I should have specified old and cheap. Parts may be cheap but when one thing goes wrong everything goes wrong. A mercedes specialist told me that it would bleed me to death. Also the M103 engine is garbage.

I worked on a 90 190E. Needed a rad and grille, which turned into a head gasket. Which was awful. Also the OVP was blown because it's a wear part on this car and can go out for no reason. Couple days of the person driving the car and the fan clutch bearing seized and the fan and pulley sheared off, slicing through the trans cooler lines, serpentine belt, damaging stuff. Fixed that and like 4 days later the trans goes out.

So yeah. I'm going to put a V8 in it.

But yeah it was fun in the snow. I'd like to think that you could feel the rally heritage.

Wow, that's rough. Though you have to expect things to be wearing out on 20+ year old car. I've got a 2.3-16 and have regularly been addressing wear items- front struts/mounts, bushings, steering stuff - but nothing has been expensive. About the same as the Miata.

I agree but the ovp had already been replaced with a new style one. Mainly I just hate the mechanicals after working on so many new cars. Even being 20 years old and beat to sh*t the interior was still quite nice and well equipped.

I'm just saying, if you're going to buy one, buy one that has been taken care of.

I'm in the same boat right now. Looking for a 2nd car to be a DD. Would like a four door for whenever the wifey and I decide to have a little one. I dont want to have a miata part out thread.

I'm looking for a cheap, reliable, RWD car.

Lolz at calling the focus a pos car. Clearly you haven't driven the new ones. Very very nice little cars.

for the price of a new focus I can get a used 3 series with under 40k miles.

edit

Sir it has always been that way. You're always trading something off. The new vs. Used argument really doesn't make any send. By the time you consider the difference in the cost of insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, not to mention the fact that the BMW would not be under warranty, its just totally a moot point. It's a ridiculous argument and it always has been. Is that a question enthusiasts like us ask themselves? Of course. And we are willing to sacrifice those things to have something more fun/interesting. But it's not the same thing.

I put a 6' ladder in the back of my DD.

I can fit a 6' ladder in the passenger compartment of the miata. So you putting one in your DD does not seem that impressive.

I have low standards.

FTFY. Shatner-style.

BTDT, infinite head space FTW.

It IS a piece of shit.. Just look at the ugly turds FFS:


http://image.motortrend.com/f/roadte...e-quarters.jpg

Everything ford makes now looks like it was designed by Kia and that's NOT a compliment. They seriously need to ditch the eurotrash look and return to building mediocre looking garbage.

Thou makest no sense sir. Just because you don't like the styling of something doesn't mean it's junk. New Kias are regarded across the industry as really good looking cars with crisp, modern, clean design. You may not like it, but most do.

Most customers who come in to the dealership comment about how they love the new direction in Ford's styling. The only vehicles that come under attack are the Flex (by most) and the Escape (by a small minority). Granted, these are people who are looking to buy Fords, but these are also people who have owned other brands in the past.

PS that Focus ST is sick. And I think it's good looking. :loser:

Just ignore him Ed,

No offense to elesjuan, but he literally hates 99.99% of the cars on the road. Wanna hear some real hate? Ask him about Honda :giggle:

The Top Gear presenters recently approved of the 'look' of the latest Fusion. They have also historically liked the Focus. Additionally, in the most recent episode, they approved of a performance Kia hatch and said it might be a viable GTI competitor.

The new ST is a nice performance car. Jeremy loved the last gen of ST when he reviewed it. Meanwhile, Kia is selling a boatload of cars.

It would appear that neither Ford nor Kia should use your opinions to redirect their business strategy.

I'd take a car designed by kia if I ended up with the ford focus ST.

If a cat turd with wheels is "crisp, modern, clean design" I honestly weep for what's yet to come. Their entire lineup is easily the worst looking vehicles I've ever seen.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with Honda. They make GREAT lawnmowers. I dislike honda for 2 reasons; The douchebags that drive them and they fucking suck to work on. Seriously, what dickbag designed the belt tension adjustment on a 7th gen d series civic for example??? A fucking win nut? Seriously?? Oh, what's that? You want to adjust the AC/Alternator belt? Yeah, if you could just go ahead and take the power steering pump off... That would be great.

It's funny to me that Ford thinks they're Aston Martin now, or something. Whats that? I can't hear you? "Ford owns Aston Martin..." No, they don't. They don't own Mazda, either.

I don't hate 99.99% of cars on the road, just the ones that look like a human turd on wheels.