Budget Rally-X Chassis Selection [Archive]

slideshow

10-07-2009, 07:19 AM

Hey guys... before I completely have you all write me off, Im sure there are several of these questions asked. I *have* searched, the questions however have just left me still slightly in the dark. I am a regular on several drift forums, and I always hated when guys when come and ask these sort of questions on our forums, so I hope I'm not being "that guy" when I come to you all with this! I've been drifting for five years now. I got into it because I was always obsessed with rallying while growing up, from watching it on Fox Sports South back in the day, to doing nothing but running the rally events on the original Gran Turismos. So, I finally have decided that this is what I want to do. There arent many nearby true rally stages, so RallyCross is what I will do.

That said, I have a starting budget of 3500 dollars... I can stretch it to 4000 if need be, but hell, even getting away with 3000 would be excellent. If I enjoy it and can really get into it, I will be parting out my drift car and moving from stock to prepared, or even modified.

There are 3 cars Ive been looking at...

1997 Legacy GT- 2.5... So roughly 110whp from what ive seen? And 3100 lbs?

1997 Subaru Impreza Outback- 2.2- Maybe 90awhp, and 2800 lbs?

1992 Eagle Talon- 190whp, 2900 lbs.

From just the power to weight ratios, obviously the DSM is the better choice. My question is, in the stock and prepared classes, can the previous two slower cars I mentioned be competitive? I do understand that "power isnt everything", but I also know that bogging in a turn can NOT be a good thing. How do the Legacy and the Outback compare to the current hot cars... WRXs and 2.5RSs? Lastly, is there a solid aftermarket for the EJ22 and will boosting it for Modified be some 3,000 dollar expenditure, or easily doable for 1-2k like most cars?

Obviously, I have asked a lot of questions... what it comes down to is, I really want a Subaru, but it appears that unless you pick up a 2.5RS or a WRX, that the DSM might be king of the budget AWD cars. Convince me otherwise if you do so believe.

Thanks guys! And I appreciate your patience. Maybe you all will see some dirty pictures from me soon!

Jard

10-07-2009, 07:23 AM

The 2.2L Imprezas give up about 20HP to the 2.5L NA motor.
So, 140 - 145 crank HP but should weigh under 2,800 lbs.

I routinely see them going for under $1K on craigslist but they might need a little work. I picked up a car for $750 that only needed a $40 cam sensor to run.

You don't want to bother boosting a 2.2L or 2.5L NA Subaru motor. You could boost a 1.8L far cheaper and it would hold up better, but it's probably still not worth it. When you decide you NEED turbo power down the road, swap in a EJ205 WRX motor.

edit: Where are you located?

slideshow

10-07-2009, 07:31 AM

Jard

10-07-2009, 07:41 AM

Well, thats really exactly what I was getting at. Like I said, I would be driving either Subaru for atleast half a year in completely stock form... if I like rally-x enough, I will then part out my drift car to actually build up the car. I just wanted to be sure with either choice I wasnt going to be stuck in a dead-end car.

Every 2.5RS I find is 5-6k. So, the good ol Impreza Outback wagons look like theyre my go to choice. 2800 seems to be the weight most people quote to me. Ive got my eye on two right now.. one for 1500, one for 3600 with 61,000 miles. The Legacy GT im looking at has 192,000 miles and is up for 2400.

Im located in Birmingham Alabama
Ah, okay. Well don't just look at RSs. They still command a premium. The RS was only 1998 - 2001. The Impreza coupe, sedan, and wagon were made starting in 1993 in both FWD and AWD.

My car is a 1995 (so still OBD I, easier to swap later down the road) 1.8L 5MT AWD Sedan. I'm actually putting a 2.2L motor in it, shorter final drive gearbox, and rear LSD. It should be fun and LIGHT and was still relatively cheap.

Jard

10-07-2009, 08:04 AM

Oh, and you are only 4 hours from Rally TN in Linden, TN (tarmac rally that happens in May).

You are also only 7.5 hours (that's still close in rally driving time) from Sandblast which is a sand/gravel rally the first weekend in February in South Carolina.

slideshow

10-07-2009, 08:17 AM

Yep... and ill definitely be hitting those up as soon as I get in something thats not a slammed 240sx or a Jeep Renegade... lol.

Now its just convincing myself that Id be better off in the underpowered Subies as opposed to the DSM. Something about Subarus... they just keep me wanting them.

Jard

10-07-2009, 08:20 AM

An Outback Sport would be good too. They still have the 2.5 motor and are a little newer. They are built on the Impreza platform instead of the Legacy (Legacy is heavier).

$1999

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/1407664154.html

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CALL 703-929-1880 FOR MORE INFO
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* Location: STERLING VA
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

wolfman79

10-07-2009, 08:47 AM

An Outback Sport would be good too. They still have the 2.5 motor and are a little newer. They are built on the Impreza platform instead of the Legacy (Legacy is heavier).

$1999

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/1407664154.html

Just to clarify the 96 through 01 OBS's did not come with the 2.5. They are still a solid choice. I have a 97 that is sitting in my garage eagerly awaiting my attention.

For the OP, if I were in your situation I would lean towards an Impreza wouldn't matter whether it was coupe, sedan or wagon. The early DSM's are nice, but are getting up in age so a low mileage one is hard to find for a decent price.

Jard

10-07-2009, 08:55 AM

Just to clarify the 96 through 01 OBS's did not come with the 2.5. They are still a solid choice. I have a 97 that is sitting in my garage eagerly awaiting my attention.

For the OP, if I were in your situation I would lean towards an Impreza wouldn't matter whether it was coupe, sedan or wagon. The early DSM's are nice, but are getting up in age so a low mileage one is hard to find for a decent price.
Good info thanks! 2.2s in them from 96 - 00? 2.5 in 01?

slideshow

10-07-2009, 09:04 AM

Right... I knew the Outbacks I looked at were all 2.2s. I've actually found a 92 6 bolt 4 bolt car with 82,000 miles for 3500.

So, stock for stock, can a 100-ish whp Outback wagon be competitive with other cars in SA?

If I could find a good deal on one of these that would be amazing. But the selection of cars in this area is kinda weak.

Jard

10-07-2009, 09:14 AM

So, stock for stock, can a 100-ish whp Outback wagon be competitive with other cars in SA?

Maybe...regionally...if it's a VERY TIGHT course.

You run into the chance of a STi or EVO with snow tires running in SA and that's definitely the case nationally.

If the car is stripped, has proper rally tires, and a decent suspension it should be able to compete in M4 but you'll need to be a good driver. You are always going to be hurting on horsepower courses.

409industries

10-07-2009, 09:28 AM

Yeah, you won't be able to get a decent RS for under 4K. They have a little more grunt than their L counterparts, and better diff's but that comes with a price. Not only that, but they are still in demand buy suby fanatics and collectors.

I'd definitely consider an older legacy. They just have a bit more power than the 1.8 or 2.2 Imprezas, although the aftermarket support for them isn't that widespread. What is going to get you good times is grip and handling. Power is not everything when it comes to rallycross.

find something within your budget, learn how to drive it, and have a good time. I wouldnt worry about swaps and all that. You're going to sacrifice reliability, and spend way more money that you need / can.

noisycricket

10-07-2009, 09:29 AM

There are 3 cars Ive been looking at...

1997 Legacy GT- 2.5... So roughly 110whp from what ive seen? And 3100 lbs?

1997 Subaru Impreza Outback- 2.2- Maybe 90awhp, and 2800 lbs?

About even. OBS handles a bit better, wheelbase is in the "sweet spot" and the wagon CG helps handling, IMO.

1992 Eagle Talon- 190whp, 2900 lbs.

How short are you?

Do you mind being mopped up by people in cars with half the power because they don't have turbo lag? You WILL spend a significant about of time off-throttle or in transitionary throttle, and you will be frequently between gears. Turbos are a liability, especially DSMs that don't even think about starting to get boost until 3k in stock form.

From just the power to weight ratios, obviously the DSM is the better choice.

Unfortunately, power has very little to do with anything in rallycross. It's mainly handling.

BTW - Have a look at this :)

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/99/l_b65ba6adb5474968a677ba04d9eb4b2f.jpg

I know, I know, one event's results mean little.

slideshow

10-07-2009, 09:38 AM

Wow... thats pretty nice. Now that outback is looking more and more tempting....

Im relatively short, 5'9". I realize the forward visibility of a DSM is absolute garbage.

I guess its just hard getting into the mindframe that a 100whp 2800 lb wagon is a viable option over a 200whp turbo 2 door car. Maybe I simply need to drive a Subaru all-out and see for myself, if theyre really this amazing.

Rally OBXT

10-07-2009, 09:45 AM

If you can get your hands on a GC chassis, do it. It looks like an older OBS is the right up your budget ally. If you can find an RS in your range, then pull the trigger on it. As mentioned above, the extra displacement and rear LSD helps.

With good driving you can be competitive in any class and on just about any course with the RS.

Jard

10-07-2009, 09:50 AM

The rear LSD in the RS was only in 00 and 01 too...nothing in 98 - 99.

wolfman79

10-07-2009, 09:54 AM

Good info thanks! 2.2s in them from 96 - 00? 2.5 in 01?

The 2.5 was only in the RS for the Impreza line until the GD/GG body style.

I'd definitely consider an older legacy. They just have a bit more power than the 1.8 or 2.2 Imprezas, although the aftermarket support for them isn't that widespread. What is going to get you good times is grip and handling. Power is not everything when it comes to rallycross.

find something within your budget, learn how to drive it, and have a good time. I wouldnt worry about swaps and all that. You're going to sacrifice reliability, and spend way more money that you need / can.

First gen Legacy's use almost all the same suspension as the Impreza so plenty of inter-model swapping possibilities. The 2.5 motor didn't show up until 95/96 and was only in the 2.5GT and the OBW's until the body style change in 00. And if you look hard enough you can find an early Legacy turbo for a decent price. Those had the EJ22T and with some mods can put down serious power. I still think that a GF chasis (Impreza wagon) is going to give the best bang for the buck, but then I am biased.

tzdevill

10-07-2009, 10:08 AM

I think, personally, the way to go is Subaru. Cause if you like it you could always upgrade the subaru, motor trans, gear ratios, lsd, interior. Well and if you got the dsm to start where would you be??? still in a mitsubishi:lol2:(yes i do not like dsm,worked on to many when i did engine work)

I jsut went from a 2.5 forester xt down to my obs and from the little open practise I think it is gonna be just fine for a rallyx car!!!

cghstang

10-07-2009, 11:39 AM

Just throwing this out there... why not setup your drift car for rallycross? Appropriate suspension and tires and you'd be set.

There's plenty of fun to be had in rallycross without AWD. Maybe not as much in-class competition, but plenty of fun.

For example:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rallyxPOS13/WichitaSFirstRallycross#5354676630193271842

Newk_Rally

10-07-2009, 02:14 PM

i'm in the process of convincing my buddy to convert his swapped 240 into a rally-x car i think i got him to just might have to take him to a couple more races before he actually pulls the trigger.

SoCalBoomer

10-07-2009, 02:39 PM

Of course, you could go with a Neon. FWD in Rallycross is awesome - the ability to easily use left-foot-braking to pivot the car around a course is a BLAST - and Cricket's results show the Neons well up there in the overall results (which does mirror ours, btw. . .)

They're CHEAP, easy to work on, pretty easy to get up over 100hp and still light and since you're only pushing 2 wheels, you'll be losing less to the center and rear diffs. . .

Just a thought. I WAY prefer FWD to RWD in rallycross, although it does depend on how your courses are set up - if it's open, then no big deal; if it's tight and technical then FWD>RWD.

noisycricket

10-07-2009, 02:39 PM

That's a good point too... why not rallycross an existing car?

Granted I can definitely understand the allure of "OMG new car time" but if you can drift, then you're familiar with how it feels to drive a RWD car on dirt, since the slip angles on dirt are high when at maximum grip. My standard rallycross car is an RX-7...

...but that Quantum up there? That's my other car. It's the only time I've ever rallycrossed it. If you can only think in terms of WHP then it's about 50-55whp, and I was driving on street high performance tires... Power means little. Heck if I would have not hit those two cones then I would have been able to place 2nd in *PA*.

slideshow

10-07-2009, 07:53 PM

There are 2 92-ish Legacy Turbos local for 1200, and 1500 dollars. The 1200 dollar one has body damage to the fender, not bad. The 1500 dollar one has a bad lifter tick. I never knew these were viable. How does the handling compare to GCs?

Also, are the RSs the only cars to have LSD? This is something the DSM does have over them then. I never knew Subies didnt have rear limited slips.. What about the Subie front diff?

And my S13 is not an option for dirt. Hell, I cant make it into most parking lots. Fiberglass aero, slammed car... yeah... Id just end up destroying it on the first turn.

KevinWelker

10-07-2009, 08:05 PM

Best "budget" rally-X car, IMO is whatever the local rental agency has on special. $30/day for a "fresh" car at each event makes $1,000+ investment look like throwing away a big pile of money and it's been proven that rental cars are lethal in skilled hands.

Just another way to look at getting out and racing without spending buckets of money.....

tsidreams

10-07-2009, 08:06 PM

How short are you?

I had to race my dsm with my head out the sun roof when wearing a helmet.

And comparing my WELL modded 95 awd Talon to my 97 OBS, I'd say sock Impreza's can take A LOT more rally abuse than a dsm. My dsm would fall apart on dirt roads. Blowing out ball joints all the time.

slideshow

10-07-2009, 08:13 PM

Rally OBXT

10-07-2009, 08:46 PM

I vote for the old leggy turbo. Put in some wrench time and that could be a kick ass car. After all, it's the car that Colin McRea started in.

wolfman79

10-07-2009, 11:05 PM

Damn you all. Im buying a Subaru. Now its just deciding between a Outback with 220k for 2200, an outback SPORT with 61k for 4200, a Legacy GT with 210k for 2400, or a Legacy Turbo for 1500 with a lifter tick.

The Leggy Turbo, no question. It has the same suspension design as the GC/GF bodies, so easy to upgrade down the road. And the EJ22T is about as bulletproof a motor as you can get.

noisycricket

10-08-2009, 05:32 AM

After all, it's the car that Colin McRea started in.

No, not even close... he started out driving Fords.

Not that it matters, even Group A rally cars had about as much to do with what you find on the street as a Winston Cup car. They LOOK similar, kinda.

Jard

10-08-2009, 07:09 AM

Damn you all. Im buying a Subaru. Now its just deciding between a Outback with 220k for 2200, an outback SPORT with 61k for 4200, a Legacy GT with 210k for 2400, or a Legacy Turbo for 1500 with a lifter tick.
Geez, come buy that OBS I posted around Washington, DC. It'll be cheaper even with your plane ticket.

wolfman79

10-08-2009, 07:33 AM

No, not even close... he started out driving Fords.

Not that it matters, even Group A rally cars had about as much to do with what you find on the street as a Winston Cup car. They LOOK similar, kinda.

He got his start in WRC in a Legacy, his first win was in a Legacy and made his name internationally in the Legacy.

And to compare Rally to NASCRAP is blasphemy. Even the Group B cars were based on production cars. That was the whole point behind the homologation rules. Rally cars have much more in common with the street versions than any other form of racing.

rollo

10-08-2009, 08:56 AM

My dsm would fall apart on dirt roads. Blowing out ball joints all the time.

Odi just experienced that at Prescott in his Talon :shock:

No, not even close... he started out driving Fords.

Not that it matters, even Group A rally cars had about as much to do with what you find on the street as a Winston Cup car. They LOOK similar, kinda.

McRae started out riding dirt bikes and did his first rally in a Hillman Avenger, most likely no more modified from street than the most budget-bound rally build on DI (A1337STI probably? :) ) then went through stuff like the Talbot Sunbeam and Vauxhall Nova - and they definitely weren't Gp A spec.

He didn't get into the Fords (Sierras both in RWD and AWD guise) until just before his big break into WRC with Subaru.

rollo

10-08-2009, 08:57 AM

Even the Group B cars were based on production cars. That was the whole point behind the homologation rules. Rally cars have much more in common with the street versions than any other form of racing.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.... while I agree with the sentiment, it's more accurate to say that the Group B road cars were based on the Group B rally cars 8)

noisycricket

10-08-2009, 09:47 AM

And to compare Rally to NASCRAP is blasphemy. Even the Group B cars were based on production cars. That was the whole point behind the homologation rules. Rally cars have much more in common with the street versions than any other form of racing.

The last WC car I saw up-close was a late 90's T-bird, and it was based on a street shell.

Granted, that was the only thing left of it, and the ex-FWD models are converted, and the COT is of course nothing at all production related (which is why I specified: WC car) but seriously, place a Focus WRC next to a street shell and there's no way it would pass a template test.

I'm not a NASCAR fan either (not since the early 80's) but I call 'em like I see 'em. If you want to see production based racing then watch Group N or certain road racing classes.

Rallycat66

10-08-2009, 10:33 AM

To the OP - it doesn't matter what you get. Just get something and learn how to drive the everlovin' snot out of it. Even a lowly 1.8L AWD Impreza can be very competitive if you learn to drive it properly. Yes, you'll immediately want to stuff a 2.2 or 2.5 into it when it won't accelerate for snit out of the corners, but you'll quickly learn to carry momentum through the turns which will make you a better and faster driver when/if you do get something more powerful.

chilibean_3

10-08-2009, 01:04 PM

Rallycat speaks the truth.

slideshow

10-08-2009, 02:36 PM

Well, im all for the "just drive it" mentality. However, i simply am also a fan of spending my money wisely.

And if that OBS was within a 5-8 hour drive Id pick it up tomorrow. Thats a ridiculous deal. Going to look at a Legacy Turbo tomorrow, and pray to god the lifter tick is just a bum lifter, rather than an oil pump.

wolfman79

10-08-2009, 02:59 PM

The last WC car I saw up-close was a late 90's T-bird, and it was based on a street shell.

Granted, that was the only thing left of it, and the ex-FWD models are converted, and the COT is of course nothing at all production related (which is why I specified: WC car) but seriously, place a Focus WRC next to a street shell and there's no way it would pass a template test.

I'm not a NASCAR fan either (not since the early 80's) but I call 'em like I see 'em. If you want to see production based racing then watch Group N or certain road racing classes.

I agree that the Group B cars were purpose built race machines as were the WRC spec cars but they still had recognizable civilian counterparts and in the case of some of the Group B's there wasn't much difference. Remember that homologation rules only specified 25 production units. As for the Group N's and most of the other classes in rally they are street cars modified for safety regs. NASCAR, WC, COT or otherwise hasn't been close to "stock car" for a couple of decades now. They are tube frame, template bodied, spec drivetrained race cars with a name that people recognize. And yes most of the road racing and touring car series are filled with production based cars.

On topic to the OP, hope the Leggy turbo checks out for you. Those are great cars to play with. Even easier to play with than the new turbo Subies

noisycricket

10-08-2009, 02:59 PM

Now - I may be wrong - but AFAIK the knocky-pump problem was only for EA82 engines, a Legacy would have an EJ22.

- previous owner of many EA82 powered cars

WRR

10-09-2009, 08:43 AM

speaking of Odi - I remember him 1st showing up to SoCal rally-x events quite a few years ago in his daily driver OBS and putting down times faster then some very powerful cars in his class!

a slow car (especially a 2WD slow car...) makes you a much better driver in the long run IMHO.. in a slow 2WD car you HAVE to learn how to NOT scrub off speed cause you will not get it back before the next corner -

buy what you want - build it the way you want - and then go have a great time with it (but rally-xing a car you already have does kind-of make some sense especially if you already know what it does at the 'limit')

and although the rental rally-x car idea does work & has worked very well in the past - plz be aware that in the last few years even cheap cars now come standard with traction control / ABS / stability control systems that many times you can not over-ride so when you throw it into a corner the car takes over and tries to fix your 'mistake'... it makes for a very disappointing day of racing!!

SoCalBoomer

10-09-2009, 09:16 AM

Also - with a rental, you will be well behind anyone else in SCCA Stock since you're not going to get a rental with good tires (decent, perhaps. . . :D )

You can have a TON of fun with a rental. . . you shoulda seen the Mustang rental that showed up for our "the heavens opened and rain poured forth" event . . . there was a SLIGHT uphill area and they nearly didn't make it up! (it was 20' and went up maybe 2'. . . ROFLMAO) ROOSTER TAILS FTW

nization

10-09-2009, 08:45 PM

I quite like my Outback Sport. (That's me in 1st at the event cricket posted).

The past three years, I've won my regional events until this season. A certain EVO driver has learned to harness the power (mostly) that is the EVO. So he's almost certain to win this year.

I don't know how well drifting skill will translate over to rallycross skill, but I can tell you that if you can drive, the power makes little difference.

I put around 400 miles a week for work on my Impreza and rallycross it every chance I get. Has not let me down. I Absolutely recommend any of the Subarus over any Mitsu.... Well, if you get a new EVO with a warranty, and be careful they don't even suspect you of racing it.... maybe.... But that's out of your stated price range anyway.

Good luck!

slideshow

10-10-2009, 07:31 AM

Well, I went and checked out a Turbo Legacy today... it was the '91, with a VLSD. I left without the car because I just couldnt commit to it without considering it. Is it REALLY possible these cars are competitive without spending 10k+ on a full rally setup? The car felt VERY sloppy in handling, and wasn't extremely fast. Even with the td04 swap, and sti shocks and springs, the car didnt feel much different from a Nissan Maxima. The chassis itself seemed to give alot, the body roll was like a school bus, and the car wanted to understeer ALOT even on mildly aggressive backroad driving.

I'm not trying to be "that critical guy", and maybe Im just used to a different car setup, but what makes these cars so amazing, outside of their heritage? Theyre heavy, seemingly underpowered, and the turning radius is pretty bad.

Maybe Im way offbase, but the stock outback I test drove handled seemingly better, even with the open diff, than the Legacy.

noisycricket

10-10-2009, 07:44 AM

One thing that needs to be driven home is that rallycross is not about how fast you go, it's about how few mistakes you make in navigating the course. Mistakes meaning overdriving the car, hitting cones, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, etc.

Thread the cones in a minimalistic line and you WILL place well, in any car. In actuality, being underpowered is probably a benefit since you can concentrate on driving cleanly.

Maximas actually seem to make decent rallycross cars... :bored:

slideshow

10-10-2009, 07:48 AM

rollo

10-10-2009, 08:40 AM

Maximas actually seem to make decent rallycross cars... :bored:

Yep...

wolfman79

10-10-2009, 09:40 AM

Well, of course I understand that, and I'm not arguing the technicalities of the how it works, but instead, simply analyzing the characteristics of the two cars. I'm not gonna lie, something about driving an old school Legacy turbo that you saw in colin mccrae videos is exciting, but is this car more of a "nostalgia" item now, and not really as viable in terms of chassis design as a GC?

In terms of chassis design the first generation Legacy is the exact same as the first generation Impreza. The model designation for the early Legacy is a BC/BF with the Impreza being a GC/GF. Everything that you can do to an Impreza you can do with the Legacy with regards to suspension/chassis. Struts, springs, sway bars, bushings etc can all be used. Other upsides are having a better brake setup stock versus the Imprezas, the stock rear LSD, and the EJ22T. Downsides are the fact that it is an older car and as such will feel and look like it.

Is it the right car for you? That depends on your wants and needs, future plans and your creative capabilities.

Rally OBXT

10-10-2009, 09:49 AM

The old turbo leggy is not that heavy of a car. According to cars101.com it was 3140 lbs. On top of that, the engine was rated @ 160 HP. So a stock car would not feel that fast at all.

As to the sloppy handling, I can only imagine that all the old bushings need to be replaced and the suspension need's a complete re-do. But if you are going to turn this car into a kick ass rally machine, you want to do all that stuff anyway.

With an old car like the turbo leggy, you WILL need to put in a good amount of wrench time to get it up to speed. Maybe you can talk the guy down more on price??

Either way, best of luck.

nization

10-10-2009, 02:27 PM

I'm not trying to be "that critical guy", and maybe Im just used to a different car setup, but what makes these cars so amazing, outside of their heritage? Theyre heavy, seemingly underpowered, and the turning radius is pretty bad.

Maybe Im way offbase, but the stock outback I test drove handled seemingly better, even with the open diff, than the Legacy.

Absolutely sounds like you were over driving the car as if it were RWD w/poor handling characteristics.

As to the sloppy handling, I can only imagine that all the old bushings need to be replaced and the suspension need's a complete re-do. But if you are going to turn this car into a kick ass rally machine, you want to do all that stuff anyway.

With an old car like the turbo leggy, you WILL need to put in a good amount of wrench time to get it up to speed. Maybe you can talk the guy down more on price??

Either way, best of luck.

I ran very competitively, even set FTD once or twice before installing new struts. Rallycross is kinda sloppy in and of itself. I don't think the crisp street setup is all that out in the dirt. But yes, this is nearly a 20 year old car. Things are going to be worn a bit. Not as big a problem in Rallycross as it would be on the street.

I do not agree it is a must to completely re-do anything on this car. Maintenance items are important. But you do not need the latest and greatest fly parts to run in rallycross. Only thing about this one I would be concerned with is that it's not n/a. But that's my philosophy. Others will vary.

Tim.Flat4

11-03-2009, 03:40 PM

Drive a GC and decide yourself ;)

I picked up a '94 L sedan with a 1.8L, 5MT and AWD for about a grand. I've driven it all over the states for two years and recently swapped in a 2.2 for less than $500. The added power is great and it would be even better with a lighter flywheels and better diffs, but those cost more than my car and motorswap. I have insane amounts of fun with my car in the dirt and it's my daily driver.

I plan on attending many Northern California rallyx events next year with this car and I hope to get in to stages in a couple years with this car as well.

PS: My 94 L weighs 2,500 with the 2.2 in it.

rallyimprezive

11-17-2009, 08:09 PM

I had a 97 2.2L with an automatic...and drove that car with a complete lack of concern for consequence. And it was an absolute blast. The auto made left foot braking easy, and the AT had a longer 1st gear that was GREAT for tight rally-x tracks. I had installed AGX struts with OBS springs and Primitive Racing skid plates.

*sigh* I miss that car.

I saw it no long ago, the new owner still drives it on gravel mountain roads, and it has over 200k. Only failure so far is a front diff.

renegade

11-17-2009, 09:59 PM

The Chevy Beretta at my local Rally X wasn't doing to shabby either. I think it was the driver more than the car though.

noisycricket

11-18-2009, 10:14 AM

OMG GC 2.5RS

The ABS is instrumental in getting the car to rotate if necessary, I found.

Ruh Roh 1

11-18-2009, 11:32 AM

How about you buy another 240. Like say, Mine! :mrgreen:

tom50

11-18-2009, 03:14 PM

I'm thinking of trying out rallycross. I have a 2000 Impreza RS, that used to be my daily driver.Only downside is its an auto. The car already has KYB AGX struts and SPT springs. The springs lower it about an inch, what would be a cheap alternate spring?

Tim.Flat4

11-18-2009, 04:23 PM

The springs lower it about an inch, what would be a cheap alternate spring?

Stock springs

tom50

11-18-2009, 05:24 PM

Thanks ,unfortunately I don't have my stock springs anymore.

RallyTaco

11-20-2009, 03:12 PM

Unfortunately, power has very little to do with anything in rallycross. It's mainly handling.

BTW - Have a look at this :)

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/99/l_b65ba6adb5474968a677ba04d9eb4b2f.jpg

OH came and kicked but that day! :headbang:

I agree on the power thing but the handling...so what your saying is a live axle pickup handles better than a Quantum? ;-):shocked::roll::D:D HAHA J/K

I think my sig pic came from the day of these results.

SoCalBoomer

11-20-2009, 04:39 PM

It CAN - it depends quite a bit on the course, as has been mentioned elsewhere.

On my style of courses (devilishly tight and technical) a truck has absolutely no chance; on Ray Hocker's course up in Riverside (at the CRS Rally School) a truck can easily dominate (they're wide open, loooooong turns or looooong straights with wide open 90's connecting them. . .)

What's a Quantum? Wait - a VW station wagon? Yeah, I'd expect them to be close, depending on the course. . . :D