"race prepped turbo Dodge Stealth joining us in XP"?

[Mike's Competition]

Without knowing any specifics, my reaction runs along something like this:
Th curb weight is up around 3,800 lb. and power at 320+. It's AWD (?) so there would be more drivetrain loss. It is designed for luxury high speed (interstate) use. The transmissions are not strong enough for more power, aggressive driving, or any combination of the two. I'm not aware of any motorsports use in Japan or any history of racing victories. It's outside the mainstream, meaning parts (especially racing parts) would be rare and expensive (but not quite as bad as what I am working with).

For success in autocross, you have to buy the car that wins and drive it competently. More likely choices would be Elise, S2000... Somebody with many years of competition experience is more likely to show up in one of those.
People who decide to persist with odd cars usually change cars out of frustration, quit, or get "fast for what it is" after many years of trying.
The exception being someone with many years experience who then builds a crazy car to have fun with, like Ned and the V8 RX7. He may say it isn't nationally competitive, but he doesn't worry too much about us unless he has a really off day.

 

[mmarshall]

Bill there alot of cars I have seen the while odd do quite well. Rick's CP Boss comes to mind. Here are the specs of the Stealth:

Heads Ported with 1mm over sized Intake and exhaust Valves, Brian Crower Stage 3 cams, Double valve springs with titainium hats, Adjustable cam gears, Alumium Underdrive pulley, Yokohama A048's, A032's, AD08's tires 225x50x 16 tires, Tein Master Drive Shocks, with EDFC control Module and motors, Drilled and slotted rotors lighten interrior with no inner body panels.

Now the new stuff added on's

11.5:1 Ross pistons, Forged Crank (no change other than forged which was on the 94 and above cars) Stock length Brian Cower connecting rods, AWD transmission, and AWD rear Differential swap, STS rear mount single turbo, AEM Series 2 ECU, Fiberglass hood and fenders, "Big Ass Wing" (yes that's the name)

 

[Mike's Competition]

Rick's car falls into the category of someone with years of experience building a crazy car. Not much of it is original and all of it has been purpose built for autocross. A lot of the chassis stuff on that car seems to be in the kit car parts source lists, there has been some motorsports use of the cars, and a lot of shared technology within the model family with the more popular mustangs.

The Stealth sounds a lot like a list of parts someone used to build a really fun driving road car, with no concern for racing classes. Then shows up for a race and discovers the car is classed with Dodge Vipers and Ferraris. A lot of that sounds like drag racing and street racing. Massive power adders.
The Tein coilovers might include camber plates. Certainly better than lowering springs or sleeves on stock struts. But they've been criticized for range of adjustability, fine tuning ability, and accuracy from one damper to the next. Not quite as good for going through a range of springs or trying to get a tiny bit more or less to make something just right. Their advantage would be they are well thought out for the particular vehicle, as long as the use does not stray from the what the designer had in mind.

But the list is missing a bunch of suspension stuff that would show a lot of concentration on handling: bushings, heim joints, adjustable suspension arms, braces, Hoosier tires, anything similar.
And larger-than-stock brakes.

 

[mmarshall]

All good points Bill, but the AWD can be a game changer with the right driving skills. I have been amazed at how fast a stock WRX can run. When you combine AWD with a large turbo it can make up for a lot.

 

[Mike's Competition]

Impreza STi weighs 3,300-3,400 pounds. Lancer Evo weighs 3,400-3,500 pounds. Both have huge amounts of available racing parts, lots of tuning information, and proven records in Street Modified classes. Both would be more worrisome.

AWD, with anything other than a clutch pack differentials, is a problem unless the car handles completely flat. Lift one tire in the air, and it will spin, and the car looses power until that tire comes back down. That rocket Evo, in one of the SM classes, lifts the rear inside tire, but it has a very expensive rear diff that requires more frequent (and expensive) rebuilds, and it has the electronic center diff.
The Stealth should have the same issue, about 10% worse with the extra weight, but without the fancy electronic center diff, and less choice of clutch pack diffs and suspension pieces for a smaller parts market.

We'll have to wait and see if it is a thoroughly prepared car with a an experienced driver.