For 2-3 autocrosses a year, I would forget all of the sporty stuff and focus on the dependability and daily driving that you really need. Any car can be autocrossed in a pinch and be fun. For insurance reasons, I would recommend a boring sedan or wagon.
So look at the Mazda Protege5. Just a boring old wagon 
:
Or these boring 4-door sedans with no turbo:
mazdeuce wrote: You should buy Derick's mom's minivan.
It will outrun a Porsche on the autocross course. Just look at what the GRM Odyssey could manage.
If the Mazda2 came in a hot version, I'd own one. We almost owned a Speed3, so a Speed2 should be very appealing as well.
You guys have given me a bunch of good ideas.
I feel like i need to explain this a little better though. Im really looking for something that i can just drive. The separate race car idea sounds like fun, but expensive. I sold the Z28 because I don't want to have 2 cars in the future. Ultimately I don't need huge power or a race car, I just want something that will be reliable enough to put 15k miles on it a year, and something that will entertain me on the road and occasional autocross event.
Ultimately this decision is supposed to make my life more practical and simpilar, but not terribly boring (im driving my dads old LeSabre right now...)
I'm definitely thinking Focus. They've both quite practical and have a ton of headroom. Protege won't be a bad idea either if you can squeeze into one.
E36s don't have as much headroom, but could be OK too - you'll want to check. If you could find a naturally aspirated second generation MR2, these things have an amazing amount of room inside too. They're the only cars I've ever slid behind the wheel and found that I shouldn't set the seat as far back as it would go.
You are 22. Screw practicality that is for when you are old. 
Get a coupe or convertible. 944, X1/9, TR7, RX7, MKIII Supra Turbo, etc.
93EXCivic wrote: You are 22. Screw practicality that is for when you are old.
This.
ProDarwin wrote:ShadowSix wrote:OK, Cooper S aint bad. Not in this price range. Isn't it the only FWD Mcstrut car classed above G stock? Also the only FWD Mcstrut car competitive in ST (not counting STF)? Wait, I guess the Mazdaspeed 3 is in DS as well. FWD Mcstrut cars (other than those above) are pretty much only competitive in HS, GS, and STF... the 3 slowest classes in SCCA. Regardless, apparently he isn't looking for a super competitive car, so that still leaves the FWD Mcstrut stuff on the table. Mguar: At 2 autocrosses/year I don't think a dedicated race car is justified. Sounds like he just wants something that is fun and won't be absolutely miserable should he try to autocross it.ProDarwin wrote: How important is its performance at an autocross? Buying a FWD mcstrut car is a ticket to the lowest level of autocross performance :(Sure, I mean look at the Mini Cooper S. That thing handles like a turd on a roller skate, no way you could be successful in autocross in one of those.
Name some small non-Honda cars that aren't McStrut.
I can think of:
The Infiniti G20
SAAB 900
I think the DSM's
And...?
And really, buying a DD because it is competitive in a particular SCCA class is not a great idea, ask anybody whose car has been bumped up a class!
You'll need to log in to post.
