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

[likuidslider603]

You could get the same msp for 5 grand or less if you went shopping around.

Where? I check CL, Autotrader, etc all the time. I'm up in maine, so i look as far as NY/NJ which is a pretty long ride to get it. I search 2-300 miles from my zip...

If anyone has any for sale, or knows where to look please help me out.

 

[BOOSTR]

Avoid it like the plague. Don't sink $1 of your money in to any car with that kind of history. Keep looking.

 

[rally2003]

Don't do it, buy something newer and with less miles for about the same amount of cash. Less headache and more smiles.

 

[SeR_Cyclops]

Check around on these forums, these cars are so hard to sell so you can find a good deal.

 

[yudkib]

yeah theres one in albany with less miles, for less money, with a built block (like 30k ago no less). that's a good deal.

edit: oops i lied, same mileage. link:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123754911

 

[SeR_Cyclops]

yeah theres one in albany with less miles, for less money, with a built block (like 30k ago no less). that's a good deal.

edit: oops i lied, same mileage. link:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123754911

If you were going to buy that car you need to upgrade the turbo and engine management. He had PAR gears but kept breaking them, i think it was due to the load of the small turbo in the lower RPMs on the tranny.

 

[likuidslider603]

That's the thing, i really want to find something close to stock. I want it as a DD and just to own a nice car, not to turn into a drag car or anything. I'm looking on the boards alot more now too.

 

[NJ MSP]

buy HondaEat-R's.

 

[HondaEat-R]

Funny, I ran into this post. FYI My car has GTX 3rd and 5th gears, a long with a fully rebuilt tranny. 95% new OEM parts used in the rebuild. Only used parts in there are the case and input shaft. When I broke the tranny for the 2nd time, I called SlowMotionMSP (previous owner), and he had extra parts that i bought from him (GTX gears).

PAR gears kept breaking because they are not meant for daily driving UNLESS you use the NEO synthetic gear oil, and change it every time you change motor oil. Straight from Gerard @ PAR. The wear that my gears showed was gradual pitting of the teeth, because of the oil being sheared more easily (straight cut gears and longer oil change intervals than required) which led to weak spots on a tooth, then that tooth would break off. Both times I broke teeth, I was babying the car.

 

[Lunatik]

Help me decide!

Alright guys some of you may know me from before I had a

red '00 protege

and a '03.5 MSP

unfortunately I totalled both by stupid mistakes. I havent had a car in 6 months and I really dont have that much of a budget for a new car. Now, I found a black MSP locally for $7,9xx with 59,xxx miles. Should I try and get it or should I look at something else?

 

[BOOSTR]

If for no other reason than karma, you should avoid all things mazda like the plague based on your experiences. Those were some nice looking rides and I do love my MSP.

 

[ghaze24]

As much as I love msps, unless you plan to leave the thing totally stock you should probably stay away considering you don't have much of a budget.

 

[SeR_Cyclops]

Most people on here hate their mazdaspeed protege cause they beat the s*** out of them. If you can find a un molested msp then get it. I love my car and I have quite a few mods nothing crazy but I do check my oil and never get on it going around corners or beat the s*** out of it at every stop light. I dont care what car it is it could even be a honda or toyota the most reliable cars on the road, if you dont treat the car right you will have problems out of it. enough said get the msp. They are bad ass cars.

 

[Lunatik]

i probably wont do any crazy mods... my titanium was stock for a while until I bought the turbolife fmic and split second but thats all.

I just cant decide because I really think I'm cursed, however I loveeee that car!! grr

 

[BOOSTR]

I agree that most problems are 99.9% MSP owner caused. I'm not stock and I was not being totally serious with my first post. Just make sure that it did not belong to one of the fucknuts that used to be an MSP abuser. We've all done stupid things when it comes to cars at some point. After a while you learn not to as it always proves to be costly.

 

[martispeed]

Sorry to go off topic a bit but how did you total both of them... Crash one into the other???

 

[SCMP3]

there seems to be less and less Tg msps lately because of accidents. i guess its good that they made more of those than any others.

 

[cbrxballer]

Hi im new to the whole mazda scene, very interested in a 03.5 speed protege im looking at. my main concern with this car is the high mileage/reliability this car has to offer. i just need a reliable car for city driving and occasionally hitting up the canyons. i dont plan to upgrade the car much in terms of engine performance. So this is the car im looking at as of right now, might meet with the owner this week. let me know what you guys think : http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180449747884&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_642wt_1165

i plan to offer 4-5k cash if it checks out. suggestions? comments? all appreciated, i can use some knowledge about this car, thanks everyone.

 

[yudkib]

youre in CA? have fun with CARB...
if this car is at 100k, ask if the clutch has been done. mine is on the way out at 75k and i think its about par for the course around here. if it hasn't, start saving up. also make sure the timing belt was done at the 100k service, and id set aside a little money to change the stock head unit. theyre notoriously bad... they break a lot of ribbon cables.
its a legit MSP based on the VIN which is good.
aside from that its a good looking ride. at that mileage id say its a pretty good price too, 4500 or less i would say was practically stealing. i saw there was something about a lien in the listing? id look into that. i might be biased but id get that car for 5g, i paid almost double that for mine a year ago... course used cars were way more expensive a year ago...

and as a bonus, youd own one in silver, which is far and away the least common color around here id say.
good luck man we'd love to get another member around here

 

[greenracer]

BUYING my first mazdaspeed protege! HELP!

(gah)Hello everyone,

I'm new to the mazdaspeed community and I'm about to buy my first MSP.

I'm not sure what to look for, or rather what issues are common on a 100k MSP.

It is NOT a rebuild. but is selling for $5200 which kinda makes me wonder what could be wrong with it. I have made arrangements to have the vehicle inspected at a local mazda dealer, but what should I specifically have then pay special attention to?

Any suggestions would be appreciated considering i don't really know much about the vehicle and any potential problems or quirks. The most i've been able to dig up is that the stock head unit for the stereo is crap, and that the bushings on the rear suspension tend to go chronically....

HELP?! haha thanks in advance!