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cincy94max:

The Scion TC is a possibility and I should probably go test drive one.

The tC needs suspension and tire upgrades to be competitive, and you won't have much money left over to accomplish that if you have a budget of $13k.  That being said, if you can find a salvage that you can fix up on the cheap, go for it.

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#12 STS 2007 Scion tC
#24 ITS 1991 Nissan 240SX

BrianGT:

I would pick a 92-95 civic si.  They are a decent daily driver, as they have power steering, cruise control, and airbag(s).  They have a wide selection of aftermarket parts, and with the right setup and driver, they should be able to keep up with the 89 civic si.  It would at least be regionally competitive.  Slap some sps3 konis on it, some GCs and a big rear sway bar, and you should be set.  If I understand the rules, the ASR 32mm rear bar is legal now?

I am trying to find one for a DD, as my 89 civic si is not a good DD.

-Brian

 

My first autocross car was a 92 Si. It made an outstanding STS car but was about as pleasant to drive as your 89 when on typical ST spring rates.

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90 Miata/89 CRX - STS2 #90/190

GChambers:

BrianGT:

I would pick a 92-95 civic si.  They are a decent daily driver, as they have power steering, cruise control, and airbag(s).  They have a wide selection of aftermarket parts, and with the right setup and driver, they should be able to keep up with the 89 civic si.  It would at least be regionally competitive.  Slap some sps3 konis on it, some GCs and a big rear sway bar, and you should be set.  If I understand the rules, the ASR 32mm rear bar is legal now?

I am trying to find one for a DD, as my 89 civic si is not a good DD.

-Brian

 

My first autocross car was a 92 Si. It made an outstanding STS car but was about as pleasant to drive as your 89 when on typical ST spring rates.

You shouldn't have to run typical ST spring rates to be regionally competitive.

They also have a really good resale value.

 -Brian
 

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89/189 STS/STX '89 Civic Si

BrianGT:

GChambers:

BrianGT:

I would pick a 92-95 civic si.  They are a decent daily driver, as they have power steering, cruise control, and airbag(s).  They have a wide selection of aftermarket parts, and with the right setup and driver, they should be able to keep up with the 89 civic si.  It would at least be regionally competitive.  Slap some sps3 konis on it, some GCs and a big rear sway bar, and you should be set.  If I understand the rules, the ASR 32mm rear bar is legal now?

I am trying to find one for a DD, as my 89 civic si is not a good DD.

-Brian

 

My first autocross car was a 92 Si. It made an outstanding STS car but was about as pleasant to drive as your 89 when on typical ST spring rates.

You shouldn't have to run typical ST spring rates to be regionally competitive.

They also have a really good resale value.

 -Brian
 

That really depends on who is in your region.

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90 Miata/89 CRX - STS2 #90/190

GChambers:

BrianGT:

You shouldn't have to run typical ST spring rates to be regionally competitive.

They also have a really good resale value.

 -Brian
 

That really depends on who is in your region.

 

No kidding.... 

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Andrew
STS2 114 - 1992 Miata

I like the 240sx, 2.5 RS, BMW options.

I'm slowly developing a STS 240 and have found it a great daily driver with a Momo fixed back seat and 450F/350R rates.  I've driven cross country trips in a stock accord, stock Impreza L, and the 240 and honestly I prefer the 240 to the others.

 

I have always thought a well prepped, well driven ACR Neon could be a contender, especially given a 225 sized tire.  I built one for the class back before STS became a National class and it was indeed a fun car.  Regionally, it was the car to beat, but I also won a Houston National Tour and placed 8th at Nats the same year.  Of course, this was prior to the Civic Si becoming the car to beat.  Mine was an early build ACR sedan, purchased in mid 94 when you had to be an SCCA member to buy one.  It was also the lightest Neon built...

I am currently building a 97 ACR coupe that had been somewhat competitive in Texas Region a few years ago, but had been sitting in the owners garage for 4 years after blowing the engine at a local Texas Region event at TMS. This car was originally a California car, and the paint and overall condition was in great shape, so I bought it and dragged it back to KY where it sat in my garage for another year.  I just finished installing an engine I rebuilt, along with new mounts and clutch, and have been driving it for the past few weeks.  The thought was I would build it for a local daily driver and regional autox car while I rebuild the STS 2 CRX.  I'm not sure this car can be as competitive as the old car since I left AC, radio/speakers, and other creature comforts intact, but it has been fun to drive...and gets great gas mileage!  It has Koni adjustables and some sort of stiff aftermarket springs, stock front bar and 25mm rear bar.  Also has CAI, and MP street header, Falken tires on 16x7 SlipStreams.  Needs some suspension tweaking, but will be a fine STS car Regionally...

 

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OzCop

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."

Phillip S. Osborne:

I have always thought a well prepped, well driven ACR Neon could be a contender, especially given a 225 sized tire.

Forgive my Neon-ignorance, but what advantages does the ACR have over the regular 1st gen Neon, in ST* trim where you can change the shocks? Weight? I wonder if a regular ol' Neon wouldn't be just as fast.

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John W: 2003 WRX: STX (and sometimes 1991 MR2: ES)
Washington, DC Region

Butt Dyno:

Phillip S. Osborne:

I have always thought a well prepped, well driven ACR Neon could be a contender, especially given a 225 sized tire.

Forgive my Neon-ignorance, but what advantages does the ACR have over the regular 1st gen Neon, in ST* trim where you can change the shocks? Weight? I wonder if a regular ol' Neon wouldn't be just as fast.

Your assumption is correct. The bulk of the ACR package was suspension. The ECM calibration was slightly different, but that's about all. The only other "unique" thing about ACR's were that the sedans (4 doors) which all had SOHC engines came with 3.94 final drive geared transmissions. Standard SOHC/manual transmission Neons came with 3.55 geared trannies. All the ACR Coupes were DOHC equipped and the std manual trans for that engine had the 3.94 final.

An ACR doesn't weigh appreciably less than a standard Neon with the same options.

I'm in my 3rd year autocrossing a 1996 SOHC Coupe in STS, and already have a bunch of trophies and a 2nd place points finish. There's been nothing done to the driveline except a home made CAI and a Borla muffler. All the attention has been paid to the suspension and weight reduction. With under $2000.00 in the car, I've been very happy with the car's performance and reliability. The thing is fun to drive, gobs of torque, gets great gas mileage, and so far has been stone ax reliable. Parts are dirt cheap when I do need something. The only complaint I have with the car is it's white and Neon folk know what that means; the paint is coming off.

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Indy Region SCCA #374620
STS #19 Neon

www.performancedrivenllc.com

"The driver ran out of talent before he ran out of nerve." (Mark Martin)

If you like wrenching on your car, and you don't mind making things, 93-96 Saturn SC2. It's proving to be pretty quick for me. I need to get myself to a National event however and see how it fares. Now that Cy has moved on to STX, I've lost my benchmark.

They are light, they make tons more power then the civics especially down low, and it's a total blast to be running competitive in the non-spec car. hehe

--Adam

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1993 Saturn SC2 - STS Prepared Autocross Car

http://www.team-crm.com/
http://www.myspace.com/adamkob

I agree with Adam.  I've been seriously campaigning & developing my 1996 Saturn SC-2 last 2 years. The limiting factor was that there wasn't a coilover suspension or significantly better than OEM struts available for them, but that changed last year when two different companies started to offer a decent coilover for the Saturn S-series.  I am still in the developmental process on the car, but feel like it will be competitive at the national level in time. Regionally I have won 6 straight events in STS class which is usually one of the largest classes.

 You can pick one up in decent shape for less than $3000 I'd think and it's a true American built car! 

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STS class '96 Saturn SC-2

Adam Koback:

Now that Cy has moved on to STX, I've lost my benchmark.

--Adam

and he's driving the hell out of that thing in STX.  Scott is still in STS, and is seriously quick now that he has a nationals-level car.

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Mike - #44 STS2
'91 Miata - racer
'07 CX-7 - dog taxi
www.phillyscca.com
www.GreyhoundAngelsAdoption.com

dmitrik4:

Adam Koback:

Now that Cy has moved on to STX, I've lost my benchmark.

--Adam

and he's driving the hell out of that thing in STX.  Scott is still in STS, and is seriously quick now that he has a nationals-level car.

Tell me about it!! It's too bad so many of my events overlap with Philly. I'll be down the Holbert though hehe.

--Adam

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1993 Saturn SC2 - STS Prepared Autocross Car

http://www.team-crm.com/
http://www.myspace.com/adamkob

Butt Dyno:

Phillip S. Osborne:

I have always thought a well prepped, well driven ACR Neon could be a contender, especially given a 225 sized tire.

Forgive my Neon-ignorance, but what advantages does the ACR have over the regular 1st gen Neon, in ST* trim where you can change the shocks? Weight? I wonder if a regular ol' Neon wouldn't be just as fast.}

 

Most differences have been addressed, but yeah, the early ACR sedans were the lightest since they were zero option cars.  Other than suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes, 394 final drive gearing, and 16:1 steering ratio, first gen cars are no different than regular Neon models... The second gen cars are indeed heavier...

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OzCop

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."

Phillip S. Osborne:

I have always thought a well prepped, well driven ACR Neon could be a contender, especially given a 225 sized tire.  I built one for the class back before STS became a National class and it was indeed a fun car.  Regionally, it was the car to beat, but I also won a Houston National Tour and placed 8th at Nats the same year.  Of course, this was prior to the Civic Si becoming the car to beat.  Mine was an early build ACR sedan, purchased in mid 94 when you had to be an SCCA member to buy one.  It was also the lightest Neon built...

We've been campaigning "The Grape", our '97 ACR DOHC coupe in STS for about four years in the Detroit Region. The car absolutely rules at the local level with Sean driving it, who now runs in the PRO-Index class, taking 8th out of 40+ drivers in the '07 points race. Jessica and I were 2nd and 3rd in STS class points last year, with less than stellar driving skills, losing out by four points to a very good driver in a well prepped VW Rabbit. We often have more than 20 STS cars competing in our events, but what helps is there is only one "competitive" Civic and one Subbie in our area.

Sean also has more than a few trophy finishes at various National events. We run a stock-type suspension with Konis wrapped in XX-High Rate springs instead of full coil-overs, but the car has every other modification the rulebook allows. Counting every nickle and dime, three sets of wheels and untold sets of tires, we've put about $13,000 total in the car, which we originally bought for $700.00. If done in a more rational manner and you stayed away from the stuff that arguably provide very little performance benefit, a plenty good Neon could be put together for under $6,000 ... it just depends on how "competitive" you wanted to be.

My "new" car is former Spec Neon that I bought with a trailer and spare engine for $3,300 ... that I'm running this year in our local TSM class, which is SM on street tires. With the transformation completed, I have $4,700 total in it.

Jim

I was working the course at Milwaukee last year when you guys ran--I was mildly impressed with the car to say the least...in fact when we got our car I thought of 'the grape' as being an initial benchmark for our ZX2.  Judging where Sean was from Jason, I suspect that our car, 'the banana' (?) and 'the grape' car will be pretty similar.

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Erik B.
Wisconsin Autocrossers, Inc
www.waiautox.org ___/\___/\___/\___/\___/\___
2007 Mazda6
2000 "Fozda" ZX2 S/R--STS Anti-Civic