accordionfolder said:FSP_ZX2 said:<..> 10" wheels fit in front, 9's in back...all under a gentle roll.
Not to completely derail the thread, but what offset are you using to get that size wheel under it? Coming from miatas and civics - the offset on these cars is a bit batty (i.e. none of my wheels come close to fitting).
Those are off-the-shelf 949 racing ET25, and as I recall we run a 10mm spacer...might be 15, but its nothing fancy.
I drove an 03 (I think) ZX2 once, the one with the better-looking grille. Honestly, I was pretty blown away by how good it handled. It felt like a great driver's car. The engine was a little so-so, but I didn't even care. Mazda nailed that chassis.
The interior was pretty cheap feeling, but for the price these go for now, who cares.
I haven't driven a DSM in a LONG time (like 1998!), but from what I remember, it wasn't exactly that great in terms of handling or dynamics.
In fact, this is a funny story. I actually test drove a GS Eclipse and crashed it on the test drive! I was a teenager and foolish. Took a turn to fast and there was sand on the road (spring time in Idaho). Boom! Brick wall. Car was drivable somehow. I had to return it to the owner, who was not too pleased. "Hey, so the car wasn't so great, I crashed it." Very awkward. The best part was that HER insurance covered it. I payed her deductible. Anyway,
Well, I haven't owned a ZX2 but ive driven several and i've owned a 2g non turbo (2gnt) DSM (and a dodge avenger which is also technically a non turbo 2g dsm). I've also owned Neons.
If you want something that feels light and eager, you're way better off with the ZX2. If you're planning on leaving it only mildly modified, still zx2. At this point i'll point out that the Neon is a great alternative as well.
But, if you are planning to do a pretty serious build, I'd take the 2g DSM. The looks inside and out have it all over the Escort, but in terms of stock performance the non-turbo cars are very uninspiring. That's fixable either n/a or with boost. A lot of neon stuff transfers over in terms of engine building. The lack of variety of bolt-on intake manifold options is really the main difference in terms of building a dohc neon engine vs a 420a. People have gone 13s in non-turbo 2.0L dsms. The suspension on the 2g dsm is pretty good. The one i owned had a tein coilover setup and that alone was pretty transformational vs a stock car. They too can fit massive wheels/tires under them. Brake upgrades are out there. The neon 5spd trans is pretty tough.
So basically, take the ZX2. I'd take my dream build of a 2gnt over my dream build of a ZX2 any day, but a ZX2 is more fun out of the gate and will stay that way until you're pretty far down the dsm rabbit hole.
+1 for serious build, go DSM.
Also, 2G DSM has double wishbones
Vigo said:Well, I haven't owned a ZX2 but ive driven several and i've owned a 2g non turbo (2gnt) DSM (and a dodge avenger which is also technically a non turbo 2g dsm). I've also owned Neons.
If you want something that feels light and eager, you're way better off with the ZX2. If you're planning on leaving it only mildly modified, still zx2. At this point i'll point out that the Neon is a great alternative as well.
But, if you are planning to do a pretty serious build, I'd take the 2g DSM. The looks inside and out have it all over the Escort, but in terms of stock performance the non-turbo cars are very uninspiring. That's fixable either n/a or with boost. A lot of neon stuff transfers over in terms of engine building. The lack of variety of bolt-on intake manifold options is really the main difference in terms of building a dohc neon engine vs a 420a. People have gone 13s in non-turbo 2.0L dsms. The suspension on the 2g dsm is pretty good. The one i owned had a tein coilover setup and that alone was pretty transformational vs a stock car. They too can fit massive wheels/tires under them. Brake upgrades are out there. The neon 5spd trans is pretty tough.
So basically, take the ZX2. I'd take my dream build of a 2gnt over my dream build of a ZX2 any day, but a ZX2 is more fun out of the gate and will stay that way until you're pretty far down the dsm rabbit hole.
This seems right to me - There are ZX2 turbos out there, but the transmission really holds it back a bit.
https://youtu.be/cpIzve7JfJ0
This guy build a pretty cool ZX2 Turbo - but he's gone through SIX transmissions! In this video series he upgrades to a Contour transmission I believe - not sure if that helps. Worth noting he more than doubled the stock horse power, so back to what Vigo said. Stock -> Mild ZX2 is a great way to go. Beyond that you're going to have to work for your performance.
There were no basic engine differences between a stock ZX2 and the SR. It was 99.5% in the ECU to add 13 hp. Stock exhaust with a Borla muffler, remove the resonator from the air filter.
so if you can find an SR ECU it is a plug in.
The ZX2 gets more air.
ZX2 seems like one of those flavors of BG chassis that got a lot of "the best of" parts from that family of cars. I always thought the 323 hatchback was my favorite body style of all of the BG cars.
Apparently other people have the same idea as the 4 ive been looking at sold shortly lol
accordionfolder said:Not to deter you, but if you're considering the ZX2, have you looked at the Civic and friends from Honda? I.e. similar year Civic/Prelude/Accords - I love my ZX2, just adding to the discussion. I think they generally cost a bit more.
The Fords are DIRT cheap from what I've seen locally. Interior is pretty good, steering feel OK, brakes on mine don't have good feel, but with good pads do their job well. The real party trick seems to be reliability - they run like tops and make good power.
Im not too interested in the Civics etc, they are fine cars just usually more spendy and its kinda what everybody has, i like being different lol
I found one but its an automatic, any downsides there vs the manuals?
Wait for a 5 speed. It is a typical, soul-less, econobox with an automatic
FSP_ZX2 said:Wait for a 5 speed. It is a typical, soul-less, econobox with an automatic
Really? Damn, this one is in great shape
In reply to Antihero :
If you're not afraid of swapping, the junkyard is littered with manuals, in Nashville at least.
I have driven an auto ZX2 and yup, it takes it all the way back down to boring.
Before automatics had 6+ gears, pretty much any non-turbo 4 hooked to an auto was boring to drive. I remember the Mini Cooper S being about the first fwd 4 cyl automatic that didn't suck. Now a 4cyl/auto Mazda3 runs 15.4 in the 1/4 mile with no turbo or supercharger. Back when the ZX2 was around even a TURBO 4cyl/automatic DSM would be lucky to hit that.
In reply to Vigo :
It is amazing how different things are now.
Got to drive a manual 00 zx2 today, but the guy had huge tires on it, which is probably the reason it wasnt very peppy to drive. Kinda sad
The search continues
Back when my mom had an '01 Integra GS 1.8/5spd, she replaced the worn out 195/50/15s on it with 195/55/15s, and what little satisfaction i got from the engine (i had a neon at the time that was WAAAY faster with almost no mods) was GONE. The taller and heavier tires took the edge off it and made it boring.
So, i agree with your premise and suggest that if you do get one that you bolt some very short, very light wheels/tires to it.
Vigo said:Back when my mom had an '01 Integra GS 1.8/5spd, she replaced the worn out 195/50/15s on it with 195/55/15s, and what little satisfaction i got from the engine (i had a neon at the time that was WAAAY faster with almost no mods) was GONE. The taller and heavier tires took the edge off it and made it boring.
So, i agree with your premise and suggest that if you do get one that you bolt some very short, very light wheels/tires to it.
Thats my plan, i forgot to note the size on this one but they were inside the wheel wells and he bent the front fender lip so it didnt rub, so freaking huge.
Another automatic one popped up with 64k original miles on it that im trying to resist too
Got to drive a manual with the right size tires, very fun to drive.
If it wasnt for huge blowby i would have came home with it.
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