$15,500 a good deal?

[surfinflorida]

Hey. I just bought a 2003 MSP with 3400 miles for $15,500. I love the car but did I get a good deal? Any thoughts?

 

[jersey_emt]

If the $15,500 was the out-the-door price (included all fees & taxes) then yes, it is a good deal.

 

[surfinflorida]

If the $15,500 was the out-the-door price (included all fees & taxes) then yes, it is a good deal.

Yep. It was the out the door price. BTW, are there any mechanical differences between the 2003 and the 2003.5/2003.7 or is it just the apearance that changes?
This is a great site. I'm looking forward to learning from everybody else's experience.

 

[mp3moose]

Just the appearance mods are the only differences. Front air dam and rear spoiler are the big ones. But they also have different pedals and shift knobs.
moose

 

[jersey_emt]

Nope no mechanical differences. Something is itching me..I remember reading somewhere that the 03.5's have one part on the clutch or flywheel assembly that's different. Anyone?

 

[gboromsp]

03.5 has a slightly stronger clutch. I can't tell any difference in driving the two though.

 

[AutoBox]

03.5 owns joo 03 owners (rlaugh)

 

[yashooa]

Nope no mechanical differences. Something is itching me..I remember reading somewhere that the 03.5's have one part on the clutch or flywheel assembly that's different. Anyone?

The clutch is a little stiffer but I am not sure why. I think it was more for feel than anything else. I'm sure the answer is buried back in the site. There was a bit of a bru-haa-haa a while back.

 

[Swerny]

Good deal, nice choice on colour!
Welcome to the site.

 

[mattybo]

Good deal, nice choice on colour!
Welcome to the site.

The 03.5 has 50 more HP.

 

[mspdfreak]

The 03.5 has 50 more HP.

Yeah, but if you take off the badging and replace w/stickers that goes up to 75hp.

 

[mattybo]

Yeah, but if you take off the badging and replace w/stickers that goes up to 75hp.

oh s***...im gonna go do that right now. Did you also know that the rear wing can turn into plane wings and allow you to take off and fly once you hit 120mph?

 

[JOS3]

good deal, thats less than what i paid for the p5 in '02. my p5 was new, but your msp with 3400 miles on it isnt far from new.

 

[WillisW555]

I thought the 03.5/03.7 had a 'double-strength' clutch. Wasn't it heavier duty than in the 03's? That's the only mechanical difference I can think of.

 

[surfinflorida]

So does the clutch make that much difference? Should I swap? It does not seem to be a problem. Why did Mazda change it on the 03.5s?

 

[jersey_emt]

Nah I wouldn't change the clutch until it wears out. Then get the ACT street clutch.

 

[ping]

The '03's were definitely the stronger of the two, by at least 0.2 in the 1/4... 0.3 if debadged (see missing link for details). When they changed the paint they used 63% old Taurus colors mixed by Maaco, so it'll peel in 3 years. The excessive brake dust from the aftermarket asbestos-filled Midas brake pads dictated the smoky color of '035 wheels. The rear spoiler on the '035's doubles as a bike rack - check Mazda.com for the accessory bike mount (which fortunately requires drilling, thus further "adding lightness"). They eliminated the fog lights because the new daintier front springs wouldn't support the extra weight... and the yellow thread used in the insde was from dewoven Army surplus parachute cloth... hell this isn't even funny so I'll stop now...

Same car, different front spoiler/grille and fogs, different colors, different pedal pads/shifter and rear spoiler. Dunno on the clutch, agreed on the ACT on wear-out. Is the rear stabilizer bar the same 20mm diameter Racing Beat as the '03s?

I like the blue, but still love my black mica.