four doors for cheap?
#82
The civic's didn't make more power than the 1st gen protege lx till the 6th generation si models came out. Which are much more expensive and are more likely to be stolen or broken into.
Plus he would have engine familiarity and maybe even some parts interchangeability going for him.
Plus he would have engine familiarity and maybe even some parts interchangeability going for him.
This minus the stupid rust **** = awesome.
If i could find a mint low miles 1st gen Protege for similar money i'd get out of selling my MX6, i'd think very seriously about it. Sometimes the MX6 is just too hairy to want to drive 365 days a year. I wouldn't mind giving up a bunch of power for something with better response overall. MX6 is a sledgehammer, the Protege makes a nice little scalpel. They aren't called FWD Miatas for no reason.
<----- Big BG chassis fanboi
#86
I'm going to throw out a few more off-the-beaten-path suggestions.
But first.... 626GT with 80s Zender goodness:
Go one generation older in the 626GT:
BF Chassis 323GT. 1.6 dohc tarblow.
Logic be damned, this thing ******* rules.
So does this. Audi 90s are cheap and actually pretty reliable.
But first.... 626GT with 80s Zender goodness:
Go one generation older in the 626GT:
BF Chassis 323GT. 1.6 dohc tarblow.
Logic be damned, this thing ******* rules.
So does this. Audi 90s are cheap and actually pretty reliable.
#92
+1 on the Protege's
I have a 2001 with the 1.6L with 215K on it, still strong and interior still looks new, do have a few small dents :( what I'm trying to say is it is not falling apart like some other cars.
Only issues are CATS/o2's that's it.
Fun to drive, for an ecobox, good mileage, not bad looking...
I have a 2001 with the 1.6L with 215K on it, still strong and interior still looks new, do have a few small dents :( what I'm trying to say is it is not falling apart like some other cars.
Only issues are CATS/o2's that's it.
Fun to drive, for an ecobox, good mileage, not bad looking...
#93
+Infinity on the Protege.
90-94 had the BP DOHC, just like the Miata (sans forged internals, 'course) and is actually a nice ride. My old roomie had a 94 that he bought at graduation from one of our teachers for $500. He drove that car for damn near ten years before turning around and selling it for $1000.
Nothing ever broke. We changed the plugs and wires on it once, and he kept up with oil changes. I drove it a few times, was pretty peppy for a FWD 4-Banger in asignificantly slightly heavier car than the Miata.
Parts were cheap, too.
And don't get a Honda. At least here in Tucson they are the most stolen vehicles after Escalades. I had a buddy who had his 91 Accord 4-Door stolen after having it robbed twice, who then borrowed his brother's 92 Prelude, until it was also stolen, who then bought an salvaged 92 Acura Legend, which was totaled in a not-his-fault car accident, which he used the money to buy a 90 Accord 2-Door, which was stolen about three months later. He then moved back home to live with his parents.
Or my coworker who had his girlfriend's Civic stolen from 5 feet away from where they were sleeping in the middle of the night. They found it out in the desert full of other Honda parts totally torched. Insurance wouldn't pay out for like six months because they had to investigate to make sure it wasn't fraud.
90-94 had the BP DOHC, just like the Miata (sans forged internals, 'course) and is actually a nice ride. My old roomie had a 94 that he bought at graduation from one of our teachers for $500. He drove that car for damn near ten years before turning around and selling it for $1000.
Nothing ever broke. We changed the plugs and wires on it once, and he kept up with oil changes. I drove it a few times, was pretty peppy for a FWD 4-Banger in a
Parts were cheap, too.
And don't get a Honda. At least here in Tucson they are the most stolen vehicles after Escalades. I had a buddy who had his 91 Accord 4-Door stolen after having it robbed twice, who then borrowed his brother's 92 Prelude, until it was also stolen, who then bought an salvaged 92 Acura Legend, which was totaled in a not-his-fault car accident, which he used the money to buy a 90 Accord 2-Door, which was stolen about three months later. He then moved back home to live with his parents.
Or my coworker who had his girlfriend's Civic stolen from 5 feet away from where they were sleeping in the middle of the night. They found it out in the desert full of other Honda parts totally torched. Insurance wouldn't pay out for like six months because they had to investigate to make sure it wasn't fraud.
Last edited by TheScaryOne; 02-22-2013 at 05:41 PM.
#94
+Infinity on the Protege.
90-94 had the BP DOHC, just like the Miata (sans forged internals, 'course) and is actually a nice ride. My old roomie had a 94 that he bought at graduation from one of our teachers for $500. He drove that car for damn near ten years before turning around and selling it for $1000.
Nothing ever broke. We changed the plugs and wires on it once, and he kept up with oil changes. I drove it a few times, was pretty peppy for a FWD 4-Banger in a significantly heavier car than the Miata.
Parts were cheap, too.
And don't get a Honda. At least here in Tucson they are the most stolen vehicles after Escalades. I had a buddy who had his 91 Accord 4-Door stolen after having it robbed twice, who then borrowed his brother's 92 Prelude, until it was also stolen, who then bought an salvaged 92 Acura Legend, which was totaled in a not-his-fault car accident, which he used the money to buy a 90 Accord 2-Door, which was stolen about three months later. He then moved back home to live with his parents.
Or my coworker who had his girlfriend's Civic stolen from 5 feet away from where they were sleeping in the middle of the night. They found it out in the desert full of other Honda parts totally torched. Insurance wouldn't pay out for like six months because they had to investigate to make sure it wasn't fraud.
90-94 had the BP DOHC, just like the Miata (sans forged internals, 'course) and is actually a nice ride. My old roomie had a 94 that he bought at graduation from one of our teachers for $500. He drove that car for damn near ten years before turning around and selling it for $1000.
Nothing ever broke. We changed the plugs and wires on it once, and he kept up with oil changes. I drove it a few times, was pretty peppy for a FWD 4-Banger in a significantly heavier car than the Miata.
Parts were cheap, too.
And don't get a Honda. At least here in Tucson they are the most stolen vehicles after Escalades. I had a buddy who had his 91 Accord 4-Door stolen after having it robbed twice, who then borrowed his brother's 92 Prelude, until it was also stolen, who then bought an salvaged 92 Acura Legend, which was totaled in a not-his-fault car accident, which he used the money to buy a 90 Accord 2-Door, which was stolen about three months later. He then moved back home to live with his parents.
Or my coworker who had his girlfriend's Civic stolen from 5 feet away from where they were sleeping in the middle of the night. They found it out in the desert full of other Honda parts totally torched. Insurance wouldn't pay out for like six months because they had to investigate to make sure it wasn't fraud.
the miata motor and protege lx motor are pretty much identical. Both only have forged cranks. Miata's have like .2 higher compression
also, the miata has a curb weight of roughly 2100 lbs. the protege is maybe two hundred pounds more with all options.