S2000, Lotus Elise, FD3S ... something lightweight

 

A Miata is fine, and I'm considering one myself, but the BIG downside, for me at least, is that I'd be 1 of 15 Miatas at a 100-car local event. As it is, I'm 1 of 1 Infiniti. I stand out and draw some attention. For me, that's part of the fun. Just like I enjoy driving something different, I enjoy watching others who are different. Nobody pays attention to the Miatas, but most people watch the guys in the 1973 991E and Corvette Stingray (for instance).

 

I know its been mentioned but seriously look for already prepped race cars. You'll be surprised how affordable they are especially when you start pricing out everything they already come with...not to mention the time you'll save...if you think thats too much too soon (car performance wise), then I would consider the miata, the Mazdaspeeds are going for cheap now, but I hear they require too much shifting on most auto-x courses...a more basic miata is always a good start...hell even a 350Z is a great start considering everything available for it. There is also the BMW 3-series, well balanced car just itching for some stiffness and more power.

 

thanks for all the info. it has helped a lot. however we are not really leaning towards auto-x but something we can race around a track, something with a little more power. ive been told by many that awd is not the way to go for the track so evo etc. are out of the picture. also we are looking forward to doing some of the work ourselves and the more complicated work we will take to professionals. so we do not want a completely pre-built car.

as of now it looks like an s2000 with a big turbo kit, and of course suspension and stripping it of any unnecessary weight. but we are still not completely decided.

 

A fully race-prepped Miata will be between 8 and 15 grand, depending on the age and extra equipment that comes with it.

Believe me, if you show up at any event other than a Spec-Miata race with a Spec Miata, you will get attention.

The MS Miata is a weaker car for AutoX due to turbo spoolup.

Miata's are cheap to acquire, cheap to maintain, cheap to fix, and teach good basics, as well as having HUGE aftermarket support if you choose to go that route.

 

Since you're leaning s2k, what are your ultimate goals with the car? What do you consider "big"? A "big" turbo on some cars may be just average sized on a s2k; keep in mind that a 4.5k rpm spool is worthless on some cars, while having a 10k/9k redline on a s2k will make the 4.5k spool feel like a 2.5k rpm spool on a 'typical' car.

WHP goals? Safety equipment?

 

^ Have to agree there, a turbo or SC S2000 is NOT a really good idea if you are just getting into road racing. The reason S2000's are fun to drive around the track is due to its high revving low torque motor and its FR balanced handling characteristics.

Pure speed is not the purpose of road racing, heel and toe while hitting the apex is most of the fun on track. It's much more fun to catch up to higher power cars in corners than to blow by competitions on the straights. A turbo or SC will throw off the balance on these lighter FR sports cars.

I would recommend stock Miata before the S2000 simply because the S2k is more tricky to handle around the limit and it will bite if you over drive the car.

 

The s2k is a high limit car, but it is rather unforgiving when you reach the limit.

My suggestion would be to start with a bone stock s2k, and modify it to improve what you feel are the limitations of the car. Tires are the single biggest upgrade you can make, with brake pads being the second one.

It's easy to feel like the s2k doesn't have enough power, but that simply is not the case. Compare the power to weight ratio of the G and the s2k.

3500/300 vs 2800/240, both of which work out to roughly 11.6lb/hp.

Also, the s2k tranny is VERY unfriendly to those that are new; it is easily damaged with bad technique.

Ultimately if power is your goal, the a turbo s2k will have the same powerband characteristics of any other turbo car; you still will have turbo spool-up lag.

Supercharging your car will give you none of that lag, and give you even more linear response than the factory NA tune (or the same response as a tuned NA motor).

If you want a real track monster, consider getting an ITB setup. The midrange gains are absolutely AMAZING, and the response of an ITB car is unmatched by even a normal NA engine. For reference, a 280whp ITB car is faster in a drag race than a 300whp turbo or supercharged car. However, 280whp is about the limit of NA power.

Supercharging can get you in excess of 500whp if you're willing to spend the $$$; realistically, anything north of 400whp is very expensive.

Turbocharging the car can get you whatever power you want if you spend the $$$, but again, initial costs on the turbo will be higher than supercharging, and you now have to deal with spool-up lag. The greddy bolt-on kit will give you ~280whp, but has virtually no upgrade potential.

 

whats ITB?
and thanks for all the great info im learning a lot.

 

ITB = individual throttle body

 

not to throw in another wrench, but would you consider a twin turbo 300ZX (90-96 chassis). I'll pro and con it for you.

Pros: very developed parts and support market (very focused suppliers and shops); well balanced suspension with great available upgrades, unique, wide track, can fit big 17x10's on it, good aero shape to it, can be found cheap or moderately priced depending what you want to start with, probably cheaper and more reliable than other cars to get an easy 400-500whp out of it.

cons: older car obviously, can be piggish so it would need some weight reduction, lightest you'd get is probably 2700-2800lbs. might be hard to find a good canidate cause they do get ragged out the lower you go in price. NEEDS big brake kit, came with undersized rotors from OEM. T-top roof not the greatest for racing, but thats what gages are for anyway. TT models come with annoying 4-wheel-steer that will have to be removed for racing.

If you consider this, you may want to look at finding an NA car for starters, then swap in a twin-turbo engine and trans, use the NA rear end (its shorter) with an aftermarket LSD. The car would also benefit from an accusump system with a modified larger/baffled oil pan as they are known for oil starvation with OEM system on hi-g tracks. Also the 2-seaters are shorter than 2+2's, 2 seater is also the most common.

You could probably build it for the same price if not less than a turbo'd s2000 and you'll probably have a more reliable car with some arguably better driving characteristics (S2000's are twitchy for lack of a better word).

im biased as i used to own one, so pick whatever you want.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-...1%7C240%3A1318

Check that out.^^

 

hey i know a good place to build you a car. Vs Motorsports thats located in Illinois. They are Actually in the middle of building a evo right now. They are currently selling a 2004 Bmw m3 track car if you are interested. They have pictures on there website vsmotorsports.com. I bring in my car all the time. great prices and quality they also build my intake for my 2003 g35 sedan so if you need anything they can do it.