Cal Club Autocross Forums

Can anyone recommend what car to rent for the Rally Cross this weekend: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6975" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Years ago Roman and I rented a Neon from Enterprise (Glendale) ... what would be a fun car to use now?

The cheap cars are usually pretty good. You tend to get a light weight, FWD, softly sprung, tossable car at the low end. All of which is good for RallyX. The next step up (Focus/Mazda 3) gives a little more power, but can start to get heavier, pretty even trade off in my opinion.

Budget in a fist full of quarters for the spray and wash!

Jay W

Jayson Woodruff wrote: Budget in a fist full of quarters for the spray and wash!

You wash the car before you bring it back???? }:)

I recommend the Ford Focus Mako.

The smallest, lightest FWD you can find. The national championship this year was won by a Mazda 2 (by one of our own, sorta).

What's that, 48 hp?

See avatar for other end of the spectrum.

Bill Martin wrote: What's that, 48 hp?

More like 100.

Jayson Woodruff wrote:
Budget in a fist full of quarters for the spray and wash!

Jay W

Mike and I took the Focus to a regular car wash and let them vacuum, run through the machine and wipe down nicely. Wasn't much more than the fist full of quarters and we didn't get splashed.

The Mazda2 ended up being perfect for us. As fast as some of the lower powered rally cars on rally tires. Even though it's front wheel drive it was easy to get the tail out ... left foot braking or handbrake. Not enough power to really over power the stock tires when driven judiciously. See the Glen Helen thread for more

How did the tranny work out? Biggest problem with many rentals is they only come with automatics and some of those just can't be made to work. Frequently in the wrong gear and ignoring driver's wishes on up/down shifting.

Auto worked perfectly doing first to 2nd and back down to first shifts ... Karen beat Kati's time in the (gutless) rally car

Mako Koiwai wrote: ... Karen beat Kati's time in the rally car

Note: A RWD old purpose built toyota (not Kati's Subie).

Jay W

... on rally tires