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"I think for this kind of price It is pretty much top noch in the performance area.
Floridian
Also. Anyone intersted in the zx2 in general should see the forum on www.zx2.com. There are over 700 active participants in topics from performance, appearence, etc. It is very helpful.
Duane-
Whoever got his car must have taken it in again because they called us one day and said your car is fixed and I said we do not own a neon, we have a zx2 and they never called back so they must have gotten it straighten out. Probably only replaced the spark plug again.
I paid a visit to my original Ford Dealer, and to a Chevy Dealer. The only thing the Chevy dealer could offer me was base a model Cavalier. I too share a dislike for this car, though I do respect and rather like the feel of the Z24 Cavalier. I Also I didn't click with the personality of the salesman. He kept trying to compare the options and luxuries of the Cavalier to the ZX2. He didn't seem want to hear that though the Cavalier does have better options, it is seriouly lacking in performance. I like the soft life in a car, but performance comes in ahead of luxuries everytime. IT is interesting to note that even on the Chevy web sight they compare the ZX2 to the Z24. Which is clearly in another league of performance and price.
At the Ford dealer the prospects maybe a little better. I am currently begining the negotiating process for a white ZX2 fully loaded. At the moment we are at $13,700 for a fully loaded ZX2. However I would gladly trade the Automatic trans for Anti lock brakes. I told him if we can get down to around $12,000 on this car or a similar car with the A/C, Sunroof, convienance package, and the power group we might be able to do business. We will be discussing it in greater detail on Tuesday. I don't realy care about the auto trans. Cd Changer with prem sound; and the anti lock brakes are rather nice they are not a requirment. As I said before, everything else is just toffee on top. Odds are good I am shooting for the moon, but it is worth the shot. I will find out on Monday how much I have to play with after the settlement of my totaled car. I am going to have to put some of the money towards all these massive bills I have incurred. Cross your fingers for me guys...
Oh and Ralex, the S/R I spoke of a couple of posts ago is going for $13,900 after the rebates. Though I did breifly entertain the thought, I realy do get nervous of Red Cars.
Another Car I am thinking of is a Silver 98 ZX2 with 21,000 miles. It has a manual trans, antilock brakes and all the trimings. HOwever correct me if I am mistaken, but I think $10,000 seems a bit high for this. When I can get a new one for slightly more. I will be seeing the dealer tomorrow night (saturday) to discuss it in greater detail.
Sorry Beanboy with no offence intended. The Neon is definately out. I had one for a day and couldn't stand it.
On an unrelated note I saw a limited edition Cobra R outside the show room. Apparently it is only one of 300 made. Very impressive to look at to be sure, and with a price of $54,000 I am positive it is a steal. Curiously though NO Where on the car does it mention Cobra, apart from on the Sticker. I thought that was part of the Cobra mystique? In my case though the funny impression that went through my mind was, "what all that and no sunroof?"
I think you maybe right Ralex; that last wreck may have rattled some brains around, it would explain a great many things. Another idiotic idea I even considered briefly was putting in for a part time job as a car sales man? Very stupid I know...
This is not to say we all agree, we don't (I like the Z24 Cavalier, yet others do not) However we all respect each others opinions, and freely and in a freindly way argue our sides of those differences. With anyluck it will continue this way, with new names, and opinions joining us. SAddly I fear as the last of the ZX2s arrive from Mexico, the ZX2ers will grow smaller.
If this seems rather sappy and soft visit some of the others discussions and you will seem my point.
I factory ordered a zx two months ago and am still waiting. It had a build date in middle June but that has come and gone, though the dealer assures that they are still (as of this week) being built for the American market.
Does anyone have any official confirmation as to when they will cease building them for the US? Someone posted here about six weeks ago that a Ford spokesman stated that as long as they could sell 35,000 a year they would keeping building/selling them. The post did not state whether or not this was for the domestic or world market.
I plan to go on a crusade next week to try to find what I want. Since i travel in my job I'll be able to check out about 15 dealers around the central part of the state. I may just hit paydirt. Right color,right equipment etc. With the .9% financing I just cannot pass that up.
Floridian
This may interest you Ralex, I found a Malibu Blue ZX2 with the leather seats we spoke of many times. Though I couldn't take it for a test drive, I did sit in it. They do look really good I will say that for them, with ZX2 Logo in upper back area of the seat. However for whatever reason I think for comfort I prefer the cloth seats. The cloth ones just seem to hold my body more securely. Also in a strange twist the 14 inch wheels with ultra polished chrome spokes look rather tacky on this colour ZX2. Not that the wheels will decide which car I get. For some reason those idiotic swirls are starting to grow on me. Perhaps with a better tire on them they would look better.
Some minor goodnews all being well I will be getting a bonus next pay. With any luck it will be enough to help me out with the new car. I am thinking I may hold off until a week from Thursday before going for my new car. The logic is that I get paid then and I am going to need all the help I can get. The only question that remains is how much the insurance company will pay me. This I hope to learn tomorrow. Slim chance does anybody know of any high interest short term savings accounts I could put the settlement into for a couple weeks? I always could put it into my now non existant savings account, however the interest it earned would be trivial.
As far as I know the S/R struts I ordered for my green Z are still on backorder. I don't want to cancel them till I have an S/R on the way. The two black ones were still on the Joplin lot yesterday, but the red one was gone. They haven't called me since last Wednesday - maybe they have given up on me. They are only offering me 8,500 for mine - would like to get 10,000 for it. Ought to be worth 11,000 if I sell it myself. Of course I would let you have it for 10,000, but it's a long way from here to there.
In my case though the funny impression that went through my mind was, "what all that and no sunroof?"
In reference to the Cobra R.
Oh well... What can ya do?
But if anyone has any questions about the ZX2 or the S/R, please e-mail me at dkeys@chaosium.net and I will gladly answer them. But I urge everyone to test drive an S/R (if you can still find them) before making a deicsion!
Duane-
At the risk of comparing two completely different cars. The first "mod" I did when I got my ZX2; and will be again when I get my next one, was to remove the dealer logo decals. When I first did this the salesman was shocked. Then I told him "well would you rather have the decal or someone telling then where to buy there next ford with a handfull of his business cards in the glovebox". He saw things my way pretty quick after he sold three cars based upon my bragging where I got my car. This just another of my sillier tools as I enter into negotiations. THREE solid and confirmable sales resulting from my first purchase. Stupid to be sure but they can't deny that they are sales based upon a customers recommendation.
Funny thing and a credit to the car. I have had two major and possible life threatening accidents. Have the distinctly unusual claim of having it owned it for an Equal amount of time being repaired as opposed to driving it. Yet I am still very loyal to the car. Even if I can't afford a new one right now, odds are I will probably spring for a used one. Such is the power of it's appeal.
Still haven't made up my mind yet. Maybe tomorrow something will happen to sway me one way or the other. I did see a Yellow S/R on the road today and it looked great!
I noticed my order for S/R struts for my green Z was a month old and they were still on backorder, so I cancelled the order. I have found another source for them in TX and they are 20 bucks cheaper. If I don't trade, I will order from TX. And if I don't trade, I will have to buy tires. That's almost 600 bucks to keep the green Z. hmmmmm.
-Beanboy
Ralex,
The s/r does indeed appear to be about an inch or two taller off the road than the regular ZX2. I think though this is caused by the Goodyear F4 tires. Which are visible larger than the standard tires RSA 15 inch tires. When I came back from my test drive, I parked it beside the white one I am hoping to get next week.
Either the two White ZX2s which are new stock have sagged, or the S/R is a bit odd. I Parked the Red ZX2 right beside the white one I am hoping to buy a week from this Saturday. While the other white ZX2 was behind the space I used for the Red S/R. Though it was hard tell from that angle, it too appeared a little lower. Based upon what you said now I am wondering if the parking deck they are all parked on is truly level. When I go back I will have a look and see. Perhaps I should go back with a tape measure and see.
On a new car related note I also test drove a Tiberion and an Accent today. I know it may seem ridiculous, but I actually prefered the Accent to the Tiberion. The Tiberion I literally drove it around the block and returned it saying "nope I DO NOT WANT one of these". The problem was with the sunroof (echoes of a ZX2) I went over two speed bumps and banged my head into the roof top both times. Additionaly I wasn't comfortable with the feel of the car overall. The seats just would not match my body, and the windows where terrible. IF it tells you anything I think I prefer the base Cavalier with it's poor performance to the Tiberion. I know sports cars are a little harder from conventional coupes and hatchbacks. In most I can find a measure of comfort as I did in my dead ZX2 however not in the Tiberion.
If the new ZX2 falls through and I can't find what I want in a used ZX2; the Accent maybe a real contender. IT seems like such a demotion though, I haven't owned an econo zip box as a primary car in at least 12 years. Still that 5 year warranty and the price sound pretty good. For $10,000 I can have one fully loaded and customized to the gills.
I spent some time in the Cougar group here at Edmunds and I have never seen such a loyal bunch of car owners. The Cougar folks are almost like a cult, they love their cats passionately. Definitely a great ride, but not in the same class with the Z. The ZX2 S/R will out handle the cat and probably stay with it on acceleration by virtue of its lighter weight. I prefer to save the 5K difference and go with the sportier S/R, but if you are looking for style, comfort, and adequate performance, the Cougar is still a good buy in the 18000 to 20000 price range.
Elantra is a nice ride....Tib with a 4 dr body. More performance than Accent. Accents are selling pretty good out here despite the 1.5 liter motor.
Saw a new Tib commercial on TV last night...big push right now...selling them for 13,900. They were in very short suppl for awhile but I think the factory has caught up.
With this upsurge in sporty car sales, I think we can expect to see some improved products rolling off the line and the big 3 may even be forced to produce a 2 seat Miata clone.
Next years hot seller? They think it will be the piece of sh*t Thunderbird.
I don't think the Cougar is going to be much better than that, if any.
The base Cougar engine is the same as the ZX2 and you might assume its not enough power for a bigger car, but the fact is it performs quite well.
The noise/vibration/harshness commen to the ZX2 are all quelled in the Cougar. It makes it much more pleasant to drive at the engines limits.
I would have bought the Cougar, but the dealers werent ready to deal. They think they have a hot commodity with those Cougars.
I am estatic with my ZX2 S/R. I bought a much better performing car than the Cougar I4 for about 3,000 less. The S/R is easily a match for the V6 Cougar as well. It has similar accelleration times and much better handling.
The Cougar interior is very attractive, but once you get past its looks, you realize that materials and switches arent all that great.
MjC
the Tibirion I test drove was a Manual Trans. In the 8 minutes I test drove it, I did like the smoothness of the shift, but hated just about everything else. Then Interior of the one I drove was black leather, damned uncomfortible and left me with a clear headache. The styling also left a lot to be desired. The instuments had no logic or ergonimic sense to me. As for that Sunroof, I went over two speed bumps and smacked my head into the roof. To be honest I don't think I have ever had a test drive that left me so disalusioned so fast. Another thing that annoyed me was total lack of visibilty from the windows. IT realy does need some work that car. It's ashame because the paper preformance and the exterior styling apart from the front end is realy quite nice. If had to choose between a Cavaliar and Tiberion; the Cavalier would get the vote hands down. Despite my fondness for the Z24 version, I realy don't like the Cavalier. Better still give me the Z24 S/R in white!!! Then we may have something. On whim and a blind chance on luck, I asked my dealer to day to try and keep his eyes open today for a white one. Damn did I enjoy that test drive. The more I thought about it the more I did like that s/r I drove. IF only the damn thing wasn't Red. At the moment given all I have been through the last thing I want to worry about is attracting the police with some high speed stupidity on my part.
If I can't get the dealer to come down to an agreeable price for me, I have every intention of walking out the door and getting something else. Carmax has a several dozen cars I would consider and I would certainly entertain the Accent. Does anybody know anything about the GS version of the Accent?
Coupes maybe back after all. Tis true that the ZX2 is on its way out. However Coupes seem to attract attention everywhere they go. For my part as a single male in his late 30s I can't stand 4 door sport sedans. If I had a family I could see myself in one. However not anytime soon.
Part of my unreasonable dislike for four doors is the security issue. IF you guys remember that Escort I was driving following my first accident? When I went south to collect my subsequently totaled ZX2 I called in that ultimate tourist trap South of the Border to use the bathroom and stretch my legs. Afterwards I jumped back in and headed into Myrtle Beach. What I didn't realise was when I loaded the car in Virginia I left the rear passenger door unlocked. Result the old camera bag I used for toiletries and containing a cheap point and shoot camera was not in the car when I got into Myrtle Beach. The actaul loss was negligible as the camera though very good retailed for under $100. However I am firmly convinced that if I had not called in South of the Border it would still have been there. Granted it was my own stupidity but the security risk is increased dramaticaly.
My next one will hopefully be either silver or white. Though I do have a special affinity to to the silver version I have a feeling white will be the chosen.
To remove the ZX2 just peel it off with your finger nails. Thats all did. The little bit plastic, and glue left over came right off by buffing it for a couple seconds with of things a cotton hankerchief. Later on I gave it a good rubing with a soft shamey, just to eliminate any ghosts in the wax. I encourage you to do so as it realy does make the car look better. I am in fact looking forward to doing it again a week from Saturday. This time though I will probably remove it, and the dealer logo in front of the salesman, just freak him out a little. I have to have a little fun with the guy's head don't I?
I will let Ralex comment upon your sound effects as I can't imagine what it could be caused by. DRiving manual is like riding a bike once you learn you never forget. In the years that I owned an Automatic Trans as my primary, I noticed I became a very lazy driver some of that carried over into the ZX2. Now I am in the market for a manual transmission, yes it's hell on my bad ankles and knees when I am in traffic. However for sheer driving pleasure you can't compete with a manual.
Part of doing quick starts is learning just when the optimum moment for shifting is. Early one Sunday morning find a huge deserted shopping center parking lot and practise. Keep doing this for a few weekends until you can do it WITHOUT taking your eyes of the road ahead and without grinding your gears. I think most everyone here may have a slight advantage over you in years and experience. HOwever each one of us who is over 35 had to start at sometime. IT just may have been in an era before we all had VCRs to say nothing of computers. One thing that I prefer a manual trans for; is driving in snow and bad weather. A manual car is much easier to control at low speed in heavy snow.