MX-3.com

im looking into buying an mx-3 and there is a big choice i need to make. i found a mx-3 GS for 3600 bucks and a base mx3 for the same price. i like the looks of the GS better cause it has the factory groundeffects and a factory spoiler and rims but im affraid i will run into more problems with the V6 as apposed to the 4cyl. Please help im stuck! which has the better engine. im more concerned about reliablility than performance at the moment.

i have had both a 92 RS and GS, i liked my GS more

Thats good to hear cause i do want the GS more. Im just concerned about reliability rather than performance at the moment. What are some of the major problems that come with the GS that i should look for when buying?

most of what i heard about the GS and what happend 2 mine is water pump and timeing belt...but thats way down the line if the car was not drivin like hell!

Sounds good! Another thing i've heard is that the engine bay is small and the engine big (for the GS) and that there is NO room and also the repair costs are more cause of it. idk if there is much truth in that..

Get the 4 cylinder. Ive had the 4 and the 6. When I had the k8 in my 6 it gave me way more trouble than my 88hp 4 cylinder did. If you decide to get more power in the future, just turbo it. 4 Cylinders are waaaaay easier to turbo than the 6's.

i dont want to walk on what anyone else has said (i mean to each his own) but i've had my gs for about 30k now (bout 2 years) and have had relativly no problems with it.. i've had to replace the clutch shortly after i got it but it's ran fine since, and just recently i had a cv joint problem but other than that, i swear to you it's one of the most reliable cars i've owned!

the engine bay is pretty tight, at least in the gs, the engine fits pretty snuggly in the bay but it's a tight squeeze.

and yet another problem i heard with all mx-3s is that the axles go. this true?

Other than normal wear items (mufflers, brakes, belts, tires) both axles are the ONLY parts I have had to replace on my '93 4cyl. in 137,000 miles. ).

If they are both 5-speeds, flip a coin, reliability isnt a huge issue. They are decent cars if they were taken care of.

thanks for the info packed post! yes both i was looking at were 5-spds. question: why do u choose auto over man??

My 95 RS 165,000 miles - replaced Axles, alternator (everything else was general maintenance)
my 1992 GS 135K miles - axles, PS pump, distributor (everything else was general maintenance or upgrades)
My other 1992 GS 125K miles. (so far.. just axles

If I had the choice.. Id get a GS.

i replaced both axles last year with re-manufactuered ones. My passenger side was making that rubbing noise, and my ZE swap was a few months away, so when the engine was out, we replaced the axle, and both axles have a lifetime warranty, so i didnt have to pay for it

Why do I choose automatic over manual? I dont want to hijack your thread by turning it into a 5speed vs. manual debate, but since you asked...
1. Wife hates shifting. Taught her how in the Rx7, she did very well, but still didnt like it. The Mx3 was going to be 'her car' so it had to be auto.

2. I do a lot of city driving. Shifting gets old.

3. Cincinnati has been blessed with a rediculous amount of highway construction in the past decade. Lots of backups. Shifting gets old.

4. Cant hold a Big Mac, a drink, the steering wheel, and shift at the same time.

5. Admitting to driving an automatic will irritate the crap out of 80% of the people on any car forum you dare post to, and instantly create a debate. That alone is worth the entertainment value, I need something to keep me awake at work all day! :p

Getting back to your original question, since your candidates are both 5 speed, you're much better off reliability speaking. It will also make any engine swap you consider a whole lot easier.

how much in canadian dollars is it to get your axels replaced, im thinking of replacing mine soon and i was just wondering,

ya, the auto tranny for the mx is suppost to be one of the worst trannies ever put in a car, as soon as i get all of my turbo, im doing a tranny swap

I have to say im with 13flat on this...
When i read the boards i se soo many problems,
but i really havent had anything wrong exept the normal things you have to repair/replace when driving a car...

I think it's one of the most reliable cars i know of,not like so many really cr**py car's

I'd say buy the Gs for sure