Seeking opinions on 98 626

[downtube]

Looks like not much going on here regarding 626s so maybe not the best place to post but I'll try.

Looking to replace my wife's '01 Caravan, mainly for better mpg. She likes the protege but wants something a little bigger. There's a '98 626 MTx 4-cyl for sale locally. I test drove it before I bought the protege and it felt like a new car. I know these are made in Michigan, and more Ford than the protege. But it's a MTX so none of the ATX problems.

The size and performance are appropriate for my needs. Looking for advice/opinions on quality, longevity, servicabilty.

Is this thing a mazda or a ford?

[Kitty]

Find an accord.

[kansei]

Looks like not much going on here regarding 626s so maybe not the best place to post but I'll try.

Looking to replace my wife's '01 Caravan, mainly for better mpg. She likes the protege but wants something a little bigger. There's a '98 626 MTx 4-cyl for sale locally. I test drove it before I bought the protege and it felt like a new car. I know these are made in Michigan, and more Ford than the protege. But it's a MTX so none of the ATX problems.

The size and performance are appropriate for my needs. Looking for advice/opinions on quality, longevity, servicabilty.

Is this thing a mazda or a ford?

Well it's a Mazda engine.. the 2.0 found in every protege 2002+

1998 though.. yeah nvm it is distributorless in 98, just has different coil packs and wires and a few other differences.

How much bigger is it than the Protege though? I thought our chassis was derived from the 93-97 626 chassis, and the 98-02 626 just looks like a refresh on the same chassis.

[Kitty]

The 626 chassis is the "same" but theres alot more interior room because they weren't going for "compact car"

They're not the best cars.
I would actualy buy a new(ew) hyundai sonota before a 626.
Find an accord that doesnt have a SOHC motor.

[kansei]

Really that bad? I always wanted to pick up a V6 1997 and make it VIP style :D

I just can't see what's that bad about them. Similar chassis, with either the economical and reliable FS or the fun KL.

Is the ford influence any worse than in the 3rd gen Pro aside from just being made in the states?

I know what has been said about the U.S.-made Mazda6 vs the Japan-made Mazdaspeed6 and it seems like there is just some inherent issue with being built in this country. Really unfortunate.. and I blame the UAW 100%

[Kitty]

The FS isnt a big enough motor for it. The gearing is wide as hell.
The entirior is pretty blah by 98 standards so its way outdated now.
They're not realy good at what its suposed to be a midsize faux entry luxery car. Something the accord pulls off very well.

MAYBE if it had the v6. But it doesnt. So dont.

[kansei]

whoa I would never, ever consider the 626 to be a faux entry luxury car. camry/accord competitor sure. A 98 accord has a crazy plain outdated interior as well , and the Accord definitely isn't at all entry level luxury.

If you want a nice economical car that'll be pretty reliable and just a little bigger than a Protege, it should work pretty good.

[Kitty]

faux:false, or immitation,to pretend.

the camry,accord, altima,6 are all midsize sedans that are going for "luxury"
That's there purpose.
The owners think that they're cars are better than the lesser models from the same company. When in reality they are not. Especially altima owners. Those people are funny. Thinking they're big shit because they own a Nissan.

[kansei]

Um.. nobody markets those cars as 'luxury'. They're just midsizes. Nissan markets the Altima as a sport sedan just like Mazda does with the 6.

It's not that the 3/protege/corolla/civic are "lesser" cars.. they're just smaller. People buy the Accord/Camry/Altima because they want a bigger car than an econobox.

My mom owned an 03 3.5SL, 05 35.SE, and now 07 (2.5SL, she was sick of getting 16mpg regularly) Altima and she knows it's just a midsize car, even though the L means luxury. I made her test drive a 6 and a 3 but she didn't like how small the 3 felt and how crappy the automatic in the 6 was.

Honda also pushes the Accord as a sportier alternative to the Camry. Toyota markets the camry as.. a camry. Cheap, reliable transportation.

and I know what faux means.. I don't pay 40k a year to my school for nothin :P

The purpose of a 626 is NOT to be a luxury car. The Millenia was...

Plus to quote the first post of the thread..

Looking to replace my wife's '01 Caravan, mainly for better mpg. She likes the protege but wants something a little bigger.

I'd say the 626 is a perfect fit. Unless there are awful reliability issues, it will be much more economical than a Caravan and bigger than a Protege. He didn't start the thread saying "My wife likes the protege but wants more luxury and less economy"

[Kitty]

why make a camry and the corolla then?

and the millenia is 100x better than the 626.
atleat it has enough power to keep up with highway traffic.
the 4 banger 626 is worse than the POS f22 in the accords and the was a damn Single cam.

[kansei]

why make a camry and the corolla then?

and the millenia is 100x better than the 626.
atleat it has enough power to keep up with highway traffic.
the 4 banger 626 is worse than the POS f22 in the accords and the was a damn Single cam.

Because the Camry is MUCH larger, has a v6 option, can comfortably seat 5 large adults + luggage and have the power to do it, etc.

Did I not mention it enough times in my last post? The reason to make different cars when none is more luxurious than the other is size.

Corolla gets 38mpg highway with no effort, but it's sorta lacking in the sound insulation department. It's way too small if you need to have 5 adults in the car or just don't like driving a small car (i.e. you think it feels 'less safe'). The Camry? Well for starters the base price is like 7k more because it has more standard stuff like cruise control, better sound system, etc. and it's significantly larger. People get the bigger car because they don't want a small car, or because they want a faster car (as you need to move to a midsize to have a V6 option for all car companies).

[Kitty]

Well for starters the base price is like 7k more because it has more standard stuff like cruise control, better sound system, etc

things that would come in a luxury car:P

IM not saying a toyota is a lexus.(which is is o.O)Im saying its being as close as a toyota can be to a lexus.

[Rosshole]

we should be comparing cars from the same years, not the new models of these cars (are we arguing about how luxurious an 11 year old mid-size sedan is??? WTF?)

[CrashKelly]

we should be comparing cars from the same years, not the new models of these cars (are we arguing about how luxurious an 11 year old mid-size sedan is??? WFT?)

seriously...

[kansei]

Well for starters the base price is like 7k more because it has more standard stuff like cruise control, better sound system, etc

things that would come in a luxury car:P

IM not saying a toyota is a lexus.(which is is o.O)Im saying its being as close as a toyota can be to a lexus.

Even in 1998 cruise control and a slightly better sound system were NOT at all luxury features. Luxury would mean posh things like leather seating, fake wood trim, nonsense electronic nannies and other gizmos (ok so the 626 has air sweep.. lol), lots more sound deadening, numb steering, a refined engine, etc.

[downtube]

the 4 banger 626 is worse than the POS f22 in the accords and the was a damn Single cam.

Is that a quality/reliability statement, or a power statement?

The power is adequate for my needs. I don't care who I can or can't beat. I live in small town southern Indiana and don't have to launch onto the LA freeway. When I have to haul my kids crap to/from college I'll rent a van. I havn't had a speeding ticket since 1983, and my wife since 1984.

On the other hand, if quality is an issue I'll stay away.

Accord? Yeah, I bought a new Accord of about this vintage. Quality was fantastic. Resale value is ridiculous even considering the quality, which is great for the 1st owner but not so great for bottom-feeders like me.

I'm not in the market for a new car, I'm on the monthly university payment plan. The 626 looks to save me about $1k/year on fuel, which maybe isn't worth the risk. When kids are outta college we might talk new cars... then again I might chuck the corporate world and do something constructive.

I don't see myself buying a new hyandai sonata in this or any alternate universe.

[liquid_ag]

maybe you should look into a millenia s then. fun, super high quality, quick, decent gas mileage, and beautiful

[Rosshole]

did somebady say miller cycle?

[downtube]

I think I'll pass on the millenia for a couple reasons...
- engine complexity. an aging supercharger sounds like trouble...
- stuffed engine compartment. again on an aging car it needs to be diy friendly
though it'd be cool to have the the only production miller-cycle engine.

keeping the minivan is the most logical choice. it's paid for, has a knownhistory, has been maintained... I hate that, but it's true.

[Z]

parts for the millenia will cost you a minimum of an arm and a leg. i loved the way the last generation looked, but you will pay a huge premium.