MSP reliable?...prove it!

[Black Majik MSP]

I'm posting this in conjunction with my WTB MSP thread...

My friend is ready to buy a used MSP, but his parents talked to their mechanic & he told them that Mazdas aren't reliable, too complex, & some other BS. My friend told me this guy works on domestics, so I'm not surprised. My experience has also been that most mechanics are biased & provide unreliable info about stuff they don't know about too. Anyway, I need some concrete proof that I can give to his parents to show that Mazdas & the MSP in particular are reliable cars.

Now, before you start laughing or whatever, I am well aware of the multitude of minor (& some major) problems that people have on here with their MSPs...I've had 1/2 of them myself. However, nearly all of these issues have a TSB or some simple fix & I think most MSP owners would agree that the car is reliable (assume the car is stock for this discussion). So what I need are some links to online reviews or anything you can think of to prove that Mazdas ARE reliable. Please help!

 

[girth]

LOL, this thread shall forever remain empty of posts.

 

[Black Majik MSP]

LOL, this thread shall forever remain empty of posts.

So you think Proteges (the MSP in particular) have bad reliability?

 

[RenzoMSP]

Almost any car can be reliable if you take care of it.

 

[Black Majik MSP]

Almost any car can be reliable if you take care of it.

True, but some cars are more reliable than others & there are ratings that prove this. Point in case, my dad bought a Lexus because they have been #1 in reliability for like the last 12 years.

I know Consumer Reports has good ratings, but you have to be a member to access them online. I think we subscribe, so I'm going to search through past issues. If anyone can help, please don't hesitate (a little MSP humor ).

 

[Heathen23]

I'm guessing he's going on hearsay from mazda's rotary history which to many mechanics is like a foreign planet. Just check the obvious sources. Most reviews say it has well above average reliability for a compact.

 

[RenzoMSP]

Maybe this helps.
http://images.autobytel.com/web/PDF/NewCarPDF/19947/ABTL/2003MazdaMAZDASPEEDProteg%C3%A9.pdf

 

[MPChi]

Try dig up some consumer report articles or 'reliability chart' on the 3rd generation Proteges. They are among the most reliable low price compact you can have, especially 2001 & up models. Just that they are less popular than Civics & Corollas, but score just as high if my memory serves me right. And the MSP is exactly that, with a few added pieces (turbo, LSD, suspension...etc.)

Also, Proteges (4 door sedan, P5, and MP3) score top on the 3 comparo articles of Car & Driver. The scans may still be floating around here somewhere.

Yeah. Most of the infamous Mazda reliability issues are from the rotary engines. Proteges & Miatas on the other hand are very reliable cars.

 

[Notorious]

I used to have a protege es, the thing was lightyears more reliable than the msp. I swear there is always something not right with the thing. I got tired of mazda and the dealership so I started replacing them with aftermarket parts and surprise surprise, problems goes away.

 

[jeffmsp]

just have the dealership install higher quality vacume lines, get the new bushings for the clunk, have the rotors sanded, sub replaced and check that it still has all 3 bolts on the exhaust manifold cause they can pay for the 1 bolt that will be missing. If you are not interested in dumping money into the car later on then have the ecu flashed. Other than that take it out for a spin and hit 2nd gear to make sure the clutch and lsd are still going good and check that the exhaust is not too loose, they can fix that too.

 

[Newf]

knock on wood but

only things my car has been in for are, bushing replacement at around 6000 kms ( can't remember now but it was somewhere around there), and I had to have my manifold bolts tightened at 14 000 kms.

other then that, I get in, turn the key, and I drive.

 

[CommieSpeed]

I had an ES before my MSP, and the consumer reports and car and driver reviews for 2003 show the protege besting everything in it's class. Just look those up and use that evidence. Another thing....most MSP owners I run into (there seem to be a lot around Connecticut) say they have had absolutely no problems with it. I think that we hear about it more because many people came to this site once they started looking for solutions to any problem they may be already.

 

[Newf]

don't forget that most people here mod the msp, and that's when things seem to start happening.

If I see someone that complains about their car, and it's mod'd, I take it for what it's worth. .

 

['Sploder]

mines been great to me.

 

[Black Majik MSP]

I went through the past issues of Consumer Reports & found the April '04 issue with the big automotive review section. In it, they show that Mazda has consistently been at the top of the chart for the past 3 years. They also listed Mazda as #6, tied with Acura (the brand my friend's brother has & that he originally wanted). I gave the magazine to him, but when I get it back, I'll scan the reviews. I'm glad that I finally got some intelligent responses too.

 

[JMS'sMSP]

There reliablity is good but the constant minor problems are a pain and should have been found out during the making and testing of the car.

How can you not notice the clunk after a couple thousand miles? Coolant leaks after a while? Plastic Boost tube reliability? The Hesitaiton issues? The lack of power at full throttle but what feels like more power at 3/4 throttle?

It is a reliable car as far as being able to drive it everyday but I can find any car that will drive everyday and have a bunch of minor stupid problems. I paid 23000 for a new 2003 Mazda and it has already been in the shop 3 times for stupid stuff for a total of 24 days! That is not right?!?!

 

[Autox MSP]

Nothing major but there is alot of little things that do go wrong though. I mean it is a aftermarket performance car after all.

 

[Artur1976]

There are still a few new MSPs out there for 16k. Buying a used one will only save him 2k at most.

 

[noclue119]

This should shut his ass up

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=30&article_id=8187&page_number=1

Mazda Tops German Quality Study

 

[1sty]

So you think Proteges (the MSP in particular) have bad reliability?

I think the best answer is within your statement. For a protege, the MSp has bas reliability. Its still above the average. (thumb)