94 Mark autocross results & comparisons

MediumD

MediumD

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So a local church runs an autocross in their parking lot once a month when it's warm out. It's free to race there, so I go when I can. The track is small, and average times are right at 1 minute for 2 laps. Anyway they just posted the lap times on their site, so I figured I'd share them with you all. I was the last car to get a run in that day, and I had a 240lb passenger which didn't really help things.

http://hopeevfree.com/events/arta/2006-09/sept-02-06.htm

Reordered from fastest to slowest:
(Time listed in seconds)
52.89 Miata
53.55 Saturn
53.66 Integra
54.00 WRX
55.25 RSX-S
55.41 Firebird
55.92 Miata
57.00 Focus ST
57.13 Camaro SS
57.33 Miata
58.12 Beetle
58.16 WRX
58.44 Neon
58.61 240 SX
58.68 240 SX
58.92 240 SX
59.02 Legacy
59.67 Escort ZX2
59.69 RX-8
59.73 240SX
59.74 WRX
59.82 RX-7
60.20 RSX-S
60.71 240 SX
60.73 Lincoln
60.99 Neon
61.10 CRX
61.89 Civic
62.28 RX-8
62.43 Supra
62.50 BMW 328i
62.58 Accord
63.23 Camry
63.40 240 SX
63.48 Supra
64.04 Mercedes
64.25 Grand Prix
66.71 XR4Ti
72.29 Tacoma
72.38 240 SX
79.83 '75 Deville


So overall it did about as well as I was expecting. The next event I will be taking my ETC and expect a better time since it does handle better, since that's the last event of the year I hope to have some decent front tires for next year. Maybe gears and a stall, too, which I bet would take a second off my time.

Oh, yes, and that 75 Deville taking last place was mine as well, but I let my friend drive because he asked to and his car leaks power steering. I'm sure I could've gotten at least a 75 second time out of the big old beast. Even though it placed last it still got the most audience reaction (almost all positive.)
 
It's funny, everyone says the Eldo handles better than the Mark VIII, but my ex wifes 94 Eldorado (base) didn't handle near as well as my Mark VIII albeit a LSC. I just hate the way front wheel drives handle. That is way cool that a church puts on an Autocross though. Hope to hear your results next time, and definitely ditch the passenger next time.
 
mark VIII RWD >eldo FWD, I think the mark will handle better since its a RWD. I am much more confident taking turns in my mark VIII the my continental but mabe the eldorado doesn't have as much torque steer as the continental
 
I think the ETC will handle better, because I own and have autocrossed both. :p The ETC is quicker in a straight line also, as proven by pulling on my friends 96 Mark and my 94. The ETC (read: a bit stiffer/sportier suspension than a base Eldo or ESC) still oversteers like an FWD tends to do, but it's fairly predictable and controllable even at it's limits. It has some wheelhop when you come out of a turn, but at least it has equal length CV shafts and not too much torque steer.

Now, everything changes when you mod a Mark VIII - which you can't really do to an Eldo. You can run some Eibach lowering springs on an Eldo for handling, and you can get an exhaust and spray for extra power but that's about all. As we all know, there's a LOT out there for the Mark VIII, and that's why I own one. It's not too hard to make a Mark faster than an Eldo in a straight line or around corners.

I always tell people, get the Eldorado if you're going to leave it fairly stock, but get the Mark VIII if you want to run faster than mid-13s or so.

Edit: I didn't really intend this to be an Eldo vs Mark VIII thread, even though I did just type a few lines sharing my point of view on them..
 
could you post some specs on both. I know you ran a 16.3 in the mark VIII but what about the ETC. And plus would you say you ETC is more Maintained then your mark?
 
I know nothing of the previous maintenence done on the cars, just what I've done in the past 12k on the ETC and 4.5k on the Mark. I do know the Eldo was in a pretty serious front end accident at some point (enough for a junkyard bumper cover, grille, cam cover or maybe the whole engine, and replacement transmission,) but it wasn't reported to carfax so I don't know when it happened. The Mark has 83k, the ETC has 110k total.

The mark ran 16.320 @ 87.225 best, the ETC ran a 16.001 @ 89.945. Density altitude between the runs was just over 8000ft for the ETC, and 7900ft for the Mark VIII. The ETC had no cat a set of Magnaflow mufflers, the Mark has no mufflers and no air silencer. So no dramatic performance mods on either (other than nitrous, but I haven't run nitrous at the track in either car - yet.) Pulling the cat might've got me a tenth, but even with the stock exhaust the ETC held a perfect record in races against my friend's 96 Mark. FWIW, the ETC has a better stock exhaust system IMO so it should do a bit better with the nitrous - until the Mark gets headers and a nice mandrel bent true dual system, that is.
 
The El Dorado has stock 3.73 gearing as well which you neglect to state compared to 3.07's in your Mark VIII, that is a huge advantage.
 
98LSC32V said:
The El Dorado has stock 3.73 gearing as well which you neglect to state compared to 3.07's in your Mark VIII, that is a huge advantage.
Click to expand...


i kill eldos in 30-rolls. :D

anyway, i wish the church around here was cool enuff to do autocross. i mean, i know they love my 50+ mph fly byes. :p
 
98LSC32V said:
The El Dorado has stock 3.73 gearing as well which you neglect to state compared to 3.07's in your Mark VIII, that is a huge advantage.
Click to expand...

I neglect to mention that because it comes that way stock. Like how the Mark has IMRCs and a MAF, while the ETC has a standard 8 runner manifold and runs speed density... :rolleyes:
 
I doubt your 10 year old IMRC's are helping much, also stock speed density 5.0 fox bodys are faster than their MAF counterparts. Put 3.73's in the Mark VIII and it will be just as fast if not faster.
 
And spray the Eldo and it will be even faster, won't it.

Stock vs stock is what I'm talking about. Not stock vs modified. Clear enough?
 
Now if we had ETC vs LSC, it might be different imo. As stated earlier ex's was ESC vs my LSC, you have it reversed.
 
Upon further thought, you are probably right. Advantage Caddy, less weight and better gears. The Mark has the advantage in the handling dept. though, rear wheel drive, huge bonus.
 
Actually the Eldo weighs just a little bit more IIRC, they're very close though. I guess I'll autocross the both next month if I can, and have a direct comparison, but the Eldo will have better tires by then.
 
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