Awesome millennial sport compacts, which to choose?

Swank Force One wrote: The Mazdaspeed Protege can DIAF.

Weak engine, weak transmission, "great handling" advantage eliminated by equivalent upgrades on other chassis? What's not to like?

Maybe this will info will help. Still one of my favourtie Subies.

5 reason to by an RS

I would pick the Focus, but try to find one with the 2.3L Duratec engine instead.

rustysteel wrote: Maybe this will info will help. Still one of my favourtie Subies. 5 reason to by an RS

let me guess:

• Rust
• Headgasket failures
• Terrible gas mileage
• Extremely E36 M3ty paint
• Bearing failures

ProDarwin wrote:

rustysteel wrote: Maybe this will info will help. Still one of my favourtie Subies. 5 reason to by an RS

let me guess: * Rust * Headgasket failures * Terrible gas mileage * Extremely E36 M3ty paint * Bearing failures

Bingo, you got them all. The only one missing is turbo failure but since there isn't one, not applicable.

So I've been reading about the MSP and most of the issues people are talking about with them. Exhaust falling apart, intercooler piping separating, electrical gremlins. I'm still going to check this car out, hopefully the owner took care of it. The biggest problem I don't want to have is the transmission. Is there a stronger tranny you can swap in or new gears?

I saw a creamsicle orange mazdaspeed protege on the highway the other day. I'm not a fan of outrageously colored automobiles, but the want for that thing was very strong. I spent several miles driving beside, behind, and in front of it. I'm sure the driver was wondering why a guy in the diesel F350 full of plumbing parts was doing checking out his car. The car was so clean, I'd swear it was a brand new car, and this is the middle of the rust belt.

It was a great DD and I would buy another one.

stoneydude wrote: So I've been reading about the MSP and most of the issues people are talking about with them. Exhaust falling apart, intercooler piping separating, electrical gremlins. I'm still going to check this car out, hopefully the owner took care of it. The biggest problem I don't want to have is the transmission. Is there a stronger tranny you can swap in or new gears?

Those cars aren't even that good as a non mazdaspeed car too. Poor build quality, materials, design. Why would that make the mazdaspeed one a good one? Not sure but I guess it was worth a try.

stoneydude wrote:

No way would I be buying a car like that. On top of the wonky suspension, he probably sees value in those "mods".

The sedan GSRs tend to be cleaner / less modified than the coupes, but I don't think they made very many of them.

I loved the GSR we had. Great shifter, willing engine, super practical. Only down-side for me was the gearing on the highway.

This seems like a lot of car, with mods I would have considered anyways. If the car and owner are legit.

http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/4534556174.html

MattGent wrote:

stoneydude wrote:

" A green GSR with a JDM front does look nice, not the stance wheels. Does a JDM swap mess with your class?" No way would I be buying a car like that. On top of the wonky suspension, he probably sees value in those "mods". The sedan GSRs tend to be cleaner / less modified than the coupes, but I don't think they made very many of them. I loved the GSR we had. Great shifter, willing engine, super practical. Only down-side for me was the gearing on the highway.

Why on earth is the is300 not on this list. They are all over the place for this money. Bullet proof, dynamic, unique, classy, comfy, with lots of power potential. Worth considering.

Matt B wrote:

stoneydude wrote: What is DIAF?

Die In A Fire I don't think swank is a fan of the motor in that car. Something about it being fragile? I'm sure he'll chime in.

It's a great way to spend a bunch of money on a cool-looking compact that may as well have been put together with paper mache then tuned by 2nd graders.

Good chassis, looks cool. That's about all it has going for it. Any speed demon can go faster and be eleventy billion times more reliable with a 1st gen Protege for half the money.

One of my local buddies had an 88 626 GT Turbo for years, got rid of it and bought a bone stock MSP with 20k miles on it in mint shape. Left it stock, blew two engines and one transmission by the time it hit 60k miles, was slower, obviously less reliable, and got gas mileage than the 88 626. Chew on that for a minute.

stoneydude wrote: So I've been reading about the MSP and most of the issues people are talking about with them. Exhaust falling apart, intercooler piping separating, electrical gremlins. I'm still going to check this car out, hopefully the owner took care of it. The biggest problem I don't want to have is the transmission. Is there a stronger tranny you can swap in or new gears?

You forgot motor blowing up frequently in stock form because it's just not strong enough to be turbo'd, and the factory tune is copious amounts of garbage.

And the magical exploding transmission that was barely strong enough for a 93 Probe GT, so clearly let's go ahead and add a torque spike down low on top of that. The riveted on diff will LOVE that.

These cars are pure unadulterated garbage. Avoid.

You CAN make one awesome, but you'll want some deep pockets, and pretty much every built FS-DE (Motor in that thing) i've seen has blown up at least once. Go backwards in time and put a BP in it (1st gen Protege, Escort GT, Miata, etc) and enjoy a stronger, more reliable, and cheaper motor. The swap is documented.

On the other hand, if you get one for cheap, there's not much you can do to one to make it WORSE, so have at it.

The answer is to buy one with a blown motor if you like them otherwise.

Then find an F2T and H-type trans and chuck that thing in there. Most reliable and fastest MSP ever.

Subaru 2.5RS - Because it's not FWD, and I much prefer non FWD. Plus they are pretty and rare.

Acura RSX Type-S - Favorite of the FWDs. Its 2 door, is pretty quick, my buddy gave one the hit from a roll race and was barely able to overcome the gap in a bolt on M6 LS1, I was quite surprise, plus they are supposed to handle well and I like the way the look, I like the manual they use to. I was also talking to a honda buddy today and apparently the 6 speeds are worth quite a bit of money so if price bottoms out you could probably get some money for the K20 and 6 speed.

Honda Prelude - because they are supposed to handle well and look great, and I think the H22 is supposed to be a good engine.

carbon wrote: Why on earth is the is300 not on this list. They are all over the place for this money. Bullet proof, dynamic, unique, classy, comfy, with lots of power potential. Worth considering.

You know I never really considered them because the manual is so rare to find. I did a search a month back non from here to Cali. Is the auto ok to autox with? I'm sure it's stronger than the MSP

a kid I autocross with used to run his is300 wagon on discarded hoosiers and was surprisingly fast, and theyre all auto. Ive never driven an auto example to speak to it but it appears to still work ok for autox.

It does have the shift buttons on the steering wheel

My vote goes for Integra. For the reasons bobzilla listed.

stoneydude wrote: How does the Prelude chassis handle compared to the Integra or Civic? I would think the heavier h22b would make it understeer horribly.

Prelude, all day. The fact you can get a near-perfect one for way less than a comparable Civic Si or GS-R just adds fuel to the fire. I think the dash is a little too low and the seats are a little too uncomfortable, but dear lord are they a great all-around package. The H22A4(not H22B) is an excellent engine. Responds extremely well to modifications, especially now that there's decent header options. VERY powerful engine with the right mods; absolutely creams the B-series engines. The suspension is a great design stock, and a good set of shocks and some stiffer springs really increases that. Arguably a better design than the Civic/Integras. Front radius rod is a little weird, but can be stiffened up. The SH's stock "differential" is a black magic box of wonder. There haven't been a lot of people that developed the platform to the potential that it has vs the Civic/Integra, but mod for mod, I think they're an all-around better car. Love Integras, hate Civics. Fanboys ruin them. Not impressed with the Celica GT-S- can't stand the power delivery and interior. Focus SVT is a bit appealing, just kinda funky, IMO, never really grew on me. Like the 5-door. SRT-4 is just a pile of crap with a ton of power-pretty fun though. Mazdaspeed Protege, kind of want, but I'd be afraid to break it every day.

beans wrote: Prelude, all day.

The Prelude is definitely the best Integra they made. I think the Prelude with a K24/6 speed would be just about perfect.

Subaru 2.5RS - Because it's not FWD, and I much prefer non FWD. Plus they are pretty and rare.

Just to be clear, it is MOSTLY fwd. It handles like a fwd with less power-induced understeer/wheelspin. Don't get me wrong, that's major! But if you're looking for something that handles completely differently than a FWD econocar, the Impreza is not what you need.

Oooh, didn't know that. That's disappointing.

So.. um I have just what you need.