Opinions Welcomed On Track Car

[Roy]

A std EVO wont get near a sensibly yet basic modded R32 GTST. Especially since they cost twice the money. And im guessing an EVO 8 MR is one of the quicker of the breed. So there would be no hope an EVO 3 etc would be as quick as a GTSt with basic mods. They just dont seem to have the gearing or the power to be quick on the tracks. They pull nicely to 100km/h, but where it counts between 100-220km/h they seem to be lacking...and mid corner they seem to have too much push unless you have all the right diffs in there.

[dodgybrooks]

Yea evos were built for rally so their gearing is quite high, above about 150 they start running out of steam a bit. Not so sure about them having no hope on the track against a GTSt with basic mods though. If basic mods only extends to engine bolt ons and coilovers, you'd have to ask Schumacher to come out of retirement for the GTSt to have a chance. And as far as understeer goes, evos are the best behaved of any 4WD. The first two series steered more with their back wheels than their front, although from 7 on it's a different story.

I'm not claiming that evo = god, I never liked them either until I bought one, but they are pretty fast cars. Their only shortfall compared to 2 and 2.5 litre Nissans as track cars in Australia is availability of parts.

[Roy]

Dont get me wrong, they are quick cars. But an R32 GTSt with a bolt on turbo that is well tuned to around 220rwkws, basic shocks, spring and bar upgrade will be quicker then any std EVO. Even mildly modded EVOs, 7s, 8s, 9s. Im basing that on the EVOs running in the WRX Vic Club Championship and the EVOs that were competing in the Dutton Rally last year.

At Dutton basically all the EVOs were driven by better drivers then me, many had more track orientated mods then my car and my GTSt was quicker. Hell at Winton i ran out of fuel on my hot lap and i still beat a lot of the EVOs. Sure there were EVOs that would have beaten the time i could have got, but im pretty sure the only ones that were quicker had cages, way more power and stripped with brakes etc etc. We are talking 80k cars...not a 20k GTSt.

Motorkhanas there is no contest, the GTSt will be beaten 9/10. But track? Im not so convinced.

[Belsil80]

Going by the results from the recent DECA even, comparing Adz in Juz's S15 to snowy in the Evo 8 'MR' and they were within 1 second of each other on nearly every skid pan event.

As for a track car, i really think its up to personal choice if you are deciding between an R32 or an S13. Troys (roy) car has to be one of the best examples of an R32 still powered by an Rb20 in vic and it certianly gets the job done bloody well. Ive given it a crack at Deca and i love it, but the biggest difference to my car is the size. i have a 180 and it feels a lot smaller and nimbler.. so really it is what you want in the car.

Be different, go the 32 with a 4 banger! i sometimes wish i did...

[fatz]

cheap and fast

s13

rb30 big f**k of turbo!

[r33_racer]

id put money on that trial built 32 oversteers every corner you try to gas it out of even with smooth throttle application. Its a drift car by the looks of it.

[Dale FZ1]

We are talking 80k cars...not a 20k GTSt.

Motorkhanas there is no contest, the GTSt will be beaten 9/10. But track? Im not so convinced.

Remember he was going to look at non-compliant cars too. Seriously, you should be able to land a reasonable Evo with some of the fruit for under 20k

The only reason I suggested an awd was for mechanical grip. On short-run hillclimbs that counts for lots, as with SOME tracks.

Only raised as a viable alternative. I prefer the feel/balance of a good rwd, but an awd can enhance the results of an average driver - and seem to do well by using all (or more) of the power they do have.

Good discussion though.

[Marlin]

Hmmm, I've been looking for a similar style of vehicle for some fun weekend motorsport. Since selling the GTR money pit I've been hanging out for some wheel time.

I've settled on finding a nice SR powered S13 of some type, reason being that all S13's are now homologated by CAMS. I can see that with a bit of forethought, 2 distinct setups could be achieved relatively simply, one for circuit/tarmac racing, and another (albeit with big $ uprights) for dirt rallying.

I've toyed with the idea for years of doing an SR20 powered R32, I reckon it'd be a great car, but it closes the door on competing in any form of championship.

[Snowman]

Going by the results from the recent DECA even, comparing Adz in Juz's S15 to snowy in the Evo 8 'MR' and they were within 1 second of each other on nearly every skid pan event.

Ryan - James EVO is 100% stock. If he spends minimal $$$ on a whiteline handling kit, an exhaust and gets the clutch restrictor removed then it will be a much bigger gap. The clutch restrictor was super ghey and meant I couldn't launch / handbrake turn at all. There is a good +2s to be gained in that evo with only about $1K to spend.

Having said that it was such an unexciting car to drive even if it was damn fast. I'm sure most of us do this for fun and I just don't know how much fun I could have in an EVO.

[dodgybrooks]

A twenty g budget would get you into a III or IV evo and still leave you with more than 10g to spend on parts, which would make you one fast man. But yea rwd is the spiritually correct answer for the track, 4wd does feel like cheating. Although like I said before the evos before the 7 are a lot more like a rwd than the recent lot.

[Marlin]

From very recent (yes, searched and bought one), you'll need to spend at least 15 grand to land a good Evo IV RS from Japan. Whilst they're a great little buzz box, I don't believe they're really an ideal circuit car, not if ease of and cheapness of repairs or modifications is a priority.

Keep in mind, the dirt rally guys are mostly steering clear of this style of older car now (including WRX's etc) because parts are just becoming too rare and expensive these days to enable running them cost effectively.

[Roy]

Even with rally rego, anything EVO 6 onwards is still good money. I like EVO IIs myself, but you would have to serisouly consider a good portion of your money on diffs etc.

If you have 45k to spend then i would get an R33 GTR with rally rego.

If its 35K then i would get an FD RX7.

If its 25K then i would look at a GTSt. If it was 15K i would look at an S13/14

Actually, a well sorted S14 is very tempting....they are good bloody track cars.

[phunky_monkey]

Having said that it was such an unexciting car to drive even if it was damn fast. I'm sure most of us do this for fun and I just don't know how much fun I could have in an EVO.

After minding an Evo 7 for a week I was seriously considering selling my SR 180sx and buying an Evo 6, but as Snowy has said, the reason that I decided against it was that I wasn't convinced that the fun factor was there. Yeah, I'd be quicker, but realistically someone else will always be faster than you, so you may as well be having fun!

Another reason was just how common they were at track events in Victoria. I like something a little different than all the GT-R's and Evo's.

I'm glad I made the decision that I did

[Roy]

Your right, there will always becheaper and also more expensive cars going quicker. Its what youlike, and i love the little R32. Its so much fun to drive, and hwilst i feel the car is quicker then ppl give them credit for...if you happen to get a good time then you know you played a big part in getting that time....which is very rewarding

This year i think my car will be finally sorted so i get to satisfy my curiosity as to just how fast a std RB20 R32 can go.

Im not expecting it, but im hoping for a 1:22 at Sandown and a 1:50 PI. They are both big improvements over what i have done...but i feel the car is up to it...just have to see about me

[R32gts-t]

where are the well sorted 15k s13's?

i'd like 2 please...

i'm sure dane could probably have 3 by now.

[Marlin]

where are the well sorted 15k s13's?

Ditto.... show me master?

[phunky_monkey]

where are the well sorted 15k s13's?

i'd like 2 please...

i'm sure dane could probably have 3 by now.

Let's go with more than 4... Argh....

[Roy]

Im saying that if you jump on line and go to yahoo for a race only import you can get some nice S13/14s for less them 1,000,000yen. Then you just have to get it here and go crazy ripping gear out of it.

[R32gts-t]

just shit stirring mate

but a general rule for anyone who is undertaking something like a track car, the budget will ALWAYS be blown way before your even half way through.

[Marlin]

Yeah Roy, that's what i meant too mate... no harm intended.

I'd love to use an S13 for dirt rally as well, and it's like 6G juuust for a set of Proflex. Then it's cage, seats, harnesses, etc etc you know the deal. All of a sudden you're lookin at 30 grand.... for an S13!