i just bought a 1998 4 door mirage de and i am new to the to upgrading cars stuff..............i am just wondering where should i start, i'm not trying to make the greatest car just something that will turn some heads and make the car last longer. Thanks

It all depends wut yu are trying to do. If yu want just looks or a combination of looks and power? As for body wise i am not sure wut yu want to do. Engine wise if yu are gunna do a swap , and want sumthing subtle with a bit more power and TQ , yu can go with the pretty easy drop in of the 4G64 frum the 99 up Galant and transmission . The 4G93 1.8 frum yur model would maybe a little bit harder to find than the 2.4 4G64 of the Galant. (the 4G93 and 4G64 use the same auto transmission) With that yu will need to do an rear disc brake conversion.

i am just trying to get the basic upgrade for power and looks i want it to run good and look good too if that helps....

Well the bad thing is that yu have a 4G15 with a SOCH head , and its great great for economy but it does nothing for power end upper end efficiency , the 4G93 is 1.8 liters and is very rev happy unlike the 4G15 yu have in teh DE sedan , the 1.8 4G93 is also great on fuel economy. If yu ant to spend the least and have great gas mileage and power and bottom end TQ , i say go with teh Galanst 4G61 SOCH engine, it looks near identical otside to the 4G93 , except being a bit larger in size, and the gas mileage will bve good also , but a load more of bottom end torque and broad band of power. If yur dropping in teh engine and stronger auto tranny is about a straight drop in , yull have the exra power and lot more off line TQ . Then yu can do wutever yu want body wise. The thing will be yu will have an engine that is off the line TQ ready , so any hevaier body options as a body kits and speakers etc or wutever being yu have a lot more bottom end TQ and braod range of HP and TQ taher just mid TQ and top end HP like the others yu have a wider range of usable power.

how much you think the engine would cost? how much you think it would cost to drop it in there?

Not to sure , try and look for salvaged models that have some front end impact or loads of rear or side impact and the engine is usually in pretty fair condition.Find an engine and tranny in a salvaged unit with heavy side/rear damage , take it out yurself , im sure yu can get the complete for about 850 USD