Santa Please: A Road Racing VW RabbitBy Brian Lohnes Posted 12/24/09
Hate VWs? Oh well, this is our wish list. Santa, I know we just demanded you bring us that killer Camaro Funny Car an hour ago, but we're not done yet. We need something that can turn and stop too. We'll go easy on you with this one and do it on the cheap with a car that can run in the SCCA's cool, Improved Touring class. It's an '87 VW Rabbit and it'll do the job just swell.
We've got a few years of experience competing with a VW in the Improved Touring class, so the ad for this car on RacingJunk car caught our eye and tugged on our heart strings. Improved Touring is a great class to use as an introductory road racing experience because costs are pretty low (racing is never cheap, but IT keeps it manageable), racing is always tight, and there are lots of others out there feeling their way around as well.
For $3,500, this GTI is a running and driving race car that could hit the track this weekend. It comes with a couple sets of wheels and a suspension setup that is worth all of the $3,500 and probably some more.
You can hate on little VWs all you want, but until you actually get one out on a race track and drive it as hard as you can in traffic with about 20 other cars and the little bastard keeps asking for more, you've got no standing to dump on them.
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Written by horsewidower Dec 27 2009
Hard to argue that point.
Written by Mr4Speed Dec 27 2009
I agree with Pobst (not that I'm really qualified to have an opinion) but I still contend that the high power/low grip cars are more fun to [i]watch.[/i]
Written by Brian Lohnes
Dec 27 2009
Ed, is there an "in between" with respect to the momentum versus power debate? If so what would you cite as an example?
Written by fast Ed
Dec 27 2009
I'd agree with Pobst's assessment, having driven both "momentum" cars and "power" cars in a race. I had to think a lot more to get the "momentum" car around the track quickly, but part of that may have been because I did most of my initial learning in a "power" car.
cheers
Ed N.
Written by Brian Lohnes
Dec 27 2009
Great piece!
I've got no perspective honestly. My only experience has been in the "low umph" stuff but everything he says is 100% true with respect to the slower/lower powered cars.
Yeah, the VW we ran made not much more than 100hp, but that little car used every last drop of it!
Brian
Written by horsewidower Dec 26 2009
Frankly, I think momentum cars take more balls and can be more fun than point and shoot cars.
Great article by Randy Pobst:
http://www.randypobst.com/index.cfm?template=magazine&mag_id=14878
Written by fast Ed
Dec 26 2009
Having driven a friend's 87 16V GTI at the track a few times, I can attest to how much fun these little cars can be. Sure they don't accelerate that hard, but you don't need to take off much speed for the corners either. ;)
cheers
Ed N.
Written by threedoor Dec 24 2009
I sold a guy an 81 diesel two door Rabbit that didn't have an engine in it for $200 a while back, I made a few bucks and he was happy. Aparently the diesel 5 speed has a higher 5th gear than the gas burners and more desirable for that reason. Cool floor mats cool.
Written by horsewidower Dec 24 2009
Oh dude we so have to get you into an open track car. They may look slow when you're watching but you're working like the only burger flipper at an In-N-Out burger during a rush if you're driving.
[quote author=Brian Lohnes link=topic=18332.msg348618#msg348618 date=1261943450]
Ed, is there an "in between" with respect to the momentum versus power debate? If so what would you cite as an example?
[/quote]
Hmm, that's certainly an answer that depends on one's definition of "too much power" for a road course. IMO of the new stuff out there for sale these days, something like the 2009-2010 Cobalt SS with the 260hp 2.0L DI turbo engine would be a good example of a good balance. Sufficient oommphh in a straight line, but also enough braking, cornering, and tire to get the job done. One of the local Solo I guys runs a 1:40 lap at Mosport in a 4-door Cobalt SS which is apparently stock other than a set of Nitto NT-05 tires. For comparison, a friend who is a capable driver runs 1:37 in an 06 Mustang GT with the Shelby Brembo brakes and (used) Hoosier Koni Challenge tires, which are probably good for at least 1 to 1.5 seconds over the Nittos, if not more ...
cheers
Ed N.