Who wants to recommend me some good rallycross cars?

"YSI-what can brown do for you" (ysi-what-can-brown-do-for-you)
07/30/2014 at 04:12 • Filed to: None

I am pretty much dead set on getting a rallycross car. Hopefully my friend is onboard next year when we will go full force in! Now to rallycross I need a car. Rules: fairly sporty, RWD, manual, cheap(both in price and parts)! Here are a few thoughts I have had.

MR2.

Why? Well it is midengined, so basically it is an 037. I get a supercharged one(probably not) then I in fact have an 037.

RX-7.

Rotaries make for fun times. Plus I think they would be fun to own. Adding oil every 10 miles. Killing more seals than BP. FUN!

E30.

Are they cheap? No idea(trying to keep this below 1 to 1.5k if I can). But a rally BMW is worth so many hipster points.

Foxbody Mustang?

Ah, yes please. Although can they be had for cheap? No need for a V8 just an engine to make it move through dirt.

If you could, can you suggest some more? Pleeeeaassssseee. Anyway, I am out for the night.

DISCUSSION (26)

GhostZ > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 04:23

I've always wondered if the S130 Z would make a good rallycross car. It's got a wheelbase similar to that of the BMW and RX-7, a more reliable (though maybe less powerful) engine, (thought it WAS offered with a turbo...) and the N/A manual versions had nice short gears like a rally car. They're easy to modify too. They are also generally light, at around 2900lbs (less if you strip it, obviously).

Plus, they're easily cheaper than all the cars on this list, and have 4-wheel disc brakes.

EDIT: Turns out there's at least one out there:

Kinja'd!!!

But I can't find any more info on it.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 04:26

my opinion: Don't use an NA Miata for this. if you roll, you'll want a roof. it's a good choice, but you'd be throwing a Miata away, as well as your head! The FoxBod's a good idea, especially with a 4-pot and a 5-speed.

I'd suggest a markIII supra, if you can find one for the price. Another option would be a 280z. Both are reliable inline6 equipped coupes, so they should offer a lot of bang for the buck

Another thing to consider are older muscle cars from the malaise days. personally i'd love to see a yellow/primered Camaro berlinetta flying through the dirt

YSI-what can brown do for you > GhostZ
07/30/2014 at 04:38

I have seen a 280z as a rally car. Don't know much more about it than that. I am sure they would work fine! Could I get a running one for 1k though?

YSI-what can brown do for you > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
07/30/2014 at 04:40

80s Camaro rallycross car? How awesome would that be!!

ReallyColorful > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 04:46

Killing more seals than BP.

Kinja'd!!!

I vote RX7 because rotor.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 04:50

Kinja'd!!!

Rally Ka says "fuck the rules"

GhostZ > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 05:02

280ZX =/= 280Z. The 280Z won't have rear disc brakes, and the wheelbase is really short (90", closer to an MR2). You may not get a 5-speed or fuel injection on the 280Z also, both of which were standard on the 280ZX. For a rally car, it would be paramount that you have those things, the last thing you need is a carb getting all weird due to being whipped around a corner at odd angles.

You could get a rusty running one, but it will likely be an auto non-turbo. However, if you can spare $2000 or $3000 you can get one badass 280ZX. The engines are stalwart and reliable and can be beat on for years and not break. On the other hand, Z enthusiasts are common and would probably help you put together a rally car for cheap (advice, cheap parts, maybe even donate a parts car) if you actually did cool things with it.

Delusion77 > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
07/30/2014 at 07:19

i'm not positive but arnt the supras a bit heavy? I never bothered looking it up. How about a 3rd gen celica ?

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Delusion77
07/30/2014 at 07:21

yeah, they are, but 210hp inline6 should cure that I feel

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 07:55

I fucking love retro RWD rally cars (read late 80s/early 90s).

Also, 'kill more seals than BP'. Perfect :)

An 80s Camaro would be utterly kickass, although if you want to go really insane I've always wanted to get a Jaguar XJS rally car. The V12 might be a bit much to keep running, but if you can find a 4.0l I6 car it should be solid. My 4.0l XJ40 is on 145k and still running like a champ :)

Might be a tad heavy to be competitive, but you should be the classiest rally driver on the stage. Should be able to strip it down to ~1400kg if you're lucky...

trmoore09 > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 08:08

I've actually been looking for one of these as well. I've been looking at: E30, E36, fox body, 240sx, considered miata but no roof, mr2, basically anything light and cheap.

Craigslist now has new filters. Price max =$3k, transmission = manual

Jayhawk Jake > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 08:15

You know what would make a great rallycross car?

An FRS

Doooooo iiiiiiiittttt

OPPOsaurus WRX > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 10:12

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 11:31

If you want to win get a Toyota Celica GT four all-trac.

YSI-what can brown do for you > GhostZ
07/30/2014 at 11:56

I mean I know a 280z and a 280zx aren't the same car, but apparently I can't SEE that they aren't the same car. It makes more sense now because you said they were offered in turbo versions. I have no idea what I was thinking.

Either way, that is a really good idea. I completely forgot how cheap a 280zx could be had for.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Jayhawk Jake
07/30/2014 at 11:57

True story

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 12:01

Fast RWD rallycross cars in my region:

NB(maybe) miata, gutted with rally tires. For any convertible you also need to find a hard top. A stock one with snow tires beat me at regionals by a good margin.

MR2. The old timers say what makes it not ideal in autocross makes it great on dirt. Something something snap oversteer.

Baha bug. Obvious answer is obvious.

E30, also gutted with rally tires. Was the fastest until the miata came around to Mod RWD.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Delusion77
07/30/2014 at 12:26

Gen 3 Supras are like 3200 to 3400lbs, not as light as they look!

YSI-what can brown do for you > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
07/30/2014 at 12:34

I am not really too worried about being competitive just having fun. I am more worried about improving my times, rather than trying to beat other people. An old car will work, as long as it is RWD and manual!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
07/30/2014 at 12:45

We don't get these cars in Freedom land! Plus it is FWD, it breaks one of the rules!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
07/30/2014 at 12:45

So an MR2 is both FAST and FUN? Well then. . . I might just have to go and get one!

YSI-what can brown do for you > trmoore09
07/30/2014 at 12:46

240sx and rallycross? What a fantastic idea!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
07/30/2014 at 12:46

Yeah but RWD is fun!

trmoore09 > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 12:55

The only downfall is that they are the most expensive out of the options I listed. Because drift tax.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 13:16

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/30/2014 at 13:26

4.0l XJS! Do it :)