Hunting for a replacement

1482 Views 32 Replies 17 Participants Last post by 02LGZX5, Oct 22, 2005

aerostudent

Discussion Starter · Oct 20, 2005

http://www.focaljet.com/ubbthreads/showf...0&fpart=all
There is the story for those that don't venture into the nor-cal forum.

I'm trying to figure out a replacement car. I've been very tempted by the vehicles of a few forum members. My worries at this point are: legal, insurable, and reliable. There are sine great cars that are available, i know of 2 nicely vorteched svt's and a great wagon. The problem with them is legal or insurable. I've hear insurance on a FI car, even a legal one, is a nightmare. If you let the insurance know about it they get you on rates, if you don't then you are screwed if the vehicle is stole or you get in an accident.

I keep looking around for other vehicles in my price range and I don't find much. The focus keeps popping back up as the best option. My problem with the focus is that I've been spoiled by the duratec and what I had done to it. I am no longer willing to put anything visible on the car without a carb#. There is only a single part for the duratec with an eo#, the cosworth intake for a '04. This has me pretty discouraged about the duratec. We are coming up to the 3rd model year of it and we have 1 legal part and it's only for one year of the car. This has me pondering used svt's, they start off as a pretty good package and legal parts exist to make them pretty peppy.

I'm looking for ideas on what to do. I'm pretty lost in all of this and I'm not seeing good options.

1 - 20 of 33 Posts

whiskeytangofoxtrot

· #2 · Oct 20, 2005

Can you run nitrous in CA? Not the cheapest option when you have to keep filling the bottle but a 2.3 with a bunch of suspsension goodies, Cosworth intake, XCal, clutch, and a 75 shot would be kinda really fun.

Plus, cams may not be CARB approved but how the hell would they ever know?

aerostudent

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 20, 2005

I'm not looking for drag racing power, I'm just looking for a fun daily driver.

whiskeytangofoxtrot

· #4 · Oct 20, 2005

I've edited my post, but yeah I hear you.

I'd rather drive a stripped 2.3 with SVT brakes, a clutch, an intake, cams (if you can get away with it,) tune, and some suspension parts than an SVT. I mean, the SVT is a great little car but the 2.3 torque is just too nice to ignore.

Z63R

· #5 · Oct 20, 2005

2

I'd rather drive a stripped 2.3 with SVT brakes, a clutch, an intake, cams (if you can get away with it,) tune, and some suspension parts than an SVT. I mean, the SVT is a great little car but the 2.3 torque is just too nice to ignore.

Bingo.

Ha ha! C'mon, Brian, SNAP OUT OF IT!

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HotRodKougar

· #6 · Oct 20, 2005

2

You could always get the wagon and sell off the obviously non-legal parts

I'm sure there's a Jetter out there who'd take em.

Then all you'd need is a tune and gears.

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YellowSteel

· #7 · Oct 20, 2005

If you really want some boost to mess with, stock boost in CA is about the only option if you don't want paranoia of illegal mods.

I know that just having the cats off my Focus in CA was a big reason I just wanted to trade it in and not deal with it anymore, but I'm a bit loony.

Sounds like you are going used?

Mr. Blue

· #8 · Oct 20, 2005

An exhaust should not be a big deal on the Duratec as long as you do not remove the second cat. You could also do the flex pipe I believe.

focusownerskid

· #9 · Oct 20, 2005

Don't settle for anythin but a D23, everything else is dissapointing in comparison.

How is the market for used '03-'04 MTX D23's in Cali?

I know that just having the cats off my Focus in CA was a big reason I just wanted to trade it in and not deal with it anymore, but I'm a bit loony.

Then why did you take the cats off?

- Drew

YellowSteel

· #10 · Oct 20, 2005

An exhaust should not be a big deal on the Duratec as long as you do not remove the second cat. You could also do the flex pipe I believe.

If it was my car, it wouldn't be worth the trouble to just make noise. I thought I wanted performance, which is what I got and it was damn quick but then I started freaking out about smog in a few years and further depreciation.

YellowSteel

· #11 · Oct 20, 2005

I know that just having the cats off my Focus in CA was a big reason I just wanted to trade it in and not deal with it anymore, but I'm a bit loony.

Click to expand...

Then why did you take the cats off?

- Drew

At the time I didn't really care and just wanted a faster car.

Foci_Fosho

· #12 · Oct 20, 2005

I really enjoy the 2.3, lots of torque as others say...

But if you are looking into something else, try finding a Mazdaspeed Miata. Those are not girly car's by any means.

Turbo + rear wheel drive + manual boost controller = fun fun!!
i know cuz my buddy had one. I believe he was paying somewhere along the lines of close to 2k a year for insurance, a little bit less.

BUR_ZX3

· #13 · Oct 20, 2005

Insuring an FI car is only a hastle if its factory FI.

My insurance company doesn't care about the boost, cuz the records don't indicate any boost.

Granted, when the car is stolen or wrecked, I'm out the money for those parts.

whiteboyslo

· #14 · Oct 20, 2005

You could always get the wagon and sell off the obviously non-legal parts

I'm sure there's a Jetter out there who'd take em.

Then all you'd need is a tune and gears.

that would be my choice right there if you're worried about CARB-legal goodness.

otherwise, what's your price range?

Mike

aerostudent

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 20, 2005

Price range is under 14 grand, closer to 10 grand the better.

WinnipegZX3

· #16 · Oct 20, 2005

You could always buy my mint 2000 zx3. Only has 60k kms (40k miles) on it and is in tight shape. I would sell it for 6500 us, then you could take the money you saved and buy a powerworks so you were still carb legal

It all works out for you, and for moi!

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aerostudent

Discussion Starter · #17 · Oct 21, 2005

bump, anyone else got any ideas?

whiteboyslo

· #18 · Oct 21, 2005

bump, anyone else got any ideas?

what are your must-haves? are we talking just 4-banger, just FF, or what?

don't get me wrong, but i could see a guy your size in something like a Miata or something cool and zippy like that.

Mike

aerostudent

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 21, 2005

fuel efficient, insurable, reliable, and fun.

The miata is a rather appealing idea. I need to go hit up dealerships this weekend.

mtx_zx3

· #20 · Oct 21, 2005

yep get somethign rwd

hmm.. fd rx7

1 - 20 of 33 Posts

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