The Other Nick Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 After going to the autocross last weekend down at Columbus Motor Speedway i am hooked on wanting to try my hand at doing it. That being said i know the miata is a cheap platform and usually does very well. I wanted to know some of the things to look for on one that i need to stay away from. Common issues stuff along those lines. i have found a few on the old craigslist for 2k or less. Any advice would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigfoot Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Let me know when you start, I would like to do it also, I need to buy a helmet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Other Nick Posted July 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 If you still have your motorcycle helmet I would wear that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99StockGT Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 First question I would ask, are you planning to do this competitively or just for lolz? Miata due to its such a popular platform so your field you compete with CAN be quite large. But, its hard to argue with a $2500 Go-Kart convertible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 90-93 miatas have weak crankshafts. Look at the crank pulley for any wobble. M94-97 have the 1.8 and is a much better engine stock. They are dead reliable and stupid cheap to mod or repair. Common issues are bad soft tops, finish panel on back or car cracked, cluster hoods that are broken and rusted rocker panels. I used to build spec Miata cars, had a turbo'd NA as a daily and known them inside and out. Another great cheap autocross car would be a 91-95 MR2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Miatas would be better if they weren't mostly 25 year old rust buckets by now. You could also consider a bmw e36, they're fairly popular and fun to drive. I hear golfs are pretty fast too with the right kind of tires? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 I hear golfs are pretty fast too with the right kind of tires? :lolguy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmwohio Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 First question I would ask, are you planning to do this competitively or just for lolz? Same questions, that would dictate my answer....unless your heart is set on a Meotter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littleguy Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 I am liking the 2000-2005 MR-S as an option that is becoming cheaper as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Other Nick Posted July 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 It's just for the Lolz. Something I can take out and just have fun and use as a gas getter if I want. It will be a commuter to work the 2 days I drive back and forth to marion just so I don't put any more miles on my truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grudes Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Miatas are defintley great starter cars. I dont know how big you are but if your over 6' your going to be pretty uncomfortable in a Miata. S2000's are and alternative and BRZ's/FRS'. The BRZ/FRS are a little more roomy inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewtoys Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Hard to beat the Miatas for the money..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco-REX Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 It's VERY hard to go wrong with a Miata (unless stance yo!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 just do it with the mustang. Come around every turn buried in the throttle sideways and smiling. wife and I's entry car into auto-x was an E30 325i bmw (a 1991 convertible 5speed). It was a great car stock because it was very neutral handling and not super fast but not slow. I think in the auto-x beater for under $3K category these are the cars I would look for if just starting out: - E30 BMW - E36 bmw - Porsche 924/944 - MR2 - Miata - honda civic/acura integra/CRX/Del Sol - fox mustang - Slick roof 3rd gen camaro/firebird. - C3 & C4 corvette All of these are cars with solid aftermarkets that sell handling pieces, most can be easily had for under $3K and some for under $1500, all have potential to grow with your driving ability, and all have been road raced competitively for years and have a huge knowledge base to leverage off of. I was going to suggest your daily driver, but I see that it is a ford ranger, so unless it is lowered probably best not to use that. What does your significant other drive? maybe you can borrow that for a day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robochan Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 I had the white 90 miata with the hard top. Feel free to take it for a spin at the next autoX to test it out. Ohio miata owners on facebook has some nice cars and parts for sale. The 90 to 93 cranks are not an oem issue. It's due to poor rebuild. Both of my 90s have had the cap beat out of them with zero issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robochan Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 - E30 BMW - E36 bmw - Porsche 924/944 - Slick roof 3rd gen camaro/firebird. - C3 & C4 corvette Probably have $3k in differed maintenance too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Probably have $3k in differed maintenance too. easily if you cared if they remained street cars. However if we are talking a gutted purpose built car, things like the AC not working and the weather stripping not sealing are inconsequential. When it comes to things like the corvette, mustang, or F body, if you are paying $3K for all the body bushings under the car and a brake job, then I have a bridge to sell you. The most dangerous thing about buying a 3rd gen is having to go to the trailer park at night to have the title signed over. with the E30, if you do your own work there isn't much that needs looking after and it isn't expensive. Both lower controls arms, all the bushings, a guibo, and 4 bargain shock and springs should be less than $1000. Hopefully cars with drivetrains that sound like bags of hammers being dropped down a staircase are not considered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Good luck finding an E30 or Fox v8 manual worth a shit for 3k. Miata is probably the cheapest way to get a solid autocross car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickey4271647545519 Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Trade the truck in on a Fiesta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Other Nick Posted July 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 just do it with the mustang. Come around every turn buried in the throttle sideways and smiling. wife and I's entry car into auto-x was an E30 325i bmw (a 1991 convertible 5speed). It was a great car stock because it was very neutral handling and not super fast but not slow. I think in the auto-x beater for under $3K category these are the cars I would look for if just starting out: - E30 BMW - E36 bmw - Porsche 924/944 - MR2 - Miata - honda civic/acura integra/CRX/Del Sol - fox mustang - Slick roof 3rd gen camaro/firebird. - C3 & C4 corvette All of these are cars with solid aftermarkets that sell handling pieces, most can be easily had for under $3K and some for under $1500, all have potential to grow with your driving ability, and all have been road raced competitively for years and have a huge knowledge base to leverage off of. I was going to suggest your daily driver, but I see that it is a ford ranger, so unless it is lowered probably best not to use that. What does your significant other drive? maybe you can borrow that for a day? debated on putting the stock wheels on it and trying it. its sbc powered with a th350 tranny with all the goodies to go in a straight line suspension wise so it would have more body rolls than kirstie alley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Miatas are defintley great starter cars. I dont know how big you are but if your over 6' your going to be pretty uncomfortable in a Miata. S2000's are and alternative and BRZ's/FRS'. The BRZ/FRS are a little more roomy inside. I'm 6'1 and fit great and plenty of space in a Miata. The S2000 on the other hand I didn't fit at all. That interior design is terrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Miata issues are pretty obvious, rust, neglect, fucked up top, ricer mods. In mid-91 they went to a more durable long nose crank shaft, but it wouldn't keep me from buying a good early car. The cars are relatively the same underneath from 90 to 04 and parts are cheap because they rarely break. When I wanted to do the same thing a few years ago the Miata is hard to beat. It's so good out of the box, easy to work on, and reliable. Not to mention they are fun and forgiving cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Good luck finding an E30 or Fox v8 manual worth a shit for 3k. Miata is probably the cheapest way to get a solid autocross car. +1 If you want to keep it under $2500 the miata is the way to go. You might be able to find a roller fox and drop a heart back into it for around $2500. A running one @ that price point will almost certainly be 250,000 miles with a lol-list of problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRTurbo04 Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 What about a older civic hatch/integra? Cheap light huge aftermarket to make handle well. Seem some super fast ones on the course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeto67 Posted July 30, 2015 Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 debated on putting the stock wheels on it and trying it. its sbc powered with a th350 tranny with all the goodies to go in a straight line suspension wise so it would have more body rolls than kirstie alley. There is way more too auto-x than the car. In fact the entire first year of you doing it is really just learning how it all works and how to retrain yourself for a different kind of driving. That's why most people just recommend you starting off with what you have already. I was kidding about you using a 7 second fox mustang to run a parking lot full of cones but hey, if you want to try it go for it. Just have a good attitude about it when start collecting cones and getting lost in the course. On the one hand it seems like a lot of car to manage, on the other - at least you will know if you like it or not. Just remember to swap out the 90/10 drag shocks also. I would take robochan's offer of trying it out with his miata if I were you. that sounds like an awesome offer. nobody said I could score a clean, maintained E30 for $500 but I did. Sure it was a friend deal and it had a light hit in the nose but it was mechanically fine and in 5 years of ownership i put less than $800 in the mechanical of the car. The odds aren't really in your favor these days with price but it doesn't mean you shouldn't look. I can't argue with miata being the "cheapest" way but not everyone likes miatas, plus if you already have a bunch of fox body spares then you might as well leverage that. I had a friend who started auto-x with a stock 1984 camaro ZF slick roof. v-6 car with a manual and v-8 suspension parts from the factory. $600 car 5 years ago. did it for 2 years and then switched to an integra. if the camaro hadn't thrown a rod it probably would have kept using it. The car was also his daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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