While looking around for a cheap car with a manual transmission to learn on, I was contacted about a '96 Ford Aspire with a 5 speed. I ended up buying it for $650!
It's in pretty good shape with 155k miles, few scratches, and good interior (shows signs of use, but not abuse). The guy I bought it from said that he was having an issue where it would lose power and smoke out the exhaust for 15-20 seconds once in a while, but it was fine otherwise.
I've started with running Seafoam through the motor and changing the oil to Mobile 1 high mileage synthetic. The oil was quite dark before the Seafoam/change. Next I'll be giving it a tuneup (plugs/wires, cap/rotor, fuel/air filters, injector cleaner) and cleaning the intake system (throttle body, MAF sensor). From there, I'll start learning how to drive it.
Pictures, taken by the PO:
Needless to say, it needs a LOT of work done to the aero to squeeze more MPGs out of it on the highway. My first goal is 50 MPG highway, and if I meet that, my second goal will be 50 MPG tank averages.
I've already laid the streamlining template over the same model:
I'm planning on raising the hatch to come closer to meeting the template, but I'll also test a spoiler similar to the Crisis Fighter Pinto model.
Since it's a '96, I'll be able to get a Scangauge or similar tool to measure the actual improvements of the mods, as opposed to guessing from tank averages. But the first instrumentation addition will be a tach, because it doesn't have one.
I'll need to find a cheap camera to document the aeromods with! For now, it'll just be learning how to master a manual transmission and fixing it up as needed.
Oh, some other stats for the car:
1.3L I4
Manual steering, windows, and locks
Does have AC
155/80/13 tires
Weighs about 2100 lbs
It doesn't have a name yet, but it's going to have to be something related to a turtle. My wife is wanting to call it "Nibbles..."