Buying a Beater
Thread Starter
Dysfunctional Veteran
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,108
Likes: 323
From: Van Alstyne, TX
if i had hired out the engine mods alone on that car, i woulda been out about $7,000. Did 99.9% of it myself. No performance mods for the civic. its an auto trans...if i do anything more than i already have it will be apearence (rims/tires...Etc.)Considering Toyota sold that car under its nameplate in Japan, I would get the JDM badges. When I was in Tokyo back in 1999 I picked up a Toyota brochure to check out the MR2 and Supra only to see that TOYOTA CAVALIER in the pics, 
What was Toyota thinking.
Also agree that drive train is near the end of its life, the 2.4 was pretty tourquy when I drove it.
What was Toyota thinking.Also agree that drive train is near the end of its life, the 2.4 was pretty tourquy when I drove it.
and as far as the drivetrain goes...i really dont think it is near the end of its life at all. I shifts so smooth i cant even feel the shifts. but then again i dont romp on it either. it has the 2.2L not the 2.4. the tranny fluid is a bright red as it should be. people said the ford contour was a pile of **** car to...but damned if my family didnt get 385,000 miles out of one. lol
Out of Warranty
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,925
Likes: 13
From: Houston, Republic of Texas
New idea for a CL event: a "Concours de Beater" where points are awarded for the best looking, highest mileage, oldest vehicle that is not garaged and used, at least occasionally, as a commuter, grocery getter, and home-improvement hauler. Cleanliness is rewarded, but minor oil drips, slightly worn tires, and parking lot dings are not penalized. Entrants would have to drive their vehicles around a closed course at parking-lot speeds with nothing of consequence falling off, with points deducted for rusted mufflers, dry idler bearings, squealing brakes, moaning power steering pumps, and non-functional AC (if so equipped). 
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,702
Likes: 290
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
and as far as the drivetrain goes...i really dont think it is near the end of its life at all. I shifts so smooth i cant even feel the shifts. but then again i dont romp on it either. it has the 2.2L not the 2.4. the tranny fluid is a bright red as it should be. people said the ford contour was a pile of **** car to...but damned if my family didnt get 385,000 miles out of one. lol
(And, as others have said, for only $1000, it's hard to go wrong).
BTW, from some stats I've seen, the average life of a Contour/Mystique V6 was 180-200K, the four, 150K. 385K is remarkable....was that with or without overhauls? Seems like it would be putting out a big cloud of blue smoke at that mileage without at least a few overhauls or rebuilds.
Thread Starter
Dysfunctional Veteran
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,108
Likes: 323
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Its called a well taken care of car MMarshall. my dad bought it with 50K and it had synthetic oil ever since(not saying that that was the sole reason for the longevity, but im sure it helped). I ate the *** end of a dodge ram 3/4 ton at 384,992 miles. it went through me learning to drive stick (at 14), me as a pizza delivery driver, then me as a courier, then (when i was 18) my brother learned to drive stick on it. after all that, all it needed was a clutch at 200K. car still had plenty of life left in it. I think we may have done a wheel bearing or 2, but not during the time i owned it. i inherited it officially on my 17th birthday. (after i paid 10 payments of $100), with 200,000 miles.
oh yeah, and we replaced o2 sensors and plugs, but those i consider maintenance items.
EDIT: It was a 95 2.0L Zetec with the 5 spd MTX-75 trans.
oh yeah, and we replaced o2 sensors and plugs, but those i consider maintenance items.
EDIT: It was a 95 2.0L Zetec with the 5 spd MTX-75 trans.
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