+++ Is it really worth keeping my 93' MX-3? Help me decide..

[BuffaloBill]

Ok I am gonna lay it all out and I just want some feedback if it is really worth my time, money and effort to keep my 1993 Mazda MX-3 1.6L on the road or buy a new car.

I bought the car from a guy who was from Japan and was living in WNY but was just finished with college here. He need to sell the car quick (within 3 days) and I bought it for a steal. It ran fine... needed a new clutch soon but that was really all that was wrong with it. It had 2 bad paint spots but no rust had formed on the actual metal because the car had spent most of its time in California. It came up to central PA in fall of 2002 and then shortly there after to WNY.

As of right now, I want to drive my car off a bridge. It runs so terribly now than when I got it. It frustrates me so much because I feel all the work I still have to do is going to be not worth my time... but I really don't know if it is or isn't. Let me outlay the work I have done to it:
- main exhaust pipe going from the engine
- shifter linkage / hook-up to tranny
- brakes complete
- left front axel - the axel boot got sliced and ruined the whole axel
- front windshield - smashed by some stupid mf
- gasket work and typical top of the engine work

What needs to be done:
- driver window, passanger window, and sunroof
- clutch
- locks
- wiring
- speedometer cable
- paint
- total tune up / filters / alternator belt
- misc. engine work

My car really runs terrible right now... the clutch is totally about to go. I shouldn't have let it have gone this far but it has only gotten really bad in the past month or so. How easy is it to do it yourself? $600+ for a mechanic to do it?

My passanger window totally started on fire 2 days ago and is down completely. My driver window still "works" but sounds off track and won't move from the 3/4 opening it's in. The sunroof had part of the passanger side arm break off so it can't grab the window and seal it down so no water leaks in - water comes in every time it rains through the small opening it has.

If I lock my doors... I will be locked out. I guess the broken windows help out with that problem haha. I have the electronic locks and windows and it seems like it is totally shot. I have to pull my locks to get them open from the inside.

So is my wiring bad? All signs point to yes. When I start my car... the seatbelt on the passanger side after the car is on for 5 secs locks in and buzzes super loud for no reason. My rpms are pretty low too. Might have something to do with the alternator cable being bad. It squeals for a good 10-30 seconds after you start the car but goes away while driving.

My speedometer broke less than 2 weeks ago. I like the fact I have no limits on the road though... driving w/o the speedometer is fun and liberating; my clutch is bad so I do whatever I gotta do not to stress it out so not seeing the speed isn't such a bad thing. All my other gauges work as far as I know.

The paint is really starting to go. I need to get it pained. No serious rust but the grey spots look stupid. I will only do this though if I decide to fix up the car.

I bet I need a slew of other things for my car to get back into shape, hopefully you guys can give me some good tips on what I should do.

PLEASE RESPOND!!! I really need your honest opinion on what I should do.

[Juans_93_MX3]

If you want your MX3 to be a daily driver, GET RID OF IT
Unless, you have a extra daily driver and you have mechanic knowledge or wiring knowledge.

Just try to fix the wiring

Did you do a CAR FAX on the MX3 before you got it?
I am betting the moron that had it before you, messed up the wiring
Ether that, or the car was set on fire or something

[hgallegos915]

ill give ya 300 dllrs for it

[NorCalMX3]

ill give ya 300 dllrs for it

haha.

oh, and a few things, the alternator belt isnt too bad a job, if u wanna send it to cali (yea right), ill do the clutch for 100 bucks, scince import transmission is easy to do, i did my first clutch with a 5 dollar chaney guidebook, general tune up is easy too, just spend an afternoon on that. other things u put i havent done, but i would keep it neways.

[Tunes67]

Its only worth it if you believe its worth it. The car is 13 years old.. its going to need maintenance. If you dont want to do the maintenance.. or you are unable to do the maintenance.. Sell it and buy a newer car. Simple as that. Best of luck.

Tunes67