How competitive is a stock 5spd LGT in SCCA D-Stock?

[Xenonk]

I ended up buying the WRX TR and haven't regretted the decision. I can live with a spartan, cheap feeling interior, in order to have a lighter-weight, more tossable car (my WRX TR weighs in at 3,150lbs in 'fighting trim' with a 1/2 tank of gas).

 

is that with you in the car?

[Chiketkd]

Do you know of any threads regarding this offhand? This is a very important piece of info, that could make a big difference in car choice.

Here ya go - straight from the horse's mouth:

 

Cobb Tuning | Subaru Tuning Specialist

 

Legacy GT stock vs Stage 1:

 

http://cobbtuning.com/legacy/images/ap-lgt-stage1.gif

 

'06 WRX stock vs Stage 1:

 

http://cobbtuning.com/wrx/images/ae-stage1-dyno_2006.jpg

 

The ITR and SRT-4 are, indeed, pretty light, but the 330i ZHP weighs in at 3285 lbs. That's only 80 lbs less than an 06 LGT LTD, and more like 15 lbs less than an 05 LGT non-LTD. Plus they have 15 less hp and 28 less lb-ft of torque than the LGT. Of course, they do have other advantages over the LGT, like suspension design and weight distribution, but they aren't what I'd call light-weight. (The specs I listed for the 330i ZHP are based on the specs for the 2004 330i ZHP which is the first hit I found on Google.)

Note I stated "relatively light-weight, well-balanced coupes and sedans". The 330i ZHP isn't the lightest or the most powerful car in D Stock but its suspension, wonderfully balanced chassis and relatively wide stock *wheels* (which allows for wide r-comps to be mounted) makes it a very competitive car in the class.

is that with you in the car?

Nope. That's with me out of the car. Someone else weighed their TR and saw around 3,165lbs (not sure what their fuel load was though).

[Warp3]

FWIW, I ended up with a WRX TR instead (just like the original poster ). Thanks for the input, though, everyone!

[Chiketkd]

FWIW, I ended up with a WRX TR instead (just like the original poster ). Thanks for the input, though, everyone!

On an autoX circuit, I definitely would say the WRX is the better choice. If you do open track racing (like Xenonk), then the LGT would be the better choice IMHO.

 

Heck, even Keefe (Xenonk) races a 2.5RS in STS at WDCR autoX events.

[Xenonk]

bump, I won the Washington DC Region Championship series this year in STS, breaking Darren Mass in his Integra GSR of a 5-year win streak! Nationals, here I come!! (btw, for STS, Cy Lee (civic) came in 3rd in nationals this year and Cory Ridgick (2.5RS) 9th in a class of 45 national drivers, I think I fall somewhere behind them, but not by much as I compete against them now and then throughout the year)..

 

 

In this year:

2004 WRX won STU over the STis, Evos, and M3s (David Heinrich sponsored by GTWorx/Racecomp Engineering came in 7th of out a field of 48 drivers).

 

D-Stock was overrun by the Integra Type Rs in the top 4 spots followed by Dodge SRT4, the first WRX listed came in 28th driven by Justin Rest of Westminster MD of a field of 39 drivers.

 

WRXs won STX in the top 3 finishes followed by a BMW E30 M3, (my subaru challenge co-driver Greg Olsen finished 6th in STX nationals out of 38 drivers while driving in the BMW E36 325is.. and Im happy to say that Im not that fair from the front runners of national drivers in comparison).

 

Also as a note, a 240sx (S13) won STS this year over the reign of the much populated Civics.

 

 

Results for this year can be found here:

http://www.scca.org/Event/Event.asp?IdS=00A0B2-903D450&Ref=06-solo-nats

 

 

Unless you are looking for a front runner car, you can see by this year's results that even the favorite cars didnt win simply because better drivers know how to deal with reading new asphalt (as they raced at the new Heartland Park for the first time, and discontinued using Forbes Field of the rough concrete). The margins of winning in these classes were large enough to make note that it was the driver that knew how to deal with the car and knowing the layout and terrain.

 

The GT is no slouch, it just needs to be lighter and needs some wide tires.. the gearing is great and rivals over the WRXs in this case, so really it's a matter of dealing with the weight of the car and some better shocks.. Ohlins fixed-perch shocks would be the choice to get along with a whiteline front sway bar, all in a normal GT to save the weight difference.

[Warp3]

The shorter wheelbase of the WRX should make it far more nimble, but the longer wheelbase of the Legacy should make it easier to control during light drifts and would be especially beneficial on the track. I still think a 2005 Legacy GT non-LTD could do VERY well in DS and ESP if prepped properly, but as to whether the WRX or the LGT is the better choice is still largely driver and course dependent.

 

It doesn't hurt that so many suspension parts are readily available for the WRX, though (most notably the 27mm front Whiteline bar and Koni inserts).

 

Personally, I think the WRX/LGT would stand a better chance in ESP than DS (now that the STi and EVO are gone to BSP and boost is opened up), since they should do quite well against the pony cars. Remember, the only real difference the engine between an ESP LGT and a BSP STi is the turbo (as the IC, intake and ECU can be changed in Street Prepared). Throw in a 6-speed via UD/BD (from the 07 Spec B package) and some good diffs and you pretty much have a long wheelbase STi that is several classes lower than the real STi is forced to play.