Sale it or Build it?

[bmacster]

I am at a crossroads if I want to keep the MP3 or build it up to something more. If I did get rid of the car, I'd look at the Scion FR-S or 2013 Ford Mustang V6. What am I really looking for; A drivers car.

Don't get me wrong, I love the car! Its my first paid off car, had it for 2 years now. I've been playing catch up from the PO's neglect and slowly going through the suspension (and perhaps replace the rear springs), get the motor rebuilt since it is smoking on start up, and give the paint some much needed lovin'.

If I decide to keep it and build it up, I'd like to go turbo, 8-9psi, 170-190hp range, slightly stiffer suspension (maybe coilovers?), add some sound deadening to the trunk, wheel wells and doors, slightly better sound system and upgrade to a 6-speaker setup.. It will be my daily driver... More or less in the car 3 hours a day and see around 20k miles a year.

I have more or less $6,000 to use as a down payment for a new whip or do the car and make it an even better daily driver. The motor rebuild will be 2k, turbo is anywhere between $2500-4000...

What are your thoughts??

 

[MSPBrett]

no matter what.. a new car will be more reliable imo. turbo your mp3 you might run into "hiccups" down the road or hoping you get a good tune on your new motor set up with boost. for reliable, either drop a new fsde motor in and stay NA for the time being or get a newer car, reliable sounds like what your going for since you have a long commute. also ive heard the frs are a blast to drive.

 

[tweety2300]

I'm in the same boat with my mp3.

You will never have as much fun in a fwd as a rwd. It's a nice car but its almost not worth keeping to me.

 

[bmacster]

no matter what.. a new car will be more reliable imo. turbo your mp3 you might run into "hiccups" down the road or hoping you get a good tune on your new motor set up with boost. for reliable, either drop a new fsde motor in and stay NA for the time being or get a newer car, reliable sounds like what your going for since you have a long commute. also ive heard the frs are a blast to drive.

The FRS is a blast to drive! Very addicting, can drift easily and carve a canyon. A proper drivers car it is. I'll probably wait until the 2014 version though with some of the nagging first year issues that are going on with it.

I was also thinking of doing a NA build to save some cash and use that for something else down the road. Get the CorkSport cams, new exhaust, lightweight flywheel short ram intake and call it good. Regardless the motor will have to come out next year though, way too embarrassing to start the car in the morning and fog out the area.

I don't think there are any new FS motors around is there? If I can find, I'll probably just have a place go through it 100% and go from there... decisions decisions.

 

[bmacster]

I'm in the same boat with my mp3.

You will never have as much fun in a fwd as a rwd. It's a nice car but its almost not worth keeping to me.

Yeah, that is more or less where I am at. My only concern would be how it performs in the snow. When it does decide to snow over here, I hope the car is as sure footed as the MP3 has been to me.

 

[tweety2300]

Are you serious? The protege sucks in the snow with an open diff. I can't even use first gear if there's snow on the road

 

[bmacster]

Are you serious? The protege sucks in the snow with an open diff. I can't even use first gear if there's snow on the road

Yep! Its been real good in the snow. Drove it on summer tires in this mess of snow and icy. Did great surprisingly!

 

[bmacster]

Well, after talking it over with the girlie, I decided to keep the car and do some minor things to it to keep it going for another 100,000 miles. May as well enjoy it fully =)

What needs to be done?

Motor rebuilt due to oil burning issue
Wheel bearings in the front
Control Arms (ball joints are getting a rough looking)
New tie rod ends
New radio and speakers
New fog lights (RockAuto has them for $75!)
New passenger side tail light (has condensation issue and stud broken from PO)
New o2 sensors with non fouler...
---
Mods I'd like to do:
Ford Escape Sway Bar endlinks (slightly fatter, more durable than stock)
Energy Suspension Front Swaybar Bushings
OBX header
OBX Intake
New Radio and speakers throughout
Exedy Stock Clutch replacement
I MIGHT do the Spec 7lb Flywheel replacement
Goodridge Stainless brakelines
Tokico Blue Struts (Still original)
Eibach Pro Kit (Rear suspension sags...badly, with a 60lb dog in the back...)
Street Unit Engine Mount set (passenger side and transmission mounts..already have the other two)
CorkSport LED light kit
CorkSport Power Series Exhaust Camshaft
TWM Short Shifter

Maybes/Down the road:

Megan Racing Trailing arms (Again, maybe)
Rotora Front and Rear slotted rotors
HBC pads

Just a few things... Should be a fun project over Spring Break!

 

[talltim]

That should work!

 

[Installshield 2]

yeah i'm with Tweety, can't stand my p5 in the snow...Back when i had winter tires, it would get around...but the way they love to put red lights at the top of steep hills in my area, it was hardly reliable...

and with my summer tires...it won't back out of my driveway...down hill...with much more than an inch on the ground...

 

[bmacster]

Damn, I guess I got lucky with the set of tires I got. I was driving all around town. Managed to back out of the garage and maneuver around that down tree from the ice storm too. I was surprised.

 

[tweety2300]

With good snow tires anything will do decent.

 

[bmacster]

With good snow tires anything will do decent.

That's the thing, the tires aren't snow tires, they are summer tires =D

 

[tweety2300]

You sure it doesn't have an LSD? I have nexen n5000 on mine also used to have riken raptors. There is no 1st gear in the snow, its pointless to use

My civic had an LSD with cheap baldish tires and it did awesome in it. My 323 has snow tires and I have a hard time locking up the rear tires with the ebrake to drift it

 

[o0n8]

since you are replacing the engine, on option for more power with out the worry of a turbo is put in a KL v6. Just depends on how much work you're looking to do.

 

[bmacster]

since you are replacing the engine, on option for more power with out the worry of a turbo is put in a KL v6. Just depends on how much work you're looking to do.

I thought about the turbo idea but decided against it. Just gonna get it cleaned up, stop burning/drinking oil and it'll be the reliable daily driver.

I gotta fix up my truck to be a semi daily runner while the car is down first, so this project may be delayed a month or two while I order from RockAuto.