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I’ve always wanted to get into autocross and I feel like this GS300 would be a fun entry just to splash around in the shallow end haha I’d rather keep it as close to stock rules as possible. The car is essentially stock to my knowledge. My thoughts so far are a more aggressive brake pad, KYB struts, H&R progressive rate springs, and some sway bar poly links. Some sort of 16” wheel with a bit more offset and some decent summer tires. Any input from the sages in this community? Brand new to the Lexus world.
Will this still be regularly driven on the street or is this an extra car just to play with? Things like poly bushings may take a fraction of a second off a one minute lap but can make an hour commute horrible.
Are you talking about official SCCA events or local autoX? There are local level events where you can “run whatcha brung” and are 99% totally stock street cars. This is a good place to start, you can get a better feel for your car and upgrade parts as your skill level improves and you start out driving your tires, brakes, etc. With a car that’s new to you, the driver mod is the best place to start.
Will this still be regularly driven on the street or is this an extra car just to play with? Things like poly bushings may take a fraction of a second off a one minute lap but can make an hour commute horrible.
Are you talking about official SCCA events or local autoX? There are local level events where you can “run whatcha brung” and are 99% totally stock street cars. This is a good place to start, you can get a better feel for your car and upgrade parts as your skill level improves and you start out driving your tires, brakes, etc. With a car that’s new to you, the driver mod is the best place to start.
still daily so appreciate the advice on the bushings! And whatever I can get to honestly, I haven’t looked too deep into my local events yeah but seems like a good place to start!
If you want to do a specific SCCA class, then your modifications are pretty much set in stone as far as the upper limit of what you can do.
These cars were agile for their size back in 1998, but they are still at a huge disadvantage on an autox course.
I would highly recommend the OE 17x8 wheel package with a good high performance tire.
Last edited by firelizard; Aug 4, 2024 at 04:39 PM.
If you want to do a specific SCCA class, then your modifications are pretty much set in stone as far as the upper limit of what you can do.
These cars were agile for their size back in 1998, but they are still at a huge disadvantage on an autox course.
I would highly recommend the OE 17x8 wheel package with a good high performance tire.
my car has 16’s on it currently. Can you post a link to the OE 17” ones?
Just google 17” gs wheels, cmon man.
Decide what you want to do and look at the rules. 17” were available on the 400, not the 300. Scca street class allows you to run any wheel in the same size as stock (16x7) within 7mm offset.
You can run a wider wheel and tire in Street Touring. Also sway bars and bushings, coilovers or lowering springs with sport struts, strut bars. Most of the mods that make a GS more fun to drive are allowed in Street Touring.
True, but since Street Touring is a class above Street and the OP has never done an autoX event before I figured he’d be better off with the beginner class to get a feel for the car. But that’s just my opinion.
Autocross
