Dazed_Driver Banned Infallible Moderator Location: John and Skyes Magic Love liar Join Date: 08/24/2007 Posts: 2,154 |
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And this is where you and I ususally diverge, John. You look to the long term developent potential for a car; I am looking at what it will do in stock or near stock form, if someone just drops in a cage and the safety equipment. The early 80's Celicas are tough, have decent torque with the 2.4L motor, and so on. Adam, do you want something simple and will do OK as a training car in stock form, or one of the best platforms for long term RWD development? The answers to that question lead to different choices, IMO. John will always steer you towards the long term platform. I am not particular (Hey, I like Starions and Opels!), but if you want a simple starter, then look at a wider variety of cars. Of course, the Mustang will crash as well as any of them! Regards, and best of luck, Mark B. |
fliz Chad Eixenberger Elite Moderator Location: Grafton, WI Join Date: 02/01/2007 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 484 Rally Car: 1988 VW Golf #687 |
If they need convincing...they probably shouldn't be co-driving. Plenty of ways for a so to be involved, if she wants to be. My wife prefers the time alone at home on rally weekends. |
Josh Wimpey Josh Wimpey Professional Moderator Location: VA Join Date: 12/27/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 649 Rally Car: Sneak the Golf |
Not that the Mustang (driver) needs any kind of defending as its (his) record speks for itself.... Utech had a tough day1 at Idaho and lost some time high-centered somewhere on stage1. Once he was up to speed at the end of the day, only the SRT4 was faster. On day 2, the fast stages--Utech beat EVERYBODY including all the open class cars. But, to be fair, our little Golf also beat all the open class cars on most of the stages (even the fast stages) because of dramatic chicken-footing I presume. |
phlat65 Sean Medcroft Ultra Moderator Location: Edmonds, Washington Join Date: 02/12/2009 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 1,802 Rally Car: Building a Merkur |
Just take her out on a TSD or 3, and if she likes that, she will LOVE Stage Rally.
2 minutes into our first stage as a team, my wife tells me I don't need to hold back for her, that I should go faster. After that moment, all the money needed to go rally was easy to justify |
espacef1fan Adam Escott Infallible Moderator Location: Fort Campbell,KY Join Date: 02/04/2011 Age: Settling Down Posts: 89 Rally Car: Don't have one. |
Also if I'm not mistaken those dont require much vehicle preparation to get into, do they? That sounds like a pretty good idea!!!! |
espacef1fan Adam Escott Infallible Moderator Location: Fort Campbell,KY Join Date: 02/04/2011 Age: Settling Down Posts: 89 Rally Car: Don't have one. |
I guess I want both. As far as in near stock form, its ok if its not competitive. While I have great confidence in my driving skill and ability to learn, I dont pretend to be the Stig or even just a garden variety Peter Solberg slayer I would imagine that the car would improve with my skills ... Reliability is my bigf concern...Relibility means you dont have to spend the money on the same thing over and over(well 'cept tires, gas, and stuff like that..) Thats why I mentioned the Mustang..lots of stout driveline parts available and lots of engine choices... I suppose the same is true with about any solid axle car |
wvonkessler Wilson von Kessler Ultra Moderator Location: Lookout Mountain, GA Join Date: 02/28/2006 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 1,127 Rally Car: Colts are in Finland; now '87 325i, '89 325i |
Hmm, what did John say about the Moostang 8 years ago? http://www.specialstage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6867&highlight=mustang
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john vanlandingham John Vanlandingham Mega Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
What did i say???!!! I deny everything! Wait...
Damn must notta learned much since then have I? |
Well, the logic of your desire to have both means you have to pick a platform with good long term potential. But now you add in 'reliable' which is hard to find in rallying with many cars in near stock form. I would put the Celica and Corolla there, but not much else (I can't speak for the Merkur), except for an old Volvo, or Opel or 510 (you don't really want to go to the last 2, IMO...). And with any car more than 10 or so years old, reliability is going to be a function of maintenance and care to large degree. With RWD, what RWD choices do you have that are not old, except a small P/U? So, I expect you need to get something and go through it with a lot of fresh parts, and if you are doing that, then you might as well do some simple upgrades. If you consider the Mustang to have the potential that you like, I would expect it to not be the most reliable car in near stock form, based on what I have seen with few rally Mustangs. Suspension is where I would suspect the most issues, not driveline. With some of the upgrades like Gene related from Mike Hurst, then maybe it can be reliable to a decent degree. But I would be prepared to take it down a few times to make major upgrades like the towers, etc. Also, I would not rate the Mustang as a good car in which to start learning rally driving. I expect it understeers a lot and would not expect it to be easily or readily thrown about as a lighter car, and less forgiving without the suspension being changed a lot. So keep that in mind; I personally would never recommend it for a new rallier. You don't need to engage in 'true confessions' here, but be honest with yourself on this item. One more thing: If you start with something simple that you aren't attached to, then it will be less of a tragedy to you if you ball it up. Rallies 3-6 are the most likely ones to wad up a raly car for a new rallier with limited or no other racing experience. And if you don't wad up that car that is not important to you, then just sell it after a few events, and then get to the car you like best. On the drivetrain variablity, I think I would put the Mustang on top for the variety you can get pretty much ready to go. Some RWD's choices are limited for dropping in something different ready to drop into the same chassis. Just my IMO's.... Regards, Mark B. |
SgtRauksauff Jorden Professional Moderator Location: Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA, Terra, Sol, Milky Way Join Date: 01/24/2006 Posts: 372 Rally Car: whichever one i happen to be driving at the time |
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wvonkessler Wilson von Kessler Ultra Moderator Location: Lookout Mountain, GA Join Date: 02/28/2006 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 1,127 Rally Car: Colts are in Finland; now '87 325i, '89 325i |
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Anders Green Anders Green Elite Moderator Location: Raleigh, NC Join Date: 03/30/2006 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 1,478 Rally Car: Parked |
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heymagic Banned Super Moderator Location: La la land Join Date: 01/25/2006 Age: Fossilized Posts: 3,740 Rally Car: Not a Volvo |
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john vanlandingham John Vanlandingham Mega Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
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