STF article in GRM...discussion

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:46 pm

So with buying the CRX as a TBD track toy (and continuing autox codriving the s2000 with Jeremy for the unforeseen future), I'll probably be buying another car for daily driving, future kid hauling, and modest utility (need to be able to tote 4 255/40/17s, jack, tool box and cooler).

The STF article seems interesting and I might consider heading in the direction of one of those cars. My main requirement would be 4 doors so the Mini, RSX and Fiat are out. I was heavily considering a Focus/Fiesta but 4x108 bolt pattern wheels are dissuading me. Right now I'm thinking:

2nd Gen Fit
Yaris (5 door 5MT so only 2010 and 2011 are options)
Mazda2

Positives:

All have 4x100 so wheel options are awesome (ie 6uls or TRMs for the 15" cars)

Hesitations with each:

Fit: running 16s due to short gearing...16x7.5 4x100 wheels are rare if non-existent (TR doesn't have any). Also suspension is scarce though Chris Shenefield at Redshift Motorsports have Koni coilovers with custom front strut housings ready for shipping about now

Yaris: 4 door 5MTs are hard to find. Suspension options are not great (KW V3 are only worth a damn option and pricey

).

Mazda2: very new so a bit pricey, affordable suspension options are still trickling (I don't have an Andy Hollis budget so custom ASTs aren't happening), down on power/weight ratio to Yaris/Fit

Other thought would be Mazda 3 but even with 15s and 225/45/15, 2nd gear is still way long but it does have the torque to handle it, but it's also a lot heavier and wider than most of them. Any thoughts on what would be better between the hatch or sedan? The other hesitation is that 15x7.5 5.114.3 wheels are damn near non existent.

Anyway, this thread is largely about what I'd like to do, but I'd also like to here other peoples thoughts on STF in general.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

You may have to go with. 2.0 sedan, brake clearance for 15s may be an issue on the hatch and 2.3 sedan.

Is the integra sedan stf or stc? A 4 dr gsr would be a great dd. pretty sure the 3 dr is stc, wasn't sure if the sedan was also.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2012 4:01 pm

The double wishbone solution.

Signed,
Hondafanboi #27589578925

p.s. A Yaris?! In retrospect this makes me like the Crosstour idea in comparison. :wink:

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2012 4:17 pm

All STF cars have struts. DW Honda's are all STC.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2012 4:31 pm

Gotcha. All these new ST* classes > me

I'm a fan of the Mazda 2 and I'd take a few fun runs in Andrew's as it's a fun little car for sure.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

JamesShort wrote:

16x7.5 4x100 wheels are rare if non-existent (TR doesn't have any).

?

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelClo ... sort=Brand

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:09 pm

JamesShort wrote:

I was heavily considering a Focus/Fiesta but 4x108 bolt pattern wheels are dissuading me.

Yeah it is a bit of a buzzkill but its certainly not fatal. It should even get better as the aftermarket ramps up for the Fiesta. You are more than welcome to take a spin in mine but it wont be STF right out of the gate.

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:58 pm

JamesShort wrote:

I was heavily considering a Focus/Fiesta but 4x108 bolt pattern wheels are dissuading me.

Can you not run adapters to get you to 4x100? If you don't want the extra inch of spacer, you can by a brand new hub and bearing assembly for about the same price as an adapter - take it to a machine shop and have it drilled for 4x100. Seems easy-peezy, unless it's not legal for the class or something. :whoknows:

Go with the FORD!

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2012 6:27 pm

Cash Davidson wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

I was heavily considering a Focus/Fiesta but 4x108 bolt pattern wheels are dissuading me.

Can you not run adapters to get you to 4x100? If you don't want the extra inch of spacer, you can by a brand new hub and bearing assembly for about the same price as an adapter - take it to a machine shop and have it drilled for 4x100. Seems easy-peezy, unless it's not legal for the class or something. :whoknows:

Go with the FORD!

I was thinking about that Cash, dunno if its legal though

JamesShort · **Posted:** Sun Aug 19, 2012 8:39 pm

Mike, thanks for the link. I did a search based on the Fit as the car, but those didn't show up. Good price too and light to boot!

Things are looking up for the Fit.

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:45 am

James, can you summarize the article briefly? I have yet to get to the store to pick up a copy. I am curious what they are saying the 2nd Gen Fit looks like in comparison to the other cars in the class being that I already have a 2010 Fit Sport sitting in my driveway.

On the coilover front Bilstein also has a PSS setup for them that could be bought and custom valved for your needs as well.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:07 am

Keith Vail wrote:

James, can you summarize the article briefly? I have yet to get to the store to pick up a copy. I am curious what they are saying the 2nd Gen Fit looks like in comparison to the other cars in the class being that I already have a 2010 Fit Sport sitting in my driveway.

On the coilover front Bilstein also has a PSS setup for them that could be bought and custom valved for your needs as well.

Fit gen 2 has better suspension than the gen 1, with 225/50/16 can get 58 mph out of 2nd gear, has the best tire width to weight ratio, one of the higher power to weight ratio and when creating 3*grip+thrust metric is ahead of all of the other cars and when doing 2*grip+thrust (due to some national courses getting slower), is 2nd or 3rd out of all of them.

Redshift coilovers are going to be sweet. They use VW Corrado koni inserts in custom powdercoated housings and rear 06+ CI shocks with a custom shock eye sleeve. And both options are easy to source race and DAs for. He can do whatever spring rates though his testing is saying 450/550 f/r from what I see. $1500 shipped. The PSS with revalving, shipping and good spring rates would be over 2k I'd presume.

Keith is there anything in the sport package that helps performance that you can swap in ST*? If not I'm just going to get a base and do the radio control on the steering wheel swap as a comfort/convenience mod since that is the only thing I care about in the sport package.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:35 am

James,

Now that I have broadened out my search to 16" wheels, there are actually quite a few options in the 4x108, some even 7.5" wide, $110/ea. Don't write off the Ford just yet.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:10 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

James,

Now that I have broadened out my search to 16" wheels, there are actually quite a few options in the 4x108, some even 7.5" wide, $110/ea. Don't write off the Ford just yet.

How much do they weigh?

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:25 am

JamesShort wrote:

Keith is there anything in the sport package that helps performance that you can swap in ST*? If not I'm just going to get a base and do the radio control on the steering wheel swap as a comfort/convenience mod since that is the only thing I care about in the sport package.

Nothing that can't be added on STF. Though it does come with an integrated sway bar in the rear suspension so you could just add the extra sway bar that Progress makes for better rotation and less rear spring. I imagine the integrated rear bar might be a PITA to add on your own from what it looks like but I have no clue.

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