Front-wheel-drive?

[Shant J.]

Sorry if this is ridiculous or something, but, how would a front-wheel-drive car fare on a race course? I do mean modified, of course. Just need ideas since there aren't any cheap new rear-wheel-drive cars for sale that I know of.

[sr20goofus]

Honda owns FWD cars on race courses, will hang with V8 RWD cars like its easy.

road courses are used by FWD, RWD and AWD vehicles in every format and body style. Some of these cars will seem faster than other but more than anythgin is the drivers pushing them harder, not the cars actual ability.

[Bubba1]

Sorry if this is ridiculous or something, but, how would a front-wheel-drive car fare on a race course? I do mean modified, of course. Just need ideas since there aren't any cheap new rear-wheel-drive cars for sale that I know of.

Cough cough Miata, Solstice/Sky, cough cough.

Not ridiculous at all. FWD is a perfectly fine set up for road racing. People have been using FWD for racing for many years with plenty of success.

[Shant J.]

Cough cough Miata, Solstice/Sky, cough cough.

Not ridiculous at all. FWD is a perfectly fine set up for road racing. People have been using FWD for racing for many years with plenty of success.

Well, I know those are cheap, but I mean REALLY cheap. Like sub-$20k cheap. Chances are, my dad is getting me a Versa, which shouldn't be all that bad with the 6-speed.

[sr20goofus]

an older (92 or older ) Mazda miata, Ford mustang, Mazda rx-7, Toyota supra, Nissan 240SX, Nissan 300ZX, Datsun 240Z, can all be had for just a few thousand dollars in good condition if you look around. Those count as cheap, sub $20k isnt cheap, anything over $8k isnt cheap.

[Bubba1]

Well, I know those are cheap, but I mean REALLY cheap. Like sub-$20k cheap. Chances are, my dad is getting me a Versa, which shouldn't be all that bad with the 6-speed.

If you're talking strictly new cars, then yes, you're right, there isn't much out there for under $20K that's RWD and sporty. If you want cheap sporty RWD, your dad would have to buy you a used car.

[glitched]

just wait until scion releases their new aE

[Shant J.]

I do mean strictly new. Maybe a year or two old. My dad wants something with a warranty. And I'm guessing it's gonna be a while before the "aE" comes out. I would fancy a Sky Redline, though; must suck to have such as small trunk, I'd think.

[Bubba1]

I do mean strictly new. Maybe a year or two old. My dad wants something with a warranty. And I'm guessing it's gonna be a while before the "aE" comes out. I would fancy a Sky Redline, though; must suck to have such as small trunk, I'd think.

I think a late model Miata (assuming you fit in them) would be a better bet for reliability than a Sky. They get great gas mileage, cheap to operate,repair, nimble handling. Excellent car for commuting.

[nismofly]

i wonder how much used acura tsx's are going for

those, mazda 3's and 6's, all have potential...thats about it as far as im concerned for recent fwd cars

[kbanks]

Tell your father your plans. He will undoubtedly tell you if you race a new car he will be pissed. So for less than $20k, get a Yaris hatchback for daily driving, spend the rest on a spec rx-7. These are going for $4-6k and that's everything you need to run a season (not competitively). All of this for less than $20k. If you have to go FWD test drive a Mazda 3 or VW Golf, those are good bang for the buck rides.

[crackler]

Tracking a car that you (or your dad) is making payments on is, no offense, STUPID. When something happens your insurance company will deny your claim and you will have to make payments on something that has already been scrapped. The first (and only time so far) I have ever been on a road course, the first thing my instructor said to me was; "If you make a mistake, the LEAST that will happen is your car will be totaled". This might be hyperbole but there is a lot of truth to that statement. Also, one thing that I always keep in mind when I go race is; Don't race a car you can't push off a cliff tomorrow. I have seen cars get totaled during races through no fault of their own. And if your dad is the least bit responsible he will **** a brick when he finds out you are tracking the car he is paying for. please don't take offense to any of that, I am just sounding a STRONG word of caution to your current plans. [/rant]

In all honesty, if you want to track a car, buy something cheap, and use the car car your Dad buys you as a daily driver.

CRXMIATARX-7MustangeProtege'OmniVW Golf

If you start in a bone stock slow car, and spend money on seat time/ school. You will be far better off as a driver than if you buy a high H/P car and throw a bunch of parts at it. The most crucial part of a car is the nut behind the wheel. And for what it is worth, I keep going DOWN in power over the last three cars I have owned. SpecV>240sx>MiataBut I have the most fun in the miata!