Wow, what a season...

[crxmike]

Sounds like you need a 1989 Corvette for AS.

Fits bigger dudes - check
RWD - check
Reasonably priced except for tires - check

[neilschelly]

The C4 is my second-least favorite generation of Corvette, but I did very seriously consider buying Chang's when I was shopping for my current daily driver.  Maybe next time around...
-N

[Beans]

sounds like you are thinking it out well and know what you want... sorta 
I agree with you about finding a new ride that will help gain skill vs just drain the wallet
for me, I think I might switch to a shifter kart till my body gives out because its a spec class, it gives you things to tinker with/tweak, you can drive with the go pedal and its relatively cheap, but that might not be a comfortable fit for your tallness, but it does provide me a fantastic visual

[jmartynuska]

Sounds like you need a 1989 Corvette for AS.

Fits bigger dudes - check
RWD - check
Reasonably priced except for tires - check

Not necessarily. I can barely get my hand between my head and the roof - without a helmet. With a helmet it's pretty tight.

[blang]

I like the SP ruleset, but I want to focus more on my driving with my next car.  I guess I don't care if it's not tremendously competitive, just so long as its fun.
-N

This is an EXCELLENT strategy.

Hard to stick to, though.

Experience talking. My FP car started out as a project to make a DSP (1997 rules) car. Parts availability for a (then) 20 year old car and a totally out of control hoarding instinct and we all know the rest of the story.

I still think about having a stock-ish car for seat time. Then to be more selective when I use the race car, but as soon as I look at tires, I'm thinking springs / shoX and so forth and then the buzzing in my ears starts!!!

[mcondict]

I like the SP ruleset, but I want to focus more on my driving with my next car.  I guess I don't care if it's not tremendously competitive, just so long as its fun.
-N

The problem with stock class is that the combination of the allowed upgrades (front sway bar but not rear, R compound, shocks but not springs) is almost guaranteed to result in an unbalanced car, i.e. one that is not all that much fun to drive, unless it was factory designed to be almost a race car, like a Lotus Elise or a Corvette Z06.

As for SP, consider the Evo, which rules BSP.  (Also rules STU and does very well in SM.)  The Evo 9 in BSP or STU is probably one of the best autocross cars ever.  It is also possible to keep it extremely well balanced and useable for multiple purposes, while preparing it to the max for either of these two classes.  The power mods are not so crazy that the power overwhelms the suspension, and the allowed suspension mods make the car a much better race car, whether for Solo or the track, while not making it unsuitable for daily driving.  I drive my BSP Evo to work every day, and to the grocery store, where the trunk holds more than a dozen bags of groceries.  Mark Daddio used to drive his SM Evo to every event, with tires and equipment in the back seat and trunk (no tire trailer necessary).  I do the same.  I also take my car to the track every year, with no setup changes to make it safe on the track, other than turning down the boost and staying on street tires.  My total mods, including labor to install, were less than $12,000.  On top of a $30,000 (new) car, that's a pretty cheap way to build a nationally competitive SP car (the car is nationally competitive, not me!).

There is, of course the small problem of having to run against John Winchester here, and Tom Berry at Nationals, but you said you wanted to become a better driver . . .   

[neilschelly]

I've got to think there's a less than $42k investment necessary to become a better driver. ;-)

[Bob Davis]

Mike,

I know of an E stock car that cost a whole lot less, is pretty well balanced, and a lot of fun to drive. Of course, Billy still lusts after your EVO -- thanks again for letting him take it for a spin.

Bob

[mcolburn]

Also rules STU

I wouldn't say it "rules" STU by any means.  This was the first year ever an evo actually won a national championship in STU.  Not trying to start a pointless and futile evo vs sti debate either.

Competitive yes....rules no.  Compared to the competition in STU, i.e. the STI, it's really all up to the driver.

...says the sti driver 

[mcondict]

I've got to think there's a less than $42k investment necessary to become a better driver. ;-)

Yeah, but the oldest Evo 9, the 2006 model in RS trim (the light-weight sport version) can be had for $18,000 in good condition, according to Kelly.  Still not a cheap autocross option, I agree, unless it will also be your daily driver, which as I said, works pretty well for me and others.

[mcondict]

Mike,

I know of an E stock car that cost a whole lot less, is pretty well balanced, and a lot of fun to drive. Of course, Billy still lusts after your EVO -- thanks again for letting him take it for a spin.

Bob

You're welcome.  It was fun watching him drive it as fast as me on his 2nd run ever in the car.  I apologize for screwing up your next year's autocross budget.  Check with me for sources of cheap Evo parts.  :-)

[mcondict]

I wouldn't say it "rules" STU by any means.  This was the first year ever an evo actually won a national championship in STU.  Not trying to start a pointless and futile evo vs sti debate either.

Competitive yes....rules no.  Compared to the competition in STU, i.e. the STI, it's really all up to the driver.

...says the sti driver 

Yeah, Evo's only took 8 of the 13 trophy positions in STU this year, including 1st, 2nd and 4th.  So I guess I have to concede your point.  :-)

[mcolburn]

one last tidbit of info too...

an sti had the fastest raw time this year at Nat's too...he barely coned the championship away (Jake Namer...you may have seen him at the Div's).

My point...I don't think the car is the advantage in STU anyway (unless you are driving a M3...then you are at a disadvantage IMO).  The cars are so close that a driver of lesser skill is not going to be able to compensate with one car or the other given equal setup.

[neilschelly]

I think I'd sooner buy an Evo for a daily driver and turn the 325i into a DS car than the other way around.  I'm pretty sure AWD has been a crutch of mine for a little too long and I'd prefer to see how well I do 2WD for a bit. The only reason I don't imagine doing anything FWD is that I'm just stubborn and get frustrated with it too easily.  FWD is for people who have patient feet.  RWD is at least fun when the patience part wears thin.
-N

[Forcednduckshn]

If you can fit in it, I would highly recommend an s2000 for stock class autoX.  Competitive, and after driving a plethora of different street cars, the s2000 is far and away the funnest car I have ever driven.  It's comfortable for daily driving, but it's tight in there.  I'm 6', 215lbs and that is about pushing it for comfort's sake.  But man, what a monster on the autoX setup.  Still 89K stock shocks .  Car is just insane.

Biggest Draw Back:  Can't fit 4 tires in there and not be in danger of dying if you get in to an accident.