Anybody rock a 2.3 daily driver?

85_SS_302_Coupe · Jan 18, 2009

Makdaddymac said:
nah...rule of thumb if aint a v8 it wasnt really meant for a mustang...svo aside

C'mon now dude....the first Mustang ever built had a straight six in it.

I DD my Merkur and so far i don't have any complaints, and it's not even running at 100% yet. I've got some issue where i don't have full power at WOT but even at 3/4 pedel it's an animal at 17psi. Of course that's with a turbo, but i would love to have just a plain jane 2.3 coupe with a 5 speed for a DD.

MikeROD16 · Jan 18, 2009

i got a 2.3 DD. its very reliable. sure its not the fastest but with a few tweaks, it can beat little hondas and others. u can put 17lb injectors from a GM motor, remove the air silencer, swap in a header from a ranger, put a K&N filter, and ur gonna have a fairly spunky 4 cyl. and all those parts are junk yard finds except the filter. If you want a DD, I highllyyyyy recommend it

Chrome_Rust · Jan 18, 2009

I have a 90 coupe that is a 2.3... untill i get all the other projects done, it is staying stock. nice to have a second vehicle around. My DD is a 1995 Ram 1500. the Ol' Lady's is a 1997 Cadilliac Catera. I love that little thing. i went to start it today, been sitting for 2 weeks, and here in NW ohio it is freaking cold. It fired up no problem. rattled for a minute (as all 2.3's do) and then i drove it around the block. 5-speed, 3.45 gears, and 16" pony's (i hate pony's, but they had good tires on them so on they went). in town it does damn good on gas. when it was the ol ladys DD she could run 2 weeks on a tank. she drives about 3 miles each way to work.

My .02

stykthyn · Jan 19, 2009

I highly recommend a honda or nissan for a commuter

unless you are just trying to make a statement there are much better cars out there than a 2.3 fox.

QUICK91LX · Jan 19, 2009

The reason I would like a Fox is because they have personality and I just love Mustangs. Honda's and Nissan's and Toyota's are all great, but I can't stand driving them - so boring. I have worked for both Honda and Toyota and never really cared for them all that much. Yes they are great cars for commuting being that they are very reliable and get good gas mileage, but they get a big fat BLAH from me. Not to mention that ones in the price range that I am looking in are absolutely BEAT DOWN. The Mustang allows me the chance to still have a Fox, and maybe even offer the chance to swap in a 2.3 turbo or V8 somewhere down the line.

I am going to look at a 2.3 notchback today as well as the Ranger that I mentioned before. Might take a look at a 93 Cherokee Sport and anything else that I might come across in my travels.

Thanks again for all the input guys.

Evilfox · Jan 19, 2009

If you think a Nissan/Toyota/Honda is boring. Just wait til you drive that slug of a Mustang known as the 4cyl. I had trouble getting it to go up an down the modest hills on highway 5 to downtown Sacramento.

It got awful gas mileage in comparison to other 4cyls. My 2005 Mustang gets better gas mileage on the highway. My '26 with 3.83's(Jaguar IRS) gets slightly worse highway mileage.

25thmustang · Jan 19, 2009

Heres my take... As I owned one for some time.

I had a 1993 4cyl 5-speed, the fastest N/A 4cyl fox body out there. The car was very, VERY underpowered. It takes so much throttle to actually stay with traffic, it gets so so mileage (mid 20s on the highway, low 20s at best mixed). It was scary merging, or pulling out, and it was AWFUL in the snow, to the point it didn't move much under its own power. I went through clutch cables, a clutch, and dealt with a lot of water leaks (not a 4-cyl specific thing). The motor ran great, and the tranny was good, but the car was grossly underpowered.

I got rid of it for my Audi, and now my F250. I personally would get a 5.0 over a 4cyl as a DD. A 5.0 hatch with a 5-speed and 2.73s or 3.08s should get similar mileage, be BETTER in the snow, and IMO easier to work on. More aftermarket to get better mileage and keep it running, and 15x the fun and excitement.

A 4cyl isnot a gokart, it is a heavy, underpowered car with all the problems of the 5.0 and none of the fun.

Of course IMHO, from my experiece.

stykthyn · Jan 19, 2009

25thmustang said:
A 4cyl isnot a gokart, it is a heavy, underpowered car with all the problems of the 5.0 and none of the fun.

amen

Click to expand...

1990_LX · Jan 19, 2009

25thmustang said:
Heres my take... As I owned one for some time.

I had a 1993 4cyl 5-speed, the fastest N/A 4cyl fox body out there. The car was very, VERY underpowered. It takes so much throttle to actually stay with traffic, it gets so so mileage (mid 20s on the highway, low 20s at best mixed). It was scary merging, or pulling out, and it was AWFUL in the snow, to the point it didn't move much under its own power. I went through clutch cables, a clutch, and dealt with a lot of water leaks (not a 4-cyl specific thing). The motor ran great, and the tranny was good, but the car was grossly underpowered.

I got rid of it for my Audi, and now my F250. I personally would get a 5.0 over a 4cyl as a DD. A 5.0 hatch with a 5-speed and 2.73s or 3.08s should get similar mileage, be BETTER in the snow, and IMO easier to work on. More aftermarket to get better mileage and keep it running, and 15x the fun and excitement.

A 4cyl isnot a gokart, it is a heavy, underpowered car with all the problems of the 5.0 and none of the fun.

Of course IMHO, from my experiece.

Yeah, They are terrible in the snow, I pulled mine out of the garage to days with about 3 inches of snow and the minute it his the snow it was just barely moving.

QUICK91LX · Jan 19, 2009

Well I guess my decision is made then, haha.

If I could find a decent 5.0 car for a good price, I'd be all over it.

Might be Ranger time.

blckstng96 · Jan 19, 2009

idk,havent had a 2.3 stang but my auto lx was **** in the snow and then you just get stuck with all those 5.0 common problems on your daily.just becomes a hassle and expensive or you start getting the mod bug and dumping money into it.dont you have your gt still anyway? my 93 integra was a great beater,great gas mileage and never replaced a damn thing on it and they are pretty quick.a 5spd model would net you in the 15 sec range.id steer clear from 2.9 rangers,that motor sucks.could always go with an SHO,i got a mint 90 white on blck leather 5spd lol.

25thmustang · Jan 20, 2009

Think about how bad a 5.0 is in the snow, now imagine it with no chance for both rear tires to spin. I'm talking if mine saw damp pavement the tires spun... Even in the rain the car was not good, it looked mean though!!!

and rocking the winter wheels.

QUICK91LX · Jan 20, 2009

25th your car was sharp. I'd love to have me a reef blue fox.

Blake...I shall be texting you soon about the SHO! Even though you probably want more for it than I can spend if you would even sell, and working on an SHO is no better than the Volvo...I know, I had a 95 a couple years ago lol.

25thmustang · Jan 20, 2009

Thanks, it looked good, but was not as fun, or good on gas as expected.

blckstng96 · Jan 21, 2009

haha,your funny bill and now you got me thinkin. oh and it may not be any better then workin on a volvo but its a hell of a lot more fun and sweet looking haha.

glowstang93 · Jan 21, 2009

25th, loved the reef blue!!

The 2.3 isn't too bad if you have never had anything over 4 cylinders. Since I have started driving my new DD, I really enjoy being able to pass and accelerate better than the 2.3.

25thmustang · Jan 21, 2009

Thanks, nowhere near what your car is, but I have the 5.0 I spend my time on... Yeah the 4cyl feels fine when its your only vehicle, but when people describe it as a go kart, or quick, or fun... to me those are all things it isnt, and wasnt meant to be.

Good to see you got a DD, so the fox can be kept clean much easier for you.

Anybody rock a 2.3 daily driver?

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

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I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

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I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.

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