Budget autox

I recently bought a 1998 m3 thinking that it would make a good daily driver / autocross car. After looking at the cost of replacing the rear suspension bushings and other repairs. Makes me think my wallets not deep enough to fund this expedition or at least I'm too cheap. I've been wanting to race since I was a little boy. I'm just trying to find the best and most economical way in to get a lot of seat time. I prefer something that's rear wheel drive. I'm 6 foot four or 6 foot 5 so A miata is most likely out of the question. Any help getting me started racing would be greatly appreciated.

Honestly, for autocross, especially if you're a rookie, anything that's not an unlowered SUV or pickup will do. At our events we get everything under the sun. We even have 2 guys - 1 in a Prius and 1 in a Volt - who battle it out in H Street for the "fastest hybrid" bragging rights.

Autocross at the local / regional level is very much a "run what ya brung" motorsport. So if the M3 is going to be a money pit then put it up for sale here and find anything else that captures your attention.

Autocross doesn't fit some people's definition of "a ton of seat time", but it's without doubt the cheapest and easiest way to get into competitive driving.

If you're not dead set on RWD, look into late 80s and all 90's model civics, crx, and Acura integras. Reliable as can be, great suspension design, enormous aftermarket support, and an overall great platform to race even in stock form.

An E36 M3 isn't the cheapest car you could've chosen but it's not terribly expensive either, and it's a "futureproof" solution in that it's a good platform you can improve later rather than soon having to replace it. You won't cause a lot of wear in autocross so I'd say you should give it a try before you decide it's too expensive.

I ran a Subaru Legacy for 5 years that I bought for $400. We put $150 fleabay coilovers on it, changed the oil once a year, and the tires twice. It was a blast, and I used to laugh that my car cost less than the rims on the FTD car.

The guys I've seen having the most fun were sharing a $500 6 cylinder automatic Camry with a bent fender riding on a set of mismatched wheels with used R-compound tires. If there was $1000 invested in the whole package, I would be surprised.

Spoolpigeon wrote: If you're not dead set on RWD, look into late 80s and all 90's model civics, crx, and Acura integras. Reliable as can be, great suspension design, enormous aftermarket support, and an overall great platform to race even in stock form.

This is a good way to go quite fast on the cheap. STS cars aren't expensive, have low consumables, get great mileage for the to-from, are cheap too insure, and are genuinely quick.

Spoolpigeon wrote: If you're not dead set on RWD, look into late 80s and all 90's model civics, crx, and Acura integras. Reliable as can be, great suspension design, enormous aftermarket support, and an overall great platform to race even in stock form.

This plus a million.

I started with a rough and ready '84 Scirroco that I co-drove with a friend. We bought it for $1000. Now I am doing a FSP Civic but at 6'5" you will want a Del Sol seat. A Civic is a prefect autocross car if you are ok with FWD.

Another choice if you are set on RWD, '90s MR2. They will swallow a tall driver with no problem.

GameboyRMH wrote: An E36 M3 isn't the cheapest car you could've chosen but it's not terribly expensive either, and it's a "futureproof" solution in that it's a good platform you can improve later rather than soon having to replace it. You won't cause a lot of wear in autocross so I'd say you should give it a try before you decide it's too expensive.

The M3 is a great car for what you're looking to do. Rear suspension bushings are, what, about $100 or less? Much cheaper than another car with its own set of issues.

93EXCivic wrote: Another choice if you are set on RWD, '90s MR2. They will swallow a tall driver with no problem.

Do we live on different planets? I'm 6'2". I have daily driven and autocrossed Miatas for years. Tried to codrive a '93 MR2 once. Had to be slouched sideways with sunroof vented open and my helmet sticking up it.

Duke wrote: Honestly, for autocross, especially if you're a rookie, *anything* that's not an unlowered SUV or pickup will do.

This. If you're just looking to dip your toe into autox, if your car runs and is safely drivable, just go do it. Don't worry about rebuilding the suspension. Once you get really good, then you can take those next steps. Right now, if you've never done any racing at all, your car...even in it's current state...is more capable than you are.

There are a lot of cheap choices that are very competitive. It's really more of a what type of car do you want to drive and what's the budget you want to be in. Also, do you want something stock or are you happy doing a minor or even major build.

As a new driver, I would recommend a stock car that you can build into a competitive ST car if you want to take the next steps forward.

I have no problem tackling a build but want the vehicle to be run as is. A rear suspension bushing kit for the rear of an e36 m3 runs about 600 excluding labor. Then the thought of that much abuse an engine.that used goes for 3500$ makes me wonder if there's something better. I would prefer rwd. I have a 97 prelude, however it's a an automatic. Manual swap?

You won't be abusing your engine. A typical autocross run is a minute or less long. Usually, in most cases, you make the 1-2 upshift at launch and then stay in 2nd for the rest of the run. If there is an exceptionally long straight you may hit the rev limiter, but in my experience that's very unlikely. There are no extended periods of high revs, and you get idle time in grid to let the lifters reinflate if they start ticking a little. As long as the engine is oiling adequately in the hard turns you'll be fine.

Have you been to any events before? Either of those cars seem good to go as is. Just show up and see how you like it. I almost think of it this way, you'll put maybe 100 miles worth of wear on the car in a day in the parking lot. If it was going to break or something, that's a far better place to have something happen then on the highway.

Wait, you have a prelude too?

Just drive that to start. Automatic be damned.

Also, go to an event even if you don't feel ready to compete. If you had already seen a good driver in an automatic Camry beat up on someone slow in a Miata, you wouldn't be asking these questions.

Unless you really don't like it just keep the M3, autocross it as is, and fix things as you have funds.

taparsons wrote: I have no problem tackling a build but want the vehicle to be run as is. A rear suspension bushing kit for the rear of an e36 m3 runs about 600 excluding labor. Then the thought of that much abuse an engine.that used goes for 3500$ makes me wonder if there's something better. I would prefer rwd. I have a 97 prelude, however it's a an automatic. Manual swap?

$300 bushing kit

I really doubt every bushing in your rear suspension needs replacing before autocrossing the car. Just take it out as-is! You'll have fun!

I've taken my DD civic and neon. At most I may get a set of dedicated tires if I wind up with a spare set of wheels. I'm not the most competitive, but I enjoy it.

Automatic just gives you a reason to get good and left foot braking. I've autocrosses a bunch of automatics and the only ones I didn't enjoy would have been hateful with a manual anyway.
Make sure the Prelude is mechanically sound and go AX. You have no excuse to not be at the next local event. DO IT!

Duke is spot on. You won't abuse your car to the level of that kind of concern. This is especially true your first few events...you'll be happy to just be able to navigate the sea of cones. Even as you start to get faster, it's not extended abuse like a track day would be.

Don't overthink it, just go.

You need to go. You will be amazed at some of the cars that show up just to have some fun. No matter what class you end up in, at first just concentrate on not hitting cones (+2 seconds). The more you go the better you get!

I'm an all-legs 6'6" and comfortably fit in an Escort ZX2 with a Kirkey race seat (on OE sliders--my Co-Driver is well under 6'). The same seat in a Miata/MR2/RX7 etc. and you would be fine.

Find a nice STS (street tires) or FSP (race tires) car that is already done...

Just go race the M3 and see how you like it. Trust us, you won't hurt a thing.

I autox a near stock Infiniti Q45.
The most important thing is that you just get out there.