[bigdog7373]

I'm looking to pick up a project car to use for auto-x and road course. I prefer rwd and manual transmission of course. Preferably 2 door. I want to pick up the car for $2500 or under. The cars im looking at now are the: rx7, 240sx, miata, and an s2000 shell. Any others you can think of?
Also, since convertibles are cheaper and easier to find would it still make a good track car? It will be caged.

[Ripper 410]

convertables flex alot more than a coupe,look into camaros,firebirds,vettes,and even regret saying it but a mustang, lot more parts and alot easier build on your wallet

[bigdog7373]

Aren't those cars a lot heavier than the others? And a roll cage doesn't help to reduce flex? I thought that was one of the major points behind it, besides safety of course.

[zildjian4life218]

Too bad your not closer to NY. I know of a miata for sale that needs a good home. Would be an awesome road course car. Too bad everything for them is $$$$. I also know of a 87 944 for 2k. Ive been throwing around the idea of picking that up for awhile. Not sure if im really the porsche type of guy or not though.

[against all odds]

i was also going to suggest a 2nd, 3rd or 4th gen trans-camaro as they are cheap and cheap to mod, and handle great, but it looks like you are into the lighter imports---not that there is anything wrong with that either. (i've wanted to get into auto-x and road racing myself for a while)

Would you consider a chevette/t-1000? Cheap if you can find one and rwd.

[bigdog7373]

I've been wondering about the 4th gen camaro/ trans am but they weight 3500 pounds stock. Its not that much more than the others but most of the extra weight is in the front which makes me worry about handling. That was one on the things i saw about the rx7 that caught my eye, the weigh balance is a perfect 50:50! Only thing is its hard tomfind a coupe. So it i get a convertible and cage it will it be ok?

[against all odds]

i would have to look into the convertable thing.

For one thing i don't think convertables are lighter because they need extra bracing, so really i think they are going to be maybe 200lbs heavier than stock?

Will the sanctioning body (i'm assuming SCCA) allow you to run the top down? If not, i'm thinking a regular hard top would be safer AND there maybe extra additions required in order for the convertible to be legal to run (again not sure---i would have to check the rulebook which is online.)

Yes, the maro is heavier but man they handle magnificent.

Can i ask where you live?

[bigdog7373]

South florida

[against all odds]

Actually, why don't you check the rulebooks as well---they are online at SCCA.

i would think the convertibles would be ok for auto-x, but i'm concerned about the faster and roadrace classes.

Just to make sure before you plunk down a boatload of cash.

[Ripper 410]

yes, rollcages do reduce flex to a point. as far as weight the cars I mentioned may be alittle heavier however the difference is in the driveline V8 compared to a 4 or 6 there just is not any comparison as far as handling a camaro,firebird, or vette is designed to be a g-machine from the factory exspecially a vette thats what I'm running right now , drive it daily run a 9.10 second quarter at 176 mph on 93 octane can hot lap, drag , or street corse makes no differance

[onlyfnway]

What about the 84-87 rwd corollas they are fun little cars. You can find a good driver for around 1k to $1500.00

[bigdog7373]

I'm looking at the 240sx now. Most are coupes so i wont have to worry about the convertible peroblem.

[Valkyrie5.7]

You're probably going to pay a steep "ricer tax" on all of the cars you've mentioned because the backwards-hat-wearing coalition loves them so dearly (except maybe the oddball RX-7). It'd probably be a lot cheaper to find a non-mustang fox body (capri, fairmont, zephyr, t-bird, cougar, or mark VII) If you can find an e28 or e30 some retard hasn't slammed and rusted the hood on it might be cheap.

Stay away from the nightmarish Porsche 924 with it's crappy audi engine. Z31 300zxs and 280z's are still cheap here in az. And you honestly can't count out the 3rd gen camaros. The TPI 5.0L models with a T5 will be way more fun to drive than any of the cars you listed, even if it redlines at half the RPM they do. Even the LT1 4th gens are insanely cheap. The 1988 fiero with the lotus handling package wouldn't be a bad deal either. I've seen them with Quad4s, and S/C'd 3.8L buicks that were serious all around performers. There's also the Volvo 240 as well.

No matter what you do, compare the car against other cars you've driven before you make your decision. Everyone likes their vehicles a little different obviously. Personally I'm a fan of heavy steering, heavy clutch and throttle oversteer, so most new cars just piss me off.

[OneMoreTime]

Well I well go aganst the grain here a bit and suggest that you join the South florida SCCA chapter and go see what those guys are running..

Solo FAQ:

http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/...s/Solo_FAQ.pdf

Club racing is a whole different deal..

Sam

[bigdog7373]

Alright cool i'll definitely look around before i buy. And i probably wont be racing until next year anyway so i'll be able to figure out exactly what i want to do. Check my project journal, i'll put my "budget track car build" in there if you're interested! Should be picking it up this week!