Neon vs ZX2

And a 14-second Neon shouldn't really have transmission worries unless he's peglegging the clutch all the time. It's reasonably stout.

Anything breaks if you hammer on it long/hard enough.

mad_machine wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: As an Escort owner, i'd say Neon. Don't worry about R/T vs. base.

I still see old Escorts on the road.. not so many Neons

I see lots of Escort LXs on the road. Doesn't mean they're much fun to drive.

The general build quality of a ZX2 is superior to that of a Mopar--hands down. The transaxles can be an issue, but if you know that going in, its not that big of a deal--they are also easy to work on/rebuild/swap. The Mazda BG suspension is the same as a Protege or a MX3--there is plenty of aftermarket.

We have had this car since 2008. It has had one transaxle rebuild right after we got it, but otherwise has been pretty solid. Also has near 90K on the clock. It also happens to be one of the better non EF Civic "ST" class autocrossers (does not say much...but...)...and even has a class MCSCC track record at the Milwaukee Mile infield course.

I even followed Borris Said around Road America last fall (Milwaukee SCCA PDX)--he was in a Porsche Panamera. I hung with him from 5 to 14.

You could duplicate our suspension for $1500-1800 or so. Engine is stock with SCT and a nice custom exhaust (Pacesetter/Magnaflow cat/Custom).

you reminded me. I have seen one escort running around here.. looks like the one above.. but has a real grill in the upper bumper with the turnsignals built into it. What is it? looks factory

mad_machine wrote: you reminded me. I have seen one escort running around here.. looks like the one above.. but has a real grill in the upper bumper with the turnsignals built into it. What is it? looks factory

2003

one year only...

Both are a low 15 second car in stock form right?

That's a bit optimistic. A SOHC neon like the one you are looking at will run about a 16.0 @ 85mph, with the ZX2 being slightly quicker (15.8 @ 86 perhaps).

dsycks wrote: I see Neons killing in Lemons racing but ZX2s seem to be buried in the pack. Neon > ZX2.

That's lemons, taking that series as any indication of a "stock" cars abilities is laughable. Now, if you had said ChumpCar, I'd still disagree (if you looked at the Calgary and Spokane results this year)

I've been in an SOHC Neon that ran a 14.4 quarter mile with bolt ons, weight reduction, and a cam. They wake up nicely in a hurry.

ok...I dont know where I got that they were both low 15's. I think he would be happy with something that went very high 14's then. Basically he wants to be able to outrun the stock versions of the car...know what i mean? Maybe surprise the occasional wanna be Ricer...that kind of thing.

If I remember right the stock numbers were reported to be 15.50 or so, but I never tried it. It felt that fast, I was pretty impressed.

Someone time me. OK, go...

Here's a ZX2 'action' video from last May...new suspension and wheels/tires since then...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wre-iHI0NtM

ST_ZX2 wrote:

mad_machine wrote: you reminded me. I have seen one escort running around here.. looks like the one above.. but has a real grill in the upper bumper with the turnsignals built into it. What is it? looks factory

2003 one year only...

If only they had looked like that for more than 1 year. Definatly the prettiest of that generation Escort

Let me ask this. Both are a low 15 second car in stock form right?

I had a SOHC neon with the 3.94 'dohc' trans (mine actually came from a sohc stratus, very rare app), with other MINOR mods, and it felt like a mid-low 15 car. It hauled for what it was. I only had it a short while so not a lot of good documentation but here's one in-car 0-90 with a passenger:

http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k129/burnt_toast96/Elite/?action=view&current=MOV02934.mp4

Ive also seen numerous dohc/3.94 neons running high 14s with almost nothing in mods.

I agree with the best price/condition being the decider in this case.

tuna55 wrote: ZX2s have terrible manual transmissions Then Mazda's must too.

Vigo wrote: Ive also seen numerous dohc/3.94 neons running high 14s with almost nothing in mods.

I had one of them. Mopar computer, iceman intake, custom muffler, good tires. Ran a 14.8 @ 93mph.

iceracer wrote:

tuna55 wrote: ZX2s have terrible manual transmissions Then Mazda's must too.

They do.... they shift nice, but don't do well under power.

That said, a manual transmissioned ZX2 with bolt ons... i wouldn't be worrying about it. They don't really start E36 M3ting the bed until upper 200s.

For giggles, I checked local CL (SoFla) Nice '99 with low miles for 5900.00. I think that might be a bit high.

Nissan SE-R. Sentra or 200sx.

If we're open to other cars.... $2000 should get you a very nice MX6 V6 5spd. Or a Celica.

Quite honestly, both of them are better cars than the Neon/Escort.

There is 1 MX6 I can look at 5speed. Dont know anything about them...are they ALL v6's? only a couple of old celica's and they are both autos locally...

I think hes open to anything...the Neon and zx2 seemed to be the best for the money locally....were in Omaha....

mcompton1973 wrote: There is 1 MX6 I can look at 5speed. Dont know anything about them...are they ALL v6's? only a couple of old celica's and they are both autos locally... I think hes open to anything...the Neon and zx2 seemed to be the best for the money locally....were in Omaha....

They aren't ALL V6s. Just the "LS" trim, and they're the only ones worth getting unless you're open to 88-92 GTs. (But they're turbo, and get real fast in a hurry.)

They're great motors, look good, handle well, and the build quality is pretty good as well.

Ford Probe V6 is the same car, just looks different, and is a bit heavier. Shorter gears, though. A "hot" setup would be an MX6 LS with a Probe trans or MX3 GS trans swap.

The Mx-6 was sold and no Probes....well, there was one... http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/2475341310.html

even that ad is over a month old...and...NO. hahaha

MX3 GS? Protege?

I do like the Sentra SE-R/200sx idea above, though.

I miss my ACR coupe :(...