After campaigning my 1999 Neon Coupe in FSP for more than a decade (I am the original owner), I think it is time to move on. This is not an advertisement for the Neon (first things first). I first need to decide on what type of car I will drive next.
I want to compete in Street Prepared, at the regional level, and I want a rear-wheel drive or AWD car. Old and quirky is preferred. I am looking to get between $4500 and $5000 for my Neon and would like to keep my entire budget within those parameters.
The easy answers are Fox-bodies and 80s Camaros, but I want to be a little more unique.
sanman
Reader
12/27/13 2:45 p.m.
I believe a few people may suggest this two seat Mazda roadster...the MIATA! Are you looking to be nationally competitive eventually or just regional?
CSP Miata with some homemade aero!
In reply to sanman:
Just regionally. I don't have the energy to try to be nationally competitive. Most of the Miatas near me are either rotted or expensive. Seeing many automatic cars too. :(
Looking for something unusual. An 80s Audi Quattro might be nice. An 80s 944 or even 924 could be interesting. I still have the urge to do a 1970s Dart.
Looking for fun more than competitiveness. I have won many regional championships with the Neon. It has become boring. Now if I could win an event or two with a car which shouldn't win at all...
I was going to offer my Miata in trade. 
For an old, quirky, rear-drive Street Prepared car, what about some kind of FSP Toyota? Or FSP MGB or Triumph TR?
sanman
Reader
12/27/13 4:04 p.m.
If it is more for fun, then pick what you like. I like Toyota MR2s, Corollas, Starlets and early Celicas, but many of those may have disappeared by you. Porsche 944s are a good choice, but a 914 might be more fun. Fiat x1/9 and fiat 124 spider/2000 might be fun, E21 or E30 BMW, 240sx, Ford Maverick grabber, mustang II, or a non-mustang fox body might be fun (fairmont battle wagon was my fave!).
How about an FB Rx-7 in CSP?
Vigo
UberDork
12/27/13 4:22 p.m.
You can get a pretty nice Starion/Conquest for 4-5k.
Can't think of ANYTHING awd I'd like to autox,if you have grip all the extra drive is doing is weighing you down.Also anything awd I can think of that's cheap has the engine WAY out front and they understeer like pigs,having the rear wheels pushing isn't helping that out to much.
I think for my money a Miata would be 1st,followed by a 1st gen MR2,AE86 corollas are fun but not fast until heavily modded,starlet would be good but can't swap in a 4ag until prepared,FB RX7's are ok but underpowered as well.
Thanks all I got for ya.
David S. Wallens wrote:
For an old, quirky, rear-drive Street Prepared car, what about some kind of FSP Toyota? Or FSP MGB or Triumph TR?
A Starlet would be cool in FSP.
Ed Cushing has a nice Mid 80s Celica in FSP
...and an FSP TR-6 could be the best sounding car in the grid, if nothing else.
beans
HalfDork
12/27/13 4:42 p.m.
Dang, I was about to suggest an FSP car, but it looks you've already made a pig fast. A local buddy of mine is pretty fast with 2.3L mid 80's Thunderbirds. Kind of like a fat Mustang.
Vigo
UberDork
12/27/13 5:36 p.m.
if you have grip all the extra drive is doing is weighing you down.Also anything awd I can think of that's cheap has the engine WAY out front and they understeer like pigs,having the rear wheels pushing isn't helping that out to much.
INTRUDER ALERT!!
This guy hasn't drunk the KoolAid yet!! Who let him in?!
In reply to David S. Wallens:
Toyota maybe. Brit cars are either expensive or disintegrating here in PA.
In reply to hrdlydangerous:
I sold a nice rust free (I mean completely rust free) 85 two years ago. I am kicking myself.
Moparman wrote:
I want to compete in Street Prepared ..., and I want a rear-wheel drive or AWD... between $4500 and $5000 ...
The easy answers are CSP Miata or DSP E36....
Fixed that for you...
If you want to "compete" in SP on a budget. Used parts galore. A prudent shopper could put together a regionally competitive car with that money.
aspen/volare or conquest
Oh and http://youtu.be/pl3vxEudif8?t=53s
Toyota FX16 with the AWD drivetrain and engine out of a turbo Celica.
In reply to bludroptop:
One can build a regional SP easily for $4,000 to $5,000, provided one can score a decent car for under $2,000. I have only $3,500 in parts in my Neon. 2/3s of that were my Konis and Quaiffe.
Brett_Murphy wrote:
Toyota FX16 with the AWD drivetrain and engine out of a turbo Celica.
In SP??,I don't think so.
Fun and interesting to drive, alfa gtv or spider.
And classics
I'll be the dissenting vote: Build the neon into a lechump car.
