Well it looks like I need a new car

92dxman wrote: I live in Doylestown but I sold my Civic years ago..

Oh. Wow. Your user names are remarkably similar haha.

93celica- he has the one with the Miata 1.6 mounted transverse, whatever that is. It has a hole at the non-bellhousing end of the trans big enough you can fit your hand through it. We pulled a G-series trans and axles out of a Escort in a junkyard last weekend.

He used to have an MX6 GT with a host of upgrades including a bigger turbo and injectors, so that's probably why the MX3 is slow to him. That car was silly quick.

Twin_Cam wrote:

92dxman wrote: I live in Doylestown but I sold my Civic years ago..

Oh. Wow. Your user names are remarkably similar haha. 93celica- he has the one with the Miata 1.6 mounted transverse, whatever that is. It has a hole at the non-bellhousing end of the trans big enough you can fit your hand through it. We pulled a G-series trans and axles out of a Escort in a junkyard last weekend. He used to have an MX6 GT with a host of upgrades including a bigger turbo and injectors, so that's probably why the MX3 is slow to him. That car was silly quick.

Oh. I don't even think it's the Miata 1.6. The RS was an SOHC lump i think. It was rated for something dumb like 89hp.

As for the MX6, i'd say that most Mazdas made before this millenium would have felt slow compared to it.

MX3 with the 1.8 V6 can have the 2.5 swapped in easily

93celicaGT2 wrote:

96DXCivic wrote: I like the MX3 idea the best so far. How reliable are they? What about an E30?

MX3s are very reliable. Don't bother with the RS model, ONLY look at GS models. You should EASILY be able to get one with a KLDE/ZE already swapped into it for under $3000. There are two in my area right now for $2500 or less. Both with ZEs. Owning/having owned both, though.... (lesley, don't kill me) Celica > MX3. Stock for stock, the Celica gets better gas mileage, has more room, feels like it's got better build quality, and is more reliable. Handling, while subjective, is similar, with the MX3 feeling slightly more "tossable," while the Celica feels more planted stable. Acceleration is pretty similar, though the MX3s motor is more "fun." But if you like the MX3 idea best so far, then get one. Get the Mazdaspeed front bumper. It's smexy.

What about a turbo mx6?

I saw 2-3 of them last time at the pick n' pull. Had tiny turbos and decent sized intercoolers. Look like pretty cool cars. SCCM had a feature of one, "red headed step child."

WilberM3 wrote: i just found a whole bunch of e36 M3 4dr 5sp's for well under $9k. comfy, fast, safe, and pretty efficient too. what's your rough budget?

This. I can't believe some of the prices I'm seeing now. I was (casually) looking for an E30 325is coupe, but for the prices I've seen lately, I'm likely going to replace the E36 M3 I sold with another E36 M3- four door five speed if I can find one that is convenient. I really liked my last one- my urge to downsize and simplify probably went a bit far.

Am I the only one that has to reprocess "E36 M3" back to literally meaning an E36-chassis M3?

ReverendDexter wrote: Am I the only one that has to reprocess "E36 M3" back to literally meaning an E36-chassis M3?

No. I was wondering about excrement 4 door 5 speeds.

I giggle when kids at school say their dad bought an M3, or they want an M3, etc. I broke down laughing when a friend asked me how the Berkley was coming along.

ReverendDexter wrote: Am I the only one that has to reprocess "E36 M3" back to literally meaning an E36-chassis M3?

Nope. I do the same thing. I also live in Berkeley County, SC which causes me no end of snickers at odd times. It's no wonder people look at me funny sometimes.

internetautomart wrote: MX3 with the 1.8 V6 can have the 2.5 swapped in easily

Probably cheaper and easier just to buy it with it already swapped in. There's two local to me for $2500 or less that are already KLZE powered.

One is beautifully done and i keep flip flopping over selling my MX6 to get it. The other is red. And well... despite owning 3 red cars, there isn't much on this earth i hate more than a red car.

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/2038853769.html

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/2034926289.html

The silver one is the one i lust after, and it's a killer deal.

smog7 wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote:

96DXCivic wrote: I like the MX3 idea the best so far. How reliable are they? What about an E30?

MX3s are very reliable. Don't bother with the RS model, ONLY look at GS models. You should EASILY be able to get one with a KLDE/ZE already swapped into it for under $3000. There are two in my area right now for $2500 or less. Both with ZEs. Owning/having owned both, though.... (lesley, don't kill me) Celica > MX3. Stock for stock, the Celica gets better gas mileage, has more room, feels like it's got better build quality, and is more reliable. Handling, while subjective, is similar, with the MX3 feeling slightly more "tossable," while the Celica feels more planted stable. Acceleration is pretty similar, though the MX3s motor is more "fun." But if you like the MX3 idea best so far, then get one. Get the Mazdaspeed front bumper. It's smexy.

What about a turbo mx6? I saw 2-3 of them last time at the pick n' pull. Had tiny turbos and decent sized intercoolers. Look like pretty cool cars. SCCM had a feature of one, "red headed step child."

Man, this thread is full of my cars.

Surprise! I own one. It's my DD. However, the turbo is no longer tiny, nor is the intercooler merely "decent sized."

There's some pros and cons that could be made between the MX3/1g MX6 GT.

The MX6 is way easier to work on, and is overbuilt in pretty much every way.

However, i don't feel it handles as well, and the gigantic low end torque gets old to some people in a FWD car. The interior is also pretty dated, though of a higher, more durable quality than that of the MX3.

Is it faster? HELL YEAH it is. Just so we're talking the same language... an MX6 GT with $300 worth of bolt ons will annihilate an AllTrac unless it's got a big 16g upgrade, 50trim ct26, etc etc etc.

On that note, tell me more about the 2-3 you saw at the yard? I could use a few parts.

What should I look for in a 1st generation Mazda MX6? How different is a nonturbo versus a turbo? Is it even worth looking at a nonturbo?

The poster formally known as 96DXCivic wrote: What should I look for in a 1st generation Mazda MX6? How different is a nonturbo versus a turbo? Is it even worth looking at a nonturbo?

Owning a turbo variant, i couldn't imagine owning the non-turbo. They aren't unsafely slow or anything, but they aren't really any cheaper these days either.

It's like saying "Oh, well, i'll take this old ugly hag home from the bar instead of this 21 year old fireplug, just...... because."

In terms of what to look for:

+rust
+rust
+oil leaks
+transmission shift ok? 5th gear synchro can get crunchy
+window motors work?
+all fan speeds work on blower/hvac controls?

That's really about it. Everything else is normal fare, and they're extremely easy to work on in my experiences.

If you want a hatchback, look at the 88-92 Probe GT. Same car, just a little heavier, with better gauge cluster and slightly bigger sway bars.

93celicaGT2 wrote: Celica. MX6. Probe. MX3. Sentra SE-R. NX2000. 200sx SE-R. Cressida. Turbo Saab.

93celicaGT2 wrote: Something cool.

You're sending mixed messages.

I don't know if ABS would have saved you in this case.

ABS would have saved him if it had allowed him to steer around the obstacle rather that sliding straight into it. Steering is important, you know.

If you want a hatchback, look at the 88-92 Probe GT. Same car, just a little heavier,

Replace Probe GT with 626 GT and im right there with ya.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

93celicaGT2 wrote: Celica. MX6. Probe. MX3. Sentra SE-R. NX2000. 200sx SE-R. Cressida. Turbo Saab.

93celicaGT2 wrote: Something cool.

You're sending mixed messages.

Tommy Suddard wrote: I giggle when kids at school say their dad bought an M3, or they want an M3, etc. I broke down laughing when a friend asked me how the Berkley was coming along.

We're all a weird lot, aren't we?

Vigo wrote:

I don't know if ABS would have saved you in this case.

ABS would have saved him if it had allowed him to steer around the obstacle rather that sliding straight into it. Steering is important, you know.

Steering is important if you have time. You can also always let off the brakes and turn the wheel.

Rear end accidents are often the result of inattention and happen in traffic. That OH &$@ moment doesn't give you time to steer and if in traffic usually no where to go. We are both just making assumptions on how the accident actually happened at this point.

Back on topic. I would also through out a 2.2 5 speed Impreza. Gas mileage will not be impressive though.

In reply to Greg Voth:

It was a combination of a number of things; a wet road, bad tires and a second of inattention. I was about to get new tires because the ones I had were pretty shot. I saw an Eclipse parked funny beside the road. It took my attention of the car in front for a second but with good tires and a non wet road I would have stopped in plenty of time. I tryed to steer around him but my brakes were already locked.

93celicaGT2 wrote: "......instead of this 21 year old fireplug....

I am not sure what this actually means; but I might be interested in buying some pictures.....

Rear end accidents are often the result of inattention and happen in traffic. That OH &$@ moment doesn't give you time to steer and if in traffic usually no where to go. We are both just making assumptions on how the accident actually happened at this point.

Letting off the brakes to steer is something 99% of drivers will not do.. but MOST drivers will slam on the brakes AND turn the wheel. If you have ABS, it works, if you dont, it doesnt.

Would like to point out though that when i posted about my fiancee getting rear ended in our Magnum, people here were quite willing to attribute it to things other than the rammer's inattention.

How about a Neon ACR?

The poster formally known as 96DXCivic wrote: How about a Neon ACR?

Drive one first and see if you like it. I think they're a blast, but i'm unsure if i would rather live with one of them as a DD over the other options. A comfy, well-laid out, and quality interior is a big necessity for me in a DD.

That doesn't mean sat nav, leather, and heated seats, power everything or all of that E36 M3, but.... just... comfy. The neon doesn't do that for me.

But yes, they're a LOT of fun. At least to me.

In reply to 93celicaGT2:

I drove a Civic DX for a long time. Cheap plastic and bad seats and crappy A/C and loved it. Anything with a decent drivers seat and decent A/C will be a massive upgrade.

Vigo wrote: Letting off the brakes to steer is something 99% of drivers will not do.. but MOST drivers will slam on the brakes AND turn the wheel. If you have ABS, it works, if you dont, it doesnt. Would like to point out though that when i posted about my fiancee getting rear ended in our Magnum, people here were quite willing to attribute it to things other than the rammer's inattention.

I hear you there. I work as a field claims adjuster and believe that well 90% of accidents are either caused or made worse by inattention.

I had a close call when I was 16 in a similar situation. Slammed on the brakes in the rain and turned. Slid until I was maybe a foot from the car in front of me. Learned a big leason and somehow have managed 10 more years of no accidents. (Averaging about 30-35k miles per year).

Good luck with the car search 96DXCivic! Oh BTW the airbags probably didnt go off since it appears you slid under the trailer missing the reinforcement bar and sensors for the bags.