How bad is the clunk?

[hogwild]

How bad is the clunk. Is it something that can be heard while the radio is on?


The clunk is the only thing that has kept me from getting the MSP. I dont think that a new car should be making the clunk sound even if it does have aftermarket parts.

Has Mazda found a fix to the clunk? Has anyone found a fix to the clunk?

I decided on the MSP over the RSX-S. Then I decided to search the forums to see of any problems and I found the clunk. My dad thinks I should get the Acura because it would be more reliable. I told him he should give me the extra 4k. I would hate for him to be in the car with me, and hear the clunk. I would never hear the end of it. To me the MSP looks 100x better than the RSX.


MAZDA FIX THE CLUNK. I WANT TO GET A BLACK MSP BEFORE THEY ARE ALL GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DistantTea]

Its bad man. Real bad. Its so bad your grandmother will be ashamed of you. Its so loud your ears will bleed. Its scares small children and it can cause fertility problems in male cats. One time an MSP clunked and we went to WAR with Iraq. ITS THAT BAD.

Seriously though, if a stinking bushing clunk is going to cause you that much stress then for the love of god get the Acura. The MSP is a purpose built car... I love it as a daily driver but most people would think it was a harsh, primitive brute if all they did was go from point a to b. The clunk, while annoying is really not a big deal. I'm at 1400 miles with no clunk... alot of people aren't getting the clunk. Its not EVERY car by any means. And if you do get the clunk... take it in and work with your dealer.

Yes the acura will be more reliable... its a honda for chirst sake. Its going to be quieter and more refined in a major ways. But the RSX will never be the sports car the MSP has become. The MSP is loud, with hardly any sound proofing, its ride is jarring over rough surfaces. ITs night and day against the RSX. Looks alone should not be the reason you decide one against the other.

The clunk shouldn't even come into the equation.

 

[1sty]

Expect no less then 500 watts rms in audio to drowned it out!

 

[AGR]

Apples and Oranges comparison between those 2 cars: $20,500 (MAZDASPEED) versus (what?) $24,000 (RSX)??!! Not to mention 170hp versus 200hp. Why not just throw the WRX in there for good measure?

I have no clunk. It's simply the best $20,500, I could have spent. Period!!

 

[1sty]

A southern climate will delay the clunk but not for long. It will happen, also the agressiveness of your driving won't help either.
The RSX will be more reliable but again its in the luxury class of cars too. The Honda is the MSPs competition not the acura.
Eihter way if you wait till the 2003.5 MSP syou will have a better chance of having a factory fix as I doubt Mazda will recall for the clunk.

 

[ping]

<voice of eyegore in Young Frankenstein>

"Clunk? What clunk?"

 

[1sty]

The rear sway bar bushings wear out within 3 months as the rear suspension Racing beat designed was hacked by Mazda and the sway bar gets knock all over hell from the lack of regity. The Bushings wear from this and then the bar smacks around in the bushings and make a loud ass clunk. Its LOUD! No comfortable level of the stereo will drowned it out! All the MP3s and MSPs have and will develope the CLUNK!

Mazda in Cananda has admitted the problem and is supposedly working on a fix do to the persistant pressure of one of our members, but the US does not appear to be fallowing and no fix is on the horizone!

 

[AGR]

Down to choice again, between the 2003 and 2003.5 models. Will this 'clunk' be addressed on the 2003.5s. I doubt there is any guarantee. I would choose the 2003, either way (which, of course, is what I did), because I like the overall front end look with the foglights. That 2003.5 front end ain't gettin' it in this man's opinion. The new rear wing is fine. Yes; just my .28 cents worth.

 

[1sty]

I am assuming ofcoarse to any fix ever being presented. I believe mazda is much more likely to adress and fix the problem on cars not sold yet as opposed to pull the sold ones back in for a rear end upgrade. If they ever come up with a cure I am sure we will see it on the 2003.5 first, plus dealing with that will give them an excuse to hold back on the 2nd round of MSPs until all the first rounds are gone. They aren't selling very fast any more.

 

[DistantTea]

Wait wait wait a minute. I've autocrossed my mazda speed in 30 degree temperatures several times, I practice in a cold damp nasty parking lot every weekend and I drive like I'm forever attempting to recreate Mr. Toads Wild Ride every day on my way to work on horribly broken asphalt.

I ain't got no clunk. Alot of people don't have a clunk. Some people think they have the clunk... but don't. The clunk thunk and plunk aren't as common as everyone keeps thinking. I'm a prime candidate for it... and I got nothing.

There's no conspriracy from mazda about this.

 

[1sty]

Ask any memebr with a MP3 if they have it, WE ALL DO. And you will too.
Ask Newf about it if you believe there is no problem, I am sure Mazda Canada is not reworking several proteges suspensions for fun!

 

[DistantTea]

I just talked to an MP3 owner recently who has never heard of it. I don't think its such an across the board problem as you say. Definately not something that should persuade someone not to get the car in any event.

 

[1sty]

Have you read either of the clunk fix specific threads each with 10 pages of posts. Its very much an across th board problem. The MP3s originaly even had a bushing that was too small and was TSB to another bushing but even that will wear in time. It took my car 4 months to get the clunk the first time and another 5 to redevelope it after the first bushing swap.

 

[Heathen23]

I recently aquired the "clunk", and it's not quiet and it's definitely the "clunk".

However, it is not such a huge issue that it cannot be addressed and delt with. I agree that the car should not clunk "even if it has aftermarket parts" however there are bigger risks in buying a car that is truly not mass produced. This I knew going in and even with the clunk I am still in love with this vehicle. I cannot speak in regards to the RSX but the MSP has a very, very high fun factor that cannot be replaced with more luxory.

Good luck with your decision!