Damn, I sure thought it did. The ACD and FLSD weren't introduced until 05 either, but the 04 RS still had those. The alum roof did not follow suit?

 

That's what I figured. But the VIII has the lower cost to start with, and we can easily put in over 5k in essentials for the track in a hurry w/o touching the engine!

I've got a IX (base/GSR) personally. Only thing I'm missing out on really is the lighter roof and missing/lighter interior downgrades from the RS. And like mentioned, the 5th gear does kinda suck for acceleration on the track.

Just HPDE and Lapping days for me personally. Possibly some NASA events, but there's not a lot close to me.

 

The GSR hood is heavier??

 

lighter hood?

all the trunks and hoods are aluminium.

 

My bad; meant lighter roof - corrected above.

 

WarmPepsi, I believe the trunk is "mild steel," not aluminum, on all models except for maybe the RS. I can put magnets on mine. Keeping these things straight isn't so easy...

 

Hrm, i couldn't put one on my 05 MR, wouldn't stick at all. And i believe i did the same check on my 06 GSR (traqmate's antenna has a magnet bottom).

 

Strange. I can't put magnets on anything up front (fenders, hood, bumper) as expected, but I can put magnets on the back of the trunk. I also have my Sirius antenna on the forward edge of the trunk.

 

Wrong. My 2004 RS has an aluminum roof. They all did as far as I know.

 

Re: original post. Your best bet for racing is the IX RS. IX has a bigger turbo and MIVEC -- it claims to have only 15 hp more than the '04 RS, for example, but it feels like 50 hp more IMHO.

RS for reasons you have already been given -- cheaper, and already partially stripped for racing. Weighs 80+ lbs. less than GSR, I believe.

The '03 and '04 VIII GSR are also undesirable due to the lack of a front diff, but the '04 RS and all '05s have the front helical diff.

 

Don't overlook the value of that EBD ABS system that the RS does not have. Personally, I love thresh-hold braking and all but the way the EBD ABS distributes braking to take advantage of all the available grip is well worth having, especially in the rain. First time you are in racing mode and you lock up your rear tires going in to a hot corner, you will wish you had the ABS. Also, as far as the IX 5 speed having a 5th gear that is not good for the track, the fix is simple, put in the 3rd and 4th gears from the earlier 5spd and you will have perfectly separated gearing to take advantage of your new found HP levels.
Marty

 

The '04 RS does NOT have the ACD. You are correct that it does have the front helical differential, which appeared on the other models in '05.

 

Wow, FLSD and aluminum roof but no ACD - I can't keep this stuff straight.

 

as i swore i saw a mitsu guide to the vehicles that had all 05's with an alum roof.

now all i can find is the rs and mr. hrmph.

 

'03/'04/05's All came with Aluminum hoods and front fenders to reduce weight up front.
'04 RS came with all of the above PLUS Aluminum Roof and FLSD
'05 RS came with ACD, helical front diff, 10.5 Hotside, Aluminum Roof
'05 MR came with the Aluminum roof, BBS, Bilstein, 6spd, Vortex Generator, ACD, helical front diff, and 10.5 Hotside
'05 GSR came with ACD, 10.5 hotside, and helical front diff. Everything else is the same as '03 and '04.