Just an observation about the 2003.5

[girth]

I don't know Newf, I think it's more of a thing where people don't necessarily like the wing or lip (or whatever) but at the same time don't DISlike it enough to bother changing it. I don't like my '03 wing but I don't dislike it enough to remove it.

All in all I like everything on the 03 except I wish it had the 3.5's front lip and needles. The needles aren't a big deal since I can paint those up myself. What I don't get is why everyone likes the 3.5 wheels so much -- I've seen them and to me they look just like my 03 wheels do when they're dirty. So my advice to the 03s that want 3.5 wheels, just don't clean your wheels very often.

 

[girth]

Mike, that's a photochopped pic.

 

[YuYuRena]

love at first sight for me with the titanium so i'm a little bias. I like the 03 look overall, but too close to MP3, so only 03.5 and 03.7 are truely unique as a separate model, sorry guys, but same wing, fog.

Another thing, don't really dig sparco stuff, this is mazdaspeed, I like how the whole package is mazdaspeed, instead of mazdaspeed this and that, until u get inside and see your pedals and shift knob is sparco.

granted the wing looks a little bit akward from directly behind the car, but if you look at it from front quarter view, it looks nice. I really love how it looks out of my rear view mirror too.

 

[bsgts]

what is the 3.7 model? is it the same as the 3.5 just different colors

 

[CustomMSP]

I haven't heard of a 03.7 model either...

 

[PaulMP3]

i think blue, and silver are considered 03.7

 

[CustomMSP]

thank God they didnt come out with 03.82 models...hehe than we'd have a big ego fest out this forum

 

[Jason94Cobra]

The only thing I would have to change in a hurry is the shifter and pedals.

It was my opinion when looking at both the 03 and 03.4574576 (whatever I bought) is that that the Sparco pieces looked cheap to me...

I like my Mazdaspeed pedals and knob... dare I say better than the Cobra's stuff.

 

[jflo]

the 03.5 front lip actually goes w/ the rocker panels...if u look from the side, u can see how the front lip goes with that big front piece of the side skirt and then narrows down to match the rear lip...the 03 wing to me looks like it came off a spec-v almost and kinda like a custom chop wing. the pedals/knobs/stitching is all the same to me...either mazda rebadged them or just made nice ones to go w/ the car. i like both, but when i saw that mazda updated the 03 to 03.5 i picked the titanium over the spicy orange. hehe...the dealer actually had both of them in the show room and it was like whoa...crazy

 

[Newf]

Well most know my story by now. Some probably remember the troubles I had picking which one to get since I liked both styles so much. Basing it on pics, I didn't think I could wait for the titanium, and even thought it was boring in pics.

Then I ordered the orange one...saw it in person, and was like....ummm, not me. Tried to like it, really did.Just could not. When i seen the titanium in person it was love at first sight, same as the 1st time I seen the blue mp3. So I was sold

Front lip. To me, the 2003 windsplitter is junk. The one on my mp3 was almost white after 16 months because the paint peeled off. I also didn't like the side profile of the mp3, since the front bumper was higher then the side skirts. Now with the 2003.5 lip, the front lip is level with the side skirts, and even makes the car look lower and more aggressive imho. I was dead set on getting fogs for in there, but after thinking about it....I don't think it'll be worth it to tear up the front lip doing it. Never know, maybe one day I will.

As for the rear spoiler.....yup, defintely different. Then again, I thought the same when I seen my mp3 first time. Both are definitely unique. Both have their good points, and bad. At least now my trunk is lighter

As for the sparco stuff: Not a big deal. I don't care what name is on it, but do like how the mazdaspeed all matches. I did NOT like the sparco shifter in the 2003 as it was too small. probaly more due to the size of your hands whether or not you like this.

In the end we all drive great looking cars. I don't think one is more rice then another, I hate that statement. Look at our spoiler for gods sakes....either one can be called rice

 

[NoVaMSP]

3.5 imo seem cheaper to make
cheaper wing , no fogs,cheaper fabric seats, no sparco brands

but the wheels are nice

 

[Newf]

the sparco stuff is overhyped to me. It's just a name, and both are good shifters. Mine hasn't aged at all, no scratches no fading, perfect. The peddles...same story.

AS for the seats, that mesh stuff on the 2003's....I'm wondering just how long that will last. They guy that owns the orange one here in town, wih only 22k kms on it, you can tell the seats are wearing already. Same goes for peddles and shifter.

AS for cheaper to make....not sure on that.


Front lip cost about the same as getting the fogs, actually when I priced them, the fogs were cheaper at least the parts were.

The Wheels on the 2003.5 have got to be more pricey. The finish has got to cost more to make.

The rear bumper is different, as is the pipe, but whether they cost an more or less....I'd say it's neglible (sp?) same goes for the spoiler.

The 2003.5 clutch is different and stronger.....more $$$????? No idea.

The seats in the 2003's probably cost a little more, but that's just a guess.

The sparco/Mazdaspeed stuff. Well, unless Mazda had to pay Sparco something for using the name, I'd say their not much different in price either.

All in all, I'd say it evens out. so that statement of one being more $$$ then another is just a silly guess.

 

[mspeedpro]

the windsplitter that is "junk" has saved my balls atleast 10 times... ive scraped hard core and the splitter does not even look scratched... GOOD WORK ON SPLITTER MAZDA

 

[Swerny]

thank God they didnt come out with 03.82 models...hehe than we'd have a big ego fest out this forum

2003: Black Mica, Spicy Orange
2003.5: Titanium, Yellow
2003.7 Silver, Blue

 

[Newf]

LOL

And yes, the windsplitter does protect from scrapes perfectly. I just wish the paint was better on it.

 

[CruzinAltitude]

my .02 cents. I love the lip, which is why Im trying to buy one. I will be putting fog lights in, I wont give up as easily as you Newf!!

 

[Newf]

well be all means, keep me up to date! PM me your progress, very interested in seeing this.

 

[03MSP]

I love the '03.5 spolier, the darker wheel finish looks better too.

 

[BinaryRotary]

Just for info, the 2003 MSP wheels cost about 200 dollars more a piece than the 2003.5 according to dealer invoice.

 

[CustomMSP]

They did a crap job of painting those wheels, because I have some bubbles on my 03.5 rims.