Mazdaspeed protege vs srt4

My all trac has proved to be too expensive on my college budget. I have spent over $2k in repairs over the last 4-5 years.

At first I was thinking about getting an ap1 s2000 or e36 m3, but those are just too expensive.

Now I'm thinking more towards a more reliable, lower cost protege or srt4. So, from those that actually have experience with the two cars, which is better?

I know the srt4 will be slightly more powerful, and the protege more agile, but which of the two is more reliable?

After driving a 1990 celica for five years I want a nice daily driver. Looking to spend under $6k. What do you guys think?

smog7 wrote: After driving a 1990 celica for five years I want a nice daily driver. Looking to spend under $6k. What do you guys think?

This to me would immediately eliminate the SRT-4. They have absolutely horrible interiors IMHO.

Sorry, no real advice though.

miata?

hmm..

also, any good srt4/mazdaspeed protege forums?

forgot to mention, I need some space. my all trac is too small as it is..

Left field suggestion, but if you want a nice DD with sporting pretensions that's really comfy ....

100's of thousands of neon owners use their cars as DD, the SRT-4 interior is in fact a little bit nicer then them.

I'd suggest the Mazdaspeed is more refined, but the SRT-4 motor is a billion times better...in the sence that the Mazdaspeed motor used the stock bottom end from the NA version. SRT motors in stock tune are pretty bulletproof. Remove the wing, get some wider wheels and tires, enjoy.

MazdaSpeed Protege. (Yellow) Mine is 6 yrs old and still going strong as my family daily driver.

I've used it at track days and race school where it impressed me. Specially in the wet.

Now by newer car 2010 standards its down on power @170, but that kick from the boost is so much fun.

My only issue with the SRT4 comes from the exhaust. Its just too bloody noisy. My wife thinks the Spoiler on the dodge makes it look like a hand bag...

When I bought the car back in 04 94 octane was pretty decent. Now its what $1.20 a litre?

That's the only sucky part, but I get 550-600KM a tank.

Hope that helps.

Is it possible to find a non-modified, not abused version of either? I'd imagine that you would have better luck with whatever was least abused.

I'd go with the SRT4. There's more of them, so even though more were abused, i'd say it'll be easier to find a stock one.

Plus, the MSP's motor is a gigantic steaming pile of crap. Part of that is that it was never built for boost, and the other half is that it's just tuned awfully from factory.

It should speak volumes when you consider that people are swapping the old BP and KL motors into these things.

And that's a really hard pill to swallow when you consider that the rest of the car is brilliant for a front driver.

I know it's possible that you hate your AllTrac these days, and maybe ALL Celicas for that reason, but.... 7th gen Celica GTS? The nicest 6th gen GT you can find? The devil you know...

PS: Are you wanting to sell the AllTrac? Shoot me an email through the site.

Am I the only one who thinks spending $2k in maintenance over 4-5 years is cheap?

That's $400-500 a year to maintain a car that's 20 years old. If you can't afford that, you need to buy the cheapest, newest car with a warranty you can find.

docwyte wrote: Am I the only one who thinks spending $2k in maintenance over 4-5 years is cheap? That's $400-500 a year to maintain a car that's 20 years old. If you can't afford that, you need to buy the cheapest, *newest* car with a warranty you can find.

No, you're not the only one, but college budgets are rough, and an AllTrac is not the best choice for said budget.

That's $2k worth of repairs that he actually did. I'm sure if we asked, it could use more work.

docwyte wrote: Am I the only one who thinks spending $2k in maintenance over 4-5 years is cheap? That's $400-500 a year to maintain a car that's 20 years old. If you can't afford that, you need to buy the cheapest, *newest* car with a warranty you can find.

I think this is truly where the "devil you know" saying comes into play. When $2k maintenance over 4 years is a problem you are going to be way upside down in a newer turbo car when shtf.

(that being said I'd lean SRT4>MSP)

Damn you with that post of a Mk III. I thought I had the thoughts of picking one of those up out of my system.

ReverendDexter wrote: Damn you with that post of a Mk III. I thought I had the thoughts of picking one of those up out of my system.

Yeah... THAT one in particular certainly isn't helping things.

93celicaGT2 wrote:

ReverendDexter wrote: Damn you with that post of a Mk III. I thought I had the thoughts of picking one of those up out of my system.

Yeah... THAT one in particular certainly isn't helping things.

+1

$2k in maintenance over 4-5 years will be the norm for any "neat" car you can find.

That would be what, a set of tires, a couple brake jobs, and oil changes?

Seriously! One of my E30's needed nearly $2,000 in repairs in a single visit to the shop. $500 a year in maintenance and repairs is an enviable target for any used vehicle.

docwyte wrote: Am I the only one who thinks spending $2k in maintenance over 4-5 years is cheap? That's $400-500 a year to maintain a car that's 20 years old. If you can't afford that, you need to buy the cheapest, *newest* car with a warranty you can find.

No kidding; I'd leave the $6K budget in the bank and use it to pay for plenty of more years of keeping the All-Trac on the road.

the $2k was just an estimate, leaving out oil changes and other smaller stuff..

but yeah, just like how 93celicaGT2 said, my alltrac still needs a ton of repairs! and parts aren't exactly easy (or cheap) to find, even 5th gen gts widebody parts are a bitch to find in junkyards.

hows the transmission/transfer case??? I may have a buyer if in good shape

cant sell my all trac till I have something else...

oh, and my alltrac is my first car

MrBenjamonkey wrote: Left field suggestion, but if you want a nice DD with sporting pretensions that's really comfy ....

Wow! I've never been much of a Supra fan but that pic is full of epic 80's sexy win-sauce!

Ah, much easier/actually possible to edit via iPad on the mobile version...

More info? Or just a random HL?

2k in repairs is nothing over 2-3-4-5 years.

You think newer cars are better? They get the bonus of more expensive, more technologically advanced stuff to break! You'll spend more when it breaks.

Especially turbo cars. They love cooking things to death.

Id stick to your alltrack, or get something Japanese from 95-99. They start getting more complicated 99 and up. But in the middle of that range Ive found a sweet spot of cheap, yet not too old, and not too complicated.

Then again, for 2K I could fix every thing on my 240sx I wanted to. New steering rack, a few bushings and stuff, and the normal water pump, timing chain tensioner, the hud for once, the tie rods, etc etc. I love pre-OBD cars, sooo simple. I'd even drive it straight to california as is, and I just hit a wall at columbus motor speed way with it!

~Alex