Koni Contact?

[Mako Koiwai]

How's your "payload" compared to SK2 King Adrian?

Karen doesn't think there is any issue to her getting a loan for buying Brian's Vette ... through her credit union ... through whom she's bought a number of cars. You could also ask Tom B ... since that's sort of his biz.

[Sebastian Rios]

If you are dead set on something that works on street tires and is has a place in the ST progression, I would look elsewhere than the Mini or Shelby.
I don't think the Shelby is going to be any fun on streets, the Mini S gets killed in STX, and the regular Mini get's killed by the Civics in ST. I was liking the CRX plan, but that would be more of a dedicated autocrosser.

As far as financing a used car, you can do it, you'll just pay a higher interest rate. Credit unions are usually the best deal. I just keep borrowing from my 401(k) to pay for my used cars.

[Mako Koiwai]

vis a vis Street tires ... Steve A. might disagree:

I found out BMW was putting on an autocross event this last Sunday. I couldn't pass up the opportunity. Western Tire mounted up some Hankook RS2 Street tires for me. I wanted to save my race tires for another event. Using street tires on a Corvette is like taking 250 hp away from you. On this course, you couldn't even floor it for more then 1 second. Nevertheless, it's still fun to push your car and yourself to the limit. Luck was on my side and won the event by .056 for top time of the day. Who needs race tires?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaSC9Yn0b24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Check out that course! Steve had TTD with a 90+ second run in the Green Lot! Small field/Small Paddock)

Some Tire Testers say the new Hankooks RS3 is very race tire like ... of course they aren't cheap either.

[Kurt Rahn]

How's your "payload" compared to SK2 King Adrian?

I'd guess Adrian goes about a buck fifty, maybe a little more, so I'm about two of him. Luckily his car has a lot of heavier options that mine won't have (if I go the Mini route). They probably account for 50 pounds or so. So net, I'm about 100 pounds in the hole.

Karen doesn't think there is any issue to her getting a loan for buying Brian's Vette ... through her credit union ... through whom she's bought a number of cars. You could also ask Tom B ... since that's sort of his biz.

Credit union s a good idea. I'll ask Tom too next time I see him.

[Kurt Rahn]

If you are dead set on something that works on street tires and is has a place in the ST progression, I would look elsewhere than the Mini or Shelby. I don't think the Shelby is going to be any fun on streets, the Mini S gets killed in STX, and the regular Mini get's killed by the Civics in ST. I was liking the CRX plan, but that would be more of a dedicated autocrosser.

I was actually thinking of driving whatever I purchase before November until I can find a good used car to build for one of the ST classes as a dedicated racecar. The daily driver issues is the one that most concerns me with the Shelby. From what I've read, it does really well on smooth pavement, but doesn't like bumps. That's kind of a problem for a DD.

[Sebastian Rios]

If you are dead set on something that works on street tires and is has a place in the ST progression, I would look elsewhere than the Mini or Shelby. I don't think the Shelby is going to be any fun on streets, the Mini S gets killed in STX, and the regular Mini get's killed by the Civics in ST. I was liking the CRX plan, but that would be more of a dedicated autocrosser.

I was actually thinking of driving whatever I purchase before November until I can find a good used car to build for one of the ST classes as a dedicated racecar. The daily driver issues is the one that most concerns me with the Shelby. From what I've read, it does really well on smooth pavement, but doesn't like bumps. That's kind of a problem for a DD.

"doesn't like bumps" is very subjective, and a good set of shocks will smooth out the bumps *and* improve handling. I can't imagine any stock class car would be that hard to live with (OK, Elise... ).
Go up to SF and test drive Mike's, but be prepared to fall in love with it and R-comps. :heyes: