Well the first thing I can tell you it's much cheaper to buy a prepared car than it is to build it. Although you don't get the experience or possible enjoyment of the construction process you do get the opportunity to save quite a bit of cash picking up a used car. You can save at least 50% and likely more by buying a previously owned vehicle as opposed to buying all the parts and building one yourself. It also puts you in the driver's seat that much faster if you are starting with a race or autoX ready vehicle.
Check out the For Sale section on this forum for whats available locally.
Paul

Thanks for the response, guys.

Buying a prepared car would be a lot cheaper, but they don't seem to come up often around here.

And if I get one from the US, it complicates the street registration issue quite a bit.

I'm checking into the IT class, but I don't know much about it. Kind of looks like it's more popular in the US?

If nobody has a prepped car to sell me, it's back to the original question. Any thoughts on...

- Mazda MX3 Precidia
- Mazda RX7 (year and spec?)
- Subaru 2.5 RS
- Toyota Corolla GTS Coupe (1989 ish)
- Toyota Celica
- Honda Civic (year and spec?)
- Acura Integra (year and spec?)
- Nissan NX2000
- Nissan 240
- Nissan 300ZX

Others?

It looks like the majority of cars that are relatively inexpensive, have good aftermarket support, and are widely available with a good grassroots knowledge base are FWD, so I think I'll probably go that way.

Thanks again.

Kev_K wrote on Sep 18^th, 2012 at 9:50am:


My personal opinion on the cars you've mentioned, assuming you were going to race them in IP1/2/3 up here:

Mazda MX3 Precidia
I4 = IP3
This is a CRX + 300lbs with unknown performance potential.  Wouldn't touch it.
V6 = IP2
Will be nowhere near competitive

Mazda RX7 (year and spec?)
Not sure what class the non-turbo ones go into.  The turbo ones would be an expensive, not-really-competitive IP1 car.

Subaru 2.5 RS = IP2
Will be utterly demolished by the quick IP2 cars (S2000, E36 325is)

Toyota Corolla GTS Coupe (1989 ish) = IP3
On paper the 1990/91 1.6L with 135hp might be competitive.  I think in practice it would end up mid pack at best (suspension not as good as the Honda competition, tougher finding aftermarket support)

Toyota Celica = IP2
The newer GT-S might be mid-pack.  Wouldn't really consider anything else.

Honda Civic (year and spec?)
1988-1991 CRX Si = IP3
The "easy button" to be towards the front of the pack, well known set up, relatively cheap
1999-2000 SiR, 1994-1997 DelSol VTEC with B16 = IP3
Competitive, more expensive than the CRX Si, good set up not as well known
1988-1995 Civic Si = IP3
Essentially a slightly slower, easier to drive version of the CRX.

Acura Integra:
1992-1993 GS-R = IP3
Competitive, rare, hard/impossible to find some replacement parts (OEM oversize pistons)
1994+ GS-R = IP2
Common, easy aftermarket, mid-pack with essentially no chance against the S2000/325is
Type-R = IP2
Upper mid pack
Anything else = IP2
Back of the pack

Nissan NX2000 = IP2
Back of the pack.

Nissan 240 = IP2
Not a chance against the leading IP2 cars, could be ok if you just want to noodle around at the back of the pack for cheap

Nissan 300ZX = IP1
Heavy, expensive, not a chance against the Corvette Z06 that sometimes shows up.

My personal picks:

IP3:
1.6l Miata, CRX, B16&B17 Hondas
IP2:
S2000 (2.2l preferred), E36 325is
IP1:
How much money do you have?

I have a 1990 Civic for sale; does mid 1.21's at MRP.
Street legal with a Quaiffe LSD.
I have driven this car to Portland and Knox Mountain, raced and returned home with no problems; cheapest way of going closed course racing you will ever find!
Paddock 23 this weekend or call me next week.
Keith
604 209 5943

Thank you Nate; the little red racer completed another novice race this weekend and then I drove it home with Susan and Schuey riding with me (Susan got the front seat).

Anything with an H on the hood.