Recently, as my desire to get into regional autocrossing has lead me to believe my heavily modifed 03 S maybe time for a change... quite frankly, i love my mini, but it is too far from stock to return! unfortunate more is that i cant buy 2 cars at this stage... so i want to see what car would people replace my S with?

My requirements include that it is capable in autocrossing AND track work, while looking good doing it all, and also just capable in the winter, i dont need it EXTREMELY good in the winter, but decent at least

right now, i have vastly different animals on my list, but they all meet the requirement, just in differnt ways,
Nissan 350Z
Mazda RX8

NEW Mazda Miata
06 Cooper S-MAYBE with JCW installed, i have to check the class on this car with JCW and without
06 Audi A3 2.0T

Toyota Echo (also known as the vitz or yaris, availiable only in canada)
06 Cooper

obiviously, the top cars on the list are good for track work, but not as good for autox, the middle does both ok, just neither well, the bottom two does autox very well, but would be short charged on the track...

i think at this stage my favourite would be the mazda miata, but i'd lose more places in the miata, the JCW is looking very good as well IF i can still run it in stock class, i'd love to go for the RX8 as well

what does everyone think?

 

Hmm, for autocross, the RX-8, but for track the 350Z. The RX-8 just doesn't have the power for the track and the 350Z is a bit too heavy for the autocross.

What about a Lotus Elise??!!?! That would fit in pretty well, but be a terrible daily driver.

What about a used 911 or a used Boxter? They both do pretty well in both arena's with the Boxter being a little easier to drive everyday with the extra storage space.

 

actually i checked out the weight of the RX8, it aint much lighter than a 350Z...

Elise? i cant drive it in the winter! and absoluetly terrible daily driver...

used 911 sounds sweet, a E36 M3 is looking real good too.... so many choices...

im gonna go check out the new miata and take a quickie test drive... then probably take the 350Z for a test drive... someone does drive a G35 coupe in autox so i dont believe size will be a factor

 

If you actually want to be competitive in your class for auto-x, don't get a JCW MCS. I love my car with the JCW package, but it runs in ASP which is completely assinine as the other cars in the class are Corvettes, Porsches etc.

If you don't want to get an MCS and run in a stock class or a modified class in which it is competitive, then I would look at a Miata, but some clubs won't let convertibles be involved in their track days

 

I drive my G35 all the time in autocrosses and do pretty well. I run with the PCA (Porsche Club of America) and usually end up in the top 20% or so of the group. Many Porsches are in my class in the SCCA, but I run in the X class (any non-porsche car) with the PCA. I would think the 350z would have a better advantage in that class.

Did you ever think of a STi or EVO? Great cars, very quick, good in the snow with the right tires, and relatively cheap.

 

as much as i wanted an EVO... they aren't sold in canada! and the money needed to get one here would be............

the new STI is absolutely horrid in my opinion, but it'd be a great car too, just maybe a bit out of my range in terms of price... a used one maybe something to look at, unfortunate is that some of the STI owners may have thrash the car, and to find a good condition STI maybe a bit harder to find

 

S2000 and get snow tires for winter?

 

Good call!!

You can get an S2000 in decent shape relatively cheap!

 

actually, personally never liked s2000, overpriced... i'd get a 350Z convertible if i am really looking for a 2 dr roadster...

STI will probably happen soon... as i just checked insurance and it aint much more than what im paying for my MCS... i already got a friend in vancouver who is interested in the car, and some of the bits already are asked... lol

 

Man, this thread makes me want to go out and get an S2000 for a dedicated track car. Unfortunately, they are just too slow in a straight line. I've even seen S2000's with superchargers and they can't seem to get good times out of them (power is there though), but the torque really can't get it out of the hole. I think i've seen a best of about a 13.5 or so for a supercharger kit taht is bringing the power upwards of 250 rwhp. Oh well, it would be nice if that car could get a nice 12 second timeslip with a turbo or supercharger.

 

yeh, i'd get one too if I had a 3 car garage. I like their 05's with
the graphite interior and red seats. very nice. I don't do drag
racing, but on a Honda, i'd definitely run a 50-60shot just in case you
need that extra punch.