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I think I'll be dumping the Crossfire after this season.

Soliciting opinions for the next car. Budget is about $40k. Probably be willing to push toward $50k for something *really* good. But it's a heck of a lot easier to dump prep $$$ into it if it's under $40k.

Car will be daily driver and autocrosser. Doesn't have to be all that practical, but I will daily drive it. I have a truck and trailer, so no need for it to be able to haul tires or anything.

FWD is out. So, RWD or AWD. Open to pretty much any manufacturer. Can be used or new.

Has to be a competitive stock class autocross car. Need not be *the* car for the class, but I need to feel like I can trophy in it nationally.

Cars I've been thinking about:

SS:
C5 Z06: sometimes I'm not sure why I think past this one (probably because I just love to shop for cars). All kinds of good things about it and I'm hard-pressed to come up with any bad. Plus, I've dreamed of having a Corvette for about as long as I can remember.

Elise: Love the Elise. I've never driven one, but I had a Celica GT-S, so I can imagine what that engine mounted in the middle and hauling 600 lbs less can do. And it's way-high on the cool meter (which counts ). But can I daily drive it? What do I do when I want to play golf? When I want to go shopping and buy something bigger than a pair of shoes? Do I have to take my Excursion?

C6: Z06 is too pricey. Base car is intriguing, but kinda heavy.

Z4 M Coupe: I think this is one of the coolest-looking cars on the road. Drove one a month ago and it was a blast. But I think it has about a snowball's chance in SS.

Cayman S: See M Coupe.

Viper: High cool factor. Power out the wazoo. Not sure about how competitive it really can be though...especially as big sites seem to be harder and harder to find. Budget stretcher too (at least for the 03+)

AS:

993 911: this is my current front runner along with the C5 Z06. biggest downside is that we're talking minimum 10 yr old car. But very cool car and the availability of AWD is kinda intriguing.

Cayman/Boxster/Boxster S: I drove a new base Cayman yesterday. I love the car, but for $50k, it's kind of a dog. Reminded me of my RX-8, which is not a bad thing, but the RX-8 is half the cost and runs in BS. Maybe the earlier Boxster S is a better choice?

Z4 Coupe: regular coupe has much more of a chance in AS than the M has in SS, but how competitive can it be?

GXP: pretty cool, but doesn't excite me the way the others listed to. Not sure I want another car with gearing issues either. But I do have a pretty good pile of GM Card $$$ available, so I could probably pick one up pretty cheap.

S2k: kinda like the GXP, it's just never really turned me on. But Buckley keeps talking about it now that he's driven a couple, so maybe I need to drive one.

STi: Killing everyone on a Pro launch is enticing, but styling does very little for me (although the new one is pretty interesting in a love/hate kind of way).

BS:

Nismo 350Z: I think this car could win BS for sure, but the front and rear fascia make me want to vomit.

Ferrari 328: Yes, it's a BS car. It would be crazy to daily drive and autocross one though, right?

DS:

Audi TT: the old one and the new one are both cool cars, but I think I want to be in a faster class than I'm in now.

135: I'm just putting this in here because I drove one yesterday. I have no interest in getting one, but wanted to see what it was like. Holy crap that's a lot of grunt for a DS car.

FS:

Shelby GT: sorta like the GXP and S2k for me...it's neat, but low on my list right now.

Thoughts? Feel free to try to talk me into or out of anything...I have lots of time to change my mind until I actually buy.

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That dope Crossfire is actually mine.

Brian, go to SS!!!!!!

The C5 Z06 is a BLAST to drive. I REALLY liked my brother's car and it was amazingly easy to drive fast. Probably will take a little bit of practice to drive it at the limit. Torque is GOOD!!!!!!! Used ones can be had in the high 20's to low 30's. That leaves lots of money for the tire budget!!!!!

I just got to drive the Elise at the Sanford event and even not driving it at the limit it was a ton of fun. I was really amazed at how well that car accelerates, stops and turns. And the car I was driving was completely stock with out the sport suspension or R comps!! Plus you can pick up used ones for around $30,000 and it will be easier on tires than the Vette.

Z4 - er, not seeing it as a contender

Cayman S - See Donnie for thoughts on this...

Viper - WOW!! Talk about torque!!!! But what will it cost to develop??

If I were to go AS I would definately go with the STi. All wheel drive launch is nice! An alternative would be the S2000. You might talk to Karl Shultz about his silver beast.

Acually, get the Ferrari and run BS! I wanna see the prancing horse dodging cones!!!!! Can you imagine the maintenance bill on that car?!??!?!!

Just my $.02

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

Scratch the Elise off. Too much money for what you get. Every time I see one close up it makes me wonder why people buy them.

Any of the rest sound like fun. I would pick the M Coupe or Boxter S.

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Silver Honda
Green Ford
Blue/White Suzuki
Red Triumph
Grey BMW

"Never let life be shaped by fear of its end"

No, you're a towel!

If you are going to DD it I would pass on the viper. After riding in a handful at one of the Viper AXs that Buckley put on I vowed I would never want one of those. The vette just seemed like such a better package for something that could posibly used for something else besides racing.

I think you should, at least, drive the Elise. If for no other reason to determine if you'd have to start doing yoga regularly to get out of the thing.

I got to drive one at the V event as well. It'd have been more fun equipped with something besides the low-profile equivalent of Sears Rainguard tires on the rear.

But as it was, I can see the appeal. But damn. They are small inside.

I'm with you the M Coupe. I think they look good, but you're knife at a gunfight.

Have you driven a Shelby? I haven't, but I'd consider getting one just to sit in the driveway and make racecar noises while playing with the Hurst shifter.

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Not spectacular just decent.
I'm not sure what I'm driving.
Maybe an ITR in DS.
Or half-assed STX prepped 330.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/The- ... m?Ref=Blog

I think I'm going for this next time.

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Rubbin' is Racin'

Bryan - go get the nicest, lowest mileage, stock S2000 you can find. Ask Aaron and Eric - they both really like mine.

The setup is pretty much a nobrainer now. You can get plenty of camber into it at all four corners. Buy a 1.25" solid FSB, some light wheels, and cut the factory mufflers off the car.

I helped Koni develop a AS specific valving for the single adjustable shocks. They're very good, and include feedback from Aaron, Eric and the like.

Wonderful car to daily drive IMHO. Yes, it rides a bit hard and is a bit loud. But it's a sports car. As sports cars go, it's actually quite nice. Great seats, great looking. Dead reliable.

If you're considering a new one, the CR is showing promise. Do know thought hat they're expensive, at about $38K sticker. There's no soft top at all, so in wet weather, you're stuck with the hardtop, negating some of the weight you saved by getting a CR to begin with. Also, a certain amount of the CR specific stuff (front bar, shocks), you'll be throwing all that away anyway.

I love mine a lot. It's a seriously fast autocross car and is way, way better than I am. If you have questions about them, PM me. Best car I've ever owned, hands down.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

Brian, that's a good list and summary. A few quick comments, unencumbered by the thought process on my top 5 of your choices...

Super Stock

C5 Z06: Good choice and lots of fun. This is a lot of car and it would take a long time to get bored with it b/c it challenges you in so many ways. If you don't like it, selling it should not be a problem b/c of the huge market for Vettes. Plus, it will hold golf clubs.

Elise: Next to the GT3, it's the next best car in SS and lots of fun. That car would be worth a very strong look, but they are fragile.

A Stock

Check out Stemler's already prepped GXP at $30K with like 1800 miles. After watching AS closely for 2 years in a row, I *strongly* believe the Solstice is the best car for the class in Tours. I and others (no not Donnie and Jonathan) watching last year believe Collett vastly outdrive the field, yet Stemler coned away the win. Personally, I don't think the Solstice GXP is nearly as fun to drive as the other cars, but it's fast.

STi - Donnie's version is clearly the best Pro Solo car, but at a noteworthy handicap at Tours. I think the car is about 5 tenths slower per day (+/- 2 tenths) on a Tour course than the Solistice and S2Ks. I really like the car...fun, powerful, and practical due to the back seat and trunk.

S2K - As Karl said, great car, and gobs of fun. I love this car - both the AP1 and AP2! If Chris and I don't buy some land for a new house over the next 6 months there is a good chance we'll pick up one of these over the winter for Chris to drive next year.

If you want a car that gives you the best chance to win Nationals, then in order buy a 1) GXP, 2) Elise, 3) S2K, 4) Z06, or 5) STi...if it rains then move the STi to #1.

For Pro Championship: 1) STi, 2) Elise, .....

For overall fun, challenge, and a tad bit of practicality/reliability: 1) Z06, 2) S2K, 3) Elise, 4) STi, and 5) GXP.

Just my 2 cents.

Eric

VW new Beetle


Yeah, its outclassed and slow in HS but you and Buckley would look cute in it together

*ducks*

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Differing opinion....I drove the same Elise mentioned by others - was not impressed at all. A bitch to get into and out of. Did not like the seating position at all. Felt like I had to drive scrunched down in the seat with my head pitched forward. Sure, it had power, but I was pretty 'meh' about the car overall.

Love driving the STi, but I can see Eric's point about being an underdog at Tours - particularly in open class where the talent level is tighter than in ladies class. (not trying to start anything with that statement - just my opinion - not a judgement about women vs men drivers, ladies class vs open class, etc.)

I believe that...I just helped my brother-in-law buy my sister a C5 (non-Z06)...I was very impressed with the combo of performance and comfort.

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That dope Crossfire is actually mine.

I will drive one for sure...but I think I will have to have some serious, serious love for it in order to believe I can daily drive it.


I haven't, but I have sat in one and made racecar noises while playing with the Hurst shifter.

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That dope Crossfire is actually mine.

Rear wheel drive. HS should leave about $40k for mods.

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George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

I have no doubt it's a great car...just doesn't resonate with me for some reason...maybe if I drive one...

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That dope Crossfire is actually mine.

thanks for the thoughts, Eric

I seem to spend a lot more time doing Pro's than "regular" Solo lately, so the STi has some definite appeal (along with AWD 993 or TT). You think the Elise is a better Pro car than the C5Z? Because of the launch and generally smaller/tighter courses?

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That dope Crossfire is actually mine.