Look What I Got Yesterday!!;)

[CHICO2003]

wow! you would think they would make the internals stronger b4 turboing!! is the ms3 like that? 2.3l with a turbo? they had to have made stronger internals for that considering they are running 16lbs of boost!

Look at it this way... This was Mazda's first crack at a "mazdaspeed" car. For whatever reason, they wanted to keep the price under $20k so they naturally had to make some concessions. Back in '03 you could buy a fully loaded ES for around $17k (I know because me and my gf at the time almost bought one) So, taking any potential rebates out of the equation, for an extra $2k you were getting (do I even have to list all of the things they put into this car?) Would it have been nice if Mazda forged the internals so that it could hold boost at a more WRX like 15+psi? Of course... but unlike the current generation 3, the base protege engine wasn't equipped to handle that sort of thing out of the block (no pun intended) so they had to keep the boost low and market the car as a "handler" as opposed to (where the money was being made) as a drag car ala srt-4 and even wrx.

The point is... Itsslow clearly got a dud. It sucks... but it's definitely not indicative of the car itself. If you were to do the research, I think you'd find the 95+% of the blown MSP engines were caused by upping the boost. Of the rest... well, like I said... guess there's a lemon in every bunch. This is why, more so than any other type of car, it's insanely important to know the vehicle history before buying it. Having bought mine right off the truck and literally being the only one to ever drive it, I know that if something breaks... it's probably my fault. Buying a used car on the other hand... well, you might end up paying for someone else's mistakes.

Doesn't sound like that'll be the case though. The fact there there were no mods is definitely a good sign. (though, it would have been an even better sign if there was ONE mod... a turbo timer in particular) No way in hell to know if the previous owner let it idle time so you'll have to cross your fingers there.

Bottom line: These cars are based on the ultra-reliable protege. As an avid subscriber to Consumer Reports, I can attest that it's one of the more reliable cars on the road. Some of the bolt ons (like the LSD) are weak so you need to be careful... other than that though, as long as you keep the boost stock and have better luck than itslow, you should be good for another 100k miles.

 

[fr0st]

If I could go back in time, I wouldnt have bought this car..

me neither... i like it but if it was a daily driver, i'd sell it..

and now im in between to sell/keep it.. as i don't use it that much...


i want to keep it for the fun driving and all.. but i don't use it too much as i got a compagny truck.. so basically i use it only on weekends..

the problem is i dont use it enough and it's already needing alot of attention ( leaks, busgings, brakes) and its fuking loud and has a too much harsh suspension( i know thats the price to pay for handling) if i was using it alot more i fear it would break more and faster..costing me even more..

so many flaws ( needs hard piping, fear of LSD failure, fear of zoom zoom boom) but so many qualities (power, handling, braking)

it really is a love/hate thing..

maybe is should have bought a wrx to play in the snow..

 

[mikeski]

well ill put the hardpipes in with maybe an intercooler, turbo timer and boost gauge to see what psi im pushing..........if i up the boost ill be sure to do the internals and probally wont go past 8lbs. what do u have to do to change the pipes? does it mess with the ecu at all

 

[mikeski]

well ill put the hardpipes in with maybe an intercooler, turbo timer and boost gauge to see what psi im pushing..........if i up the boost ill be sure to do the internals and probally wont go past 8lbs. what do u have to do to change the pipes? does it mess with the ecu at all

 

[msp35]

To make this car a fun reliable car as it was suppose to be you really only need to spend ~1000 more. I'm saying for a maybe 200whp car.

AFC 380
SMIC 400
remove the cats, or get a midpipe 100
626 intake mani. 150-250

With those the msp will run how Mazda should have built it.

 

[mikeski]

To make this car a fun reliable car as it was suppose to be you really only need to spend ~1000 more. I'm saying for a maybe 200whp car.

AFC 380
SMIC 400
remove the cats, or get a midpipe 100
626 intake mani. 150-250

With those the msp will run how Mazda should have built it.

really? do you have this setup? anything that i should do with the computer?

 

[kamon8404]

To make this car a fun reliable car as it was suppose to be you really only need to spend ~1000 more. I'm saying for a maybe 200whp car.

AFC 380
SMIC 400
remove the cats, or get a midpipe 100
626 intake mani. 150-250

With those the msp will run how Mazda should have built it.

Plus you can find this parts in the FS threads usually a lot cheaper.

I got my AFC for about 260 shipped. And a MAM catless mid-pipe for 60.

 

[CHICO2003]

To make this car a fun reliable car as it was suppose to be you really only need to spend ~1000 more. I'm saying for a maybe 200whp car.

AFC 380
SMIC 400
remove the cats, or get a midpipe 100
626 intake mani. 150-250

With those the msp will run how Mazda should have built it.

While I agree those mods will make the care more fun... I don't think they'll make it any more reliable. Unfortuneatly, the only way to do that is to forge the engine and get a stronger LSD. Those appear to be the weakest parts. The bushings? yeah... it's a bad setup but there are some cheap fixes out there (AWR poly bushings) that'll keep you in check for a while. Those are about as minor as it gets so it's not really something to b**** about. A blown motor or an LSD on crack is another matter altogether. For the most part, as I already said, if you treat her good.... she'll hold together just fine. If you intend to treat her as if she's a freakin Evo then... be ready to pay the price.

Anywayz... these cars get a bad rap largely because they LOOK faster than they are... and thus, many of the (see teenage/immature drivers) railed on them till they bled. Most of the cars on the road stay in stock form throughout their life. Because the target market likes to mod their car, s*** happens. Do you hear about Buicks blowin up? Unfortuneatly no. (granted, they don't have turbos but you know what I mean!) I don't want homez to have buyers remorse so everyone should stop scaring him. At the same time... he should know it's not wise to play with fire.

 

[ItsSlow]

Do you hear about Buicks blowin up? Unfortuneatly no. (granted, they don't have turbos but you know what I mean!)

AHEM, you must be forgetting a couple of them..

 

[fr0st]

While I agree those mods will make the care more fun... I don't think they'll make it any more reliable. Unfortuneatly, the only way to do that is to forge the engine and get a stronger LSD. Those appear to be the weakest parts. The bushings? yeah... it's a bad setup but there are some cheap fixes out there (AWR poly bushings) that'll keep you in check for a while. Those are about as minor as it gets so it's not really something to b**** about. A blown motor or an LSD on crack is another matter altogether. For the most part, as I already said, if you treat her good.... she'll hold together just fine. If you intend to treat her as if she's a freakin Evo then... be ready to pay the price.

Anywayz... these cars get a bad rap largely because they LOOK faster than they are... and thus, many of the (see teenage/immature drivers) railed on them till they bled. Most of the cars on the road stay in stock form throughout their life. Because the target market likes to mod their car, s*** happens. Do you hear about Buicks blowin up? Unfortuneatly no. (granted, they don't have turbos but you know what I mean!) I don't want homez to have buyers remorse so everyone should stop scaring him. At the same time... he should know it's not wise to play with fire.

i think mazda did a try out.. to test the market. not too sure it was going to catch on ( and it did)

they didn't make the mistakes twice when they made the miata mazdaspeed

i still "half" regret buying mine... iT's fun but it,s like a dirtbike.. it's all fun and power.. but you never know when it's gonna go boom from the tranny or boom from the engine..

it's not a good daily driver if you play with it too much..

 

[turbogirl89]

very very nice car, im jealous =P

 

[kamon8404]

Well, I would have to say that with proper planning and tuning this car can be a great ... reliable daily driver. There are plenty of them on the forum.

Get an EMS! AFC as mentioned earlier with the stock super map, will greatly enhance the reliability due to the tune.

If you have the money get the LSD welded. A shop near my house is charging me 400 for a clutch/flywheel install and lsd welding. (granted i'm providing the clutch and flywheel)

Right there you are under a 1200 bucks and your car will be as reliable as any other. Not to mention that when you buy another car, you aren't even going to get the suspension and rim combination for nearly the 1200 you spent making this car reliable. Its definitely worth the trade off in my opinion.

 

[mikeski]

Well, I would have to say that with proper planning and tuning this car can be a great ... reliable daily driver. There are plenty of them on the forum.

Get an EMS! AFC as mentioned earlier with the stock super map, will greatly enhance the reliability due to the tune.

If you have the money get the LSD welded. A shop near my house is charging me 400 for a clutch/flywheel install and lsd welding. (granted i'm providing the clutch and flywheel)

Right there you are under a 1200 bucks and your car will be as reliable as any other. Not to mention that when you buy another car, you aren't even going to get the suspension and rim combination for nearly the 1200 you spent making this car reliable. Its definitely worth the trade off in my opinion.

thanks for the info! ru saying the clutch goes bad also?

 

[mikeski]

While I agree those mods will make the care more fun... I don't think they'll make it any more reliable. Unfortuneatly, the only way to do that is to forge the engine and get a stronger LSD. Those appear to be the weakest parts. The bushings? yeah... it's a bad setup but there are some cheap fixes out there (AWR poly bushings) that'll keep you in check for a while. Those are about as minor as it gets so it's not really something to b**** about. A blown motor or an LSD on crack is another matter altogether. For the most part, as I already said, if you treat her good.... she'll hold together just fine. If you intend to treat her as if she's a freakin Evo then... be ready to pay the price.

Anywayz... these cars get a bad rap largely because they LOOK faster than they are... and thus, many of the (see teenage/immature drivers) railed on them till they bled. Most of the cars on the road stay in stock form throughout their life. Because the target market likes to mod their car, s*** happens. Do you hear about Buicks blowin up? Unfortuneatly no. (granted, they don't have turbos but you know what I mean!) I don't want homez to have buyers remorse so everyone should stop scaring him. At the same time... he should know it's not wise to play with fire.

i agree. some kids that bought the car did and do beat on them. so if i get the lsd welded and stronger rods, i should be ok right? its kinda wierd that mazda would produce such an unreliable car. i dont think it is a bad car and i do think it will hold up if you dont pound on it everyday. it handles nice and im happy. even if i dont push the turbo, it sounds neat.

 

[mikeski]

very very nice car, im jealous =P

Thanks. i love it!

 

[CHICO2003]

AHEM, you must be forgetting a couple of them..

LOL yup... how can you forget about those? but still... that was no more a buick than a viper is a dodge. basically just a "gm showcase" type of car

 

[dannyboy17]

626 intake mani. 150-250

where?

 

[kamon8404]

thanks for the info! ru saying the clutch goes bad also?

The clutch doesn't go bad, but if your paying for someone to rip apart the tranny and weld the lsd, why not get a new clutch and flywheel installed.

 

[mikeski]

The clutch doesn't go bad, but if your paying for someone to rip apart the tranny and weld the lsd, why not get a new clutch and flywheel installed.

true.

 

[Lunatik]

i also lost my pride and joy earlier this year. ive been looking for an msp everywhere and this is exactly what i'm waiting to happen to me lol congrats thats my favorite color also