MX-3.com

Hey i'm 17 livin in winnipeg and i'm lookin for a nice started car...i've had my eye on mx-3s for a long while and i'm sold on em but i was looking at the stats on them and was wondering if i should go 4 cyl or v6 (either way it's 5 spd or no spd)..it doesn't seem like the v6 burns much more feul but i wanna power whatever i get out, I've been looking around and i noticed tons of cold air intake kits for the 4 cyl but couldn't find much for the 6 and things like this..so in the end bang for buck is it better to go 4 cyl and up or start v6 and build up from there..right now it's lookin like the 130 horse v6 is alot better than 88 horses all around (i'd rather boost the 130 up then try and dink around to even hit the 130 mark)...any ideas would be awesome...thanks (i'm not thinkin engine swap for a good while, just intake exhaust, maybe a new chip, begginer mods)

Just an FYI.. the 88 hp figure you have for the 4cyl only applies to the 92-93 years. In 94 and later.. the 4 cyl engine got a newer DOHC setup and produced 105 hp (I have also seen a 108 number referenced a couple of times) Gas mileage suffered slightly.. but not significantly. I hate to tell you this.. but you are trying to compare apples and oranges. Both platforms are capable of producing gobs of horsepower.. but you will most likely end up swapping either engine out to reach the higher goals. I guess if I was trying to make the choice you are.. I would probably look for the cleanest 5 sp MX-3 I could find with the lowest mileage for the best price and the most options and then let that car decide for me which engine I end up with. Just my opinion though.. best of luck.

Tunes67

That is some of the best advice I think I've heard in a LONG time!

Since this will be your first build, the best thing to do is find a car in good condition. It is so much easier to modify a car that is clean and in good running order. Plus, the money you save in not having to go to the parts counter every weekend....well you get the point.

I know you want someone to tell you which is better. I can't. I can tell you that I own an 1993 RS (4cyl), and am currently looking for a 1994 GS (6 cyl). My personal reason? I love the way the 94 and up interior is styled, and I like the 6 cyl swap better (it fits me better). Bang for the buck is too close to call between the 4 and 6.

I own both a 93 RS and 93 GS. If your looking for power, and are not going to swap engines, then the GS is your choice. If you plan on swapping engines, then I would do a search on the KLZE and BPT engines, and see what kinds of deals you can get, then you might have an idea which one you want.

Both versios has there advantages, and disadvantages.

The RS is lighter, better gas mileage, lower insurance rates, but has rear drums instead of discs, power sterring isn't as good as the GS, and not all comes with power features like windows, sunroof, etc.

Most GS's have all the power options, front/rear spoilers(depending on the previest owner), all wheel discs, 15" wheels, 130hp compared to 88hp. It doesn't get as good gas mileage, insurance is higher.

I hope this helps a little. Either cars have about the same potential. You'll have fun in either.

i just got my gs and i love it more then u coudl imagine even though 130hp isnt that much compared to my 88hp escort i had b4 its freaking amazing and so much fun

if u dont really care about the extra 25 hp then may as well go for the 4 cylinder it will be cheaper in the long run but of course then ur msot likely gonna miss out on the power sunroof and power everything which is also something i love ahha

just good luck finding a good one it took me 2 months to find something in the right price range with what i wanted 95 gs with power everything is harder to come by then u'd think ahah (for me anyways)

If i had to do it again, i don't know which way I'd go. When I got my car, It was completely stock and I couldn't believe the power. Mind you she was my actual first car, and haven't driving much of anything else. I was used to driving my parents '90 Mazda 626 2.2L N/A, which has 105hp, and is automatic, and the throttle responce is very slow. Plus on the Mx-3, not only was there more power (25hp+not automatic), the stiffer suspension and quicker/tighter turning, so when I test drove my Mx-3, it was night and day to the 626, so I immediately fell in love with it.

The way I look at it is this:

GS Pros:
More out of the box fun:
-More power
-Sportier suspension
-Power options/more toys
Tigher turning
Easiest Swaps: K-Series V6's (Except KJ)
Drive parts swappable between the Mx-3, Mx-6, 626, Millenia and Ford Probe

GS Tuning Cons:
Turbo's must be custom
Engine bolt-on's are limited, but enough.
Limited engine bay area
Alot of work to go I4


RS Pros:
Cheaper on insurance
Cheaper on gas
A good amount of bolt-on mods, thanks to the Miata guys
GS parts bolt on (steering rack, rear disc brakes)
Bolt-On turbo's (for the most part)

RS Tuning cons:
N/A power limited
Turbo's a must for power (for those not mechanically inclined, turbo's can also affect reliability)
Add scost/labor to upgrade to GS parts
Alot of work to go V6

Thanks for the info guys....The thing for me is i'm used to alot of power so it doesn't matter what i get i'll want more out of it...i'd rather go 6 cyl like i said before just cause it's a more now kinda deal....I'm used to driving my moms car which is a 1994 cadillac sts pushing 300 ponies and pulls like crazy (i took it to the governor at 205km/h on the highway) and it didn't take 2 long to get there...I drove it so hard that the tranny wouldn't switch gears...and yah it's an auto obviously...i loved the speed and power...so naturally i'm used to that kinda power so i wanna get as much outta what i drive as i can....thanks

to be honest with you I would pick the GS.

Not only is it easier on upkeep with an engine swap (like Nd4SpdSe said theres alot more tuning with a turbo). You get roughly the same amount of HP from a ZE swap as you do with a BPT swap. Also all the goodies are already included with the GS that you'll be looking for to upgrade an RS (rear discs, rear lower sway bar, power options).

it sounds to me that you're looking for lots of power but little tuning on your part. So the KLZE in a GS would suit you perfectly.

if ur used to caddy power , hey u will be greatly dissapointed with any mx-3 power..there just is not much power in our cars!!
its like a chihuhua trying to outrun a greyhound..not gonna happen!!

rayrrod wrote:if ur used to caddy power , hey u will be greatly dissapointed with any mx-3 power..there just is not much power in our cars!!
its like a chihuhua trying to outrun a greyhound..not gonna happen!!

Unless it bites it's anckles, it just bites and hods on
(I can see the imacing of a greyhound running, and a chiwawa holding on to it's tail, flapping around in the wind

Honnestly, caddy's are pretty quick, my boss has a 98 or 99 STS with the northstar v8, and he pulled a 14.88 at the track with traction contro on (add 1sec for TC off), pretty fast for boat

yah the caddy's are pretty crazy....we just took ours (94 sts) into the shop
n when they took it apart there were metal shavings n broken gaskets n a ton of other problems from my driving...i'm not looking to smoke an sts.. i just want to have a decent amount of power for what i'm driving. Alot of my friends think they're light cars can beat the sts...n i proved em all wrong..so i'm not gonna make thier mistakes..lol my one friends mom has a 5 spd chrysler neon r/t n he thought his car would win cause it's nice n light...i absolootly smoked him...i'm thinking the higher horsepower really helps after about 100k...cause his car kinda dies after that n mine keeps pulling up to about 160