With all the ricers driving around these days, I want something different, so I am choosing to rally (actuallly driving in the snow and mud is fun as ****). However, I am a teen on a limited budget. I have about $4,500 to spend on a car. I was thinking about a used Ford Focus. Since WRC goes hand and hand with the Evo, i thought you guys would have a really good idea. What other cars could be good choices for my budget?


Edit: Also, any sites that sell rally parts would be awesome too.

 

The regular Focus is totally different than the WRC focus...FWD vs AWD...

I would either pick a Mazda 323 GTX, Galant VR4, Legacy Turbo or Celica all-trac.

Good luck

 

any old car you don't mind beating to ****.

 

If you're just going to be playing, I'd go cheap as possible. Odds are, you'll wreck it (not a slam on your driving; just the reality of driving on crappy surfaces at high speeds). AWD isn't all that important; the junior rally cars are all FWD and have about 200 hp. An older Civic, Corolla, Sentra, 323, or maybe even and older DSM. Cheap to acquire, cheap to keep running.

 

$4,500, this is difficult. Do you have all the kit you will need (ie race suite, helme, some willing and stupid enough to sit next to you)? What are the reg that you will have to adhere to? What is everyone else using? In the UK I would say a Pug 205, over there I’m don’t know. It needs to be dirt cheap, with parts availability to be huge and cheap. FWD is probably the best starting point as they are a lot easier to drive on the ruff than AWDs. Hope you get into it as it really is a cool motor sport.

 

FWD is easier to drive and harder to break on the rally course than AWD. You'll find most people who just get into rally will opt for a 2WD (either front or rear). Like what's been suggested, go for an older car 2WD with a decent amount of aftermarket. There's some other things you'll have to consider if you actually plan on competing in events with this thing. If you just wanna play around, then a beater with decent aftermarket could be all you need.

 

Would you suggest and automatic or manual tranny?

 

go with the manual tranny.

 

Def. Manual.

 

Manual for me...

 

Don't laugh, but what about a Geo Metro or Suzuki Swift? Seriously, they can be had for cheap and aren't terrible cars. The first time you slide off the road you also won't care so much about it . You will also, most likely, find yourself more competitive ina a FWD rather than RWD initially. If you really want to do this then you have many many other expenses other than just the vehicle itself. Clothing, helmets, roll cage & other safety equipment, trailer & tow vehicle, tyres, and all the other stuff will exceed your budget in a flash.

 

I won't laugh. I had a 91 Geo Metro Convertible (way) before. It was a fun car. I figure the fixed roof must have a better rigidity. With that hp you cant go wrong. The key is just to use your parking brake skillfully for drifting just like I did.

 

Try looking at the following link. You may be able to pick something up for cheap....

http://www.rallyclassified.com/

 

Call S-squared in Sacto. They fileded a 1st Gen DSM eclipse last year and it ran well I think it may be for sales as they bought my WRX,

 

1st gen DSM