What’s hot in SCCA D Stock, circa 1985 | #TBT

Dodge Colt Turbo

Average Auto-X Time: 103.067 seconds.

The Colt ran neck and neck with the GTI, but edged it out slightly in actual times. However, even though its times were better, three out of the four drivers felt more confident and in control with the VW Rabbit GTI The drivers agreed that the blindingly fast Colt Turbo needs some refinement, especially in the area of suspension. It felt loose and lacked a 'quality' feel–the whole car felt tinny and not as tight as the GTI. Its speed did seem to compensate for these shortcomings, since it finished above the other three cars. Overall, a good choice for D Stock.

VW Rabbit GTI

Average Auto-X Time: 103.170 seconds.

It has been said that the Rabbit GTI is largely responsible for autocrossing's unprecedented growth rate in recent years. This may well be: it is quick, inexpensive, reliable, readily available, fuel efficient, comfortable, and it handles very well. It is one of the most practical sports cars for a practical sport, autocrossing. However, as much as all of the drivers liked it (the quality, the forgiving suspension) it finished second. The GTI needs more horsepower, which we understand it will get in '85.

Chrysler Lazer Turbo

Average Auto-X Time 105.052

The Lazer is a nice driving, well made car. However, there was definitely a gap between the two front runners, and the Lazer and ZX. We didn't have a Shelby Charger or even an Omni GLH to compare during this test, but we all felt that these two stepbrothers of the Lazer would have been more competitive. The car was comfortable, well appointed and had strong turbo power. But, let's face it–the Lazer is a bigger, heavier car than the the GTI or the Colt, and is possibly classed incorrectly.

Nissan 300ZX

Average Auto-X Time: 105.600

Again, the Nissan is a very well made, nice performing car. Even so, a front wheel drive GTI or Colt should not be classed with this over­fed boulevard cruiser. The main complaint that our drivers had about the car, other than the fact that it was just too big to push through the turns competitively, was the variable ratio power steering. The steering does not react as quickly as it needs to for autocrossing. This problem lies more in the power assist than in the actual ratio of the steering.

Our Conclusions

If you want to win, and that's all you care about, then choose either the Turbo Colt or the Rabbit GTI. If you have a little extra money and are more interested in a comfortable sports tourer, then choose the Lazer or the 300 ZX. Since autocrossing is a sport designed for family fun more than just winning, the latter is a very viable option. 

This test represents only the beginning of our road test series. In upcoming issues, we will have more tests with a wider variety of cars and classes, and more precise ways of measuring comparative performance. Remember, many factors can affect performance, so this test is not intended as gospel. It should give you a reasonably good idea of how these cars compare under actual autocross conditions.