New autocrosser goes car shopping, needs advice

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Wed May 19, 2010 6:42 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

It might be impossible to find one, but Toyota made a version of the Corolla with the 180HP Celica GT-S motor in it. I've never seen one in person, but supposedly, they exist. That'd be a cool car.

SVT Focus would be good too, and even cheaper.

Here is a Corolla XRS. It has the drivetrain out of the Celica GTS. So 180 hp and 6 speed manual. A small car lot that advertises for the paper I work for has one right now.

http://van2autos.com/vehicledetails.aspx?VID=111359428

It is above 60,000 miles and a touch over $10k but I am sure she could get it below that as I have the connections with them. :lol:

For what you are looking for you might be better off with the SVT Focus idea to get lower miles and lower price.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed May 19, 2010 8:09 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Yeah ST Civics suck....they are utter garbage

.

You were suggesting civics that AREN'T fast. Its the civics that are 2+ years old that are the fast ones.

How much are the base model HS Coopers down to these days? They've got to be around that magic $10K I'd presume.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Wed May 19, 2010 8:22 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

I don't follow muscle cars too closely--How do Mustangs and other FS cars do in the depreciation vs wear n tear world?

Depreciation is average depending on condition. The problem will be keeping one in tires. Plus, they can be "somewhat" hard to drive unless the 2005's and newer meet the budget and are also easier to drive in an autocross than the earlier ones that I've used. FYI, my very first autocrosses were in my 69 Mustang GT. My first FAST ride in an autocross was in a 70 or so Z28 on slicks . . . WOW.

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

Matt McGrain wrote:

BriceJohnson wrote:

JamesShort wrote:

Yeah ST Civics suck....they are utter garbage

.

You were suggesting civics that AREN'T fast. Its the civics that are 2+ years old that are the fast ones.

How much are the base model HS Coopers down to these days? They've got to be around that magic $10K I'd presume.

Ask Gwen about how reliable the 5 speeds in those older Coopers are though. . .

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed May 19, 2010 9:58 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

Ask Gwen about how reliable the 5 speeds in those older Coopers are though. . .

I watched Ron Williams differential parts hit the ground at the Lincoln ProSolo on his first Sunday launch in his '05 Cooper. Yeah, they aren't robust. - AB

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Celica GT?

Though honestly, I know she'd be much happier with an F-stock car. Have her talk to Rodney

RobLupella · **Posted:** Wed May 19, 2010 10:07 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

A used mazda3 is much more capable out of the box than a civic IMO. It would be in her price range, get great gas mileage (especially if she opted for a 2.0L, which isn't much slower than the 2.3 for autocross). You also will get a lot more car for your money than you would in a civic or a corolla. The used market undervalues mazdas and overvalues honda/toyota. Even the 2.0L has 148 hp and a lot more torque than either the honda or toyota equivalent. Step up to the 2.3 and you've got a good 40 ft lbs extra torque and 30 extra hp. The suspension is better for autocross, and the brakes put a civic/corolla to shame.

If she would like to co-drive mine at some point to get an idea of what it can do, I'd be glad to let her give it a try.

If her budget is less than a 3, the older protege5's are also quite capable, just not quite as nice as a daily driver.

The 3's might be more than the $10K limit, but the older proteges are nice cars. Potentially a Focus hatchback of a few years back (Judi W. or Kendt may chime in here), or if she didn't want the sedan thing she can get a nice Miata for $10K. The problem with the BMW theory is that parts can be more expensive than cheap Japanese/America stuff

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

RobLupella wrote:

The 3's might be more than the $10K limit

No they aren't. As I said, vastly undervalued on the used market compared to toyota/honda equivalents. You can find quity a few 2004's in this price range.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/1740606891.html

I'd bet this would kill that corolla w/ the celica drivetrain in all but the most experienced drivers hands due to the massive torque advantage the MZR has.

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 5:47 pm

Keith Vail wrote:

For what you are looking for you might be better off with the SVT Focus idea to get lower miles and lower price.

What he said. If she's interested, I know where a 2002 SVT, black, 2 door, 85k miles is. I think he was asking $6k, but you could probably talk him down as that is a little high. The guy even has an extra set of wheels for sale with it. You are welcome to come test drive ours. Gotta love the hatchback.

Michael Czeiszperger · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:35 am **Posts:** 861

Matt McGrain wrote:

How much are the base model HS Coopers down to these days? They've got to be around that magic $10K I'd presume.

I was just looking at those today. Accord to Edmunds and a cursory look around Craigslist you can get a 2002 Cooper-S for around $6-7K, and a non-S for around $5-6K depending on condition.

Overall Consumer Reports rates the 2002 Cooper-S to be a little more reliable than average, although the transmission gets the much worse than average rating.

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

The Cooper S transmission is fine. Its a 6 speed Getrag that is quite reliable (its actually the same transmission used on the SVT focus if I'm not mistaken). Its the 5 speed Midland on the base Coopers that sucks.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 9:36 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

The Cooper S transmission is fine. Its a 6 speed Getrag that is quite reliable (its actually the same transmission used on the SVT focus if I'm not mistaken). Its the 5 speed Midland on the base Coopers that sucks.

The new n/a has Getrag transmission. My '05 went through 2 trannys before they replaced it with Getrag. Then, no more problems.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 7:25 pm

get a toyota corolla, then come rallycrossing with us.

noahfleming · **Posted:** Sat May 22, 2010 11:34 am

A used Mazda3?

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Sat May 22, 2010 9:26 pm

maybe a subaru rs. older 2.5 rs.

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