Which SK1 car to get

[Mihail Milkov]

I apologize if the topic doesn't belong to this forum. I have a Honda Fit for daily driving and I'm looking for some opinions on what fun car to get for an autocross/weekend car. I don't like changing tires before the event, so I guess my best choice would be the street tire class. I am interested in the following:

Honda S2000 (BS) - I test drove it and loved the balance, gearbox, lightness, engine at high rpm. The downside is that it is noisy and not practical for a longer trip.
C6 Corvette(SS-corrected) - very impressive acceleration, but feels big and unwieldy, roof top squeaks. However probably more comfortable than S2000 on a longer trip
E46 BMW M3 (BS) - not so much fun in terms of balance and handling, a little more subdued, but more comfortable, more power than S2000
E92 BMW 335i (FS) - haven't driven one yet, but it should have similar straight-line speed to M3, possibly better index (FS) when running in SK1, but no LSD

So among these cars, which one would you recommend for SK1 in terms of competitiveness, setup, fun, tire wear, etc? Or maybe something else?

Thanks,

Mihail

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

I apologize if the topic doesn't belong to this forum.

This is the perfect forum for your question.

E46 BMW M3 (BS) - not so much fun in terms of balance and handling, a little more subdued, but more comfortable, more power than S2000

In terms of handlling and balance yes it leans like the Titanic but in SK1 trim, Tom Berry did some fun runs after the GRA champ event, and his time would've been in the top 3. The car is capable....but you're up against other cars that are lighter. But comfort is supreme as a daily or long-distance driver.

E92 BMW 335i (FS) - haven't driven one yet, but it should have similar straight-line speed to M3, possibly better index (FS) when running in SK2, but no LSD

This car will no longer be in F-Stock next year thus the great PAX index it had goes bye-bye Welcome to D-Stock, thus moving from SK1 to SK2 class.
From the November FasTrack, 2010

STOCK
- Move from FS to DS and clarify listing as follows:
“BMW 335i (’07-‘10), 335i xDrive (’07-’10), & 335d (’09-’10)”

[Mihail Milkov]

E92 BMW 335i (FS) - haven't driven one yet, but it should have similar straight-line speed to M3, possibly better index (FS) when running in SK2, but no LSD

This car will no longer be in F-Stock next year thus the great PAX index it had goes bye-bye Welcome to D-Stock, thus moving from SK1 to SK2 class.
From the November FasTrack, 2010

STOCK
- Move from FS to DS and clarify listing as follows:
“BMW 335i (’07-‘10), 335i xDrive (’07-’10), & 335d (’09-’10)”

Giovanni, thanks for the input! You are a BMW guy and I've had a 328i in the past so I'm a little partial to this marque as well. Being a heavier car, how hard is the E46 M3 on tires?
Regarding the indices -
BS 0.830060
FS 0.820260
DS 0.808500
So it seems to me that moving the 335i from FS to DS should improve its PAX time and hence its competitiveness. Now it will be competing against SK2 cars, but hey, at least I know more people in SK2

[Robert Puertas]

On street tires, lighter is almost always better.

Of your choices, the S2000 would probably be best.

I would also consider a Boxster S like Tom T. drives in SK1.
Or an Elise!

An early Boxster would make an interesting CS SK2 car.

[Mihail Milkov]

On street tires, lighter is almost always better.

Of your choices, the S2000 would probably be best.

I would also consider a Boxster S like Tom T. drives in SK1.
Or an Elise!

An early Boxster would make an interesting CS SK2 car.

I've read about engine failures on Boxsters and Caymans due to oil starvation, IMS failure, block porosity, etc. Don't know how common these failures are, but they scare me. Do you drive an Elise?

[John Stimson]

I would say the S2000. The C6 has too much power to run competitively on street tires using the R-compound based PAX.

Other possibilities -- Boxster S, Evo, Elise...

[Ron Tsumura]

Which S2000? AP1, AP2, CR?

[Mihail Milkov]

Which S2000? AP1, AP2, CR?

I'm thinking regular AP2, 2004+ because they are newer. Is there consesus whether AP1 or AP2 is better for autocross? CR tend to be a little hard to find and a little expensive.

[Ron Tsumura]

Which S2000? AP1, AP2, CR?

I'm thinking regular AP2, 2004+ because they are newer. Is there consesus whether AP1 or AP2 is better for autocross? CR tend to be a little hard to find and a little expensive.

Probably more course dependent. Would you rather be shifting to 1st or 3rd?

AP2 also use 17" wheels which means better tire size selection.

[Max Hayter]

06 Subaru STi - it's won SK1 before

[Tom Tanquary]

Definitely don't get the Boxster. }:)

[Giovanni Jaramillo]

Giovanni, thanks for the input! You are a BMW guy and I've had a 328i in the past so I'm a little partial to this marque as well. Being a heavier car, how hard is the E46 M3 on tires?

The E46 M3 has inherent understeer in stock form so the key is to drive it aggressively and use the power of the S54 engine and induce oversteer with your right foot and throw the car around. That's the only way to go fast in some tight SCCA courses. But you will wear out your tires (say if you run consistently for 6 months, practices and champ events, expect to change tires every 6 months. And it's Dunlop Direzza Star Specs, then Yokohama Advan Neovas. Same performance except Yokes are $100 more per tire! YIKES!!

[Mako Koiwai]

What about the newer Hankook RS3 ... I thought that was taking over from the Star Spec for heavier cars?

[Steve Ekstrand]

I've always thought that an Elise would kill SK1. But I've never driven one... So, I really have no idea. Just going off the theory that the lightest car by far in SK1 would suffer less on street tires and have a built in advantage for an already very competitive car. Logic would say a setup and well driven one would be very hard to beat.

[Robert Puertas]

I've always thought that an Elise would kill SK1. But I've never driven one... So, I really have no idea. Just going off the theory that the lightest car by far in SK1 would suffer less on street tires and have a built in advantage for an already very competitive car. Logic would say a setup and well driven one would be very hard to beat.

SS has a pretty tough PAX now, but with the Toyo's available in the right sizes, I think the Elise can win SK1.

[Ron Tsumura]

I was going to mention the Lotus but it did not seem to fit the criteria of being practical for long trips. The S2000 can hold my golf clubs so it fits my criteria. The Solstice does not.

[Mako Koiwai]

've always thought that an Elise would kill SK1.

So did I, but not when you're running Falkens in front and Yoks in back ... in order to maintain the rake and tire size that Kestler was using in SS with R's with the same car. When he finally drove it with those tires that I was having to run in SK1 ... he said the car was horrible.

[Ron Tsumura]

I apologize if the topic doesn't belong to this forum. I have a Honda Fit for daily driving and I'm looking for some opinions on what fun car to get for an autocross/weekend car. I don't like changing tires before the event, so I guess my best choice would be the street tire class. I am interested in the following:

Honda S2000 (BS) - I test drove it and loved the balance, gearbox, lightness, engine at high rpm. The downside is that it is noisy and not practical for a longer trip.
C6 Corvette(BS?) - very impressive acceleration, but feels big and unwieldy, roof top squeaks. However probably more comfortable than S2000 on a longer trip
E46 BMW M3 (BS) - not so much fun in terms of balance and handling, a little more subdued, but more comfortable, more power than S2000
E92 BMW 335i (FS) - haven't driven one yet, but it should have similar straight-line speed to M3, possibly better index (FS) when running in SK1, but no LSD

So among these cars, which one would you recommend for SK1 in terms of competitiveness, setup, fun, tire wear, etc? Or maybe something else?

Thanks,

Mihail

How about running in STR or other ST class? You would then be able to make desirable changes to the car and run in National type events.

[Vincent Wong]

Just going off the theory that the lightest car by far in SK1 would suffer less on street tires and have a built in advantage for an already very competitive car.

I'm going against the theory for next year because I'll be running an almost 2-ton car in SK1.

[Sebastian Rios]

S2000 For sure. CR if you can swing it. Great out of the box, and a good platform for national level competition in BS or STR.

[Doug Kott]

So does the 335i get a more favorable PAX in DS? It would seem so. *****goes to autotrader.com to peruse secondhand 335i's*****

The Corvette is a surprisingly good long-distance road car with a lot of storage space, but it seems in the street tire classes, it's a bear to try and put the power down effectively.

Elise? I'd get the Moroso 6-qt. baffled oilpan, even for a street tire class. My MR2 Spyder shares its short block, and there can be oil starvation issues. Pricey at about $450, but great for peace of mind. O'course, the pan may have classing implications.

[Mihail Milkov]

I'm going against the theory for next year because I'll be running an almost 2-ton car in SK1.

BMW 335i coupe weighs 3571 lbs, E46 M3 - 3415 lbs. Looking at the points, you were doing quite well in SK1, Vincent . If you don't mind, can you give me some first-hand impressions on how your car feels at the autocross? Does it understeer too much? Can you get the power down? The last 3-series I had was an E36 328i, which had good steering feel, great brakes, good torque, but too much leaning in corners and some understeer.

[Mako Koiwai]

Morgan Trotter seems to specialize in cars that lean a LOT and yet he's very fast. First an Impreza and now a SRT ACR (?)

[Tom Denham]

06 Subaru STi - it's won SK1 before

.

[Mako Koiwai]

STI = very comfortable cruiser also