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[Flagship]

Hello again people,
I haven't been on the forums for a long while. I used to have a P5 and I loved it. Long story short, I blew the engine and bought a Mustang. I have 10 months of payments left and I'm really considering a used Speed3. Would you guys help me make my descision by giving me the ups and downs of owning one? Speed? Mod market? Handling? Repairs? Durability? Or anything else you think I should know...

Thanks in Advance,
Frank

 

[///M Compact]

I went from a series of RWD cars to the MS3. It's not a bad car but if I had it to do over again I wouldn't buy one. Different strokes and all like that...

 

[blkspeed]

bad turbos i have a issue with running to rich at idle with a low idle speed i think its a stuck EGR other than that if you have the money to keep working on it then its a great car for me its been one after the other bad clutch, bad starter now i need front rotors and pads and a $300 front windsheild but once i fix it all itll be a awsome car

 

[chief_wiggum]

I say wait for the 2011 5.0 (though even the new 6 cyl will make 300 HP).

 

[Flagship]

(hi)

I say wait for the 2011 5.0 (though even the new 6 cyl will make 300 HP).

Ahhh yes, the Coyote. I thought about that but I'm wanting four doors and I'm having really bad Mazda fever. And I've never had a turboed car before.

 

[MSP300]

the only one good thing about turbo cars is the performance. this car is pretty fast and it has really good handling but when it comes down to maintenance its a hole different story.
starting with oil changes, i change my oil every 3000 miles, some of the guys that i know who have bigger turbos do it even more frequently, check my oil almost every other day to see if its burning oil, making sure its not smoking ect.

the most common problems in this car is turbo and the engine mount, if u search for smoking turbos and rear engine mount on ms3 forum u will see what im talking about.

if u r willing to take care of this car and pay attention to detail you will enjoin it a lot

 

[///M Compact]

I'd go with the Mustang GT as well.

 

[BillTheCat]

OK, the OP wants pros & cons... yes, these can be found by doing some searching on the forums, but let's try & help him out.

Pros: Handling is solid. Not go-kart, but well above average. Set of coilovers & sway bars, and you're ready for competitive autocross. I took my MS3 to Deal's Gap on stock suspension last year & it was quite competent on the Tail of the Dragon. Acceleration is very good, turbo spools up quickly and relatively smoothly. 4 doors- very handy. Not bad on gas. (Pure highway cruise can get me nearly 30mpg, and I average 24 in combo driving w/ heavy A/C use) Cheap- MS3 is a more affordable alternative to many of the sport compacts out there- much more bang for your buck on initial investment.

Cons: Aftermarket parts availability is good, but not great. You won't have as many options as an Evo or WRX owner. If you're buying used, you may not care much about warranty, but some dealers have been known to be rather stiff about warranty vs. aftermarket mods. Turbocharged engines will live longer with frequent oil changes & better quality oil, which means higher maintenance costs. If you use 5/30 dino oil & change it every 8-10k miles, your turbo will not last as long as you hope. Plan to use a slightly heavier (5-40 or 10-40) pure synthetic oil & change it every 3-4k miles. And there are several stock parts that blow chunks- the shifter bushings, a wishy-washy motor mount, and a commonly ineffective bypass valve all come to mind, and are all easily upgraded. Finally, if you are looking for really big power mods, this is currently not the car for you. 300whp seems to be about the effective limit for your average weekend warrior. Yes, more can be had, but typically, it requires some serious $$$ and better than average DIY modding abilities.

Buying used, I would look for all aftermarket parts and ask for receipts for oil changes & other maintenance. If you buy a turbocharged car (not just the MS3) without proof of regular, proper oil changes, you are rolling the dice on turbo life span.

If you're looking for a used car with a great combo of utility and sportiness, and you're not looking to become a mad modder, a properly maintained MS3 is a very solid choice.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

if you leave it stock or just do mild bolt ons, the car responds very well, is priced well, gets decent mileage for what it is, and should't - shouldn't - implode on you and makes for a nice daily driver. alot of it is, as has been said, subjective. drive one first and make your own conclusions.

 

[leadf00t]

OK, the OP wants pros & cons... yes, these can be found by doing some searching on the forums, but let's try & help him out.

Pros: Handling is solid. Not go-kart, but well above average. Set of coilovers & sway bars, and you're ready for competitive autocross. I took my MS3 to Deal's Gap on stock suspension last year & it was quite competent on the Tail of the Dragon. Acceleration is very good, turbo spools up quickly and relatively smoothly. 4 doors- very handy. Not bad on gas. (Pure highway cruise can get me nearly 30mpg, and I average 24 in combo driving w/ heavy A/C use) Cheap- MS3 is a more affordable alternative to many of the sport compacts out there- much more bang for your buck on initial investment.

Cons: Aftermarket parts availability is good, but not great. You won't have as many options as an Evo or WRX owner. If you're buying used, you may not care much about warranty, but some dealers have been known to be rather stiff about warranty vs. aftermarket mods. Turbocharged engines will live longer with frequent oil changes & better quality oil, which means higher maintenance costs. If you use 5/30 dino oil & change it every 8-10k miles, your turbo will not last as long as you hope. Plan to use a slightly heavier (5-40 or 10-40) pure synthetic oil & change it every 3-4k miles. And there are several stock parts that blow chunks- the shifter bushings, a wishy-washy motor mount, and a commonly ineffective bypass valve all come to mind, and are all easily upgraded. Finally, if you are looking for really big power mods, this is currently not the car for you. 300whp seems to be about the effective limit for your average weekend warrior. Yes, more can be had, but typically, it requires some serious $$$ and better than average DIY modding abilities.

Buying used, I would look for all aftermarket parts and ask for receipts for oil changes & other maintenance. If you buy a turbocharged car (not just the MS3) without proof of regular, proper oil changes, you are rolling the dice on turbo life span.

If you're looking for a used car with a great combo of utility and sportiness, and you're not looking to become a mad modder, a properly maintained MS3 is a very solid choice.

Well said !!

 

[LovinMyMS3]

Some like it some don't, there's your ups and downs. It's been fun getting these same questions for three years.

 

[MSP300]

Some like it some don't, there's your ups and downs. It's been fun getting these same questions for three years.

(iagree)

 

[JamesCH]

It's a very fun and practical DD, does great in the snow, and if you set the cruise on 65 you can get 30+mpg on the highway (my last trip was 33mpg). Handling is very good and forgiving, but it's not on rails. With a couple bolt-ons you might find it hard to stay under the speed limit. I've only owned mine for 8 months, so I can't say too much about durability.

The cons are that it's not RWD and without a built engine putting out much over 300hp can get dangerous or expensive, like others have said.

If you're looking for a fun DD and a fun track car the MS3 could be a good fit. If you want a highly competitive track or drag car you might be better off with another platform.

 

[Flagship]

Some like it some don't, there's your ups and downs. It's been fun getting these same questions for three years.

You don't have to answer.

 

[LovinMyMS3]

You don't have to answer.

You can search.

 

[dokx]

Best satisfaction factor when driven hard. Acceleration and handling are great; ride and clutch/transmission are terrible - maybe not with upgraded components, but I'm still 100% stock.

That's my $0.02.

 

[Flagship]

You can search.

It's people like this that make forums an undesireable place to look for info. If you feel like you're wasting your time, click the "back" button and look elseware. I was on this forum years ago and people like you weren't around. It saddens me to know that things have changed.

Anyway, thanks for the informed opinions guys. I'm still mulling it over.

 

[squidmotion]

i always like my friends P5... it served him well.

our '09 is a bit over a year old.... totally stock other than a k&n filter.

regular oil changes with synth, daily driver, 25miles in, 25 out, just hit 22k. not one problem... car is not abused but driven hard sometimes... not one problem. (i guess i just jinxed myself)

i drive a lot of back country, twisty texas wide open roads, and the car is a laugh out loud ride. i've had plenty of fast cars, a few waaaay faster than this one, and this is my first FWD performance car...... but this one carries a fun factor equal to some of my other favorites, it's just a different world. take this thing to a track with a long back straight, and prepare to be amazed at how well it handles serious mph.

it makes a pretty versatile family car and junk hauler.


if i had to gripe it would be:

shifter.... kinda vague sometimes. easy fix.

motor mounts...... and not the earlier breaking problem, i just feel they should be harder.... another easy fix.

ride.... largely the bridgestones (worst tires i have EVER had on a car, sticky or not) but it can be pretty harsh on concrete freeways and city streets.

BPV... i don't think this is a problem on mine, but is sure looks cheap-o. i'm researching options for a quality built aftermarket stock equivalent replacement for this part, i think.

lack of easy stereo upgrade options.

oil changes are kind of a pain, the paint seems a little thing, and the clutch takes a little getting used to.... a squeak and rattle here and there...






things i like...

exhaust sound

handling.... not on rails (i am easily more home in a RWD car) but impressive. a few options to improve this area...

fit and finish of the interior

seats.... comfy and secure for me, and as a tall driver, i love the room this car has... more than i ever have in a small car.

the engine.... this is one of the smoothest, sweetest four-bangers i have ever driven. power comes on down low, with good torque, how i like it. feels like a very refined, modern power-plant.

these things scoot, no doubt about it. plenty of power for the car, pretty balanced, good brakes, rotates pretty well, pedals in the right places. good little road car. i did a lot of research, and i don't care what anyone says, this thing is the king of bang for buck.


if this car treats me well for the next couple of years until i pay it off, i have some plans for it. muhahhhahahahaaa




and yeah, i guess you could have done a search (i can't find anything i'm searching for. guess i'm just DUMB).... but i don't care. some of us enjoy talking about our cool little cars. i just like the sound of my own voice... even when i type...

 

[MSP300]

i just like the sound of my own voice... even when i type...

(lol)

 

[Flagship]

Thanks squidmotion,

You mentioned being tall; I'm in the same boat. The Stang can feel pretty cramped at times. And it just has NO room for passengers. It's prepped for autocross (gears, LSD, intake manifold, control arms, etc.) and I love the RWD, but I've driven both generations of the Speed3 and as far as fun factor and sensibility, there's no comparison. I'm sure I'd be very happy with one.

In 9 months the Stang will be paid for. My choices for the next car are a Speed3, WRX, or an EVO if I can find one that hasn't been completely thrashed. I can't figure this out.

Again, thanks very much for the info for those who've contributed.