Yup, another "what car should I buy" thread.

I really want to try RallyCross this year, but I don't want to beat up on any cars in my current fleet. Ideally, I will find a car for about $500 or less and not bother with registering or inspecting it with the state and just trailer it to events. I know most people would just say Subaru Impreza but I really don't want a Subie. The goal here would be light, simple, and cheap to fix. It's just for fun, so I don't mind understeering like a **** with a FWD car. Looking to just run in Rally Stock Front Wheel Drive for a while.

Would really like to stick with Mazda and enroll this car into the Mazdaspeed Motorsports program along with the miata.

I hate sedans, so those are out. It seems like a run of the mill 1989-1994 323 hatchback would be a lot of fun. I'm not sure how fragile the suspension is though. From the little research I've done it look like the non-GTX 323s are pretty simple and reliable.

Suggestions?

 

As GRM would tell you, there is only one answer for every question...Miata. In all honesty they seem to do very well off road. I would find a beater Miata, throw some fresh Sensen shocks on with MSM springs, no sways, skid plate, mudflaps, hardtop, snow tires, etc. I'm actually wanting to build one soon.

 

Love to do a miata, but the hardtop is problem. I have a nice top for my turbo miata but I imagine rallycross is hell on the fiberglass when paired with a floppy NA6 chassis and I don't really want to wreck the one I have, or buy another top just to abuse.

 

I'm inclined to agree. There's a member on here with a rallycross Miata and a friend of mine is currently snow crossing his miata.

I think for a proper car you're going to be adding enough bracing that you won't have to worry as much about flex, but you will want some sort of hardtop I'm sure.. What about the cheap (okay not that cheap) race only, terrible fitment, tops people have been discussing?

 

See, the thing is I have to do this on the super cheap. Even picking up one of those Treasure Coast hardtops would cost more (with shipping) than I would like to spend on the whole car. Just looking for a beater here. I just don't want to have to go Dodge Neon if I can at all help it.

 

miatas are fantastic for rallycross, i took a road race miata and threw some steelies on it with snowtires and had a blast even in deep mud, trust me, take your time and find a beater miata, just make sure it at least has a VLSD and add some skid plates for the vital components, I never got stuck on a course where subarus had to get pulled out of the mud and gravel, and this is with a car that was lowered significantly for HPDE and time trials. Just food for thought.

 

Sounds like you are using the turbo miata for rallycross.

 

That, or find a protege forum and ask the question until I get the answer I want

I really would enjoy a miata for rallycross, just not mine.