Just got a 93 Escort GT to replace my 92 Protege DX
 

I just bought the Escort GT (1.8 BP DOHC) to replace my Protege DX (1.8 SOHC).

The protege had proven to be extremely reliable, but it was worth next to nothing and I knew that sooner or later it was going to break. Besides, the thinnest oil that I could run was 10w-30 Castrol GTX High Mileage to avoid a smoke screen.

I plan on stripping down the Protege and swapping most of it's good parts over to the Escort.

The EPA ratings show mpg to be far lower than my old protege. I don't know how much I believe this.

Any thoughts on this vehicle and whether or not you think it may be able to produce good gas mileage?

I am thinking of keeping the protege, but I don't want to keep get stuck paying the taxes, insurance, and maintainence.

The car will be driven 26 miles round trip daily to the my areas train station, then it will sit in a commuter lot all day much as the protege did.

Any thoughts at all?

As you can see, I am doubting the capacity of the Escort GT to live up to the protege's good gas mileage, but also doubting the Protege's ability to live much longer.

What I am trying to say is that I wanted something that looks and feels good without going nuts for my daily driver. It has been a long time since I had a nice DD.

Manual or auto?

I don't recall a lot of Escort drivers, but the ones I remember seemed to easily do much better than EPA numbers.

This one is a manual.

It is equipped with the mazda bp engine used in the protege lx.

I doubt you match the mileage of the Protege with your Escort, but testing is the only way to know for sure. My Escort does, but I have a motor tuned more to the low end, taller gears, and a longer, highway commute. Just taking a wild guess I'd say you could get at least 35 mpg in the Escort.

I think you are right. Nice to see another scort here. :)

I would NOT get rid of the Protege.

I bought mine new in '91 and sold it in 2005.

Sigh, shouldn't have. :(

I usually got 28-32 City and 36-40 Hwy with it, even 14 years later.

Wonder what I would have gotten had I knew how to drive better like a hypermiler? :)

Didn't replace much, Muffler, struts, and radiator were the only things that needed to be replaced. (Besides the irritating electrical stuff.)

I know exactly what you are talking about on the radiator. Mine clogged causing overheating.

Amazing durability. I am tempted to keep it now.

Come to think of it, why would the 1.8 dohc get worse gas mileage than the sohc with the same tranny?

I have read that dohc motors can get better gas mileage than sohc ones and I have also heard the inverse.

This is why.....

Gear ratios for the '90-'94 LX (also Escort 91-96 Escort GT)
1st - 3.307:1
2nd - 1.833:1
3rd - 1.310:1
4th - 1.030:1
5th - 0.795:1
Final Drive - 4.105:1
RPM at 60mph - ~2900 (with stock tire size)

Gear ratios for the '90 SE, '91-'94 DX
1st - 3.416:1
2nd - 1.842:1
3rd - 1.290:1
4th - 0.918:1
5th - 0.731:1
Final Drive - 3.619:1
RPM at 60mph - ~2350 (with stock tire size)

I am dissapointed.

Ouch!