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

[xboxlivemonkey]

Ok, will do. I found another one at a local repo place, very reasonably priced too. I still need to sell my mx3 though

whats your location , if nearby ill consider the mx3 (naughty)

 

[i like speed]

Hi Guys,

I am also a new guy to the forum and I have been trolling around for a few days trying to pick up some info. ATM I have a MX3 with a bunch of mods and I have owned that for some time. However, I am looking at getting a newer car now and a close friend wants to purchase my car outright. I am located in BC Canada and I have always loved the looks of the MSP. I have started searching craigslist and all the car sale sites to see if I can find one for sale. I have a few hits but one has caught my eye, mostly because of the price.. Here is a link:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/car/684538332.html

Its an american car in Canada, with 54k Miles (86k km's) and the price seems negotiable. I just need to know a few things..

- What should I look for in this car as problems if I do go to test drive it?
- What is the difference between the 03 and the 03.5 car besides general body styling?
- It seems he changed the timing belt already? Is this motor a interference motor?

Here is another car that I have been looking at, although I am not a fan of yellow. I prefer the titanium or the spicy orange:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/car/655375990.html

Just ask the guy selling it about the car. You can usually tell if he/she is a dumbass and didn't take care of it. Do searches on here and find everything out about the car you can(fish through the bs and don't believe everything you read). On the test drive listen for a crunch sound coming from the rear. The turkey call bypass valve is normal. Ask if the differential has broke, been welded, been replaced. If not it will most likely be a headache in the future. Body styling is the only difference between the 03 and 03.5, front lip, foglights, same rims darker finish on the .5 i feel like i'm missing something so someone fill in here. Not sure what you mean by "interferance motor" tho. Mine has been a great car done nothing but change the oil and had no problems with it so far.

 

[solo_ryder]

Thanks for the reply! Yea, I have read up on most of the stuff you have told me already. I have been around mazda's for a few years and have had quite a few of them. I am located in BC, Canada, so unless your close by then I guess you can just look at a pic of it

Interference motor, one that if the timing belt snaps, the piston will smash the valves. Currently, the v6 motor I have is a non interference so if the TB snaps I am ok.. I have a feeling that the MSP motor is interference..

 

[xboxlivemonkey]

im SoL

nice car , what are teh numbers

 

[solo_ryder]

Never really dyno'd it.. It's N/A so probably 180whp at best with all the supporting mods I have for it

Back to the topic, my dad is going to check out that MSP at the repo auction for me.. we will see what happens. I need the old mans stamp of approval haha

 

[i like speed]

Build the motor and put a tt setup and I'll buy it from you. Everything I found said that our motor is non-interferance. So you gotta wait until the toothpick rod snaps b4 the piston will bend the valves.

 

[solo_ryder]

Well that is good news

As for the TT setup, a signle turbo would work much better. There is BARELY enough room in my engine bay for one turbo let alone 2

I had a custom eaton m62 supercharger setup for the car going to run on MSNS MSII V2.2 but I sold the kit as I wanted to make the MX more reliable with some maintenence that needed to be done. Oh well

 

[xboxlivemonkey]

iv been trying to find out local repo centers around me , any one have an idea how ?

 

[RubaDub]

A possible owner

I've just come to terms with the MSP. The SRT, was a good deal, but there was far too much tampering for me to warrant the purchase. Sure it only had 44k on the ODO, but it was definitely messed with far too much. The MSP has 68k on the clock, I'm the one who pushed it over. I've fallen in love with it since I test drove it. The side exit exhaust sounds means, the car handles like a champ and has a decent aftermarket backing. So on Monday, I'll be taking delivery of 2003.5 #1861. Come on, at 11.9k how could I pass up a good deal like this?

 

[Stolen]

First and last one please, take a look?

http://www.cars.com/go/search/search_results.jsp?ct=3&tracktype=usedcc&searchTyp e=78&cid=&dlid=&dgid=&amid=&cname=&rd=&ddrd=30&zc= 07036&makeid=30&modelid=6788&pageNumber=&numResult sPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=des cending&sortfield=PRICE%20descending&certifiedOnly =false&criteria=K-|E-|M-_30_|H-|D-_6788_|N-N|R-75|I-1|P-PRICE%20descending|Q-descending|X-popular|Z-07036&aff=national

Which looks like a better deal?

 

[brkwd51]

How do you guys feel about a 2003 spicy orange msp, 80kmiles, a few scratches, and an injen CAI. It is believed to have been in a rear end crash in the past... but it looks repaired very nicely. But its a repo. So some guy bought it at this repo auction and now is selling it for 7grand.

yes? no?

 

[i like speed]

Def get a carfax on it. According to Edmunds it's a good deal but still see if he'll knock something off. I paid 9,500 for mine and it had 45k on the clock. And that was from a dealer not private party.

 

[brkwd51]

yea i did. and it said the miles may not be the actual miles... but i dont see that there could really be possibly that much more for a car thats only 5 years old.
I also got a private inspector look at it and everything checked out with him.

 

[mikesta]

looking to buy a msp

hi,

just happened to find a listing for a mazdaspeed protege and became very interested. it's a 2003 with 52,000 miles. everything is stock, but the only problem i see is that it has had three owners. there isn't a price listed either.

i was wondering if you guys thought this car would be an ok buy and how much i should offer.

 

[In4am0sPuN]

Just buy mine, its a 03.5 w/ ~54k, w/ great mods for a DD and its never been driven hard (over 5k rpm or 90 mph)

 

[mikesta]

i would, but i live on an island not so close to ny, lol (drinks)

 

[im_chrome]

New here...looking for MSP

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/816816180.html

Check out that like and let me know what you guys think. It seems ok to me, but I need other opinions.

Thanks, and I can't wait til I'm a MSP owner.(flash)

 

[stdntDrvr]

looks very clean...i'm not sure what kind of exhaust it has...that's not stock...price is a little high...check out the f/s section on the forum...there's a subsection for cars.

 

[43975]

I say offer 10 and take her home

 

[haze20]

It might be a Greddy SP2 cat back. It also doesn't have the Racing Harts on it. That alone should lower the price.