Looking at buying a MSP and want advice? Post here!

[fatti03msp]

check for smoke, that can mean engine problems and/or bad turbo seals.

The LSDs are known to fail too, but that could have been replaced already with an updated one.

Look for oil leaks, on source that is a really easy fix is the O ring for the oil return line from the turbo to the oil pan will go bad, but its like a 5 dollar part and a 10 min. job, u just want to do it when you do an oil change.

just for starters

Also are there any mods done to the car?

another thing you can do is this, get the VIN number, and from that you can get the production number of the car. Then you can look at the list of production numbers and see if the owner was on here and find out some history of the car.

Produciton Number List

Info on some known problem

hopefully this info doesnt scare you away lol, its a great car and TONS of fun to drive

also.... welcome to the community, alot of great info and vendors on here to help you out.

 

[littlemimus]

from personal experience nothing to big has happened to me just stuff that happens over time u know? my turbo is burning a little oil thats about all thats major for me though. even though it has some problems i still love the car and the looks you get when the turbo spool up is like amazing hahaha people are like....that wasnt an srt4 or a evo or some other turbo tuner.....wth was that!!!! i love it!!!! and im sure you'll love the car as well

 

[tsunami]

thread moved to correct forum.... good luck with your purchase.

 

[719prottege]

i bought mine for 5700 clean car fax, doesnt burn oil, clean inside and outside, had 1 small fender bender, no frame damage just needed bumper replaced (showed paper work to prove it) and it was completely painted escalade black, door jambs and all... and 80k miles. so it probably isnt a scam or anything, the resell on these msp's suck for some reason.

 

[phantommvp]

I need some advice!!

Hi there. I'm trying to get a car and I still configuring whether should I buy the msp or a dodge stratus r/t coupe instead. I have totally no experience in building and modding a car, so im still thinking of whether i should buy an msp and learn or i should get another car 1st instead. Any advice??

 

[anarchistchiken]

Don't buy a dodge. If it's a choice between the MSP and the dodge, don't buy the dodge. Just sayin.

 

[.mazda.speed.]

If your looking for a car to lightly mod and just learn a bit with the msp is great! Good handling out of the box, already turbo so just do some bolt on's turn the boost up and tune it and you got a nice handling 200whp machine. This car is very fun at 200whp.

Now if your going really far with your build and looking for over 250whp then I would look into a stronger platform. Maybe even a rwd setup.

Don't get me wrong you can make big numbers in the msp, there is a lot of people who have proved that, just be prepared to spend a lot of money to do it reliably.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

If your looking for a car to lightly mod and just learn a bit with the msp is great! Good handling out of the box, already turbo so just do some bolt on's turn the boost up and tune it and you got a nice handling 200whp machine. This car is very fun at 200whp.

Now if your going really far with your build and looking for over 250whp then I would look into a stronger platform. Maybe even a rwd setup.

Don't get me wrong you can make big numbers in the msp, there is a lot of people who have proved that, just be prepared to spend a lot of money to do it reliably.

if you're going to tell someone to up the boost on an MSP with just boltons... you may as well just tell them to buy another engine right away.

Someone new to auto modification is likely a LONG way from thinking about tuning the car..

to phantommvp: if you want a car to tinker with, the MSP is great. It requires that you tinker with it to keep it running in top form. If you don't know what you're doing, and don't have resources (you have us here, so thats a great start) it can be very painful and expensive though. The other thing to consider is that if you constantly pound on an MSP, it WILL give you problems I guarantee it. That said, I've driven my car for 28000 miles and aside from slapping the diff (which these cars are notorious for) it has been a perfect daily driver/toy for me, and if you don't get on it and have a little fun once in a while, you are doing the car a disservice! lol

Don't buy a dodge. If it's a choice between the MSP and the dodge, don't buy the dodge. Just sayin.

if he wants a plain jane daily driver, the stratus RT is a perfectly fine choice.

 

[phantommvp]

I really do like to learn on car modifications and an msp sounds great for me.. But im still a student and i dont have much budget to spend on a car.. So im still strugelling between these 2 choices.. what car else do u guys think i should get?

 

[Wagonbacker9]

honestly, for the money, the MSP is a great choice. the value on them (unfortionate for those of us who bought them before this) has come down a lot on the last year and a half or so.

other similar cars you could look at:
Sentra SER
Integra Type R
Mazda MP3 (non-turbo MSP)
Lexus IS300
various subarus
Nissan 240SX

it really depends what your goals are, but one of the above should fit what you're looking for.

 

[phantommvp]

Besides, will the dodge stratus r/t coupe give me as much problem as the msp??

 

[Wagonbacker9]

the MSP will only give you problems if its mistreated.

bottom line.

I know of 2 that were poorly treated, have changed hands, and the new owners have had nothing but problems. I also know other guys similar to myself who bought cars they either knew the history on, or they got lucky, and they do their proper upkeep, and they have perfectly good cars that have treated them well.

 

[dstmsp03]

stratus rt will give you some problems.. i mean its nothing more than a glorified eclipse gt to be honest.. if you want that platform, might as well get the eclipse name.. as for the MSP.. like carl (wagon) said.. if its mistreated.. you will hate the car!

 

[phantommvp]

That is why im struggling. I really dont want to get a lemon msp and it is really hard to find one as I dont think that any msp owner will hold their hand on modding their car.

 

[Wagonbacker9]

I bought mine as a virgin... her only mods were wheels, taillights, foglights (which had been removed), and a retarded vinyl down the side (also removed). edit: and the crappy factory deck was replaced...

I find it ironic that the only 2 mods left from the prev owner were the first 2 things I undid. but I digress.

just because an MSP is modified, doesn't mean its beaten (typically on a modified car this is true). honestly, if its modified, and has upgraded motor mounts and differential, you're ahead of the game. Otherwise thats s*** you should get on ASAP anyway.

my first mods were all support and safety: mounts, diff, turbo timer... if it has those things done, chances are the owner isn't an idiot, and if there hasn't been a boost controller on it, and they've got service records, you'll probably be OK.

 

[theEZV]

there are still plenty of stock unmolested msps around. i think thats your best bet. keep your eyes open, the right one will come along. took me 6 months to find mine, its been 3.5 mostly trouble free years since

 

[Wagonbacker9]

yeah, I joined up here a full 3 months before I bought mine... wasn't gonna jump on the first one I came across.. plus I was being a color snob. Almost ended up with a silver and a black... but passed on both. Still kinda wish I'd bought the black.. she had a sunroof. lol

 

[theEZV]

yea....i was gonna buy a black one. it was mint, beatiful. then the guy hydrolocked his motor on the way to meet me.

 

[daonly1around]

yea....i was gonna buy a black one. it was mint, beatiful. then the guy hydrolocked his motor on the way to meet me.

as FLO from the progressive commercial would say

"DISCOUNT!!!"

 

[Silverspeed2015]

I am look at a 2003.5 msp with 60,000 miles it has only been in one accident it was back in 2004 and the owner that had it, serviced at a mazda dealer everytime, the car is still completely stock for a cold air intake, do you think its worth $8800?