You need to do so. Not only will you learn your car's limits, but you will also subconsciously train yourself to anticipate what the cars around you will do next.

More beneficial/valuable to you and your car than any 'mod' you can buy and install.

 

I'm looking to autox for the first time this summer (hopefully)

After your first experience out there, what would you suggest for first mods that the S needs tweaked?

 

Tires, tires, tires. I've been to 3 autocross sessions and tires are keeping me from shaving a few seconds of my time.

 

^+1 Tires is the best mod for $200 - $400 for autox times. I got some Dunlop Direzza star specs and it's a night and day difference in handling, acceleration, and braking.

 

Seat time! Seat time! Seat time!

Don't spend money on the car until the driver has been "modified."

 

Tires for sure and then a driver mod.

 

Step one) just drive until the tires you currently have are toast

2) replace with Star Specs, RS3's or similar

3) keep driving until you have at least 1 full season (of very regular participation, 2 if you only go occasionally)

4) Evo school or other autox school

5) research the classes your car can be competitive in and choose the one that suits you best

6) research what successful people have done in that class, not just what mods but what brands set-ups etc...

7) slowly start doing those mods 1 at a time, get the car dialed in for each mod before moving on.

 

How would those dunlops compare to say, Yokohama S drives?

 

i have yokohama s-drives, great tires for the price. Auto-x them for the first time about 2 weeks ago. i ran a 29.9 as my fastest time and was one of the fastest cars of that day. The fastest cars were 2 corvette zr1's and a 911 with very experinced drivers. The fastest run by the 911 was a 27.9 Not bad for my first track day

 

^nice. That's what I replaced my fronts with. I just keep hearing these star specs pop up and I'm curious how much better they are for the extra price above S drives