Hello kids! I'm new in town. Thinking About A MSP

[enuttage]

Hello all,

My wife and I are selling the Audi, and even though it won't kill monthly payments altogether, a MSP would reduce the term a lot and reduce the payments a little.

I've been browsing here and getting an idea of what the cars are all about and I finally went out and drove one today. The car handled superbly and accelerated acceptably for a daily commute to work.

Just wanted to say "hello" and get any feedback at all about the MSPs and what to expect from them. Frustrations, complaints, praise, etc. Anything not mentioned in the brochure that I should know. I've done plenty of searches and learned a ton, but any extra ops in this thread would be super helpful.

Thanks all, and it's good to be aboard...

-E

 

[chrisjw85]

Hello and welcome. I'll try to give as much help as I can personally in my own opinions. First off I've had the car for 4 months and am extremely satisfied. The only complaints I've had was the alarm, I had the hesitation problem too but never really bugged me. However, the dealership was very helpful and fixed both for me just last week (I know I'm lazy takes me a while to get to the dealership. ) Anyway, I commute daily and never really enjoyed the drive till I got mine. I got a black 2003. The car isnt the best for reducing bumps, it can get bumpy but if you dont mind a few here and there then you'll be fine. Car has very very excellent handeling that is being compared to the wrx's handeling a car $10,000 more and that is all wheel drive. As far as the car's performance in speed, before the flash to fix the hesitation it was good and after flash it's even better. If your comparing it to other cars that are under $20 grand or close to it, it's faster than the majority of them. It is faster than the rsx type s, the nissian sentra spec v, and I believe the svt focus (not sure on that one) the other two I can say definately faster though. Not the neon...however moving on the sound system in the car was alright for me I had to upgrade just cause I was used to a louder system but it is extremely decent for a new car. The seating is comfortable and spacious in the back and common four doors? can you beat that? Less likely of a target for police. The wheels on the car I love the brakes rust quickly but it dissapears the second you use them. The car isn't the best in heavy traffic as the transmission can get a little rough. I would highly recommend this car. A four door decently fast extremely well handeling car with a good sound system for under $20,000 can't beat that.

 

[FC3s Boy]

I don't have a msp , but just wanted to say nice rx7.

 

[slug420]

I waited 9 months after putting down a deposit on mine and here I am 20k miles later, and it was worth every day of waiting IMO

 

[Tinkerbelle]

I love mine! Got it mid-August w/21 miles on it. This is our first *new* car.

The things I miss from our other car:

- sunroof/moonroof (can be added)
- cruise control (can be added)
- trunk release on the key remote (can probably be added?)

What I LOVE about this car?

- Ready to autocross when we drove it off the lot, no need for additional stabilization or new wheels/tires.
- No need to invest in stereo equipment, we're extremely happy with what's in it.
- Taking the twisty SC backroads, hardly hitting the brakes.
- ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM

We haven't had it long enough to experience this famous hesitation or the clunk, but we took it in for the ECU flash anyway, no problem, and in theory all MSP being purchased after the fix should have been flashed on the lot.

A lot of people on this forum are adding boost and trading up the turbo as soon as they got it home, but I don't know any of that (nor do I care to get involved -- I have enough projects right now). I love it stock and plan to leave it that way... well, for a while, at least.

P.S. Love your mini.

 

[enuttage]

First of all, thanks for all the comments so far. I went back to the dealership with my wife this evening and she drove the car. Her comment was that it was both "nicer on the inside than she thought it would be" and "had more power than she expected". She's a tough critic, being from a high-performance and high-luxury car family. I think she'd be very happy if we got the car. It looks like (fingers crossed, knock on wood) that the Audi is sold as of early next week, and we're down to a new MSP or a slightly used VW GTI 1.8T.

The car isnt the best for reducing bumps, it can get bumpy but if you dont mind a few here and there then you'll be fine. Car has very very excellent handeling that is being compared to the wrx's handeling a car $10,000 more and that is all wheel drive.

The bumps are definitely not a problem for me. The MINI and the RX-7 are bad enough to jar my teeth loose. This thing feels like a Cadillac compared to those. It won't quite measure up to the S4, but it isn't too far off either. I was pretty impressed with the ride today, especially when my wife was driving and I had an opportunity to stop concentrating on the road and start concentrating on the ride (and stereo ). I owned a WRX for about 18-months, and I think that you're underselling the MSP. My opinion is that is has less body roll and a tighter all-round suspension than my Subaru did. Very impressive.

I don't have a msp , but just wanted to say nice rx7.

Thanks man! That's a two-year project car that's finally almost finished. It's a true monster and I absolutely love it. But it's spoiled me in appreciating just about *any* other car in regards to acceleration and, to a lesser degree, handling. I'm glad you can appreciate it.

The things I miss from our other car:

- cruise control (can be added).

D'oh! I didn't even realize it didn't come with it. I'll search after posting this, but what's involved in adding the cruise control. THAT would be something I'll miss for sure, especially on trips back to Houston. And thanks on the MINI. That'd be my wife's daily driver, and a car that I steal from her as often as possible.

Actually, aside from obvious styling differences, the MSP reminds me a lot of the MINI in re: to both p/w ratio and handling. Fun, fun car.

Any other comments are much appreciated. Thanks again! If the MSP beats out the GTI, I should be hangin' 'round here much more often.

-E

 

[alexlitov]

Welcome to the forum.

You can get the CC controls from Protege 5 if you want the sleek look. You can do a search on this board to find out what else you need. This topic has been covered on several occasions.

How can you give up S4??

If you live in a cold climate, you will hear a clunk as the winter approaches...

 

[enuttage]

Welcome to the forum.

You can get the CC controls from Protege 5 if you want the sleek look. You can do a search on this board to find out what else you need. This topic has been covered on several occasions.

How can you give up S4??

If you live in a cold climate, you will hear a clunk as the winter approaches...

Thanks! I'm searching around for the CC thing right now. The S4 is a fantastic car. One of the finest I've ever driven and probably the nicest I've ever owned. But it's a finance killer. We're very close to being completely debt free, and the S4 is a big obstacle to getting us there. We're gonna miss it, but we're doing our best to find something fun and somewhat practical to replace it. The MSP definitely fits the bill.

I'm down in Austin, so cold comes for maybe a month to six weeks per annum. Nothing to worry about...though I'll read up more on the clunk just out of curiosity.

-E

 

[chrisjw85]

Oh no I didn't mean to undersell the msp if I think that means what it really does. I just ment that people compare the handeling of our cars to a car thats 10 grand more than ours thats all wheel drive. I ment it in a complimenting way. Sorry if that was taken in a bad way.

 

[Sparkz28SS]

I like the MSP in the turns.....it sticks like glue!I just took it down 2222 and I had a blast.It out MPH's the SS in the turns and has a good bit of power...and from what I have seen it will make more power with a few cheap mods...its a badass car!

...Hey Enuttage,

whats the story with the RX7...what kind of numbers are we talking about here?....I think the Z28 wants to go play.

 

[alexlitov]

enuttage,

Don't forget there is still $2,500 rebate on the car. Don't pay over $20,000 for it. It's not worth it.

Good luck on your finding,

I don't think you will have to much clunk living in Texas.

 

[pluto316]

I will just jump in and say..


*I traded in my 2002 P5 (WHICH I LOVED!) for a MSP and lost $4,000+.

*Two people, after hearing me talk about my car or riding in it, went out and bought a MSP.

*If I you asked me if I would loose $4,000 again AND end up making payments for SIX years on it* I would do it the same and do it again.




*I was upside down $3,000 on my P5 which I just put a $4000 down payment on. With my upside down tradein and zero down I got my car for $320 a month for six years. I plan to stick with this till I graduate from college in 2-3 years and then I can refinance...

 

[enuttage]

Oh no I didn't mean to undersell the msp if I think that means what it really does. I just ment that people compare the handeling of our cars to a car thats 10 grand more than ours thats all wheel drive. I ment it in a complimenting way. Sorry if that was taken in a bad way.

Cool. Yeah, I knew you were giving the positives on it. I just wanted to add that I think the WRX is a notch below the MSP in the handling dep't.

whats the story with the RX7...what kind of numbers are we talking about here?....I think the Z28 wants to go play.

lol. Right now it's sitting right at 380rwhp, so it's pretty quick...but there are certainly quicker cars out there. Part of my competition today involves skidpad, so I'll let you know on that one, but I'm expecting 1G on street tires...my whole rear suspension will be the next to go. Maybe we'll have to head down to RCR sometime. I've got a buddy with a bit of work done to his Z28 and we should be running almost dead even in the 1/4-mile. Should be fun.

Don't forget there is still $2,500 rebate on the car. Don't pay over $20,000 for it. It's not worth it.

Thanks for the heads-up. I guess to move cars right now they're down to $15,995 all 'round town for the '03s and $16,495 for the '03.5s. Got my eye on a Orange one. Just have to deal with all the silly UT-related comments if I get it. Probably the *only* downside.

Thanks again folks,

All good info.

-E

 

[lyserjic]

The MSP isn't a bad car for a daily driver..You'll like it. Mine gets about 80-100 miles a day on it commuting across Houston.

It's a fun car to drive, and it was the handling that sold me on the MSP, test drove a SpecV & a WRX before deciding on the Mazda. I'll take a slower car that can hang in the twisties over a straight line rocket any day.

When it cools off a bit I'm going take a weekend drive up to Austin and put it through the paces on some country roads, all this city driving gets old.

I'd tell you to get a 2003 Spicy Orange if you can still find one..Screw the comments, it's unique.

-Lyserjic
SpicyO #1291

 

[t3ase]

enuttage,
Make plans to come up to RPM Indoor Raceway in Round Rock on Saturday at around 10:30pm. There's a car meet there with all kinds of cars, including my MSP and Frank's titanium MSP. I'd be more than happy to give ya ride around or show off a bit more than you could do in a dealership owned car, yanno?

 

[enuttage]

enuttage,
Make plans to come up to RPM Indoor Raceway in Round Rock on Saturday at around 10:30pm. There's a car meet there with all kinds of cars, including my MSP and Frank's titanium MSP. I'd be more than happy to give ya ride around or show off a bit more than you could do in a dealership owned car, yanno?

Man, I'd love to, but I'm gonna be out of town this weekend.

The Audi has sold though, so we'll probably be buying in the next couple of weeks.

I've narrowed it down to an MSP, or a used GTI 1.8T (a 337 ed. if I can find one reasonably priced - hard to do). I can't decide. A good dilemma to be in though, as either car will be a blast I think.

-E

 

[t3ase]

Well, its every Saturday, so come up at least once sometime.