autos in autox

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  • pharow
    E30 Enthusiast
    • Jul 2010
    • 1021

    #1

    autos in autox

    Has anyone ever done autox with an automatic? If so, wht should i do or get for my car?
    '02 Outback wagon
    '87 325is 5sp
    '93 Kawasaki ZR1100
  • SeriousBusiness
    E30 Addict
    • May 2010
    • 428

    #2
    You should probably just look into doing a manual conversion. Not having the luxury of choosing a precise gear sucks. Though I have seen many corvettes and other sports cars (lol) compete with autos.

    BTW, when you ask this question are you referring to making the car perform better? Or to increase the longevity of the trans? I'm sure you flogging it at an autox will kill it in short order, thats why I ask.
    1985 RX7 - Badassery Exemplified.
    1989 325is
    sigpic
    -Tom

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    • nrubenstein
      No R3VLimiter
      • Feb 2009
      • 3148

      #3
      The answer is this: An E30 isn't really a competitive car without massive work anyway. Therefore, you should do whatever it is that makes you enjoy the car. Mind you, the E30 automatic is complete shit, so I certainly wouldn't want to dissuade you from a three pedal conversion.
      2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison
      2002 BMW M3 Alpinweiß/Black
      1999 323i GTS2 Alpinweiß
      1995 M3 Dakargelb/Black
      - S50B32/S6S420G/3.91
      1990 325is Brilliantrot/Tan
      1989 M3 Alpinweiß/Black

      Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo Black/Black
      Hers: 1988 325iX Coupe Diamantschwartz/Black 5spd

      sigpic

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      • trackjunkie21
        No R3VLimiter
        • Jan 2010
        • 3962

        #4
        I would just leave it in 2, most auto-x courses don't have long straight so you can get out of 2nd. Mind you the automatic has longer gearing so it's even more of a good idea to just leave it in 2.
        Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.

        Originally posted by Wh33lhop
        VANOS: sometimes you just need to go full retard.

        Comment

        • pharow
          E30 Enthusiast
          • Jul 2010
          • 1021

          #5
          I have heard of ppl using autos in other types of cars. Just wanted to know if anyone has seen or has used an E30 auto in autox?
          '02 Outback wagon
          '87 325is 5sp
          '93 Kawasaki ZR1100

          Comment

          • briansjacobs
            E30 Fanatic
            • May 2010
            • 1278

            #6
            I will assume you are a novice. The best advice I can give is to maintain the car the best you can, drive it as often as you can and do nothing to it but maintance. The single best mod you can make and cheapest mod you make to faster at an auto x is to install a better driver. So work on the driver as shitty driver in a fast car is usually slower than a good driver in a slow car.
            Brian Jacobs

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            • pharow
              E30 Enthusiast
              • Jul 2010
              • 1021

              #7
              I am a novice, and i am going to wrk on me...if i ever get to go to an event. There aren't many if any events near where i live. The closest i know of is held in D.C. About two hrs. away.
              '02 Outback wagon
              '87 325is 5sp
              '93 Kawasaki ZR1100

              Comment

              • movementality
                Advanced Member
                • Oct 2008
                • 173

                #8
                Originally posted by briansjacobs
                I will assume you are a novice. The best advice I can give is to maintain the car the best you can, drive it as often as you can and do nothing to it but maintance. The single best mod you can make and cheapest mod you make to faster at an auto x is to install a better driver. So work on the driver as shitty driver in a fast car is usually slower than a good driver in a slow car.
                truuuee

                back when i started autocrossing in my mazda the guy who ran the event for phillyscca beat my time by 2 frikkin seconds in his PRIUS on a 45-50 second course!

                it's the driver, not the car.

                Comment

                • briansjacobs
                  E30 Fanatic
                  • May 2010
                  • 1278

                  #9
                  my first I went with my Z3 2.8 coupe (all the magazines where saying this car was dominating autox at the time) and a 90hp civic beat me by like 3 seconds. it was demoralizing and a friend that later mentored me said you can go home and tell everyone how awesome you are or you can say you want to learn to drive like that. I went with the later and 11 years and $xxx,xxx.xx later I am still at it!
                  Brian Jacobs

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                  • pharow
                    E30 Enthusiast
                    • Jul 2010
                    • 1021

                    #10
                    yea. i knw i have A LOT to learn! so i plan on driving my car as much as i can, and learn it the best that i can. i luv my car, and i luv driving. so 1 day i will give it a try and see what happens. thanx guys.
                    '02 Outback wagon
                    '87 325is 5sp
                    '93 Kawasaki ZR1100

                    Comment

                    • nando
                      Moderator
                      • Nov 2003
                      • 34827

                      #11
                      I did it for years. put it in 1st and go for it. I was a lot faster than people expected. I always got "oh, it's an automatic? no way" comments. Don't use 2nd unless you're going over ~50mph. it's not going to kill the transmission either.

                      the people who say wait for a 5 speed or do this or that mod first, probably aren't going to do much more than drive like an asshole on the way to the grocery store. it's about learning to drive at first anyway, not what car you have, how fast it is or what new mods you've done.
                      Last edited by nando; 07-31-2010, 08:52 PM.
                      Build thread

                      Bimmerlabs

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                      • SeriousBusiness
                        E30 Addict
                        • May 2010
                        • 428

                        #12
                        I hadn't considered just leaving it in a certain gear for an auto. Good call. Honestly the first time I hit an autox course I was driving my sister's clapped out Jetta with blown shocks and cheapo tires. That was the most fun I have ever had behind the wheel of a car. I didn't do great compared to other people there, but it was a fucking blast and as long as you are having fun you are going to learn. My most recent time out was in a friend's S2000 (before I got my E30 of course) and it probably wasn't as much fun as the old jetta with monster body roll and slush box 5-speed.
                        1985 RX7 - Badassery Exemplified.
                        1989 325is
                        sigpic
                        -Tom

                        Comment

                        • jasonsnoddy
                          E30 Mastermind
                          • Feb 2010
                          • 1900

                          #13
                          i autox'd the beater e30 i bought, was an auto. you kind of have to think a little bit more as to when you apply the gas, because you floor it, then the car goes like 2 or 3 seconds later. still hella fun, just be mindful of the lag.



                          Originally posted by stewie30luvr
                          ooo cause i was fixing my chain tensioner and there was a black widow on the radiator so i killed it
                          Originally posted by JakeP
                          with a coathanger

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                          • pharow
                            E30 Enthusiast
                            • Jul 2010
                            • 1021

                            #14
                            all i can really say is that when ever i get a chance i will have fun.
                            '02 Outback wagon
                            '87 325is 5sp
                            '93 Kawasaki ZR1100

                            Comment

                            • nickflic3
                              No R3VLimiter
                              • Sep 2009
                              • 3564

                              #15
                              Paging QUKBMER...
                              Bronzit 4-door Swap Drifting somewhere
                              Cammed B25 Swap Daily Driver
                              Updated 10/1

                              Originally posted by StereoInstaller1
                              Maybe 300 CANADIAN HP, thats like 225 US HP.

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