Which drivetrain is going to be more fun or more competitive? Or both...
Auxiliary question: can fun or competition be had in an automatic? For the record this is rally cross.
Which drivetrain is going to be more fun or more competitive? Or both...
Auxiliary question: can fun or competition be had in an automatic? For the record this is rally cross.
FWD will be more competitive. RWD will be more fun. Don't see why an automatic couldn't be competitive. May I suggest Escort ZX2 or early Neon (particularly ACR or R/T)
An auto with a tall-ish first gear can often work better than a manual for rallycross. Keep it in first unless you're hitting the rev limiter and let the torque converter take care of getting you into the powerband.
+1 for what nickd said, with the right tires on the right day you can get FTD in a FWD, though you will always have that much more fun with RWD.
I'll echo the competitive advantage of fwd and the fun advantage of rwd.
For fwd 16v first Gen neon, bg chassis Mazda are tough to beat.
There are different classes for FWD and RWD, so I would argue they are equally competitive.
An automatic can be competitive, but it's best to hook it up to an engine that is relatively torquey, too. Bonus if it can stay in 1st the whole course.
I drive a Neon, that's a fairly competitive car for FWD classes, and faster than most RWD cars with the same power/weight ratio, but the RWD guys look like they are having a lot more fun.
As for automatic and FWD there is a kid who has been out to the last two events in a stock, automatic, Honda Fit. He was good, fast, and didn't seem to be having any less fun than anyone else out there.
I'll confirm that Honda Fit comment. My sport auto is a wonder at autocross. But I'm still making payments and it's too pretty to beat up, yet.
One of my first cars was an auto first gen neon. Sohc. Slowest turd ever. Had to repair daily. (It did teach me how to work on cars though... I'm thinking 88-91 civic, but they just don't have the suspension travel right? I currently have a '85 Celica with track suspension build, but a second Celica with stock suspension might be fun and can be had for 500$.
Also, really wanting something that is decent out of the box. I don't want trophies, my ego is big enough. If I got a podium, then great. Otherwise, I just wanna have fun on back roads and see where I place among the wolves.
NickD wrote: FWD will be more competitive. RWD will be more fun. Don't see why an automatic couldn't be competitive. May I suggest Escort ZX2 or early Neon (particularly ACR or R/T)
Competitive is irrelevant, since RWD and FWD cars run in separate classes (as do AWD). RWD is more fun. FWD is in some cases faster, but again, you're running against other FWD so it's irrelevant.
Dave mentioned car that can stay in 1st around the whole course. Not on our courses. Not even an S2000. Maybe in some small courses in other regions. We have some cars going to 3rd ;)
FWD: locally a later Celica dominates, with Focuses behind him. RWD: locally Miatas and e30s dominate
Buy something that's tough and doesn't need chassis reinforcements. Something that can fit 15" wheels are good for finding used/take-off rally tires. Reliability is key to doing well in rallycross. Some cars can take the beating, others not so much.
Trackmouse wrote: I'll confirm that Honda Fit comment. My sport auto is a wonder at autocross. But I'm still making payments and it's too pretty to beat up, yet. One of my first cars was an auto first gen neon. Sohc. Slowest turd ever. Had to repair daily. (It did teach me how to work on cars though... I'm thinking 88-91 civic, but they just don't have the suspension travel right? I currently have a '85 Celica with track suspension build, but a second Celica with stock suspension might be fun and can be had for 500$.
An '85 Celica won't even be remotely competitive. Nonack ran one with our region. He's a great driver and still finished bottom-half every time (and they like to bend front control arms). Unless heavily modded, perhaps. If going with 80s cars I'd go RWD to the e30s/Volvos. If you want FWD, go with something from the 90s or more recent. Focuses seem to do well and hold up well, adn can be found cheap. Older Civic Si hatch from early 90s too. Miatas do well, as do 2nd gen MR2s.
In reply to irish44j:
That's why my Celica has boxed control arms.
Name of my game is simple, cheap, reliable. That's why "competitive" is not a factor.
I have run both in the dirt.. I found the control FWD gives you to be a lot more fun than RWD. Not many cars allow you to brake and accelerate at the same time like FWD does. Try it in RWD and you will go straight as the front end locks and washes out, in a FWD, the rears lock and out they come as you continue to accelerate.
Trackmouse wrote: In reply to irish44j: That's why my Celica has boxed control arms. Name of my game is simple, cheap, reliable. That's why "competitive" is not a factor.
Fair enough 
Don't know what the issue with your neon was. Did you buy it used? I won a Rallycross National Championship with a bone stock 98 R/T that had 390,000 miles on it at the time. I sold it with 450,000 miles on it and the engine had never been apart. I have an Intense Blue R/T coupe for sale now with 378,000 miles on it. Cheap, competitive and ice cold A/C.
In reply to parker:
Tell me more about your R/T for sale. My last neon was a blue/silver R/T sedan. She died of rust at 15 years, 180k. She replaced a Sport Coupe. Both had been VERY temperamental, but I miss it a little. I still have 2+ sets of neon wheels in the basement.
RWD without a doubt. FUN!
I loved my MR2, kinda wish I still had it. But there's a 2001 VW bug at a fly-by-night dealership by my work that's listed at $2500, and if it has a manual in it I'm curious. Black w/ black wheels, add some GRC vinyl...
My neon was a '98 high line (4dr. Sohc) it handled well, but when your 16, drag racing (yes I bracket raced that turd for consistency), and out doing "backroad rally cross" the car gets beat. The main thing I kept replacing were headlight switches and wiring to them. Some kind of short maybe. Also overheated a lot and blew a head gasket. I let it go back to the loan company when mom and dad divorced. Lol. Bought a Japanese car and haven't had to work hard since.
RWD
RWD auto rallyx you say?? +1 on the rwd fun factor.
DO: get an auto that will stay in 1/2 and preferably hold a gear for engine braking.
DONT: get one that does all that but has bad rings in at least one cylinder. You can do the below, but you'll have an oily engine bay. Was still a lot of fun for a few runs. It's a stock '93 960 auto w/ 15" rally tires.
my stock focus SVT is always tons of fun. but I think it would be hard to show up to a rallyx and not have fun.
In reply to Brian:
Intense blue/silver stripes with sun damaged paint on the horizontal surfaces. No RUST!! Always in Texas or New Mexico, hence the sun damage. Mopar shorty header. Iceman intake. Koni struts from an ACR that could use rebuilding. Steering rack loose, comes with a reman unit (still in the box). Runs great, leaks oil. Clutch and rebuilt transmission have less than 10k miles on them.
MrLittle wrote: As for automatic and FWD there is a kid who has been out to the last two events in a stock, automatic, Honda Fit. He was good, fast, and didn't seem to be having any less fun than anyone else out there.
Hmm... SWMBO has been pestering me to wash her the last few years, at least I'd finally have a good reason to. 
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