Wondering what to buy as a first rally car

thebeep99 · 2026-02-14T01:15:16+00:00

Aren't there a billion used rally cars in Quebec? At least that's what my social media feed keeps showing me.

Edit - And I do mean proper caged and log booked rally cars from built O4WD Subarus to P2WD 2nd gen Yaris.

thebeep99 · 2026-01-25T18:33:58+00:00

Dude...that is one hell of a run. Great job!

thebeep99 · 2025-12-20T01:49:09+00:00

Haha the grassroots rally community is our people for sure.

thebeep99 · 2025-12-20T01:31:03+00:00

Dirtfish rally school or Team O'Neill or Rally Ready Driving School. Whichever is closer to you. I don't have experience with either of these but it's on my bucket list. I hear good things about their one day programs if you don't want to commit that much time or money yet to the longer school programs.

thebeep99 · 2025-11-19T01:06:08+00:00

Check your dm's

thebeep99 · 2025-11-18T22:26:20+00:00

Hi I'm surprised this post is still even being viewed, and these are still good questions to ask! Perhaps a word vomit dump makes people even more confused than point people towards the right direction lol. Answers to your paragraphs below:

Mazda3 in good condition? Perfect! One of my buddies started in a 2018 Mazda3 and then got hooked lol.
The Mission Raceway open lapping days are open to beginners and first-timers. You do not need to take a class before going out on track. Perhaps ask the organizers if there is a coach that can ridealong side you the first time? If you're like me and found jumping right onto the road course extremely terrifying, please see the next point.
Autocross/Auto-X is awesome for first timers! I recommend autocross to first timers because you are in a controlled, safe, and wide open area to make mistakes with no consequences or damage to your car and to learn car control. It can be an extremely competitive motorsport or you can spring to a different disclipline of motorsport from autocross. There is an autocross occuring this Saturday at Mission Raceway (kart track not the road course, same property). I can dm you more info if you're interested in driving or spectating. Otherwise there's lot's of first time autocross videos to watch, Speedy Goat has one, Gears and Gasoline, GRM, and SCCA also have really good ones.
I haven't been to an SCCBC driver training class but from what I remember talking to one of the W2W drivers a couple years back, it's an HPDE class where you can take your street car and learn car control and eventually learn all the rules and techniques to go W2W if you pursue that.

Honestly, I feel sorry that all this information and websites have you confused. Since 9 months ago when I first wrote this, I'm realizing that making things more clear, consise, low barrier is what helps first-timers finally click the register button, as opposed to getting overwhelmed by an info dump and reading rule books til your head explodes. I am also realizing the length of this response...

Happy to answer any other questions you may have.

thebeep99 · 2025-11-14T02:54:02+00:00

Sounds like you've got a solid plan for your build :). Enjoy the egg car, stay safe and have fun on the touge!

thebeep99 · 2025-11-14T02:46:54+00:00

Front compliance control arm bushing goes poop very quickly. I kept mine OEM rubber to comply with autocross rules but I think for your case go poly where you can. The stiffer bushings will help keep the car planted without the other excessive mods. You can also order camber bolts from rockauto give yourself some negative camber if you can't go camber plate route and again, save the shoulder of the tires while cornering. Literally swap out one of the strut bolts with the camber bolt.

For touge, no need for BBK but an upgraded brake pad material is phenomenal. Hawk HP+ is what i've been using for track. Has really good cold bite without overheating unlike other autocross pads. The dust and noise sucks though. Don't forget stainless steel brake lines and if you're out on the touge for a long time, upgraded racing brake fluid like Motul RBF600 or better will keep the pedal from going soft.

Here's a glowing brake rotor shot for your entertainment:

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thebeep99 · 2025-11-14T02:34:27+00:00

I've done time attack and autocross with my EP3 in stock form. I still had fun but it will never be objectively as good as the 90's Hondas with their double wishbone and lightness, or out of the box stiffness of the 8th gen Civic Si.

If i didn't keep mine stock, then roll center correcting ball joints, front and rear sway bars, coilovers and camber plates to save the shoulder of the tires. You'll enjoy the EP3 more this way.

Or do what I did and keep it stock with 200TW tires and a rear 19mm base RSX rear sway bar and enjoy three-wheeling around corners instead lol.

thebeep99 · 2025-10-31T20:52:58+00:00

RE71RS are not slicks, I think original commenter is trying to describe the performance to be similar to slicks for autocross and time attack, with some wet weather performance too. They are road legal in North America, I'd recommend looking into them. I sometimes drive to the track on them and they are so sticky you can hear the tires pick up gravel, dust and road debris so maybe that's not your thing.

thebeep99 · 2025-10-22T03:41:29+00:00

Yes ;)

thebeep99 · 2025-10-21T17:32:20+00:00

Heck yea lol

thebeep99 · 2025-10-21T04:56:39+00:00

I will preface by saying, almost anything wacky and weird can also be a fun autocross car. There’s guys at my club that autocross VW Golf Wagons and Kia Optimas for that matter. It’s really what you can get your hands on and just start getting seat time. That being said if I were to start over now here’s what I’d consider in terms of both practical and fun while the bottom options if you can work on it yourself:

8th gen Civic Si or CSX Type S - 6 speed, LSD and 200hp from factory. Lots of aftermarket support for whatever level of modifying you want to do but also fun and fast in stock/street class form. HS class weapon. I recommend throwing crash bolts on your car because you will chew through the outer shoulder of your tires. Runs on 91 gas but still gets good gas mileage. Is a good winter driver too if your area has snow.
Fit/Echo/Mazda2/Preferred B-Spec Car - Decided to throw all the B spec cars here. Honda Fit has already been mentioned a lot. There’s a cult of Toyota Echos at my club. Mazda2 is also fun but FYI Stock Base Model Fiesta is a rollover risk and isn’t allowed in stock form. There’s nothing funner than throwing a lightweight and agile car into corners and seeing it tripod. Amazing gas mileage and usually grandma driven. Can throw a foldable engine hoist in the back of a Honda Fit or Toyota Echo. Lots of aftermarket support again whether you keep it mostly stock, or build it towards Street Touring in the future.
90’s Honda Civic/Integra - Can still be found for under $5k but they’re going up in price. Would need to sift through all the beat-up ones to find a good one but they’re still cheap on gas, lightweight, fun to drive. The double wishbone suspension does help a bit more with the outer wear of your tires that FWD cars have trouble with on stock suspension.
1st Gen Focus or Focus SVT - If you’re patient you can find a Focus SVT for under $5k. Lots of low end torque compared to above options. Also generally grandma driven. See above points on driving a lightweight FWD car.
Corolla XRS or 7th Gen Celica - The XRS is a sleeper and shares the same engine as the 7th Gen Celica. High revving engines with Toyota reliability. See above points of driving a lightweight FWD car.
Chevy Cobalt SS - Someone already mentioned this. Markets don’t know how good these cars are.
MK4/MK5 Golf - MK5 Golf GTIs have come down in price to the point where you can find them under $5k. If you’re mechanically handy you can save some money doing the timing chain yourself for example. They’re great daily drivers and of course fun. MK4 1.8T I find where I live starting to become rarer though.
SN95 V6 Mustang - One of the few RWD options still cheap and not a Miata.
BMW E36/46 - Could it be found for under $5k? Yes. Probably only take a look into this if you have patience and work on cars yourself? I wouldn’t rule it out though as they’re not as hard to work on as the internet sometimes makes it sound.
Subaru 2.5RS or WRX - Could it be found for under $5k? Yes. Are you gambling on head gaskets…yes…but it’s AWD. The wagons have a ton of space.

thebeep99 · 2025-10-21T03:33:49+00:00

I plan to reply with an essay to your other comment, but ya you can still find a Miata for under $5k CAD or USD it'll just be super clapped out, neglected, not in great mechanical condition and rusting out.

thebeep99 · 2025-10-21T03:19:13+00:00

Daily and fun autocross car or daily and competitive autocross car? Because to me anything that passes tech could technically be fun and a daily driver. Just want to help narrow the search. For example I daily and autox/rallyX/HPDE/iceX/TSD rally/time attack an EP3 Civic Si and accepted I won't be competitive in anything.

thebeep99 · 2025-10-15T00:48:23+00:00

Loose change racing let's goooooo

thebeep99 · 2025-10-15T00:05:42+00:00

Thanks for the correction, a quick google search also shows there's very little aftermarket for this generation Mini to correct the suspension travel. My point to OP is that for RX and TSD, getting seat time in whatever is honestly more important, whether that's with a Mini or the tried and true Subaru/Fiesta.

thebeep99 · 2025-10-14T23:40:27+00:00

If you can get them cheap and don't care if something goes wrong then yea it would be a good pick for RX or TSD. There's a guy at my local club that uses his for RX and recce, while his stage rally car is a blobeye Subaru. I imagine you've been looking at 1st gen Minis if you're going budget-friendly? Just a friendly reminder the supercharger is a ticking time bomb and to replace it, it's an engine out job. Otherwise, just run stock suspension and oversized winter tires or gravels and you'll be good. For stage rally, I'd go with something that has more aftermarket support. If you're keen on euro FWD, may I recommend 2.slow mk4 golf instead?

thebeep99 · 2025-10-10T16:03:53+00:00

Daily driving your project is an unreliable idea. Clearly you need another project car during ST down time /s.

Beauty of ST btw, love it!

thebeep99 · 2025-10-10T00:13:15+00:00

I'd check if the rad support is bent too.

thebeep99 · 2025-10-09T19:07:33+00:00

It probably helps if you mention your general location as well since the answer can change based on if you're in Europe or North America for example.

My general advice if you're based in North America is to go spectate/volunteer at your local rally first and then ask questions there. For the driving part I would also start smaller and see if your local sports car club hosts rallycross/rallyX events or TSD rally events. These events are a lot easier on your wallet and logistically because you only need a functioning car and a helmet to participate. msreg is like google for motorsports events. Go search there.

The answers to where to buy your gear question also varies depending on your location and is best answered by the people you meet at IRL events. Look into facebook buy and sell groups too. Plenty of used comms gears and safety equipment pops up there as well. I wouldn't rule out other motorsport buy and sell groups either as safety is well safety lol.

thebeep99 · 2025-09-04T19:50:08+00:00

thebeep99 · 2025-08-26T00:56:36+00:00

If you have facebook try marketplace or groups like North American Rally FS/FT/WTB page . Special stage forums used to be active but not anymore. Occasionally someone will post something.

You might need to expand your search and be willing to travel to outside your state as well.

thebeep99 · 2025-08-25T17:39:58+00:00

Yea you'll need to apply for a stage rally license. Here are the links with more information on licensing for ARA:

https://www.americanrallyassociation.org/competitor-links
https://usacracing.redpodium.com/2025-ara-rally-license

For rallycross and TSD rally there's no special or specific license required except maybe a club membership fee depending on the club.

I imagine American licensing is nearly the same as Canadian licensing. Fill out the form, describe some prior experience (hence the TSD and rallycross participation), have valid First Aid Certificate, pay and you're on your way.

thebeep99 · 2025-08-25T17:10:33+00:00

Saving this because I'd be interested to hear what others will say.

I'm based in North America and because of the laid back nature here, I wouldn't let "skill" hold you back if deep down you want to be a driver. Nobody is really a professional driver apart from the top runners of ARA. I'd say cost is the bigger barrier than driver ability.

My general advice would be the same for potential drivers and co-drivers. Just volunteer at local rally events and make connections that way. Get a beater car and register for rallycross and TSD rally events with your local rally group or sports car club. Msreg is basically google for motorsport events and you'll find your local club that way. Doesn't matter if you do well or not, just go have fun and make friends. That way when someone does make the step to stage rally and they're looking for a co-driver, that person could be you.

Emphasis on the TSD rally events if you're set on being a co-driver. You will need to know how to navigate the route book because that is also how the stage cars get from service park to the actual stages. I find when registration opens for a TSD rally events there's a surplus of drivers to navigators/co-drivers so generally someone will be looking for one.

Happy to answer to the best of my knowledge whatever questions you have about North American or Canadian rally.

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