Auto-x newbie ? FWD/RWD

I have a 2012 Merc C-63. I am looking at adding a 2012 JCW mini to my stable.  I'm just wondering how difficult it might be making the transition Xing both cars. Anyone tried it ?

BACKGROUND: My friend is a veteran Xer, ( Porsche 911 ). Last event of our season he invited me to bring my AMG. I'm hooked big time. I got 7 runs, a couple were respectable. ( Bested him by over a second. ) We thought pretty good 1st time. I think I have a lot of room to improve. With the monster 6.3L-1.4, I exited  the curves conservatively and never drifted as the car is won't to. So I haven't found the limit there. Our club has 2 venues. A) Which I drove, better pavement and room to stretch out the course more  B) Old pavement, tighter course. The AMG may not be the best choice for autocross but it is better suited to A. I don't even think  I'd run the Merc on B. The Mini would be perfect for B and I might even bring both cars to A.  I've been looking for a DD to relieve the AMG of all those city "junk miles" and found the Mini would make a good DD. ( I owned a 2011 MCS for a while and it was a blast to drive, but very different from the AMG ). If you read this whole thing, thanks. I'd appreciate any thoughts. Also, anyone know what class a stock JCW mini would be? I read here HS but that doesn't appear in our club, the 3 regular minis are 3 different classes ???

In reply to AMGc63 :

Welcome to the forums! Since the sprockets subforum is for two wheeles conveyences, I am moving this thread to the Grassroots board where it will likely get more relevant views. 

I autocross everything from my CTS-V to my Volt. Mazda2, RX-7, 911, bunch of Miatas, all sorts of stuff. It's all fun and you learn something new with every new car. There is something to be said for dedicating yourself to a particular car if you are trying to extract those last 1/10's of a second, but the fastest guys I know are fast in everything. 

Keep your options open.  I've transitioned from FWD to RWD and back a couple of times.  Actually, FWD/RWD is only one of a number of "options" or variables in Autox.  Street/Stock vs. Modified.  Street tire vs. slicks.  SCCA vs. independent clubs.  Etc. Etc.  The short version is find the place where you fit.  Try different classes, different clubs and, if available, different cars.  One thing you'll find about autox is you spend a small part of your day driving.  Most of your time is spent in the paddock or working the course.  You'll end up working and killing time between runs with different groups of people depending on what class you want to run.  The people, not the driving, make or break the event.  As for the driving, Mazdeuce is right, some people could be fast in a delivery van.  On the flip side, if results are important to you, you may find a particular platform, class or car set up just clicks with your driving style.  Experimentation is the only way to know. 

If I were you, I'd start with the FWD car until you get used to threading through the cones.

jstein77 said:

If I were you, I'd start with the FWD car until you get used to threading through the cones.

Totally wrong, you start with the C63 and when you switch to the Mini the course is HUGE and the car is nimble and you feel like a god. 

I go between FWD and RWD all the time, doesn't cause me any problems. The big difference to remember is that with RWD, deceleration shortens a slide and power extends it, with FWD it's the other way around.

Just because it hasn't been said yet:  have you considered a Miata?

I would recommend whatever you have on hand. Really. Seat time is everything. Especially when it comes to autoX.

I wouldn't worry about FWD vs RWD; I'd mostly be concerned about which vehicle would be more driver friendly. Without ever driving either of your options, I'd lay good money that the MINI is easier to drive at the limit compared to the Merc. So my opinion would be to go with the MINI. 

FWIW, I've autocrossed both. Never had a problem going back and forth between RWD and FWD (and AWD). I've done well in all three (top 10 raw and pax in AWD and RWD; top 10 pax in FWD). The bigger issue for me is weird suspension setups or tire setups that I can't get used to. 

While I enjoy RWD more than FWD, in my opinion as a general guideline FWD is easier to pick up than RWD--as in, I can jump in any FWD car and quickly be at 8/10ths of its potential; I cannot say the same for RWD. 

I'd go with the mini, if for no other reason than I've never seen a car lift 1 wheel on turns as often as those seem to. Very fun to watch (never actually driven one though)

I'd lean towards the Mini as well but frankly drive whichever you like best. I'd also say pick one and stick with it for several events so you can focus on driving rather than the car. 

My normal Autocross car is a Formula car, as well as road race a rear drive small bore car as well as sometimes Autocross other people's cars Miata, Firebird, Civic & Exocet; they require some adjustment. The thing about Autocross as the course changes event to event even in the same car you may need to adjust how you drive a particular car so it doesn't matter what your driving. 

I like driving the Formula 500 because it's fast and runs top 3 (most of time). I like driving my friends Exocet because it's chuckable fun, fast and also capable of top 3. I like Miatas because they are fun despite being underpowered. 

Again in drive whatever you enjoy.....that's what matters most.