Autocross today
 

Took second in STX...out of 3:( I was beaten handily by a 2004 WRX with an impressive mod list and a very good driver. I did however beat up on a Volvo 850...non-turbo:rolleyes::lol: also in STX.

Not my best performance of the year, but my runs were very consistent just not as fast as I would have liked. I did beat a good friends STU Evolution MR by a a good margin and that made it all worth while. He actualy offered me a co-drive for the event but I declined as I don't need to be longing for yet another car:rolleyes:

I'm also at a crossroads again with the SVX in terms of it's performance, or rather lack thereof, in the autocross world. Weighing in at 3478 plus driver (those that have met me probably wouldn't use the word petite when describing me:lol:) puts me well out of the capability with this platform in STX. I don't know if going back to GS to be beaten up by Mini's would help. This leaves taking it up to SM or above. Street Mod around these parts is ruled by 400+HP Evo's with more money in their carbon fiber body panels than I have in my entire car. I know I need to enhance HP-weight ratio but I'm very pleased with the NA throttle response of the EG33. I don't know if I can change this ratio enough to cut 4-6 seconds out of every run.
I may take the Legacy out and see how I like that to help me determine my next step.

Just venting to you all.

Todd

It sounds like you did ok even if you were not satisfied with your showing. :)

time to move to ESP and get some more power out of the EG33;) At least in ESP you'll be running against cars ~ the same weight and wheelbase....okay, so they might have a few hp on yah....
-Bill

Todd, whether you win or lose at the track, just remind them that the svx is 10x more of a chick magnet than a 4 door grocery getter with a turbine ;)

Todd,
You are doing great! And the MAJOR thing is that you are having FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:tongue::tongue::D:D

Thanks for the kind words guys
 

:)

Earl, I did well I just want to win:)

Bill-I'll look in to ESP rules, recent times and my competition around here. May be a fit for my lifelong project 5 speed:D

Matt-while your words are very true, chicks dig me...or maybe it really is the car:lol: Besides, my trophy wife has one of those four door grocery getters with the turbine, kinda like your trophy wife! I'll probably just beat that one up at a future autocross to see how it feels.

Harry-fun with no monthly costs associated other than insurance is a strong consolation these days. Thanks.

Todd

autocross
 

are you really doing autocross with an auto? lol! this will give you an edge: 245/45-17front and 205/55-17 rear or 245/50-16 front and 205/60-16 rear. thank me when you win.:lol:

Hey Killer,
I love the SVX in autocross WITH an automatic. Just put it in "1" and leave it!! If the rev's get too high, it bumps up to second, and then will "down shift" back to 1st if you "play with the gas a bit ..:D

Harry

autocross
 

i'm a purist, i can't wait to autocross with 4.11 gears and an ra 5sp with 245/50-16 fronts

Yes I am. I appreciate your advice but I'll balance the traction of my same sized tires (245/40-17 Bridgestone RE-01r) with pressure and suspension tuning. I doubt that tire size swaps will help me with a 3-4 second deficit in my class (STX) and as I just bought these tires, I won't be buying any more in the near future.

What type of autocross experience do you have with what types of vehicles? Have you autocrossed your SVX? Just curious as to who/how/what type of experience you have. Lots of free information available on the intraweb and you typically get what you pay for.;):)

Todd

Though your tire size suggestions may be on the right track, there is one problem: The svx's transfer clutches will fail in a spectacular way if you run diffrent rolling circumfrences front and rear

Looking for your opinions guys. Tomorrow is an autocross event outside of my normal region which ended it's season last weekend. I've got a vehicle option in the Legacy spec.B (translation for Benebob, the AWD, 6 speed Camry)and am considering driving it instead of the X. Both STX (where I run the SVX) and D Stock (where I'd run the Legacy) are each only occupied by one Subaru other than me (worst I can do is second:lol:).

Your thoughts???

Drive the Mazdaru! Maybe you'll blow the POS up and then there will be one less I have to:barf: at when I see it!

FYI it was the 1st gen Impreza that was a dead ringer for the Camry. Get you Universal Japanese Automobiles right or I'll start calling you Chad again!:D

OK, me and my Mazda :rolleyes: will be autocrossing tomorrow. I'm gonna see how much different the manual trans realy makes, that and more power:)

By a vote of one, the SVX stays home.

Good luck, me guessing you'll have some manual tranny issues. I know I would going from a life of auto autoxing. Keep it away from walls!

what he said!!! watch the back end it'll come around in a hurry:eek:

Tom

sorry i missed this
 

i never did autocross. i prefer roadracing, especially at limerock and watkins glen. have you ever noticed the oe svx tire pressures are 33 front and 29 rear to compensate for the low cost imbalance? a comparable overengineered 3000gt vr4 has 245/45-17 fronts, the same as the lotus esprit v8 rears. isnt precedent a wonderful thing? it keeps bad history from repeating itself. your welcome.

It also has the 245/45-17s on the rear of the 3000GT VR4.


Jim

Well, that was different. Took third in DS versus a two driver WRX and a Crossfire (4 total entries). One upshift to second and the rest of the course was in second (damn, I paid for 6 gears and only got to use two today :lol:). After many many laps in the SVX on coilovers, this car wallows like a pig. My hats off to you stock guys:)

Rear end stayed relatively planted. Turbo power was nice. Car transitioned pretty well for a stock heavy sedan. Probably won't do that again though as I have more fun in the SVX with the NA powerband. Ben, sorry to report she didn't blow up:p

That, radio fans, ends the MI autocross season. Now to the batcave for mods for next year.

Todd

For what am I welcome, more obscure tire size references :confused: What does low-cost imbalance mean? And yes, I have noticed the recommended tire pressures are different front to rear. So what?

rear tires
 

yes indeed, because the engineers werent so bold as to use a smaller sizes in the rear, but the gm engineers were on the '08 monte carlo ss: 255 front 235 rear. it's all weights and measures. the svx is basically a backwards porsche dynamically and should've been engineered as a rwd rx7 beater. perfect balance would be achieved with 245/45-17 front w/ vr4 tire pressure and 205/55-17 rear (same height) w/ cayman tire pressure. then maybe the auto wouldnt shift into second.

Are we forgetting the whole "AWD with diff circumference tires eats the drivetrain" part of the equation?
Do you know how many different manufacturers tires you would have to go thru to actually get the same circumference?


Jim

circumference?
 

you get diff circ with diff tire pressure. tirerack.com has specs on all there tires to click on. 205/55-17 has the same circ as 245/45-17. you could always have them shave them if you wanna be precise, but dont forget to run the same pressure too.

;)I'm sure that would've killed Subaru with tranny replacements (although I think he's wishing the SVX was rwd but rwd with 205s back there?) We do 23x10 hoosier slick burn outs from a start with all 4 tires driving!:D What he says makes so sense but as you pointed out you run into that issues plus then you add on no tire rotation to the mix and trannies dying weekly!:eek:

Oh and sorry to hear you didn't blow your Mazda up Todd, its always nice to return to the basics isn't it. Did you order a new suspension for it yet?

But see...here's the problem.You are coming into a group of people who have seat time in the svx. You have never raced an svx, and have never done an autocross...
From what gather,all obscure tire sizes and weight measurment aside, is that your suggestions are basically to increase the height of the sidewall, increase front width, and make the rears more narrow. Now, I understand the idea that you need to balance the car out tractionwise, but your suggestions seem a little off to me. Apparently there's a link between the weight over the wheels and the height of the sidewall...but whatever effect it has on the overall handeling is being lost in jargon.

Possibly, if you could explain the physics or motives behind making the suggested changes, as applicable to the svx in an autocross or similar track environment, it would shed some light on the information you're trying to provide

And..I think wawazat is taklking about two cars here? Im guessing a legacy as well? Lol, aint no turbo 4 door svxi, thats for sure

see SVXRide
 

i think the fastest SVX here has already done that. pay attention: 275/45-16. not the height of the sidewall, the height of the tire! ideally the sidewall shouldnt be under 235/40 or over 235/50 on any wheel.

I now use 245/40-17 tires on my SVX and they work very well plus are the widest tires allowed in my class. I have used 225/45-17 and 235/40-17 as well as 225/50-16 to autocross.

good looking compromise
 

the 245/40-17 is oe on the back of an NSX and the front of a ferrari F40, but the NSX is alot lighter than the svx. i liked the 245/50ZR16 on my car with enkeis, they fill the fender gap with no rubbing. i'm waiting to see if i can get away with a 255/50WR16s. the big tires and an awd allow me to get away with using all temp all season tires with long tread wear and a comfortable ride: $87 Falken Ziex 512.

same sizes
 

if you wanna use the same size tires on 17" wheels then 235/50-17 off the new cayman would be ideal and they would look better without the fender gap. the new 235/50zr17 falken ziex ze912 $88 at tires-easy.com.

Naw, the fastest track SVX uses 23x10 Bias Ply Hoosiers. 22.5 inches in overall height baby! Sidewall. Yeah it does have a little.:D

Please stop with the tire size recommendations for me OK? You've not seen my car (I have a lowered coilover suspension), you have never autocrossed, the Porsche tires are irrelevant, and the Falken's you mentioned have one only one thing going for them-they're cheap. Falken does make some good autocross tires, but the Ziex is not the tire. I have two sets of summer UHP tires and a set of all-seasons for this winter already. No more tires are needed.

kthxby,
Todd

Ditto.... get some experience and stop with the F40 comparisons... I have bridgestone 225/45/17 on my STi rims and with a shot rear suspension I have thrown it around a little while breaking in the built motor and blower. For street tires they are great. Nice stiff sidewall and decent grip. I am getting a set of 255/40/17 Falken Azenis RT615's for street tires. Those should be about as big/wide as anything that ANYONE needs. If there is anyone on here that should be offering tire advice it is the guys that are racing frequently (benebob, hocrest, shotgunslade, svxride and forgive me if I forget anyone) and guys who are starting to make nice power, (Tomssvx, svxfiles, LAN, I won't count myself because I have not had the experience yet to make a lot of recommendations)

Too small brother, too small, actually I now think our 23x10s are too small. The 23x12s with a 14inch turning footprint would be so much nicer:D Only time you can really have too much tire is in the rain and snow.;)

That said, the 255 azenis should do nicely although they've become a little pricey these days. Might want to look at the Nitto comparable tire as well from what I've read it matches up pretty well with the Azenis. Wish they still sold the 215 personally!:D

nitto 555's are a very good tire... brother mans just got s set of 275's rear and 245 front for the Z. On a more on topic note, Sicksubie is getting those tires for a well..... sicksubie deal so.... thats all i have to say

Tom

autocross
 

i'm going to ask tom to take my car to an event with the stock suspension and all season tires to show you all how much time you've wasted.:lol:

bias ply
 

isnt that for drag racing?:confused:

Road racing, hill climbing and autoxing and we can still break all four loose after warming 'em up, with a 4.11 auto and a stock SVX engine in there.:lol:

You do know that I will not put unequal tires on your car right? Literally, I refuse to do it unless they are measured to be the exact same rolling diameter. I don't need to be replacing a center diff anytime soon

Tom

Tom, remember the magic phrase!

Tom, you've now been elevated to the rank of Professional Driver. Question for you though. How do you feel about all the money and time you've "wasted" on YOUR suspension, you know the coilovers you installed, now that Porschekiller's car will whip all of our, and your, modded cars?