Gray Saturday

[GDB]

For those of you who contributed to my "Blue vs. Gray" thread last Friday, I bought the titanium gray last Saturday (production #1426 already entered in that thread). I was concerned based on magazine road tests that the ride would be too stiff for my wife, but it's not anything as extreme as they seem to indicate--I guess they have to find some things to gripe about. Just a nicely controlled ride that's fine for anything other than a pothole jungle. Plus the car was everything else I was anticipating performance and handling wise. The steering response especially caught my attention. The only concessions to the economy car underpinnings I noted were the road noise and quality of some of the interior fittings like carpet, sun visors, etc. For the prices these things are going for (or even at full MSRP), it's still an incredible buy. On the same dealer lot (bought in Kirkland, WA) they had 2003 Protege5 models with $21K sticker prices! Hard to believe they are having that much problem selling these out when more basic economy cars aren't much if any cheaper. Thanks for the help on color choices, etc. and I look forward to further communications--I'd post pics, but it's a stock titanium. Maybe I'll shoot it next to my restored bright orange '74 BMW 2002tii before that hits winter storage. I know there must be a few of these running around Spokane, WA since there are two Mazdaspeed dealers nearby. But, any others in areas including Tri-Cities, Yakima, Walla Walla, Pullman, etc.? I have only seen a few blue MP3s in Tri-Cities and the first Mazdaspeed I've seen is now mine.

Gary

 

[traitorhound]

i wanna a bmw 2002 with the 4spd MT

 

[GDB]

Took many months to find the 2002tii. Drove it 1300 miles home from Boulder, CO in May of this year. Newly rebuilt with 9.5:1 pistons, pollution control deleted, overdrive 5-spd from a 320i, Recaros from a 320i sport, Bilsteins, H&R springs, down to metal restoration by a shop in L.A. specializing in vintage BMWs, etc. It was only a few thousand less than the Mazdaspeed, but my passion has always been BMWs (the funds to purchase the Mazda came from the sale of my '88 BMW M3). Since I already had an orange car, wife vetoed Spicy Orange MSP without even seeing one. I thought, if one orange is good, two can only be better... But, I love the titanium (and blue was a close second).

Gary

 

[low_psi]

Congrats! You can't go wrong with Titanium.

Now edit your profile and name your location, i'm sure the other Washinton owners will appreciate it

Edit- I just saw you sold your E30 for the MSP, that's gotta be tough. The E30 M3 has a lasting place in my heart

 

[orangezoom]

Welcome and enjoy the car Sorry they had no Orange left lol

 

[GDB]

I had the E30 M3 for 11 years and it had less than 80K unmolested miles when I sold it, which explains how I was able to finance almost nearly all of a brand new MSP. It was a tough decision, but with the 2002tii I had two good weather cars and not a daily driver. Since we rarely get snow where I'm at, I thought the MSP would get by fine in winter--with appropriate tires of course. The S14 engine in the E30 M3 is still one of the best production 4-cylinders ever made and bulletproof to boot.

Gary

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

E30 m3... sexy...

 

[MSP Pro]

Hi Gary:

Go to www.ssscc.org and check out the pics of races and of my Black MSP at events 3 through 9. We autox at Tri-Cities Raceway and they are a great group of racers. Laid back and lots of fun. I drive in from Portland, OR and stay with the people who drive the blue Eagle Talon. Hope to see you come out with the MSP next spring.

Also, you can check out Octocross in Spokane, but I think it's this weekend??? Anyway, enjoy the car, it's great at autox.

 

[GDB]

MSP Pro,

This is quite an unlikely coincidence. My step-daughter races at TC Raceway in their normal "Nascar weekly series" in the mini-stock class (it's a 4-cylinder early 80's Mustang, those and similar vintage Toyota Celicas were the only ones in the division last season). She also runs as #34 and this was her second season--she may be moving up to the much faster "late models" next season. So my wife and I are out there usu. in the stands enjoying the race rather than the pits every other week or so when she races. I did here that there were some SCCA events out there, but didn't know it was quite as well often as it is. Thanks for the link and I'll pass the pic of your car on to my wife and step-daughter.

Gary

 

[Newf]

congrats! Wait until you see this color in different lights


PURDY