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

[littlemimus]

dam....looks super clean!! price is steep but thats cause low miles and dealer. get a carfax to make sure its a actual msp. or better yet get the vin and look it up on the production number thread.

 

[not yellow]

well, it's definitely not "all original." looks like it's had quite a bit done to it. who knows what been installed/uninstalled at this point. dealers typically have no history on the vehicle and probably know little or nothing about MSPs. plus they mark it up more than a private party... so there is really no advantage in buying a used car at a dealership! be sure to check the carfax to see how many owners it's had. i'd also be real curious to see some engine bay shots...

 

[icespeed]

Just looking at the pics, it's had some work done to it... the fog lights were not an option for this color (it's the 2003.5). I can't tell from the pics if the silver bottom grill is a front mount intercooler or just aftermarket chicken wire. If it's a frount mount, it's most definately engine modified. Kinda strange that they don't have any engine bay pics. It looks like there is a short shifter installed, as I remember the stick sitting a little higher. The two gauges below the radio are definately not stock and I don't like that there is a "red button" underneath the E-brake. In the description, they have it at 320,000, not 32k, I'm sure it's just a typo, but still.

Edmunds lists it at $9859.00 with 33k miles on it. If you're buying it from a dealer so you can finance it, it's understandable, but as the others have mentioned, it'd be cheaper to buy it private party.

**Edit**
Definately not all original. I just went to the dealerships website and looked at the rest of the pics... engine bay pics are there... lol, ALOT of modifications have been done to this car. FMIC, CAI, VAC Block, BOV, Strut brace, SMIC delete. Lord knows what condition the engine is in. There's also something about that exhaust that looks fishy. It definately doesn't have the oval exhaust tip that it should. You should look to see if the catalytic converters are there (there will be 2 on the MSP).

I blew up two engines on my msp with less modifications that that. Personally, I wouldn't spend $13k on this car.

 

[Ricktalife]

I blew up two engines on my msp with less modifications that that. Personally, I wouldn't spend $13k on this car.

OP: Don't let that scare you out of this car. They are picky motors but any motor will blow if you aren't careful. Though I would strongly suggest if you get that car that you bring them down on the price to reality and get it checked out by a mechanic.

 

[Sport23]

I would definitely get the price down some and absolutely have it checked out thoroughly.

Mods I see: Exhaust (Magnaflow?), Fog lights (looks like the switch is below the e-brake,) mesh lower grill, FMIC, turbo badge, stereo, short throw shifter, gauges and holder below stereo, dead pedal, removed driver's side vent, turbo timer? below driver's side vent, regular protege tail lights?, Injent CAI, SMIC delete, vacuum block, hardpipes, recirculated bov, strut tower bar, painted engine cover, sport shifters sticker, new battery terminal. It looks like the amp and sub rack has been removed from the trunk. Also painted stereo surround, shifter center console, power window controls.

Production number: 2314

P.S. If you get this MSP I am interested in that strut tower bar. I would trade you my stock one + cash if you are interested. GL

 

[cruton5]

nice looking car. I like the center gauge pod with the mazda symbol in between. saw the driver vent aswell. wonder whats up with that?

 

[Sport23]

I'm guessing that the driver vent was hacked up to install a gauge or EBC or something and they just ripped it out before trading the car in.

 

[GiJoe]

I think it was either painted or the seats were swaped.

 

[Sport23]

I think it was either painted or the seats were swaped.

What to you mean? The stitching on the seats looks like the proper color for an 03.5.

 

[GiJoe]

Never mind took another look at it. The stitching matches I missed a few things.

I'm an idiot and used to it.

 

[hwkspeed]

Pm'd

Forget that check out my PM i sent you..mine will blow you away

im in the market for a mazdaspeed protege, and they are quite hard to find in my area...anyways i found one, but i dont know if it is legit...please take a look at the add and let me know..it has 32k miles and is like a royal blue color, claims to be all original..please let me know what you guys think
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detai...kId=20073&rpp=50&feedSegId=28705&aff=national

 

[drummer829]

yea sorry but yours is in new jersey and im not lookin to spend anything over $10000...but my dads good friend is a mazda mechanic, so id definately take it over to him and have him do an inspection and a half on this car...hopefully he can run the vin# through and see if its ever been brought in as well for any problems...whats a VAC block and whats up with the driver vent

 

[ryanmsp]

looks modified but to what extent you may not know.. the miles seem great but definatley get a car fax and have someone that can look at it very well. the price is high and you could counter offer with the KBB (or less) and the fact that the interior is a bit hacked up... dont let the dealer attempt to mark it up because of all the "mods"... they usally take $$s off when cars like that are traded in. GL with buying!!

the left driver vent looks like it had a guage of somsort put in it... it shouldnt look like that tell em to mark it down when buying!

 

[special--k]

Paint looks really nice. the interior is a little smacked. I would not pay 13k for it, make sure to get a carfax and really look over the car before you buy it. Did you try searching the VIN# on here to find the last owner?

 

[BOOSTR]

At that price and being modified, no its not a good deal. Don't let the glossy looking finish fool you. Its a 2003 car that had an MSRP @$20,500. Six plus years of depreciation is not being accounted for (no surprise there) in the dealer pricing. Try to obtain financing for that amount and you'll realize if you don't already that its too much.

 

[not yellow]

honestly, i wouldn't touch that thing with a ten foot pole. unless you really know your s*** and are prepared to do some work. no way to know exactly what you are getting with this one.

 

[solo_ryder]

Alright, round 2 here of trying to get a MSP. Found a really nice Spicy locally.. 1 Owner.. decent km's. I test drove it and was wondering 2 things.

1. There is a hesitation when partial throttling it.. like it goes and stops kinda thing? Boost leak?

2. The car is slow? I drove two MSP's and they both felt weak on the mid to top end? Did not feel like a 14 or 15 second car...

3. When I started the car there, a loudish tapping sound developed? Sounded like a loud lifter, but upon further inspection it seemed to be coming from the exhaust shield. I put my hand on it with pressure (car was still not warmed up) and the noise went away for the most part? Is this common? leaky manifold or just a messed up heat shield?

Stock boost is set at about 7psi right?

 

[solo_ryder]

Anyone?

 

[Wagonbacker9]

these cars aren't super quick. they do tend to hesitate, the stock tune sucks balls... this is why a lot of us get a piggyback.

 

[solo_ryder]

Ya it seems a lot of you run the split second, what model do you guys use?