Buy 2002 WRX or 2003.5 MSP
- Thread starter jasonsed
- Start date
Wow, thanks for the responses. I currently have a '96 Audi A6 and a '99 Sentra SE-Limited. Both of these are pretty unique cars for this area. The "uniqueness" factor is a real plus for me. The WRX started off rare around here, but now I see three or four a day. I've only seen one MSP and that's what got me hooked. I'm going to look at one tomorrow and see if it's worth the financial loss of buying a new car. Cars and car detailing are a hobby of mine and I guess I can justify it that way. I'm not sure I could get the WRX for 18,500, but it's being sold down the street and the guy is kinda strange. It's been for sale for months. I drove it and other than a dead battery (I guess from sitting) it seemed fine. Of course I'd check it out more. I'll give more feedback after driving the MSP tomorrow. Thanks again! (I don't get nearly as many responses on my Nissan and Audi boards!)
A
AGR
Wouldn't consider a 2002 WRX..
A 2003, possibly. But for the price difference; hey! it should have more of everything. But; the only thing it has more of is HP, and all wheel drive. Hands down; the MAZDASPEED has it beat in every other category. Some people feel the HP, and AWD are worth the difference. And; of course, some people are so hung up on HP alone, nothing else matters.
To each his/her own.
A 2003, possibly. But for the price difference; hey! it should have more of everything. But; the only thing it has more of is HP, and all wheel drive. Hands down; the MAZDASPEED has it beat in every other category. Some people feel the HP, and AWD are worth the difference. And; of course, some people are so hung up on HP alone, nothing else matters.
To each his/her own.
Speedplease
Member
- :
- 2003 Black GT Mustang
WRX or MSP
HMMMM.... Let me think how to word this? A WRX is like a bellybutton, Everyone has one! Get the MSP and be unique, save up your $ drop in the T3 turbo and the only thing a wrx will see on your car is your brake lights when you hit the finish line!
MSP all the Way!
HMMMM.... Let me think how to word this? A WRX is like a bellybutton, Everyone has one! Get the MSP and be unique, save up your $ drop in the T3 turbo and the only thing a wrx will see on your car is your brake lights when you hit the finish line!
MSP all the Way!
Those 2 cars are realy different.
I have a WRX and a MP3 (wife's car now) and I did a road test of a MSP (friend). It realy depend on what you are looking for.
The WRX is realy a special car with very good power and it is AWD. Here in Quebec with the winter that we have, the WRX is the BEST car for me. Power and traction!!!
But like somebody else wrote before, the handling is not as good as the MP3 or the MSP. To get some good handling from my WRX, I installed 225/40/18 tires on Rota Battle wheels, Eibach Pro-Kit and STi replica struts bars. With this stuff, it's a lot better but on clean and dry road, not as fun as the MP3 or the MSP. But on a wet road... it's a way ahead of the MSP!!!
The MSP is a very good car too. Very good handling, good looking, nice sound system and reasonable power.
The interior of both cars are very similar. They are very good looking and fun to drive cars
If you look for handling and for a car well equiped at a reasonable price, go for the MSP.
If you look for power, for lot of traction and for a more sophisticated car and have the money for it, go for the WRX.
With any of these two cars you can't go wrong!
I have a WRX and a MP3 (wife's car now) and I did a road test of a MSP (friend). It realy depend on what you are looking for.
The WRX is realy a special car with very good power and it is AWD. Here in Quebec with the winter that we have, the WRX is the BEST car for me. Power and traction!!!
But like somebody else wrote before, the handling is not as good as the MP3 or the MSP. To get some good handling from my WRX, I installed 225/40/18 tires on Rota Battle wheels, Eibach Pro-Kit and STi replica struts bars. With this stuff, it's a lot better but on clean and dry road, not as fun as the MP3 or the MSP. But on a wet road... it's a way ahead of the MSP!!!
The MSP is a very good car too. Very good handling, good looking, nice sound system and reasonable power.
The interior of both cars are very similar. They are very good looking and fun to drive cars
If you look for handling and for a car well equiped at a reasonable price, go for the MSP.
If you look for power, for lot of traction and for a more sophisticated car and have the money for it, go for the WRX.
With any of these two cars you can't go wrong!
Well, I drove the MSP today. It was a black 2003. I really enjoyed driving it. The steering feel and handling were just AWESOME. Best I've driven. I love the look and overall driving experince it offers. I felt the power was a little less than I expected. After the WRX, it just didn't have the pull. Of course, for the price difference, it is still a great engine. It seemed to have a similar feel to a friend's 2002 GTI 1.8T I drove.
Overall, great car. I really liked the yellow. I'm going to have to check out a blue MP3, to see which color I like best. WRX vs MSP still floating in my head. I'll have to think about it. Thanks for all of the input.
Overall, great car. I really liked the yellow. I'm going to have to check out a blue MP3, to see which color I like best. WRX vs MSP still floating in my head. I'll have to think about it. Thanks for all of the input.
AcoupDetat
Member
i am in the same situation right now.... ive been throwing around deciding to buy a MSP or a WRX... i really want a car for autocross... im currently autocrossing my P5 right now. and will be passing it on to my little brother when go to the army....
what i really want to know is ... hows the aftermarket for the MPS? ive seen so much for the wrx right now..... and also.. will the parts i put on my P5 compatable with the MPS? like springs, rear sway bar, etc.
i just got finished talking to some buddies of mine about the two cars... and they say go with the MPS... (maybe its because we all own proteges...) but they say it would handel better than a wrx cause the wrx has so so much power. what do you think?
what i really want to know is ... hows the aftermarket for the MPS? ive seen so much for the wrx right now..... and also.. will the parts i put on my P5 compatable with the MPS? like springs, rear sway bar, etc.
i just got finished talking to some buddies of mine about the two cars... and they say go with the MPS... (maybe its because we all own proteges...) but they say it would handel better than a wrx cause the wrx has so so much power. what do you think?
stock vs stock the mazdaspeed outhandles the wrx, on dry pavement.
i beat a few wrx's out at the autox's with just a strut bar, springs and azenis on my DX, but normally they average ~1-2seconds quicker because of the awd and power.
as you know, autox is about 99.9999999% about driver skill
you could buy a wrx and lose to msp's, or you could by a msp and spank wrx's!!
the body roll on wrx's kill me...
i beat a few wrx's out at the autox's with just a strut bar, springs and azenis on my DX, but normally they average ~1-2seconds quicker because of the awd and power.
as you know, autox is about 99.9999999% about driver skill
you could buy a wrx and lose to msp's, or you could by a msp and spank wrx's!!
the body roll on wrx's kill me...
mx3ownzj00 said:
I agree with that. Stock vs stock the MSP outhandles the WRX on dry and tight track. The MSP has a better suspension and the WRX is heavier.
But if the track condition are not perfect, like sand or water on the track, the traction of the WRX can make a difference.
It's true that there's so much aftermarket parts for the WRX. I also think that if you start to modified a WRX, you can go much further than the MSP.
Orginally I went from a 2001 Protege ES to a 2002 Impreza WRX. There was nothing wrong with the protege, it's just that I've always wanted a WRX ever since they were coming out. So, I got a chance to get one for a good deal and I took it and I am very happy with the decision. However, lately I've been looking at the 2003.5 Mazdaspeeds and I want one bad. The handling on them are just so superior .... on pavement. But, when it comes to off-road the MSP will be left in dirt. I like rallying much more over auto-xing so that's why I will probably keep the WRX. That, and whenever I do an AWD launch, I always ask myself what the hell was I thinking. lol. Anyhow, if you really don't take your car off-road {which most WRX owners don't anyhow :shakes head:} then go for the MSP. By all means, if I had the money to have another car, I'd be all over the MSP.
HOWEVER, I know this isn't part of the options, but if you are looking at shear speed, then you may want to check out the SRT-4. They are badass little cars. VERY underrated.
HOWEVER, I know this isn't part of the options, but if you are looking at shear speed, then you may want to check out the SRT-4. They are badass little cars. VERY underrated.
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Spicy1390 said:
9-10 psi, 3" exhaust and K&N- took my buddies 14.4 WRX by about 2+ cars from a dead stop and pulled hard from a roll
..Back to the subject- it depends on what your plans are for the car. The WRX is a hard car to make quick. I know of one with a FMIC, reprogrammed ECU, exhaust and a few other goodies putting 240whp down. I *promise* I will match that in my MSP for a lot less.. Don't get me wrong, the MSP is not an *easy* car to mod, but cost for cost, it is easier on the wallet
..The AWD is great for launching, but the trans is as weak as the MSP plus the car has traction. Weak trans+traction= pile of parts on the ground- again, I have seen several WRX's launch the transmissions. I too was torn between the two until I started to get feedback on mods vs. power and such on the WRX from friends with them. I got the MSP and never looked back. Now if I really had my way, I would have gotten the Evo right from the start
.. I love the 4G63 and it's power potential and I have been building them for 7 years now, so I know them wel!! I may actually be trading the MSP in for one shortly, I have to see what the financial situation looks like and decide from there .Joe
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