

We got the similar Ford Festiva...which was pretty much awful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Festiva

===

Although according to wikipedia we got the Fiesta for a very short time.

 

[Famine]

similar

Similarities
Ford badges
Six of the same letters.
FWD

Differences
Everything else


The Ford Fiesta (89-99) was always a pretty neat handler, but underpowered. The XR2i, RS Turbo and RS1800 models backed it up with poke. The Fiesta was also used as the basis for the Puma - and the Ford Racing Puma is a very special car indeed.

 

[Joey D]

Well that is what Ford gave us instead of the Fiesta. I know they aren't the same car.

 

[Famine]

It's not exactly similar though. It's a Kia Pride.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Similarities
Ford badges
Six of the same letters.
FWD

Differences
Everything else


The Ford Fiesta (89-99) was always a pretty neat handler, but underpowered. The XR2i, RS Turbo and RS1800 models backed it up with poke. The Fiesta was also used as the basis for the Puma - and the Ford Racing Puma is a very special car indeed.

There was an RS Fiesta? Hey, there's also the Ford Laser TX3. Turbo AWD, pretty neat idea.
At the moment the best Fiesta Down Under is the XR4.

Power: 110kw
Torque: 190Nm
Weight: 1090kg

I know this is out of reach for you, I'm just showing why I suggested Fiesta. The base model handled very well.

This one however I think is very in reach if they were sold in America:
Ford Laser TX3

Power: 117kw
Torque: 206Nm
Weight: 1165kg
Drive: AWD
Price: Cheap
0-100km/hr: Low 8s possibly 7s
In America? Dunno, might have also been sold as a Mazda 323 TX3. I think they were in America. +Parts are still made for them if anything breaks.

 

[Famine]

There was an RS Fiesta?

There were three. The RS1800 is probably the rarest and most sought version - about 140hp on an 850kg chassis.

At the moment the best Fiesta Down Under is the XR4.

We get that as the Fiesta ST. Great car for lightweight applications, as bits tend to fall off it as it moves.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

There were three. The RS1800 is probably the rarest and most sought version - about 140hp on an 850kg chassis.

Wow, that is good power on that weight.

We get that as the Fiesta ST. Great car for lightweight applications, as bits tend to fall off it as it moves.

They bad are they? I wouldn't know, they haven't been here long enough to find out.

 

[homeforsummer]

We get that as the Fiesta ST. Great car for lightweight applications, as bits tend to fall off it as it moves.

That's a bit unfair, the current Fiesta is built quite well, certainly better than the Mk4 that I have and even that isn't too bad though.

Agree with your comment about the Racing Puma earlier, I'd love one of those. With regards to the 89-99 Fiesta though, remember the jump from Mk3 to Mk4 in 1996 was fairly significant - the Mk4 and the 99-on Mk5 were essentially the same car, even though the Mk4 was based on the mk3 (slightly)

Edit: Anyway this is pretty irrelevant as none are available in the States! The Mk5 Zetec-S would have been a top contender though.

 

[Famine]

That's a bit unfair, the current Fiesta is built quite well, certainly better than the Mk4 that I have and even that isn't too bad though.

I know a guy who builds them. You wait until they hit 4/5 years old.

Agree with your comment about the Racing Puma earlier, I'd love one of those. With regards to the 89-99 Fiesta though, remember the jump from Mk3 to Mk4 in 1996 was fairly significant - the Mk4 and the 99-on Mk5 were essentially the same car, even though the Mk4 was based on the mk3 (slightly)

The Mk3 (89-95 sort of) was pretty much the same car as the Mk4 (sleepy eye) and Mk5 (kitten face). There were component and some sheet metal changes, but the chassis and form were essentially the same.

Edit: Anyway this is pretty irrelevant as none are available in the States! The Mk5 Zetec-S would have been a top contender though.

Zetec-S was a brilliant little car. I came within a salesman's arrogance of buying one.

 

[niky]

This:

always reminds me of this:

Buy that SHO, buy a Festiva... sell all the bits you're not going to use, and screw the SHO engine into the back of that little car. Wold be an awesome autocross missile... if you could ever get it under control.

But you can swap a 1.6 or 1.6 turbo 323 engine into one and make it pretty quick. (even with a naturally aspirated 1.6, it's under 8 secs to 60 mph). Had a friend who autocrossed a Pride factory-car. Really fast through the tight corners, but absolutely no power (even with a fully blueprinted and built stock engine with an exhaust) on the straight bits. Still, I'd rather autocross something that actually has steering on it.

 

[JCE]

I just found out that it is a '91 model with an automatic. I'm going to pass and spend the $350 on the Daytona instead. However, I am still not opposed to buying an older Volvo as long as it is a manual and isn't in too bad of shape. But the hunt continues. But as for the $350 I was going to spend on the Volvo...

====================================

I'm going to fix up the Daytona for autocross since that is going to be the cheapest route since I've already bought the car. I AM still going to be in the market (via craigslist) for some other opportunities. I've been seeing alot of great cars for $1,000 and less that need drivetrains and or a little "TLC". So I can still have hope of finding that perfecf autocross car--unless my Daytona is it. I'll still appreciate opinions and the like in this thead--because you never know what could come up. Thanks to evedryone who's partisipated so far.

As a parting thought I found the following on craigslist for cheap...
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/703560673.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/702495656.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/700872273.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/694932784.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/702715488.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/695731243.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/695266009.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/703163074.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/691147515.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/693507080.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/702218528.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/694500517.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/693380410.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/701729474.html

*edit*
I found this just now...
http://dallas.craigslist.org/car/707955291.html

Can I borrow some money?

 

[niky]

Hmmm... 88 RX7, 91 SE-R... maybe the 95 Probe... not the 626, had one of those... while you can use Probe/MX6 mods, why get the four door just to race? Too heavy... the 85 Merc is preeetty interesting, as long as you can bring a compression tester to assure yourself that the overheating problem isn't caused by a blown head gasket... 93 MX3 would be sweet, but slow... 91 Sentra (1.6 I presume) has potential to be a decent track rat... 97 Mirage... naaah. One of those Camaros or the 240SX would be nice if the posted problems weren't so vague.

Boy, I wish I had your problems... ...

 

[Gil]

If you want to go totally off the wall:
How about a Merkur XR4ti
They were highly acclaimed in their day.
They were something very different, and now are just rare enough in the states to be somewhat interesting.

 

[Leonidae]

^you gotta be kidding me! they're just re-badged Ford Sierras

 

[TheCracker]

^you gotta be kidding me! they're just re-badged Ford Sierras

And that's undesirable because...?

 

[Gil]

^you gotta be kidding me! they're just re-badged Ford Sierras

See, and I was thinking "Escort with an attitude"...
Doesn't make it a bad car.
And as the thread originator is searching for something "non-typical" to autocross, you can't argue that the Merkur/Sierra is an everyday sighting in most places in the US.

 

[Leonidae]

unless it's the Cosworth RS or 4wd 2.8l V6 model, they're nothing to write home about.. but if he wants to get a rare car, why not use AMC Gremlin X? similar weight with over 400ci V8.

 

[TheCracker]

but if he wants to get a rare car, why not use AMC Gremlin X? similar weight with over 400ci V8.

With a mighty 150bhp?

 

[Jim Prower]

unless it's the Cosworth RS or 4wd 2.8l V6 model, they're nothing to write home about.. but if he wants to get a rare car, why not use AMC Gremlin X? similar weight with over 400ci V8.

NOT STOCK!!!!!

That thing came with a 304 V8 standard. The brakes and suspension definitely aren't up to modern autocrossing snuff, and with a cast-iron V8 in the nose, I doubt it's too terribly balanced.

Granted, the Serria's not overly hot either, at least, as standard...but there IS that turbo...some imported Cossie bits...

Problem is, that gets EXPENSIVE. An SVO Mustang would be easier to find, but, lo and behold, same engine, same problem. at least chassis components on that one would be really, really easy to find.

EDIT: I have an old Gremlin Ad, here, that outlines the equipment. Very musclecar-ish)

You got:

304 V8 from Javelin
Goodyear Polyglas tires
"Beefy" rear axle
"Wide-rim" sport wheels
"Big" Brakes
Rear Torque links
Full-synchro floor shift
Front Sway bar
special shocks and springs
sports steering wheel
2 contoured bucket seats.

Remember that this is 1972, though, and that the "Big Brakes" still included drums, and the "Wide Rim" was only 14 or 15 inches in diameter. you got a sway bar because it didn't have one standard. Granted, I'd love to take one and turn it into something that'd embarrass Williams Clios, but that takes money and fabrication.

 

[homeforsummer]

The Mk3 (89-95 sort of) was pretty much the same car as the Mk4 (sleepy eye) and Mk5 (kitten face). There were component and some sheet metal changes, but the chassis and form were essentially the same.

The chassis was pretty much the same but the suspension settings were quite different thanks to Richard Parry-Jones working his magic, which made the mk4/5 a much sharper car than the mk3. I had a brief go in a mate's mk3 a while ago and it was a bit of a nasty thing after my mk4.

 

[Famine]

The chassis was pretty much the same but the suspension settings were quite different

Oh, agreed. Even the Mk3.5 was a different car to the Mk3 insofar as the suspension is concerned. As anyone who's ever fitted Mk3 shocks into a Mk3.5 will have found out.

 

[JCE]

Hmmm... 88 RX7, 91 SE-R... maybe the 95 Probe... not the 626, had one of those... while you can use Probe/MX6 mods, why get the four door just to race? Too heavy... the 85 Merc is preeetty interesting, as long as you can bring a compression tester to assure yourself that the overheating problem isn't caused by a blown head gasket... 93 MX3 would be sweet, but slow... 91 Sentra (1.6 I presume) has potential to be a decent track rat... 97 Mirage... naaah. One of those Camaros or the 240SX would be nice if the posted problems weren't so vague.

Boy, I wish I had your problems... ...

Well I'll settle for my Daytona for now, but I'm definately going to be getting a 100% focused autocross car. My Daytona will be a hybrid drag/autox car.

If you want to go totally off the wall:
How about a Merkur XR4ti
They were highly acclaimed in their day.
They were something very different, and now are just rare enough in the states to be somewhat interesting.

I'd LOVE one of those! But they are as rare as you wouldn't believe.

^you gotta be kidding me! they're just re-badged Ford Sierras

And that's bad because..?

That's one fine looking car.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Actually, the Turbo 2.3 isn't horridly expensive to make power with. (Merkur XR4Ti/SVO 'Skrat/T-Bird Turbo Coupe)

The Merkur is just hard to find all the other parts for.

Junkyard or army-surplus turbo, and boost the stock internals. Might want a cam. Throw in a junkyard intercooler too.

If memory serves, the only difference between the turbo and non-turbo 2.3s is the pistons, so you could grab a 2.3L 'Skrat, grab an extra 2.3, boost the stocker and build the extra motor up with forged rods/pistons.

Just tossing ideas out. SA22C/JM1FB RX-7 would be nice.

 

[JCE]

I'd LOVE an RX7 in any guise. But due keep in mind that rotary engine will get replaced before anything else gets touched or removed. FC RX7's are definately my favorite, I've alwyas wanted one. Thankfully these can get purchased cheap enough if you can find one. Everyone in the US can thank the rotary's unreliability for the cheap prices of these cars. 👍

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Unless you're looking at an FD, at which point the price skyrockets despite the reliability being worse than all the others save maybe the FC Turbo II.

FBs are supposedly the most reliable with the carbureted 12A, followed by the NA FCs.

 

[niky]

Mhmmm... once looked at buying an FB. Even twenty years on, the engine sounded smooth as silk. But that was the best part of the experience... the ride was a bit harsh, the steering unassisted (wouldn't want to wrestle with that on the autocross) and the clutch heavy as hell.

Really feel bad about not buying it, but we were looking for a daily driver at the time, and it would have been too much trouble...

 

[Joey D]

Have you thought about a Dodge Colt from the 70's at all?

There are a lot of people who run them at events around here, from the slightly tuned to the all out race prepped ones. All the owners I've talked to love em and said it's one of the better cars they've raced. The only problem is I don't know how easy they are to get a hold of.

 

[TheCracker]

Have you thought about a Dodge Colt from the 70's at all?

The trouble with using any monocoque chassis car of age in motorsport, is that once you start stiffening up the suspension and running grippier tyres, the shells tend to flex so much that cracks will appear between the panel joints at the bases of the roof pillars and inner wings. Even running a full cage will not stop it from happening.