As you can tell by my screen name I am interested in Autocrossing my WRX. My car will be a daily driver with the occoasianal event thrown in for fun. With that in mind I would still like to be somewhat competitive at the local level.

Current Setup:
- 17x7.5 SSR Comps
- Bridgestone RE040 (OE Audi TT Tire, not optimal but they were there when I needed them at the right price)
- Perrin F/R Sway Bars [EDIT] and End Links
- GFB UDP
- K&N Drop In Filter

I was considering adding a set of STI takeoffs as a next mod and was wondering if any of you had experience with a similar setup? Also, what would be the best power mod to help with coming off corners? Any comments on how this setup would be appreciated.

I did consider coil overs but am not too comfortable with thier reliability on a daily driver that has to withstand New England winters. If you have any comments on this please feel free to do so.

A little background on my Autocross experience. My previous car was a Neon ACR with Eibach springs, RSB, 15" Toyo FZ4's and a cat back. I was somwhat competitive with this setup as I typically placed between 2nd to 4th with one first in STS. I have not been able to participate in about a year but am about ready to jump back in.

All advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Marc

What's your budget?

In place of coilovers if you're worried about them, I'd suggest buying another set of WRX Struts (you can find them cheap) and buy some Koni inserts. (You can even have them custom valved/shortened if that matters to you.)

Then you can get some decent replacement springs and have a setup that you can swap out for the winter months. (Only takes about 2 hrs to swap all 4 struts if you don't have to take them apart). This way, come spring, you can just throw them back on. Same with coilovers... but that's all your call which way you wnat to go.

Your tires... umm... again, your call, but the hot tires are either BFG TA/KDs or Falken Azenis.

Power mods are fun. I'm happy with my Buschur Racing Turbo Back with the highflow on the cat, and my Stone Racing Header/Uppipe. My unichip/pulley goes in this week.

I can ALWAYS help people spend money on cars.
--KC

Me toooooo...

/\ What he said on setup...might think about some sorta of shock package for sure....along with Brake pads, lines and fluid...alignment is also a good thing for us STX 'ers

Bill

My budget to start is $1000 but I will be putting more aside for this purpose soon.

With that as a budget it almost sounds like I should be going for a set of tires and a good alignment first. Maybe put on an uppipe with that? Then put money aside for coilovers. Would this be a good next step combo? What are the mod stages you took?

Do you know of many people that run coilovers on daily drivers, including driving them through the winter? My main concern is that I will spen somewhere areoung $1800 for a set and them destroy them in one winter.

KC, you mention swapping between coilovers and stockers for winter. That may be an option but would have to look into qlignments options.

KC and Scooby South thanks for the help. Do either of you live in New England? If so where do you autocross?

$1000 will get you a decent ground control coil over conversion kit with koni inserts. All you need is a set of stock struts for the inserts.


Other upgrades could be brake pads, brake lines, swaybars, or a good turbo back exhaust.

For $1K, I'd go with a set of Falken Azenis, some Koni inserts & a good alignment. For a few more $, you could add some adjustable camber/caster plates for the front to pick up more negative camber.

The power mods are fun, but the tire/suspension mods will make more difference for the $ spent.

I'm running JIC coilovers year-round with no apparent ill effects thus far. (I did so on my previous car w/Bilsteins as well.) I tend to run the damping a bit softer in the Winter, but don't make any other changes. I do have winter wheels/snow tires.

-Steve

I run coilovers yearround also...had them on for over 3 years now...No problems...I do cycle them in the spring...( Turn the adjustments) and do a general cleanup on them...I don't de-install them or anything...just while I have the tires off...I rinse them down with soap and water...and brush off all the crude that can accumulate...I live In Asheville NC...which is all mountains...and yes we see snow around here...I am sure its nothing like a good Nor'easter ....but with todays technology...MOST suspension companies build them to last....regardless of weather conditions..

as for your $1000....I would get a cheap set of WRX rims...with Azenis...Endlinks...and some decent springs.......and if you autoX...then Definately suspension is the way to go..(tires are sorta considered suspension...well handling anyways..)

My region for AutoX is NCAC...or CCR...

I think KC's in in Kansas...so he's pretty local to the National Finals there...

Hope that helps..

Bill

My car is a daily comuter, these are the mods I've done and I still look forward to driving my car everyday. I live and run my car in Delaware the fields at event range from 40 to 80 cars. I generally do fairly well, and have beeen steadily improving, last event I had fast street tire time of day.

What I have that you have: Front and rear sway bars
(Adj. Whiteline)
K&N Filter

Next $1K,
225-45 Azenis $440
Rear Endlinks $110
Pro-Drive Springs $300
Alignment $60
Rear Strut Brace $110 (Might not help, but can't hurt)

I would say Adjustable struts next, but Konis are messy and expensive, and STI Pinks are ridiculously expensive, AGX Dont fit properly, Illuminas dont exist.


Next $1100 - 1500
Turbo Back Exhaust (I got the APS, I love It)

Next $????
Engine Management Or Struts Depending on availabilty of struts and legality of ECU reflashes.

Later,
Andy

I'm sorry, behind door number three is.... a Goat! [Crowd]AAwwwwwww[/Crowd]

I'm in Mass (kinda near the Cape) and I auto-x up at Ft. Devens in Ayer Ma with the New England Region SCCA (http://www.ner.org)

I suggested getting a seprate set because of the road salt issue. You want to use the good struts (auto-x/track) in the good weather and use the stockers, which can handle the 2 tons of road salt they put down up here per vehicle, in the winter.

It'll save you a little more heartache in the long run. Unless it's a rally suspension, they're usually not treated or protected against the winter elements like stock struts are. You would have to get an alignment after every switch (so that would be 2x a year).

There's the big meet & greet this weekend up at New England Dragway in Epping NH (Sunday). I would stongly suggest coming up and checking out the 100+ scoobies that'll be there in ALL different levels of modification.

I would go Tires 1st, suspension 2nd, power 3rd.

Hope to see you Sunday!

Your probably thinking of me. I used to live in Kansas City and my screen name was KC_TopDog.

Thats it...Whew..I thought I was going nuts there for a minute..

Sorry KC...No disrespect intended...

Bill

I did think about going to the meet on Sunday but I don't know if I'll make it. Depends on what happens Saturday, I'm supposed to go to Lime Rock to check out the SCCA Regionals. If my brother cancels on me because he is afraid to get wet, can't get those S4's dirty you know, then I can maybe shift what I was going to do Sunday to Saturday.

KC, Your not too far from me. Probably about an hour and a half. I live just south of Hartford CT. I'll have to check some dates and maybe take a trip up to an event. What coilovers do you use, Tein Flex?

So I guess my steps will be as follows:

1. Tires and Aligment
2. Sell tires coming off
3. Autox
4. Save
5. Autox
6. Save
7. Coilovers

So you guys have taken my big ideas and have set me straight. I'm glad I asked before going out and buying all kinds of stuff that does not work.

I think your on the right track w/ the takeoffs, you can pick those up for $600-700. Add a set of Noltec caster/camber plates ~ $250, Group N rear tops ~ $150. You've got a suspension that will be competive (ask Austin whose running in SM and has a few FTD's in some 100 + competitor events, was running DMS 50's prior) and you can still drive to the grocery store in comfort or run a rallyx w/ it- this is a very versatile setup.

Big Sky