I just wanted to hear everyone's impressions of the P5's handling in an AutoX event. Would love to try to get the wife involved so she doesn't feel left out when I start raing the 7 Thanks all.

 

I autocrossed my wife's PR5. Handled fairly well stock. Pumped up the air pressures 45f and 48 rear.

 

Is her P5 manual, auto or sport auto? Just curious.

 

I run my Pro5 in H-Stock. Handling is really benign, and unless you do something really stupid (which even I haven't managed to do, yet) it will not lose grip in the rear, or spin. Pretty safe car for autocrossing if you ask me.

I run 50psi front and rear when autocrossing.

 

P5 is a lot of fun to autocross. Very predictable handling and not too much body roll although I am noticing dramatically less with the MP3 She will thoroughly enjoy it .. no tense moments at all during my rookie season last year. And, it responds nicely to changes in rear tire pressure depending on how much you want to kick the rear end out.

 

i have a totally stock '02 ES...i was pleasantly surprised at how competent it is. power is just enough, brakes are GREAT, and grip is decent. also, really easy to see out of, which is important (my RSX-S, while quick and better balanced, was kind of like driving a WWII bunker).

sometimes the rear gets loose in quick left-right-left transitions, but just enough to help rotate the car. too much understeer in sharp hairpins, but you learn to drive around that, and hopefully my R-compounds will be ordered soon. \m/

 

My wife's PR5 is a manual. Wouldn't have it any other way

 

I am thinking of buying a new P5 with the Sport Shift A/T. Does the Sport Shift react fast enough to be competitive? How is the Sport Shift transmission's reliability?

 

if your gonna race it seriously or even semi seriously, get a 5sp.

no idea on reliablity...but it comes with a warranty

 

What do I need to do to make my P5 ready to race AutoX? Do I need a roll bar, fire ext., etc. I thought there were all kinds of things you had to have.

 

Nothing.

Well, clean out your car. Even take the spare change out from under the seats. It's up to you if you'd like to remove the spare tire and jack. I don't, but a lot of people do. Clean your windows while you're at it and take out your floormat and out it in the trunk.

Inflating your tires is the only 'modification' I'd recommend. I run 50psi front and rear.

 

This guy, Chris, came out with his P5 for our local autocross event Saturday and nearly took home a trophy under NOVICE class on his first try with his P5. (Novice results )

I took home 8th place with my MP3, but Dan (owner of a badass turbo Miata - SM2 ) drove my car under XSTS and his raw time was good enough to receive 3rd place under the STS class.

A Volve took part in the STS class and took away SECOND place under a fairly competitive group this time... guess what, his Volve was an AUTOMATIC. So that just tells you that it isn't all doom to be driving an auto.

One major benefit in driving an automatic is that you can (or MUST!) take advantage of the left foot braking. Ben did a superb job with left foot braking in his Volvo, I was amazed as I sat shotgun in one of his runs to see his foot-work.

Full results for Event# 3 at Austin, Texas.

Texas Spokes Sports Car Club Website

Forgot to add that a Protege ES with MP3 suspension took first place under FSP Class.

 

I heard of Volvo but wtf is a "Volve"?

 

That's how you spell VOLVO too early in the morning.... or err... when you first get up in the day.

 

I am running Autox in a 02.5 ES with a Sport Shift A/T and it is slow getting off the line, but I can stay in first for the most of the time and shifting only 1 or 2. I came in 4th out of 18 in the NOVICE class. Results This was my second time running also. So you can competitive with an A/T, but 5speed is better.