Rally car advice

So I've been trying to get started in stage rally. I have a mk2 gti that I started to build for rally. I have been looking for a mk2 on the east coast that is already build and ready to race. Finally one popped up on another site. Its a mk2 gti with a 2.0l aba swap, built by team oneil, has a grandfathered scca logbook, was raced as recently as sno drift '12. It has "bilstein suspension" I'm assuming dampers and who knows what for springs, has a quaife, fuel and brake lines rerouted inside, and other various rally mods. Spare trans, rear axle, subframe and control arms. 2 sets of used Lassa's on VW wheels.

Anyway the reason I'm posting is because having never bought a rally car before I just want to make sure I don't overlook anything. So what questions should I be asking? What to look for in the logbook. I'm not really sure about the price either, seems kind of high. He's asking $8k. I still need to go see the car in person, just thought I'd post up here so I can be a little more prepared when I do go look at it.

Thanks for any input..

---

Less talk. More rally.

You are going in the right direction, it is much cheaper to buy a used car than to build. 8k is pretty high for an ABA equipped car and a grandfathered cage unless it is immaculate. Quaife is better than an open diff, but not by much....Bilstein suspension: could be good, could be bad, depends on what it really is....inserts are not much better than stock, look for coils and travel with good rates.

It really depends on the build, but I would be thinking it is a 16v car with a really sweet transmission for 8k...

Look for reinforced a-arms, reinforced rear beam, protectected exhaust/underbody, a nice interior layout with enough room for driver and co-driver

---

-Tom
DemonRallyTeam | Fine Tuning | CTS Turbo & RP Turbos | RalleyTuned | JRM | Meister Autowerks
Spitfire EFI | Product Apparel | JVAB Imports | NLS | AP Tuning | USRT

Add us on Facebook | Next Event: 2013 Olympus Rally June 22-23 Olympia, WA

I think I found the ad on SS....Remember a Tim Oneil car with have alot of bends to it from hard driving for years.

It looks like it might have an ABA with a 16v head on it...I would wonder how they accomplished that. Forged pistons or factory ABF pistons? was it rebuit?

A good 020 trans is cruical with these cars....check what code/gearing it is, you want a 4k or 2H, or something with a 4.20 ring and pidion at minimum. The quaife is not great.

I don't think I would buy that for 8k, 5k with the trailer and spares would be more reasonable. Factor in the price of buying transmission parts.

That AE 86 in Portland, OR looks like a better buy...

---

-Tom
DemonRallyTeam | Fine Tuning | CTS Turbo & RP Turbos | RalleyTuned | JRM | Meister Autowerks
Spitfire EFI | Product Apparel | JVAB Imports | NLS | AP Tuning | USRT

Add us on Facebook | Next Event: 2013 Olympus Rally June 22-23 Olympia, WA

It's not a 16v, just an ABA, chip, idk about a cam. I'm looking to stick with a mk2 VW because of knowledge of the cars and spares that I already have, my 16v car would become a parts car. I don't think the seller has much knowledge about the car, just what team oneil told him when they sold it to him. I was thinking that price is a bit steep for basically a stock 8v car. My thinking was even if it's not the fastest trickiest car it's been proven reliable, I think it would be a decent starter car, I just wish it was cheaper. He said he has thousands more in it than what he's asking which could be true, it was posted on team oneils site for $10k about a year ago. In the past year or so of looking I haven't seen much for sale on the east coast, and I'm hesitant to drive cross country to buy a car.

---

Less talk. More rally.

That car might be getting a bit tired but I haven't driven it. I know the passenger rear wheel was torn off at NEFR and the Jamie and Scott had a heck of a time with the brakes at STPR last year but it does make good time. any idea how many events that thing has in the logbook?

---

-KTurner
Stomp down on the exhilarator and hold on to the wheel.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2012 02:23PM by KTurner.

Quote
Ckgtimk2
It's not a 16v, just an ABA, chip, idk about a cam. I'm looking to stick with a mk2 VW because of knowledge of the cars and spares that I already have, my 16v car would become a parts car. I don't think the seller has much knowledge about the car, just what team oneil told him when they sold it to him. I was thinking that price is a bit steep for basically a stock 8v car. My thinking was even if it's not the fastest trickiest car it's been proven reliable, I think it would be a decent starter car, I just wish it was cheaper. He said he has thousands more in it than what he's asking which could be true, it was posted on team oneils site for $10k about a year ago. In the past year or so of looking I haven't seen much for sale on the east coast, and I'm hesitant to drive cross country to buy a car.

rule#1 of racecars/hotrods: Its worth half what you paid for it, if you got it part by part, Prodrive built it, or you just bought it from craigslist, its still worth half what you paid. Offer the guy 5K and remeber someday you'll be scraping to get 3 for it.

Quote
alkun

Quote
Ckgtimk2
It's not a 16v, just an ABA, chip, idk about a cam. I'm looking to stick with a mk2 VW because of knowledge of the cars and spares that I already have, my 16v car would become a parts car. I don't think the seller has much knowledge about the car, just what team oneil told him when they sold it to him. I was thinking that price is a bit steep for basically a stock 8v car. My thinking was even if it's not the fastest trickiest car it's been proven reliable, I think it would be a decent starter car, I just wish it was cheaper. He said he has thousands more in it than what he's asking which could be true, it was posted on team oneils site for $10k about a year ago. In the past year or so of looking I haven't seen much for sale on the east coast, and I'm hesitant to drive cross country to buy a car.

use a stack of 20s



rule#1 of racecars/hotrods: Its worth half what you paid for it, if you got it part by part, Prodrive built it, or you just bought it from craigslist, its still worth half what you paid. Offer the guy 5K and remeber someday you'll be scraping to get 3 for it.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Thanks for the responses. I think the guy paid too much bc he didn't really know what he was buying, I don't want to make the same mistake. I just wish there were more cars on the market. It hasn't been listed long so I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't move much on the price. I'm driving up at the end of the month to look at it, I guess we'll see what happens then.

---

Less talk. More rally.

I agree on getting the AE86. You will have a much funner time with RWD.

---

"Talk about drugs. Driving a car like that, going that fast, it’s like all the drugs at once." - Tommy Byrne

"Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that?" - The Brain

my advice is be patient, search "ALLOFCRAIGS.com" under rally car, scca, caged, race car, etc. . .

I found a bit of a gem after looking for two months, and had to drive a ways to get it, but it turned out to be a classic, build a rally car, run out of money, maybe some other factors, and had to get rid of it for nothing.

Always lowball a race car, there are only a handful of people looking for a race car, so buyer market!!

---

SUSPECT MOTOR SPORTS

#541 2004 Subaru Impreza Sti

FB: https://www.facebook.com/SUSPECT541

Quote
wvonkessler
I agree on getting the AE86. You will have a much funner time with RWD.

And I agree with you agreeing. So we're all in agreement.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
john vanlandingham

Quote
wvonkessler
I agree on getting the AE86. You will have a much funner time with RWD.

And I agree with you agreeing. So we're all in agreement.

Thirdsies.

---

I Seppanen, Car #240

This is an uncharacteristically agreeable thread. Somebody needs to be a naysayer and get an argument going. All this getting along is boring to read.

Quote
Doivi Clarkinen
This is an uncharacteristically agreeable thread.

No it isn't

Quote
Doivi Clarkinen
Somebody needs to be a naysayer and get an argument going.

---

First Rally: 2001
Driver (7), Co-Driver (44)
Drivers (16)
Clerk (10), Official (7), Volunteer (4)
Cars Built (1), Engines Built (0) Cages Built (0)
Last Updated, January 4, 2015

Quote
john vanlandingham
Blame is for idiots. losers.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/2012 03:52AM by Morison.

Quote
Morison

Quote
Doivi Clarkinen
This is an uncharacteristically agreeable thread.

No it isn't

Quote
Doivi Clarkinen
Somebody needs to be a naysayer and get an argument going.

Leave it to Morison . . .. Sheesh.

---

"Talk about drugs. Driving a car like that, going that fast, it’s like all the drugs at once." - Tommy Byrne

"Now, Pinky, if by any chance you are captured during this mission, remember you are Gunther Heindriksen from Appenzell. You moved to Grindelwald to drive the cog train to Murren. Can you repeat that?" - The Brain