Looking at buying a MSP and want advice? Post here!

[hornsfan10609]

I had a Protege5 and I miss the reliability. My MSP is in good shape and feels tight when I drive it but it has it's fair share of issues. Perfect DD if you have another car for backup on the off chance it won't start.

 

[orangedevil]

Well i just bought a 03.5 for around 13000, so hope it helps

OMG dude, i bought my 03.5 for $7,000....it had 71,000 miles... and it was in BA condition...and i bought it in '07

 

[SobrOne]

Looking to buy a 2003 MSP for $7,600. It has 43k miles.

Custom sports package - upgraded suspension, 17-inch wheels, body kit, etc.
- Kenwood sound system with subwoofer, amplifier
- blow-off valves, intake, Magnaflow exhaust, GReddy turbo timer

Going to see it today. Any questions i should ask the owner?

 

[Wagonbacker9]

just for the record, all of this:

xCustom sports package - upgraded suspension, 17-inch wheels, body kit, etc.
- Kenwood sound system with subwoofer, amplifier

is stock.

 

[SobrOne]

yeah. i just copied the whole section. sorry about that.
just wondering if there is anything special i should look for, as in anything wrong with the car?
and if it sounds like a good buy.

 

[shane02pro5]

I'd pull off the turbo inlet to see if there is any oil in the copressor housing also check for a boost controller or evidence of one being spliced into the vac line leading to the wga on the turbo at one time. Compression test but that may be more than you want to do...compression tester is $20 at the autoparts and it takes 5minutes especially knowing how these motors can be if they are mistreated!

 

[StealthWyvern]

and check the coin pocket thing on the driverside for any holes in it.. holes = boost controller 99% of the time.

 

[SobrOne]

alright.
appreciate it guys. hopefully it all checks out.

 

[Bassmachine]

and check the coin pocket thing on the driverside for any holes in it.. holes = boost controller 99% of the time.

Mine has that a turbo timer was in there tho. Im sure mines been messed with but honestly it has been solid engine wise *knock on wood*.

 

[Nc MSP]

i payed 7k for a 03 clean title clean carfax perfect interior and exterior all stock with 63k miles on it. theres always a better deal

 

[TooLateForRoses]

Car got totaled a few weeks ago, looking at buying a new car. Narrowed it down to 2 cars, one of which is a gray msp. Clean title, 140k miles on it. One of my friends is selling it. He bought it a few months ago for 5k, and the person who sold it to him sold it with a blown head gasket. He got the head gasket replaced, then dropped a brand new transmission in it, then his radiator blew, and he just got that replaced this week.

Another problem it has is an exhaust leak on the muffler. The muffler got bent a little bit, and is cracked. Would replace it as soon as i bought it, if i did.

Now my main concern is, the car doesnt get boost after 2nd gear. He claims its because of the muffler, but I was talking to my friend who used to own a msp (GAWes on here), and he thinks it more likely has something to do with the turbo. Another friend suggested it was probably a wastegate problem on the turbo. Was hoping some of you msp veterans could try and diagnose the problem?

Hes selling to me for 5k. If I don't buy it, hes gonna put it on craigslist for 5700. At 5k, if I only have to replace the muffler, I think its a good buy. BUT the exhaust manifold is still stock. It doesn't have cracks yet, but from what I've read on here and what I've been told, it will likely need to be replaced soon enough, plus the muffler, plus possible turbo problems?

 

[alexelie]

im pretty sure it doesnt have anyhing to do with the muffler. maybe a wastegate problem. I dont see how it can boost 1st and second but nothing after. Boost leak somewhere maybe.

 

[o0n8]

muffler would just effect the sound of the exhaust at that point. THe issues is somewhere under the hood

 

[Wagonbacker9]

I would say that car has been through hell, stay away.

 

[destineal]

If you do get an MSP we should meet up. I was just down in Newnan last Sunday

 

[not yellow]

I would say that car has been through hell, stay away.

this.

 

[TooLateForRoses]

If you do get an MSP we should meet up. I was just down in Newnan last Sunday

Thats awesome man. My roommate actually has a spicy orange one as well.

But to everyone else, thanks for the heads up. I think I'm going to stay away from buying this one. I'm gonna try to find another one, but I'm on a tight time frame as I don't have a car right now, so it looks like I'm prob gonna buy a 91 mr2 turbo

 

[Ricktalife]

im pretty sure it doesnt have anyhing to do with the muffler. maybe a wastegate problem. I dont see how it can boost 1st and second but nothing after. Boost leak somewhere maybe.

Yea he's on crack if he thinks it's the muffler. For the record, the MSP doesn't hit boost in 1st gear.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

Yea he's on crack if he thinks it's the muffler. For the record, the MSP doesn't hit boost in 1st gear.

uh, speak for yourself? not for a long period of time, but I boosted 1st many a time.

 

[Ricktalife]

uh, speak for yourself? not for a long period of time, but I boosted 1st many a time.

Huh? I'm pretty positive that my gauge never crosses 0 vacuum in 1st. I should find a youtube video to see if I'm on crack.