I need a DD, or how I got frustrated and asked GRM to help me find an MX6.

Title pretty much says it. I've been looking for some sort of car to daily drive. It has to be something that I don't hate driving, but also don't mind parking at the barracks. It's going to get door dings, drunk people are going to throw up on or around it, and it will generally be abused. I have as much desire for another in depth project as I do for HIV.

I can't stand boring, generic transportation appliances. I've looked at a fair number of options, and I've concluded that I might as well buy into the virtues of an F2T powered Mazda. Seemingly there are none to be had in my area though. Where do you all find them? Cheap, turbocharged, and an ability to take a lot of boost and not explode sound like wonderful attributes for a car right now. Also, I might finally be able to keep a car that I can stand under challenge budget and find myself with an excuse to come meet you lunatics in person.

Help?

1st gen Probe GT is also a F2T car, and seems to be much more common (at least in my area).

ScreaminE is posting his for sale right now, and it's a REALLY clean car- I'd take a look at it.

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/4651334692.html

Car just came from Charlotte, NC in May.

that thing looks fantastic with the eclipse wheels.

They seem to disappear completely from Craigs for weeks then you'll see a whole crop pop up. One just got sold in LA with a "bad turbo" for $450 (or less)

Where do you live?

Pittsburgh, PA

I've gotten two for 400 bucks a piece.... One even ran and drove.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4668195484.html

This one looks nice.

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/4673519964.html

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4668195484.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/4658443783.html

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/4625432191.html

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/cto/4672343334.html

https://decatur.craigslist.org/cto/4675397552.html

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/4661687016.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/4595441731.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4645637236.html

https://hickory.craigslist.org/cto/4680382865.html

http://pittsburgh.pt.craigslist.org/cto/4651334692.html

http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/cto/4581830219.html

http://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/4599915809.html

JamesMcD wrote: http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4668195484.html This one looks nice.

It does... but those mismatched tail lights look horrendous!

Screamin's is the one to get though. Already has "Stage 1" done, and those HKS pipes are unobtanium.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/4593100032.html

https://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/4659079854.html

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4675530195.html

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/4690445764.html

They put a V-6 in these!!!!!!??????????

Yeah it's a taurus Vulcan unit. Not a fan. Transmissions are useful for us GT guys to get a 3.85 final drive, though.

I want Screamin's car in bad way now. Alas, I can't go to Pittsburg on a weekend - the Marine Corps owns my life. I wish it was still in Charlotte, because I could make that happen. Since I neglected to specify my location, I'm in Jacksonville, NC.

Edit: I've been looking at Probes, but I won't pay more than a grand for one. I know it technically hits all the same points the MX6 does, but I just don't care for them. If someone has a stupidly cheap Probe they can put me onto, I'll settle and probably be plenty happy with one. (Edit 2) There's a Probe listed in Raleigh for 900, and if I can somehow make it there this weekend, I'll take a look at it. I'd still rather have the Mazda just because they're less hideous.

I bought this jewel for $300 with a blown transmission. Should be driving it by the end of the day Tuesday. The MX-6/PGT's are great cars.

MG Bryan wrote: I want Screamin's car in bad way now. Alas, I can't go to Pittsburg on a weekend - the Marine Corps owns my life. I wish it was still in Charlotte, because I could make that happen. Since I neglected to specify my location, I'm in Jacksonville, NC. Edit: I've been looking at Probes, but I won't pay more than a grand for one. I know it technically hits all the same points the MX6 does, but I just don't care for them. If someone has a stupidly cheap Probe they can put me onto, I'll settle and probably be plenty happy with one. (Edit 2) There's a Probe listed in Raleigh for 900, and if I can somehow make it there this weekend, I'll take a look at it. I'd still rather have the Mazda just because they're less hideous.

I have a brother in Pitt- We can make this happen.....

I worked at a mostly-import shop for 7 years. We had an MX6 for a long time and it was one of the most fun stock imports we had. It had surprising torque for a small 4cyl. The noodly shifter could have used some help, and the econobox suspension was better than average, but having that car at the shop made me actually want one.

... and for a die-hard V8 muscle car guy, that's saying something.

My only problem with them is Mazda's exceptional ability to hold patents on their parts. If you happen to touch, caress, feel, or otherwise look at any of the solenoids for EGR, EVAP, etc, the plastic will break. Be prepared to pay jaw-dropping sums of first born children to cover the bill. Trust me, you will become an artist with JB Weld and epoxy.

Those MX-6's look ok, but they're FWD.

curtis73 wrote: I worked at a mostly-import shop for 7 years. We had an MX6 for a long time and it was one of the most fun stock imports we had. It had surprising torque for a small 4cyl. The noodly shifter could have used some help, and the econobox suspension was better than average, but having that car at the shop made me actually want one. ... and for a die-hard V8 muscle car guy, that's saying something. My only problem with them is Mazda's exceptional ability to hold patents on their parts. If you happen to touch, caress, feel, or otherwise look at any of the solenoids for EGR, EVAP, etc, the plastic will break. Be prepared to pay jaw-dropping sums of first born children to cover the bill. Trust me, you will become an artist with JB Weld and epoxy.

I still don't know what you guys were doing with those solenoids. The flip side is that i've never seen a broken one, and i just relocated my 222k mile original ones to the otherside of the firewall in my own car.

I'm also not sure why Mazda would hold the patents on those parts, since they're not even made by Mazda and the same parts are used on other companies's cars, most notably the company that makes those parts. (Mitsubishi)

Swank Force One wrote: I still don't know what you guys were doing with those solenoids. The flip side is that i've never seen a broken one, and i just relocated my 222k mile original ones to the otherside of the firewall in my own car. I'm also not sure why Mazda would hold the patents on those parts, since they're not even made by Mazda and the same parts are used on other companies's cars, most notably the company that makes those parts. (Mitsubishi)

The vacuum hoses fuse to the plastic and the plastic becomes incredibly brittle. On most of them its impossible to get the hose off without breaking the nipple. I usually cut the vacuum line and use a union when I put them back on, but even then the tiniest bump turns them into powder.

I don't know why they are so expensive either. Even RockAuto wants $60-90 EACH for those solenoids. For years we couldn't even get them on WorldPac. We had to go to the dealer for them.

Hrm. Dunno.

I literally just removed the vacuum lines from mine on Saturday and they all lived just fine. (They don't need to see vacuum to prevent CELs, just need to be plugged in electrically.)

I did the same on mndsm's car, no problem. And my parts car. And my buddy's car.

Anecdotes on anecdotes on anecdotes!

I saw a clean 626 GT hatch this weekend driving home from Summit Point, it wasn't for sale, but much heavy breathing and want occurred.

Even though they're quite different, for the OP's wants, I'd also look for FX-16s as well, more of a high revving super light 4AGE powered 3 door hatch then the boost monster of the F2T of the MX-6

captdownshift wrote: I saw a clean 626 GT hatch this weekend driving home from Summit Point, it wasn't for sale, but much heavy breathing and want occurred. Even though they're quite different, for the OP's wants, I'd also look for FX-16s as well, more of a high revving super light 4AGE powered 3 door hatch then the boost monster of the F2T of the MX-6