Five Cars That Shouldn't Be Autocrossed

"Satish Kondapavulur" (becauseCAR)
08/06/2013 at 16:41 • Filed to: MY STUPID LISTS

Autocross events are among the few low-cost ways of racing. Go to some place with a lot of tarmac early in the morning, sit through a safety talk of some sort, know what work you're assigned to do, and then get 3-4 runs on a course that takes less than a minute to complete. And the best part is any car can take part! But there are some that shouldn't.

The cars on this list have the potential to: knock down dizzying amounts of cones (so the corner workers will hate you), leave bits of car and fluids on the racing line (so other competitors will hate you), or crash into lamp posts, fences, signs, or any other physical barriers (so the organizers will hate you).

There are only five cars on this list, as I gave people a lot more to be angry about last week. And no, the Corvette is not on this list.

Author's Note: I was tempted to put the Smart fortwo on here, but I foresaw the argument for it (and was a bit worn down from the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ). It's rear-drive, mid-engined, and it has the structural rigidity. And it's safe as numerous people have attested to from the last list. But its minuses are the small wheels, the maddening transmission, and no space for carrying the helmet, cones, and water bottles needed to keep cool for corner work. Meanwhile, I'll be swallowing my pride about writing that the Smart is relatively safe...

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Reliant Robin

In case you haven't watched the Top Gear !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on the Robin, it will tip over on corners that need sharp turn-in, a hallmark of any autocross course. There's absolutely no question of that. It may be hilarious fun to watch for the first five minutes or so. After that, it just becomes tedious righting the car every 30 seconds. And the people in line behind the Robin will become impatient waiting to do their run. People will then cringe whenever they see a Robin at the starting line. In fact, an award should be given to the Robin driver that completes the course without tipping over.

Renault Fuego (1982-1985)

I'm a fan of French cars, especially the big Citroëns and any French hot hatchback. But the Fuego is a major reason why French cars aren't sold in the US. First off, they rust like crazy. This possibly means there'll be bits of car all over the racing line. And it has a tendency to overheat, maybe a result of the car's name. There's also the head gasket issue. And these were even recalled because the steering wheel could fall off. Not something you'd want to happen during an autocross. At this rate, it's a much better candidate for LeMons. With all this, it's no wonder the Prelude dominated the sports coupe market.

Bugatti Veyron

These are the actions of a Veyron driver on the first run: Engage launch control. Press accelerator completely down. Watch the power needle go to 1001 hp. Realize you have to brake. Brake. BRAKE! Notice that you can't see what's behind those huge A-pillars. Check if the speedometer is pointing to 0, which it isn't. Hit the lamp post that those pillars were hiding. Get out of the car. View the numerous cones you knocked over in the process. Then look at the damage on the car and think "It's only money." Incur angry stares from all the people doing corner work. Casually beckon to your staff to unload the Aventador off the trailer for the next run, all while the organizers are scrambling to throw you out of the event.

Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Diesel (in fact, any GM car with the Olds V-8 diesel)

As a Jalopnik rule, any rear-drive manual diesel station wagon is the ultimate dream car. The diesel Cutlass Cruiser is the exception with the Oldsmobile 5.7-liter diesel V-8. And GM !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to play up the fuel efficiency. But I should include all the GM diesel cars made in the late 1970s and early 1980s because they were responsible for diesel's bad image for much of the late 1980s and 1990s. Avoid the Olds 4.3-liter diesel V-8 which has a worse reputation than the 5.7-liter, with 90 hp and a propensity to implode at any point. And the thick black smoke will give environmentalists sufficient ammunition to ban further autocross events in that area for life.

(Pictured is the Brougham, since the print advertisement for the diesel wagon was too small to embed.)

Anything with a CVT

This one comes from personal experience. Now, my strategy during an autocross is to overdrive the car on the first run, so you know immediately where the limits are. In a car with actual gears, I know which gear and rev range the engine should be in. With a CVT, I have to throw that out the window because the engine sounds the same at any point. This poses problems when determining braking points, because they come right when you think “I have to slow down or I knock down that cone right in front of me!” And you promptly understeer spectacularly nearly knocking over the "SLOW" sign in the process. Which happens when autocrossing the 2013 Altima after driving a Camry. It is the only time I've legitimately been yelled at during an autocross.

Feel free to add cars that you think shouldn't compete in an autocross in the comments below. (Though it'll totally be criticism of my choices and my halfhearted attempts to defend them.)

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! runs !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , named because "Clunker.com" was $82 at auction and would've taken 30% out of the balance of his Eagle Vision for LeMons fund. In between contemplating cross-country runs, he spends much of his time attempting to convince others that his MkV Jetta 2.0T Wolfsburg is indeed a sports sedan.

All car photographs courtesy of the respective manufacturers. First image courtesy YouTube.

DISCUSSION (100)

dogisbadob > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 16:42

No such thing as a car that doesn't belong at autocross.

The CVT is the fastest transmission there is. So good that it got BANNED from most racing series.

promoted by the color red > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 16:46

Sounds like the Cruze diesel engine needs to find its way into that Cutlass.

Z_Stig > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 16:47

Actually, at the end of the autocross, they could hold a car bowling event with the Reliant Robin and all the cones.

Satish Kondapavulur > dogisbadob
08/06/2013 at 16:48

I know. I'd love to see all of the cars I listed at an autocross. But their novelty will wear off.

And a CVT makes a lot of sense on a racetrack, but when an autocross involves road cars and a lot of sharp turns, a CVT may not be the best bet, unless the Honda Accord's CVT is put in sport mode, in which case in can outdo many cars. But why would you autocross that instead of the manual?

Satish Kondapavulur > promoted by the color red
08/06/2013 at 16:50

One can hope...

Satish Kondapavulur > Z_Stig
08/06/2013 at 16:50

Sign me up for that!

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 17:00

Kinja'd!!!

I didn't know Vetts had 4 wheel steering, neato!

apr10427 - Greedo never fired > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 17:00

The purpose of a CVT is to maintain engine rpm during acceleration. If a car's peak torque occurs at 6000 rpm then why not keep the engine at 6000 rpm to optimize acceleration. A CVT's driver is also more free to concentrate on the course.

Mazarin > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 17:02

I disagree with the mere concept of this about as much as one can. I say, as long as the vehicle is safe, the more obscene it is, the better. I want to see an Toyota Previa out there. Have a 'Busa'd Smart? HELL YES PLEASE. These are odd, but they make sense. An argument can be made for stuff like that.

So lets go further off the deep end. Stuff that results in the inquiry of paint chip consumption and cranial impact history.

Can your '94 Land Rover stay in one piece and upright(and running) for a minute? GO. Got a Limo? Hope you brought enough friends in that thing to put all the cones back. Aztek!? FUCK YEAZTEK! Iron Duke Camaro? I've got nothing to do for the next 20 minutes. 90s Caprice Wagon? Hope you brought enough friends in that thing to put all the cones back.

Stef Schrader > dogisbadob
08/06/2013 at 17:04

Seconded. A CVT isn't ideal, but it's manageable. Programmed in "gears" help a lot on shorter courses.

The only place I get really pwned by that transmission are the longer ones since the gearing's not ideal and you really can't fake-downshift into lower fake-gears in a transmission that likes to stay up in revs by default. That's Mitsu's silly programming of it, though—ones built expressly for autocross instead of daily traffic would eat a transmission that has to spend time shifting to stay in the car's optimal rev range alive.

Autocross is a competition. If you can somehow make a CVT go faster than a manual, why would you bother with the manual? ;o) (Well, unless you're there for the lulz. Lulz factor should never be discounted.)

Stef Schrader > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 17:05

Certain cars are usually banned from autocross from being too top-heavy, anyway. That's the real reason the Smart isn't on this list...riiiiiiight?

Satish Kondapavulur > apr10427 - Greedo never fired
08/06/2013 at 17:14

That's true, but I like rowing through the gears. There's still nothing like a 1st to 2nd upshift in any car after a launch. CVTs end up eliminating some of the fun.

Satish Kondapavulur > Mazarin
08/06/2013 at 17:15

You have no idea how much I wanted to put a 1970s land barge on this list. Then I realized I'd get a kick out of seeing one autocross.

Satish Kondapavulur > Stef Schrader
08/06/2013 at 17:16

Right. :)

Less Smarts can only be better for the world...which will be the case upon rolling over.

Joe_Limon > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 17:23

I'm all for the veyron and any other drag car showing up to an autocross event. Simply because they make everyone racing against them feel better about their rides :)

Satish Kondapavulur > Joe_Limon
08/06/2013 at 17:31

That's definitely a major plus.

pachood - Cheap rent; fast cars. > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 18:02

My Formula 500 open wheel car is cvt...

Satish Kondapavulur > pachood - Cheap rent; fast cars.
08/06/2013 at 18:44

No! How have they not been banned yet?

Jeremy Brock > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 19:24

Heh. I autocrossed a Chevy Spectrum sedan (read: Isuzu Imark with a bow tie) in H Stock back in the late 80s. Hey, at least it was a 5-speed. Not saying I won anything, but since I didn't smash anything either at least I got away with it.

I'm increasingly tempted to try my current ride—an '04 PT Cruiser—in the same class.

Satish Kondapavulur > Jeremy Brock
08/06/2013 at 19:47

Considering the ad campaign for the Isuzu Gemini (another name for Spectrum and I-Mark), it belongs on the autocross course.

Ark > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 20:28

Kinja'd!!!

Oh screw you guys, I'm going anyway.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Satish Kondapavulur
08/06/2013 at 22:28

Can I tow my Elise to the autocross with my Veyron?

Satish Kondapavulur > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
08/06/2013 at 22:53

Elise? Of course.

Just don't do your first run in the Veyron. :)

pachood - Cheap rent; fast cars. > Satish Kondapavulur
08/07/2013 at 11:55

What do you mean?

And the f500's are POSSIBLY going f600 (sport bike engine) which I would love to do, but the 600 is shoehorned in and I believe chassis lengthening is needed.

I have a Formula Vee (autox specs for fmod...er now cmod). No shifter or clutch just doesnt seem right on a race car.

Satish Kondapavulur > pachood - Cheap rent; fast cars.
08/07/2013 at 12:19

I meant how have the CVTs not been banned yet. They've been banned from a lot of racing series.

And I'm totally with you that it's odd for a race car to have no shifting whatsoever.

pachood - Cheap rent; fast cars. > Satish Kondapavulur
08/07/2013 at 13:06

Yeah I will report back after my first road course day with it, but it is going to feel strange. Im used to my FV and SRF's.

thirteenthfloorelevator > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 14:43

An entire, working Fuego ought to get some kind of honorary automatic win at LeMons. Or, indeed, anywhere.

daender > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 14:43

Kinja'd!!!

Autocrossing a CVT is like autocrossing an automatic; drop it in low and forget it. It'll stay in the powerband all day and shifts are almost instant like a sequential or pdk.

tsmit > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 14:46

I would LOVE to see someone try to autocross a reliant robin

ScreenShot > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 14:50

6: '89 t0 '95 Thunderbird Super Coupe. This kid spent the last two year$ building his up, then 'crossed it one night recently, only to toast the brakes, trans and head gaskets.

Satish Kondapavulur > tsmit
08/10/2013 at 14:51

Me too. :)

Dubblewhopper > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 14:52

You should never, ever, ever, autocross the Chrysler K cars from the early eighties. As a matter of fact, never, ever be caught dead in one.

Satish Kondapavulur > thirteenthfloorelevator
08/10/2013 at 14:54

Totally agree. Provided one can even be found.

Satish Kondapavulur > daender
08/10/2013 at 14:57

If it shifts. There's just little in the way of predictability compared to an automatic.

Eike > tsmit
08/10/2013 at 14:57

Knock yourself out

daender > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 14:59

It couldn't be worse than the automatic I had in the HHR, I lost at least a second per run from the transmission trying to select between first and second gear. At least the CVT will attempt to keep the revs in the powerband.

tsmit > Eike
08/10/2013 at 14:59

quick someone give me one and i'll take it to the next scaa

Ronjoe > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:02

Kinja'd!!!

The white elephant in the room. People, please don't autocross top-heavy, 2.5-ton monsters...

marklosangeles > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:04

Ah the Fuego!!! THE car for attracting women in my teen years if you were a louche on a budget.
Had totally forgotten it. Crap car, looked good though (for the time).

Thanks for the nostalgia hit!

Satish Kondapavulur > Dubblewhopper
08/10/2013 at 15:05

Come on. In a K car, people will have lower expectations. And you know an Omni would be fun.

GeorgeyBoy > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:07

How could you not put the video in this. And really it's not about what cars shouldn't be autocrossed, but what drivers shouldn't.

300hp30mpgrwdfor30k > Mazarin
08/10/2013 at 15:09

Hahaha, great post!

Satish Kondapavulur > ScreenShot
08/10/2013 at 15:09

That is just sad. A supercharged Essex V-6 was just never going to work for the long-term.

Old-Busted-Hotness > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:13

Kinja'd!!!

Cornered so hard, the sidemarker popped out.

Well, and the rear suspension, but that's not as impressive.

Patrick Frawley > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:13

Kinja'd!!!

There is a time and place for everything; conversely, there are NOT times nor places for certain things.

Exception made if they allow you to run while wearing a tonic suit, a porkpie hat, freshly polished Docs, and blasting the Specials or Selecter or Madness through the whole run.

Old-Busted-Hotness > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:15

I autocrossed my bench-seat '75 Monte Carlo. Watching it would have definitely been more fun.

Satish Kondapavulur > daender
08/10/2013 at 15:16

True. I'll be honest. The 2013 Accord with the CVT shifted into sport mode is pretty good in an autocross. But it's available with a much better manual.

Old-Busted-Hotness > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:17

Inadequately-prepared Yugo on slicks. Because rollover. Ask me how I know.

aquila121 > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:20

A couple years ago, I did enjoy seeing an F-150 beat an NSX at a local autocross—sadly, no video. The guy in the truck was one of the organizers on serious Falkens (who does that to a pickup?), and my friend in the NSX was getting worn out by the lack of power steering on a course optimized for a Miata club.

chevygonemad > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:20

The fastest car at the central florida solo2 autocrosses is a formula car with a CVT, and it is brutally fast.

Satish Kondapavulur > GeorgeyBoy
08/10/2013 at 15:20

If I did a list on drivers, you probably wouldn't see me on Jalopnik again for the foreseeable future. :)

Satish Kondapavulur > marklosangeles
08/10/2013 at 15:21

It wasn't a bad car new. It just turned bad about three weeks after you bought it.

Satish Kondapavulur > Ronjoe
08/10/2013 at 15:24

I kind of hoped it was self-explanatory, but I just know there'll be someone who brings a Silverado 2500HD with a lift kit to an autocross, and will seriously try to win just to show trucks are better than anything else. 'MURICA!

Satish Kondapavulur > Patrick Frawley
08/10/2013 at 15:27

THIS. Absolutely.

Satish Kondapavulur > Old-Busted-Hotness
08/10/2013 at 15:27

I can certainly imagine.

Satish Kondapavulur > chevygonemad
08/10/2013 at 15:28

I know. The SCCA has the Formula 500 cars. The CVT is perfect for them, mainly for costs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_5…

Satish Kondapavulur > aquila121
08/10/2013 at 15:29

Does the NSX not have power steering? And I'm sure the truck was lowered somewhat.

Kek360 > Old-Busted-Hotness
08/10/2013 at 15:29

There is a guy that posts on /o/ that autocrosses his international scout. I believe this is the one as it looks the same and cant be too many out there.

Kinja'd!!!

Satish Kondapavulur > Old-Busted-Hotness
08/10/2013 at 15:29

How do you know? And there had better be a photo or video of some sort. :)

TheCrudMan > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:31

Actually a CVT is well suited to an autocross in terms of optimizing engine power and acceleration.

Dr. Strangegun > daender
08/10/2013 at 15:31

Particularly older automatics, 3 or 4 speeds with tall axle ratios. Auto crossing could be fun in a car that can hit 60 in first gear...

A-J-I > Stef Schrader
08/10/2013 at 15:31

The Fortwo would understeer way before it got close to tipping on an autocross.

If you learn its ways, the Fortwo is actually hilarious to drive quickly. Hilarious and scary. I've never driven a car quickly in which the stability and traction control lights flickered so long and so often. But it encourages you to be really smooth to avoid waking up the systems. There's definitely a technique to it.

In fairness, we get a proper Brabus one in Europe with over 100hp, and that thing is genuinely fun in the aforementioned slightly terrifying way. I'd love to autocross one just to see how it copes.

RaceFan44 > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:32

Haha, you forgot about the Mazda RX7 too http://www.onehotlap.com/2011/12/drivin…

aquila121 > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:35

It was an early nineties model with the 5-speed transmission—I don't know first hand, but I'm seeing others online echo that those cars didn't have power steering.

GR1M RACER : Wrong Most of the Time > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:39

Kinja'd!!!

James May's car doesn't count?

TZanfrino > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:41

I think any hearse or limo should be on this list...I'm sure there's someone out there that has thought about autocrossing one of these...

ScreenShot > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:44

He's a good guy and all, and I'm sure he enjoyed the outing, but it broke my heart to hear how it turned out - if I'd known ahead of time I would have done my best to discourage him and try to get him to stick to the strip, instead. At least he's not out going crazy on the streets. These cars weigh more than 3800 lbs, so...

sdways > aquila121
08/10/2013 at 15:46

I had an old Chevy truck that I use to autocross, and on sticky Falkens also. That truck would run faster than many sports cars.

Blaquer > GeorgeyBoy
08/10/2013 at 15:48

Ouch!

The Devil Drives a Mustang (Rotary Pending) > dogisbadob
08/10/2013 at 15:48

No such thing as a car that doesn't belong at autocross.

I disagree. Not necessarily on the CVT issue. It can be autocrossed, sure, no problem. But there are certain cars that are so inherently unstable that their presence on an autocross track is an outright hazard. The Reliant Robin above is a fine example.

marklosangeles > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 15:52

True!

Galant Enthusiast > dogisbadob
08/10/2013 at 15:57

Best is a subjective term in any context and is even worse when you're talking about powertrain. There are always compromises. Street CVTs are awful, they are set up for a combination of drivability and economy, therefore they are rarely at peak power and have a slippery clutch/torque converter.

In a racing application with a stiff clutch and electronic controls you can hold peak power while being more efficient but with more fuel consumption. Unfortunately those aren't put into Nissans and Dodges.

With that I can also think of a few situations where the CVT is worse than a conventional manual let alone a dual clutch. Any racing series with a restrictor means that the power curve is generally going to have a big flat spot at choked flow and make peak power from there to redline. So long as that plateau is wider than your gears you're set and can put peak power down with low drivetrain losses. CVTs aren't particularly efficient and are really bad if they are set up to be street driven.

Hobz > GeorgeyBoy
08/10/2013 at 16:02

I'm curious what makes that driver bad. He's not overdoing it for most of the track and seems more civilized than most drivers I see at the autox. It is obvious that he respects the power of the car and isn't fishtailing around the slalom, oversteering/understeering around the corners etc. It isn't until the end when he overcooks the rear tires that he gets into a slide. Easy enough to do, shit happens.

I would rather point my finger at the course designer who put a fast section close to a curb.

aquila121 > sdways
08/10/2013 at 16:05

Nice, sdways—I love when people prove 'it's how you drive, not what you drive.' In your case, I'm partly impressed by the sheer size involved with taking a truck around the tighter sections of a course of cones.

My best moment was taking down a club-race prepped S2000 with my modified Prelude. Well, that and showing up to a Porsche club autocross and wailing on my DD Integra GS and coming in under half the field (many of the participants seemed new/babied their cars). I still get humiliated by mostly-stock FR-S/BRZs, though.

theart > TheCrudMan
08/10/2013 at 16:08

True in the strict sense, but the point was that a cvt lacks any auditory feedback of how fast you're going. It doesn't matter how quickly you accelerate out of one corner if you overcook the next one.

Satish Kondapavulur > TheCrudMan
08/10/2013 at 16:21

Once you get the location of the braking points, a CVT is fine. And attempt to tell that to the Miata guys. :)

TheCrudMan > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 16:23

I am a Miata guy.

TheCrudMan > theart
08/10/2013 at 16:23

Auditory feedback of how fast I'm going? I can look ahead to see how fast I'm going...

Dubblewhopper > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 16:25

If the Omni had a V-8 somehow shoehorned in. Actually after typing that sentence it may have been a reality if Maximum Bob Lutz was in charge. Lee Iaccoca made me laugh a few times when he made those commercials in the 80's.

Satish Kondapavulur > TZanfrino
08/10/2013 at 16:26

Thought about those too. A hearse would be fun just to see the location of the coffin afterwards, and a limo would be fun just to make bets on how many cones would be knocked down. In the end, the list is about what cars make me facepalm once they go around a course.

Reborn Pyrrhic > aquila121
08/10/2013 at 16:26

My buddy with an autocross prepped STi (tons of money invested all over the car), got beat by a hair line by a GMC Syclone. The Syclone had shocks, springs, and sticky tires, that's it. He was so pissed.

Satish Kondapavulur > GR1M RACER : Wrong Most of the Time
08/10/2013 at 16:27

I wish. And the ultimate challenge would be how many people would still stay standing. :)

Union of Smog Techs of CA > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 16:27

If you even finish the course in a Robin, the PAX means you will place behind the karts but before the rest of the actual cars.

Autox, where I learned I can never beat the karts, and that go kart tracks are more fun, cheaper and no sunscreen!

Old-Busted-Hotness > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 16:30

Sorry, this was before digital cameras. It only went over on the roof, but slid 125 after that.

Satish Kondapavulur > aquila121
08/10/2013 at 16:30

You're right. Turns out the 1991-94 NSX's with the manual didn't have power steering, while the automatics did.

n7titan > daender
08/10/2013 at 16:30

I've had an HHR rental for a month. Worse modern car ever in America. The only thing I liked about it? ......it has a nice turning radius.

I own dead car brands only > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 16:33

I've seen a dodge dually do an autocross course on YouTube several years ago, can't find the video. Loved seeing that truck belching smoke

feather-throttle-not-hair > GeorgeyBoy
08/10/2013 at 16:34

I really dont understand what went wrong there. It looks like the guy just yanked his e brake halfway through the run.

Old-Busted-Hotness > Kek360
08/10/2013 at 16:34

I don't think there's a whole lot of IH left in that, unless it's got underslung axles.

Jonee > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 16:34

The Robin isn't as bad as Top Gear made it out to be. At least when it comes to tipping over. Jeremy was driving like an idiot and the fact that he's a huge man helped matters. You just have to get used to driving it. I'd have no problem autocrossing it. It wouldn't be fast, but it'd make it around upright.

EL_ULY > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 16:35

Kinja'd!!!

anything on ghetto wheels

Satish Kondapavulur > RaceFan44
08/10/2013 at 16:38

I'm sorry. I can't blame the machinery on that one. That was all human intervention.

guesticulating > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 16:43

But the car you must always autocross?

A rental, of course.

MyHandsAreCats > Satish Kondapavulur
08/10/2013 at 16:45

Dodge Dart. Because it'll make the catalytic converter assplode.

Satish Kondapavulur > Jonee
08/10/2013 at 16:46

I know. The fact that Robin-only races exist in the UK only increase how much I want that car brought to the US.

Satish Kondapavulur > Old-Busted-Hotness
08/10/2013 at 16:48

That's just funny. But there really should be more Yugos at autocrosses. If not to show other autocrossers that things could be worse.

Satish Kondapavulur > Union of Smog Techs of CA
08/10/2013 at 16:51

Totally agree on the kart tracks. You're better when it's not your car. And I don't pay attention to PAX. It's about who got the best time with the machinery they've played with. It's why I like the automaker events that have autocrosses because everyone has the same car, so you who's actually good.

Satish Kondapavulur > EL_ULY
08/10/2013 at 16:51

Darn Donks...

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > theart
08/10/2013 at 16:52

So you watch the needle that *is* moving, instead of listening to the needle that isn't moving.

Satish Kondapavulur > TheCrudMan
08/10/2013 at 16:52

In that case...well...thank you for being a progressive Miata guy!