Automotive X Prize - would a modded Civic VX make it?

[XFi]

What does the VX weigh compared to the CRX? SVOboy would know. Why not start with a lighter vehicle in the first place? Swap in the VX Engine/Trans etc.

Just a thought

[SVOboy]

The crx does make more sense. If you get an 88 HF you have an instant ~250 bonus over the VX and the owners manual lists the drag at .29 for the HF.

[Krieg]

Very good idea. VERY good.

The CRX body is totally the way to go. Why didn't I think of that?

And there was a JDM VX engine on ebay a couple of days ago.

Still would probably was the VX tranny as well, with its ultratall gearing.

[SVOboy]

HF tranny would be better gearing wise. If you're going vx engine talk to jdmresource.ca or something like that...they've got good deals.

Also, a custom 5th gear might be good for the highway.

[Krieg]

No carbon fiber doors for the CRX

Okay, I obviously have a thing for CF.

[AndrewJ]

lighten up a CRX, the 90-91 models have a lot of CF available, but then you'd be spending a lot of $$ to end up at the same weight as a 1st gen CRX.

Seriously though, get a HF, toss the engine and replace with a small diesel.
This one might work, but turbo-diesel would be better I assume.

You wouldn't be getting 0-60 any time this decade, but man the MPG would be killer.

[SVOboy]

Don't buy a first gen crx though, there be dragons in them waters.

[AndrewJ]

What dragons do the 1st gens have? The main thing I don't like about them is the lack of the lower rear "window" that and the kinda fugly front end. But they're light weight as hell, plenty of autoXers run them for that reason alone.

[DifferentPointofView]

Originally Posted by Krieg

I've seen the guy on this site that has a heavily aeromodded Civic, with the nose-cone and tail-cone. I can't say that it looks right to me.

And he "only" gets 70 mpg. It's not a VX though.

^
Not really, Here's a quote about the "approximate" fuel mileage that it gets. Looks like he drives fast, if your gonna be in the contest, you're not going to be driving fast, you're probably gonna be driving the speed that the car gets when it is shifted into last gear and no faster. probably around 50mph.

Originally Posted by basjoos

The end result is a car with such low drag that the results of coastdown testing is linear out to 90mph (it coasts almost as well at 80mph as it does at 50mph). I have to get it over 90mph before I start to feel the wind load from high-speed driving. OEM max speed was 95mph. I have had it up to 100mph with plenty of power remaining at that speed (estimated top speed of about 140mph). Wind noise is much reduced from stock. Approximate mileage on a flat road at 85F, 95mpg at 30 to 65mph, 85mpg at 70mph, 65mpg at 80mph, 50mpg at 90mph.

Additional mods planned, include replacing the current one-size-fits-all radiator inlet slot with a driver-adjustible radiator door. Eventually I plan to automate the door by using a Basic Stamp or similar process controller to monitor the coolant temps and adjust the opening to the actual cooling needs.

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

What dragons do the 1st gens have? The main thing I don't like about them is the lack of the lower rear "window" that and the kinda fugly front end. But they're light weight as hell, plenty of autoXers run them for that reason alone.

Not sure on the drag, but the first hf was only 1713 pounds, only about 100 less than the 88 hf, and it's much more troublesome to put a VX engine in there.