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If you're handy or willing to become so, get the best 96-00 you can find, whether DX, CX, or EX, and swap the transmission with a 92-95 VX or CX. Works really nicely on the freeway to keep 60 mph RPMs to about 2000-2100. My DX transmission was at 2400-2500 RPMs at that speed. The EX is closer to 2800 rpms at 60mph. The only downside it that the taller 1st and 2cd gears in the VX/CX transmissions might not be ideal for city MPG, only because their spacing is awkward and you end up shifting at less than ideal rpms. For example, if I shift from 2cd at 2200 rpms, I can find myself down at something like 1300 in third. I liked how the DX made it easy to accelerate to speed from a stop while staying in the 1700-2100 ranges always, through all gears. But I would definitely never trade back: I score 60s and 70s instant MPG routinely on level freeway in mild weather traveling over 60mph.
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See my car's mod & maintenance thread and my electric bicycle's thread for ongoing projects. I will rebuild Black and Green over decades as parts die, until it becomes a different car of roughly the same shape and color. My minimum fuel economy goal is 55 mpg while averaging posted speed limits. I generally top 60 mpg. See also my Honda manual transmission specs thread.
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