If you were going to buy a new Daily Driver, that ...

[Jeff Ringer]

Are seven-year-old WRXs really going for $15K?!? I can get a brand new one for $25K; is seven years of use/abuse on a turbocharged engine really only worth $10K? Big fat pass.

your looking at the wrong car here.. i just threw that wrx on there

the box s for below 15 is sick if you have the extra coin for repairs

box s is a very fast pure machine with the engine in the best spot

[Greg Peng]

How many runs do you typically get on a set of 710's, Jason?

They will easily go over 100 runs.

Did you drive to and from events on those tires? Does doing this significantly affect the competitive life of the tires?

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Don't Ohlins cost more than the car?

Only if the car doesn't have the carbon-ceramic brakes.

[Jason Isley BS RX8]

Did you drive to and from events on those tires? Does doing this significantly affect the competitive life of the tires?

I drive on them to all Socal events, many are over an hour drive. I have never felt driving on the freeway affected the tires life. Most trips back from SD don't even wear the tire turds off.

[Sebastian Rios]

I say buy one and build it for ESP over the next year.

Don't count on the new wrx being an ESP car.

It doesn't have to be on the same line as the earlier WRX, but it's way too slow for BSP unless it's on the same line as the STi. An older model can still get it done, it will just cost a lot more in transmissions.

Sorry for the hi-jack Mako. ;)

[Steve Ekstrand]

Death by Evo in R(ally)SP????

[Mako Koiwai]

Good Hi-Jack ...

Karen donated the Cabrio to BreastCancer.org ... easier to get the deduction then deal with it's tranny that is going south. It get's towed away on the 13th ... so we've got to get busy deciding what to do next. Karen likes the Exige after getting a ride in Chad's yesterday. :gpower: :heyes:

Champagne taste ...

[Jack Tsou]

Just saw on the paper... new 08 Mazdaspeed3 for $19,590...

[Mako Koiwai]

Are the savings worth having to drive a FWD car ... with that much power/torque?

[Steve Ekstrand]

That's a great car for the money, but you won't be able to autocross it. Its not just tough or uncompetitive, its impossible to autocross.
The car couldn't win HS with Buetzer driving. Mere mortals will slaughter you in DS with Sentras.

[Mako Koiwai]

... yet the FWD Cobalt SS has done well ?

[Darren Cole]

... yet the FWD Cobalt SS has done well ?

The cobalt SS is getting rave reviews (at least the performance aspect) from the car mags. It has been turning about the same lap times as the Evo and STI on big courses (like VIR).

[Steve Ekstrand]

Cobalt SS does fine.

You're misreading what I am saying.

I am not critiquing high HP FWD cars. Though they have their limitations. I am saying the Mazdaspeed 3 is a really cool car that should be kept as far away from an autocross course as possible lest the owner suffer an unrecoverable mental breakdown. The car will drive you crazy round the cones. Take it to the grocery store and you'll love it. Big Willow, you'll love it. Lot 12, you'll slit your wrists. That's the Mazdaspeed3.

CobaltSS can be made to work and might be a car to have. SRT-4ACR can be made to work in DS okay, but not the car to have.

WRX makes a lot of sense for you guys. Its might be the car to have or atleast close. It should be fairly easy to drive fast, great commuter car, decent value. And you're a Subie freak. My second choice would be the CobaltSS. Great value in that car.

[Mako Koiwai]

Amazing Kevin Dietz came in third in DS at Nationals in '08 ... with a '08 Cobalt SS ... so it can perform. Steve's misfortunes with his SRT always gives me pause.

The EVO MR with it's magical differentials gets fabulous track reviews, but apparently they don't work fast enough for AX'ing.

Latest is that we're thinking of starting off with the Miata this year (in SK2), getting a WRX ... turning the Miata into a track car ... and then running the WRX in SK2.

[Karen Zaterman]

I am not critiquing ...
WRX makes a lot of sense for you guys. Its might be the car to have or atleast close. It should be fairly easy to drive fast, great commuter car, decent value. And you're a Subie freak. My second choice would be the CobaltSS. Great value in that car.

Thanks for the direct input, Steve. I think I'm leaning that way, too -- but let's get one thing clear to all of you... I'm not the Subie freak
Sure, they are great cars, and I owned 2 already... but my first inclination was a 'Vette and that is still close to my heart & no doubt a future buy.
However, Mako :heyes: will be a plus as far as setup for a WRX, for sure. :ibrightdea:
The Miata just needs a roll-bar (though a cage would instill more confidence) to be a great starter for my track days.

[Steve Ekstrand]

I was referring to Mako with the Subie Freak comment. And that means something. Its nice to have familiarity with resources, parts vendors, etc. It was culture shock in this family to move over to Honda after a lifetime of Mopars, and a lifetime of Mopar contacts and support. But you gotta do what you gotta do!

I'd love to autocross a vette.... Just wouldn't want to buy tires for it.

[Mako Koiwai]

Yup ... tires are the problem. The Flaherty's are projecting $10K to run their used Z-06 in SS for '09. We've been warned to not even bother trying to run ST on it.

[Karen Zaterman]

I figured you were talking about Mako.
Vette tires... YEP, that's mainly what's stopping me at this point, too.

[Marshall Grice]

Yup ... tires are the problem. The Flaherty's are projecting $10K to run their used Z-06 in SS for '09. We've been warned to not even bother trying to run ST on it.

10k in tires? no way.

[Mako Koiwai]

Probably not ... but that IS what the Leslie and Mark spent a few years ago on tires ... when she won a National Championship with her Vette. Of course they went to every possible event.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Yup ... tires are the problem. The Flaherty's are projecting $10K to run their used Z-06 in SS for '09. We've been warned to not even bother trying to run ST on it.

10k in tires? no way.

More?


I think the tires are lasting better than in those days.

[Marshall Grice]

in the AWD tire shreading machine we only used like 7k worth of tires with 3-4 drivers doing EVERY event. Some of those sets even came off early.

I'd love to put on a new set for every event though, so i could understand wanting to budget 10k for tires.


we didn't do SD and CSCC events though, so i guess if you're that addicted you could end up spending a lot more.

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Yup ... tires are the problem. The Flaherty's are projecting $10K to run their used Z-06 in SS for '09. We've been warned to not even bother trying to run ST on it.

$10k is what Mark and Leslie spent when the co-drove the Vette.

[Mako Koiwai]

From Leslie:

Yes we did. That was at about $1100 per set of tires = 9 sets. Max. 80
runs per set until corded. We were running 2-3 weekends per month.
Practices and championships, pros and tours. Ah the good old days.....

[Mako Koiwai]

Karen got a $2,000 off GM Coupon ... for being a GM Card user (Why does she even have a GM Card ?!) ... but please agree with me that that $2K doesn't even make up for a GM/Cobalt SS's poor resale value ...

Anyone have a Consumer Report '09 Car issue? What's the Cobalt's Reliability Record ... as compared to a WRX?