Might be Buying A 03 Spicy Orange MSP

[SP23goesroar]

My friend has a 2003 Mazdaspeed Spicy Orange Protege and he wants to get ride of it. He , it has 45k Miles. He's taking care of it really well. I've always liked his car, But i have a few questions.

1. Does it still run good after 45k Miles?

2. Are they good Daily Driven cars?

3. Should I consider something else? I was considering a 03 RSX Type-S but I really like the MSP's.


Sorry if i posted in the wrong area.

 

[Dr.Sound]

type s will have much better reliability and will keep its value better.

 

[Shane-O]

type s will have much better reliability and will keep its value better.

I agree, Mazda seems to think that the MSP motor is good past 200k miles, maybe if it's babied and never enters boost. Just shift at 2,000 RPM's like me all the time and it should last a while. I'm just messing with you, MSP's are great and you will have alot of fun driving it, especially coming from a focus, and spicy is one of the most favorite colors on this board so you'll get more then enough comlements after buying.

 

[Wha'Happened]

As far as reliability and performance-potential, If you can get a Type-S for the same price w/ the same miles I would go for the Type-S. Otherwise, the MSP is much, much rarer, looks better imho, and handles much better. I like knowing that my MSP is the top-of-the line model whereas, w/ the RSX there is always that elusive Type-R. The MSP also has more torque and a limited slip, but the RSX has a MUCH better transmission. Stuff to keep in mind.

 

[daedalus]

i would go MSP. Type-S are overpriced IMHO, and for the money I dont know that the value is there. They are very hard to make quick without a shitload of money, and they are just so damn tiny. I like the looks of them when they are modded, but stock they are just fugly. Plus, if you hit anything in that car, or anything hits you YOURE DEAD.

Get the MSP, get the looks, performance, value, and enjoy owning a car with personality.

 

[4drboost]

As far as reliablility goes, im not sure anymore. I have two friends with
Type S's, and one with a Type S Aspec. And both had premature engine failure. I was with my friend in the Aspec, when just driving off the freeway, at the stop light, it started rattling and shut off. It had only 7,000 miles on it. Bone stock, and not realy abused, it needed a new head, block, it was messed up, and Acura only covered the labor, he had to buy the parts. Its still a nice car, and it feels solid, but I still like my MSP better (plus he paid like 30K for that car (screwy)

 

[Dr.Sound]

i had an apportunity to get type-s, but i chose MSP........twice

 

[girth]

1. Does it still run good after 45k Miles?

No. Hell they run like s*** straight from the factory with 0 miles!! Don't get me wrong, they probably won't leave you stranded but they definitely do not run what I'd consider to be "good". Mine has never ran good. Ever.

2. Are they good Daily Driven cars?

Yes

3. Should I consider something else? I was considering a 03 RSX Type-S but I really like the MSP's.

You'd be a fool not to at least consider any other cars. For the same price an RSX is definitely a better choice IMO. Or wait for a used Cobalt SS or something too.

 

[daedalus]

if you buy a cobalt i will kill you.

 

[Speedplease]

Screw your friend buy mine! I only have 26000 miles and i also take very good care of my car(im anal like that) any way threadjack over pm if interested.

 

[spacemonkey]

Type S is expensive...i say no FWD car should be worth over $21K.

All turbo cars have bad resale value so you might want to keep that in mind. Alos look at insurence. People never think about that. a $100 saved a month in insurence and payments equal $1200 a year! As for reliability i dont know. if it wasnt boosted much or he went into boost conservatively then it shouldnt be a problem at all. It did last over 45K while people b**** about LSD and blown motors at 10K I say its all in the way you drive. Take car of it and it will take care of you.

Think about this..if you stay out of boost then its just a normal protege which has one of the best reliability and saftey according to consumer report. Dont hink of it as a turbo car but a car with a turbo. Dotn boost 24 hours a day it should last you well over 45K there should be no reason our engines arent reliable in daily drivine. Just think of the turbo as a helper when you need it not somethign you need all the time. It has 4 doors so maybe better for daily driving.

Type S will have its resale value and the engineering is better. But I look at other things too...like price and other cost (i.e. insurence, payments, parts and etc). it may be a cheaper car but if you have those monthly cost it adds up.

 

[mspdfreak]

You're just paying for the name "Acura".

 

[lamp3]

Girth, has to be the most negative speedster on the board! LOL. It wouldn't suprise me if he has some wierd ritual once a week where he does a little dance, and piss's all over his car LOL

 

[toucci]

They are very hard to make quick without a shitload of money, and they are just so damn tiny.

I disagree! Intake, header, exhaust, and hondata flash make for a very sweet n/a machine!

 

[SP23goesroar]

thanks eveyone for your input, i asked him at the price and he wants more than what it's worth. I think I'll save up my money for a couple of months and then consider a 6 or the sp23. i just got done paying the focus off, so i kinda wanna enjoy the extra money for awhile.

 

[Dr.Sound]

ahh yes......noone can beat proteges in crash testing.
i should know.....i'm the unofficial roll-over test engeneer

 

[daedalus]

ahh yes......noone can beat proteges in crash testing.
i should know.....i'm the unofficial roll-over test engeneer

you and jersey_emt!!! (wink)

 

[Hercdriver]

How much was he asking?

 

[girth]

Girth, has to be the most negative speedster on the board! LOL. It wouldn't suprise me if he has some wierd ritual once a week where he does a little dance, and piss's all over his car LOL

Hahhaha! You know me too well my friend. Once TwistedJeckel left the boards I think I took over as the most negative MSP owner. TwistedJeckel may have left but the "Clunking Orange ****" with wheels lives on.....

 

[SP23goesroar]

How much was he asking?

He was asking 14k (what he owed on the car.) He invested 4k into the car. I drove in it today and it was pretty nice. But I think I'm gonna fix up the car i got now a little bit then get rid of it buy a seden like a Mazda6 or a used is300. I plan on adding these items to the focus:

AEM COLD Air Intake
HKS Hiper Cat-Back Exhuast
Sparco Pedals and Shift Knob

And if anyone is selling rims (4 Lug, 17") and there nice, leave me pics if u can. I need knew rims because during the last snow storm we had, I messed up two of them. I bent the lip on each on, both on the left side of the car.