Dilemma?!

Dilemma?!

I have a little dilemma here. On one hand, I have my 1994 Toyota Corolla which I want to swap engine and transmission into next spring. 4AGZE and convert it to a 5 Speed. On the other hand, I could buy a slightly used 03+ Corolla 5 speed next year instead. Now keep in mind, whatever I do, it will be my daily driver, so reliability is an issue. If i do the 4AGZE we are rebuilding the head and putting in a metal headgasket also before putting it in. In other words...


1994 Toyota Corolla - Body in decent shape, frame/floor in great condition - 4AGZE (165~170hp and 150 lb-ft) - 5 Speed

OR

2003 Toyota Corolla - Everything would be in great condition - 130hp - 5 Speed

Tell me your choices and why. Thanks.

Just get an XRS

I would get the new one.

XRS is too expensive, plus, i'd rather get the TRD Supercharger later on, but thats another story. So far everyone says get the newer one, if I get a newer one, its going to be a 2003 Corolla S or 2003 Protege5 (I just love those soo much)

well if you want to keep it in the corolla family then get the 03 S' then later on you can get the s/c
03' Protege 5.... great car my wife has an 02' 5spd that is really a fun car to drive. im really happy with it and the handleing is like its on rails ,it just hugs the road. the 2.0ltr is a very torqey engine you really get up and go there is larger aftermarket support for this car and the regular protege/mazdaspeed than there will ever be for the corolla.
IF YOU GET ONE GET A STICK THE AUTOS ARE SLOW AS FUCK
we test drove both cars the corolla sits too high, alot of bodyroll and before you hit redline the revlimiter kicks in (like at 6200rpm)
i would pick a newer car over the swap w/ the 94 cuz think about it man if something craps out on the 4age then you cant get to work/school and its gonna cost more to maintain it (older engine and car will have alot of miles on it )

so to sum up my opinion i would get the protege 5 5spd

btw check out
www.msprotege.com
www.protege5.com

same website
lots of cool info on there kinda like vvti.net

I would get the new corolla because it will last longer and the decrease in hp is not too major, you can probably increase it better in the 03 than in the 94 anyway, (i don't really know much about that hp stuff though). the newer cars look a lot better, come w/ way more features, and will be more reliable than a 94.

Yeah, my mother actually has a 2002 Protege5, automatic though, and except for hte lack of forward momentum (damn autos) the car is just a blast to drive, funner than my friend's 03 ce... I've been in love with that car ever since she got it. Seems to be very reliable to, so far anyways.

well, the thing is that i dont actually love my corolla, i respect toyota and the car for the great engineering that went into it and the reliability, but i dont love the car...

I'd go with the newer model. it would probably still be under warranty plus my '03 still gets pretty good gas mileage after being boosted. At worse I get 27 mpg. Plus I've only done bolt on modifications and have decent power to the wheels. It is now a trip to drive. I'd go XRS, but performance modifying the 1zz is cheaper, plus after all my mods I'm still under 23k spent on my car, and it rides on rails...

just my 2 cents.

The concensus seems to be to go with the new car. I guess that's what I will end up doing sometime next summer. I'll just concentrate on sound and security for the corolla right now since it can all be carried over to my next car (except maybe one pair of speakers, no big loss). Thanks for the input, and keep it coming