Escort ZX2 opinions

[sixhex]

well i've calculated the cost of restoring my vehicle to a 'like new' state (as opposed to it's current 'dangerously operative' state) and it totals close to $2000
I've been broke so bad this last year due to moving into my own place (then a nice spring unemployment) i've been lucky to change the oil often enough.

however, a certain lump sum of money is coming into my possession on monday and now i'm faced with: fix my protege up, but never have it looking\driving quite the same ever again ( might i direct you to this little reason right here, or buy a newer non-totalled car.

the opportunity has arisen for me to buy a friends excellent condition ZX2.
I know a bit about these in terms of specs and performance and their appearance is not too bad... (the whole 'ford' aspect is ...eh, but oh well, and i'm not too fond of some of it's roundiness but whatever.)
it's a 99, no dents, 90k miles, $1000 of stereo equipment, new rims, etc. all for $3500

oh and I have zx2 s\r springs and struts that i'll put on it, if it doesn't have them already (not sure if it's s\r or not)

I'm thinking this may be the best option, what do you guys think?

[jitb37]

I dont know why ppl think ford makes bad cars. They make good cars just like any other company. nd there cars break just like any other company.

*anyway*

zx2's are nice cars to me. Alot of aftermarket.. Thats a good price for a 99 plus all the extras. The zetec is a failry decent motor.

[Gro Harlem]

zx2 is basically a protege unibody with IMO pretty ugly ford styling on the outside.

but they have a decent aftermarket and lots of decent looking bodykits to fix that. Plus the Zetec motor has more of an aftermarket than the BP and its definitely not a bad engine, it can make DAMN good power and has some turbo kits that work well with it too, and aren't overpriced.

If you can afford it & really like it, go for it! The only thing i really hate about zx2's is the super-extremely fugly interiors and semi-fugly exteriors. The rest of the car has great potential.

[91ProtegeDX]

if the zx2 is a manual.....for 3500 eh....if you dont care about cars holding their value then id at least look around a little more...though its a plus that your buying it from someone you know. if youve got 3500 on hand like...right now then id say no and look around for something else...but if its a friend whos gonna let you do payments and such then just go for it. not like it wont work.

oh and for the "ford making bad cars comment" .... its a 50/50 thing...when u buy a ford ur either gonna get a really reliable car or your gonna get a brand new lemon.... it was so funny at the station today....a guy pulled in who works for the main ford place in our area in a brand new, plastic still on the seats ford taurus SEL ..... thing wouldnt start and we had to jump him....it just kept clicking.....on a brand new car common ford.

[funkdaddysmack]

My college roomie had/has a ZX2. It was fairly torquey driving around town, but it was no speed demon. If you like the car, get it. Seems like a fairly good deal.

[MazKid]

oh and for the "ford making bad cars comment" .... its a 50/50 thing...when u buy a ford ur either gonna get a really reliable car or your gonna get a brand new lemon.... it was so funny at the station today....a guy pulled in who works for the main ford place in our area in a brand new, plastic still on the seats ford taurus SEL ..... thing wouldnt start and we had to jump him....it just kept clicking.....on a brand new car common ford.

Bah, that's a simple dead battery...happens often and with any car company. Someone prolly drove the car and left a dome light on.

[sixhex]

well i decided not to buy it and i just started fixing up the protege finally.
they decided not to sell it anyway, so i guess it worked out.

why go buy a new(old) car that i'll still have to do some repairs on right away (used cars, no matter what, there's something you have to do to it) when i have a car that runs just fine?

i don't think i'd be happy with a zx2 anyway, i took a long look at them after i was offered this one, and i can't get over how ugly they are

[MazKid]

That's the fun part of buying a used car, to me atleast. Getting it, then making a list of every broken part, and then figuring what factory options/parts you can get at the same time. Many trips to the junkyard, hours working on the car, and when you're done it's YOUR car, doesn't feel like several people had it before you. My Protege felt all mine a few days after I got it...started feeling like mine on the highway on the way hope, nah, that must have been the warped/unbalanced rear tires.

[91ProtegeDX]

Bah, that's a simple dead battery...happens often and with any car company. Someone prolly drove the car and left a dome light on.

No i mean the guy pulled right up to the station and turned the car off...he went inside to ask a question or something and he went back to his car...and it wouldnt start.....