Autocrossing the 9-5

[ACBarnett]

So over the winter I've been helping my friend with an E30 autox/track car build:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p228/p0cketpenguins/P1011861.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p228/p0cketpenguins/autocross/P1011924.jpg

I've had the bug for a while now, but I don't have the space for a dedicated track car of my own, and while I search for something trackable to replace my 9-5 in a year or so I think I'm going to autox the Saab for S's and G's.

So who here has attacked the cones with their cars and what was it like. What sorts of lines do they like to take, etc and what sorts of results did you get. Fort devens is a big old airstrip, so the track is about 1 to 2 miles long give or take depending on the day, and generally the clubs that run these events like to set up a pretty high-speed course.

I figure that my aero is kinda like a mazdaspeed 3 but with less power and a heavier, floppier chassis so there's no way I can go wrong, right? RIGHT???

[Raven18940]

AutoX is some good fun. :cool:

Few things about the 9-5:

1. Always turn off your TCS/ESP. If you don't you'll get your head thrown forward as the ECU slams the throttle shut as you try to exit a turn to quickly. Then it holds onto that throttle for a second or two before it gives you it back. :roll:

2. Your car will understeer. Don't fight or try to set it up for oversteer or get it more neutral. It's an uphill battle against the handling characteristics the engineers built into the car. Learn to work with it. A car that understeers at the limit can go around a corner just as fast as a car oversteers at the limit. In fact a car that understeers, while looking boring, is usually a lot easier to handle. I gave quite a few modded WRX's a bloody nose with my then stock suspensioned Aero.

3. Watch your throttle and corner exit. Even a pathetic 2.3 LPT has the torque to light up in the tires in 2nd with a lot of steering lock on. It will feel like you're waiting an eternity to apply the throttle, it isn't. Be patient with it, these cars are hard to get out of corners.

4. Know what mods are worth it. A lot of things you can do to your car simply won't help your at autoX speeds. Big brake upgrades for example, the standard clampers are really more than enough. Upgrading the power is also a losing battle, anything more than aero power just isn't going to help you. Generally speaking you're not going to go faster than the top of 2nd gear. Springs, shocks, sway bars. I'm upgrading my sway bars as soon as I get to my new job. :cheesy:

5. And of course, have fun. ;)

[mati]

That's a sweet Beemer :cool: I always liked the E30.

Regarding AutoX, from my limited experiance, I can say that the two things worth investing in most are: a good set of tires, and as much practice time as possible. Go out and have fun, that's what it's all about ;)

[ACBarnett]

That's a sweet Beemer :cool: I always liked the E30.

Regarding AutoX, from my limited experiance, I can say that the two things worth investing in most are: a good set of tires, and as much practice time as possible. Go out and have fun, that's what it's all about ;)

I have eagle F1's on it right now, but it's all moot because the car blew a front wheel bearing on the way to work yesterday. I'm crossing my fingers that it'll be good for the weekend. We run at events that are sponsored by the Porsche club, the SVT club and a bunch of others so most people are running Cobras, GT3's or Z06's along with the token CRXs, Miatas and S2000s. There's also a good sprinkling of younger people with the "run what you brought" mentality and more humble rides so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that the aero's meaty 2nd gear will serve me well.

And yeah, right now all the E30 has on it are suspension mods/a stripped interior with race seats, 6-points and a cage. The engine is a 2.7 stroker that the PO put in it when he was planning to turbocharge the car (basically the 2.7 stroker is a frankenstein of an eta engine and the standard 325is engine that leaves you with an ~8.5:1 CR) but the car has a way lumpy idle and pulls harder than an 8.5:1 NA engine should so we're thinking the PO also threw a cam in it. Anyways the plan for this summer involves an S52 from a US-spec E36 M3 along with cams and headers for a ~300+hp NA build.

[Tailspin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_NPktTGwDE

Any luxury FWD car would handle like a pig without extensive suspension mods, doesn't seem worth it to me. I like my 9-5 like no other but, something tells me it wouldn't make it very long auto crossing before I run out of money replacing everything that breaks. Pick up a beater POS RWD car and slide it around a bit. You can find a 944 for a few grand, gut it completely, sell some stuff on ebay and you wont have to be the slowest car of the day! (maybe one of the fastest)

[Aero95InArizona]

I ran my 2002 9-5 Aero in a handful of autocross events here in Arizona last year and although it does not corner like a miata, it was fairly competitive in the Street Touring Classes. After the first time out I realized that a softer compound tire makes all the difference & running them about 5lbs over suggested pressure helps as well. Have a great time!

[Raven18940]

I ran my 2002 9-5 Aero in a handful of autocross events here in Arizona last year and although it does not corner like a miata, it was fairly competitive in the Street Touring Classes. After the first time out I realized that a softer compound tire makes all the difference & running them about 5lbs over suggested pressure helps as well. Have a great time!
Tire pressure!!!! I knew I had forgotten something.

Funny thing about radial tires. More pressure = more grip. 40 psi at least all around, maybe some more in the front.