Which one is better for rally and rally cross?

2001 2.5RS with 170 HP stock and about 2800 pounds?

OR

2002 WRX with 227 HP stock and about 3100 pounds?

note: hope my numbers are correct.

 

Thinking about this - I'm guessing that the best option for a good rally cross AWD stock class would be the 2001 2.5 RS because the WRX, while it has a turbo, only has a 2.0 litre so the RS would have more low-end torque and acceleration. Combine that with the fact that the 2.5 RS is a few hundred pounds lighter (if I'm not mistaken) and it may be a better contender for a tight off-road course.

Thoughts?

 

A stock RS is like 165 crank horsepower when its new and possibly close to that in 2007 if it has been cared for meticulously.

You could pick up an 01 RS and gut it a little if you can or put lighter parts on. Free up that weight and it will make up for the horsepower that the WRX has. An RS has good torque, my 01 put down 142 to the wheels with intake and exhaust and that's not too far off a stock 2.0 liter WRX torque to the wheels.

That being said.... why not buy a swapped 01 RS with a 2.0 or 2.5 WRX engine for $10,000??? They're ALL OVER RS25.com for that price. Then you've got the power with the lighter weight

 

I think your suggestion is great and I would certainly go for a WRX swapped RS. Unfortunately, there are very specific and strict rules when it comes to SCCA rally cross. You're either stock or you're modified.

Some of the modified cars have more money in them than the car costs itself. There is no way I could compete with them on my budget. Therefore, stock class is the way to go. Not only is it the great equalizer (all same models and same years have the same equipment and therefore perform about the same) but the price is right.

So the only real decision that needs to be made is -- which car, in STOCK form, is best for rally cross?

Sorry, no gutting or lightening allowed but I can do intake and exhaust and tires.

 

The answer depends mostly on course layout, a tight course involving 1st/2nd gear at times is going to favor the low end torque of the 2.5NA, where a more open course running higher in the rev band in 2nd and 3rd is probably going to get run quicker in a turbo WRX, this is assuming a driver of fixed skills in both cars under similar grip and weather conditions.

Since none of those other factors are ever aligned perfectly, I can say with pretty high confidence that a good driver in either car will consistently lap faster than a less talented driver in either car.

Out here in SF, Hoche used to whoop on STi's in his NA OBS regularly, proving that driver skills weigh a lot heavier in this discipline than a lot of others.

I'd say getthe car you can best afford, and put in the hours of seat time it takes to get a good feel for your ride, the biggest improvement will come not from any mods but from tightening up the nut behind the wheel (i.e. developing mad driving skillz).

Oh and by the way- Rally is very different than Rallycross, think about 10X the costs of prep and entry as well as 10-20X the chances of damaging the car, so you'd be wise to factor in the costs of repairs (and consider a VW Golf/Rabbit/GTI for a starter car if that's where you are going in the bigger picture).