I'm looking at getting an 87 non-turbo to use just as an SCCA car. I've not bought the car yet, I'm supposed to look at it on Fri. I've never done any SCCA events but I've wanted to for a long time. So is an 87 a good starter car for a cone dodging newbie?

 

Are you doing autocross or road racing?

The FC chassis is a great car for SCCA's Improved Touring S class (road racing).

For various reasons (including car classification and rules etc) its not the best autocross car for top level competition. Depends on what your goals are.

In case you didn't know it yet, its cheaper to buy a car built for racing rather than trying to build one yourself.

Also - might want to read the book "Go Ahead Take the Wheel" by David Gran. Get it on Amazon.

 

An FC is probably not the best car for cone dodging - other cars will be more competitive depending on the class you run. But on the other hand I have seen one take class wins locally and almost get fastest time of the day (FTD). The takeaway message here is that it's the driver more than the car.

So if you are looking to pick up a dedicated auto-x car to learn in, an NA FC is not a bad option. A few tweeks to get the suspension sorted out and you will have a good predictable vehicle to learn in. It can also make a nice track car if you decide to go the Time Attack route or just do some HPDE events.

-bill

 

I should have been clearer, I'm just looking to get into autocross events locally at the moment. I take it tha the other cars in the class I would be in are a bit quicker? I'm not talking about going out and busting records. I just want a car that will go out and be fun on the weekends.

My other cars are a 01 F150 and a 76 911 S. I know you are going to ask why not use the 911. I'm tired of fixing it, and I am tired of having to pay the Porsche tax to get parts. I looked the other day a clutch kit for a RX-7 is $150-200, the clutch kit for the 911 is $550-700. Granted the clutch isn't a common repair but its like that for most parts. I'm thinking of getting a dedicated autocross/track car that I can beat on and not have to worry about and if it breaks it won't cost me the national debt, or hurt my feelings to have to fix.

 

If you want to be competitive and have more fun, buy a miata, it is around the same price as the FC.

 

+1, the Miata is the standard fast/cheap/reliable autocross car. Just be sure to read up on the rules and keep that in mind when shopping for a car if it has mods. They're quite competetive in stock class, but beyond that it'll take a bunch of money to make them competetive in ST or SP classes, and beyond that they're not really competetive.

 

we always get wrapped up in the details, compared to the FC, the miata is lighter, smaller, has a better suspension etc

but if you wanna go have fun either at auto-x or roadracing the fc is pretty good.

if you're going racing to win, miata is better but the top tier cars are $$$$$$$

actually since we're talking about cheap alternatives, the spec e30 class is going to be the next pro7

 

The FC does very well in SCCA ITS and EP. Just look at the Runoffs or ARRC. I don't know about autocross.

 

It's only for autocross, as stated above. The FC can be fun at the autocross, but it competes against the Miata and the Miata should win all else being equal (relatively speaking).

 

Miata does make a fun car to toss around. If you fit in the car, you will enjoy it.

 

as shallow as this sounds, I can't bring myself to use a miata for autox. they are just too feminine for me. I just test drove the 7 i'm getting in a few weeks, and wow, what a blast, and i cant wait for next autox season to use it (using my Integra this season).

 

Good choice, I love the RX cars but I hate seeing Miatas at autocrosses. Theres just way too many of them, I like to see a variety of cars. Making an FC competitive is also far more challenging than a Miata. That said bang for the buck the Miata is a faster car, a friend I autox with has a stock NB (with EBC pads) and skinny no name 185s that usually runs the same times as me with sticky 225s and stiffer springs and shocks. He does have more autox experience though.

 

for a cheap dedicated autoX car the miata is 100% the way to go. It shouldnt really be too much more $ than an FC and the suspension is quite a bit more advanced and modern than the FC's. Having owned both I think that the miata has quite a bit more steering feel and feedback than the FC and for tight tracks is much more nimble, while the FC is better suited to high speed roadcoarses. Coming from a porsche packground you might feel more comfortable servicing the 4 cylinder than the rotary too.

If you want to go roadracing it would be a different story.....