MSP Shopping, Few Reliability Questions.

[quick paw 07]

Hey all, i'm new to the forum and currently am thinking about buying a MSP. I haven't seen many of these in my area (Southern Maine) but the few that I have seen have gotten my head turning. I've read the reviews on these and from what i've read it seems like a good choice for me. I'm looking for something with super good handling and a decent amount of performance, but I don't need to be blazing fast.

My concerns come from what i've read on these forums about them. I've read numerous threads about people's MSP's having their own service bay slots because of SO many problems. I also read the LSD failure thread and noticed tons of MSPs dropping LSDs with little to no miles on them.

Is this an unreliable car all around? Or is it because of what people do to them? I would most likely leave the car stock if I were to buy one.

Will this car last a long time with few problems if left in stock form?

What are some things to look for when shopping at dealerships?

Thanks for the help all.

 

[Fede_italiano]

Hey all, i'm new to the forum and currently am thinking about buying a MSP. I haven't seen many of these in my area (Southern Maine) but the few that I have seen have gotten my head turning. I've read the reviews on these and from what i've read it seems like a good choice for me. I'm looking for something with super good handling and a decent amount of performance, but I don't need to be blazing fast.

My concerns come from what i've read on these forums about them. I've read numerous threads about people's MSP's having their own service bay slots because of SO many problems. I also read the LSD failure thread and noticed tons of MSPs dropping LSDs with little to no miles on them.

Is this an unreliable car all around? Or is it because of what people do to them? I would most likely leave the car stock if I were to buy one.

Will this car last a long time with few problems if left in stock form?

What are some things to look for when shopping at dealerships?

Thanks for the help all.

There have been few isolated problems with people with completely stock cars but I believe that the majority of failures have been caused by abused caused by people.

There is also an issue with the MAZDA LSD because it is not as strong as the quaife.

Anyway, if you keep the car stock I doubt that you are going to have any problems.

I had my LSD failure at 32000 miles but I really think that the guy who had the car before did too many burnouts.

Just my 0.02

 

[vcinsanity1523]

Hey all, i'm new to the forum and currently am thinking about buying a MSP. I haven't seen many of these in my area (Southern Maine) but the few that I have seen have gotten my head turning. I've read the reviews on these and from what i've read it seems like a good choice for me. I'm looking for something with super good handling and a decent amount of performance, but I don't need to be blazing fast.

My concerns come from what i've read on these forums about them. I've read numerous threads about people's MSP's having their own service bay slots because of SO many problems. I also read the LSD failure thread and noticed tons of MSPs dropping LSDs with little to no miles on them.

Is this an unreliable car all around? Or is it because of what people do to them? I would most likely leave the car stock if I were to buy one.

Will this car last a long time with few problems if left in stock form?

What are some things to look for when shopping at dealerships?

Thanks for the help all.

The car has its common problems here and there and yes the LSD is a huge one but besides the LSD i wouldn't say they are an unrealiable car u just get a lot of people that get boost happy with them. The rods on our cars are not intended to take a boost beating they are very thing in stock fashion which rules out going over 10PSI on the car safely even with EMS. 10 is pretty much the max you can do with EMS and supporting mods, Intake, exhaust, motor mounts etc. If you have never driven an MSP its the handling that makes them what they are. Such a fun car to drive bc going on some twisties is where the car really comes alive. When you are looking to buy one make sure the sway bar bushings are not squeeking, make sure that the engine sounds good no knock or nething and honestly if all possible BY A STOCK MSP!!! You don't want anyone elses boost happyp problems. Good luck on your search for an MSP and drive one to appreciate one (around corners of course!! LOL)

 

[quick paw 07]

There have been few isolated problems with people with completely stock cars but I believe that the majority of failures have been caused by abused caused by people.

There is also an issue with the MAZDA LSD because it is not as strong as the quaife.

Anyway, if you keep the car stock I doubt that you are going to have any problems.

I had my LSD failure at 32000 miles but I really think that the guy who had the car before did too many burnouts.

Just my 0.02

I just got done reading 3 pages of the "blown motor" thread and am curious as to what people define as "abuse". It may sound like a dumb question, but lets take a look at it. I currently have an SRT-4 and do a lot of WOT pulls from digs/rolls etc.. all the time. Would you consider launching, shifting just b4 redline, & WOT abusing the car? It's my understanding that turbo cars were meant to be driven hard, which is the whole point of having power (being able to use it.)

Now, obviously those who dont change their oil, and dont let their car idle for a couple mins. before shutting it off and do dumb mods and mess with boost and s*** when they have no idea what theyre doing, would probably be classified as abusers, but If lauching, WOT'ing, accelerating through corners, shifting at red line are all considered abusing, than I need to change the way I drive.

 

[quick paw 07]

The car has its common problems here and there and yes the LSD is a huge one but besides the LSD i wouldn't say they are an unrealiable car u just get a lot of people that get boost happy with them. The rods on our cars are not intended to take a boost beating they are very thing in stock fashion which rules out going over 10PSI on the car safely even with EMS. 10 is pretty much the max you can do with EMS and supporting mods, Intake, exhaust, motor mounts etc. If you have never driven an MSP its the handling that makes them what they are. Such a fun car to drive bc going on some twisties is where the car really comes alive. When you are looking to buy one make sure the sway bar bushings are not squeeking, make sure that the engine sounds good no knock or nething and honestly if all possible BY A STOCK MSP!!! You don't want anyone elses boost happyp problems. Good luck on your search for an MSP and drive one to appreciate one (around corners of course!! LOL)

Another concern I have with shopping from dealerships is that I would have NO idea as to wether or not the previous owner had it modded before they traded it. They could have modded the s*** out of it, hammered the piss out of it, and then returned it to stock and traded it in. I had a similar situation when I bought my SRT-4. The test drive was A-OK and everything seemed fine. I got the car home and 3 days later it was at the dealership being fixed for front wheel bearing and control arm bushings. 4 days after that, it was back to the dealership for Another wheel bearing. Im just not looking for a car that is going to give me major problems and make me friends at the service department. I want to drive it with only normal maintenance for a long time and not worry.

Should we expect to see these cars reaching 100,000, 150,000, 200,000 miles with only normal maintenace? Or would this be reaching for the stars?

 

[Fede_italiano]

I just got done reading 3 pages of the "blown motor" thread and am curious as to what people define as "abuse". It may sound like a dumb question, but lets take a look at it. I currently have an SRT-4 and do a lot of WOT pulls from digs/rolls etc.. all the time. Would you consider launching, shifting just b4 redline, & WOT abusing the car? It's my understanding that turbo cars were meant to be driven hard, which is the whole point of having power (being able to use it.)

Now, obviously those who dont change their oil, and dont let their car idle for a couple mins. before shutting it off and do dumb mods and mess with boost and s*** when they have no idea what theyre doing, would probably be classified as abusers, but If lauching, WOT'ing, accelerating through corners, shifting at red line are all considered abusing, than I need to change the way I drive.

That is not abusing. If you are always on the limit it is all good. Cars are made to be driven and I agree with you.
I consider abuse burnouts, hitting revlimiter, boosting the car unproperly, doing stupid a.. mods without understanding what you are actually doing.
While an srt4 might forgive you if you increase the boost without supporting mods, the MSP will not. That is just the way it is.

 

[Fede_italiano]

Another concern I have with shopping from dealerships is that I would have NO idea as to wether or not the previous owner had it modded before they traded it. They could have modded the s*** out of it, hammered the piss out of it, and then returned it to stock and traded it in. I had a similar situation when I bought my SRT-4. The test drive was A-OK and everything seemed fine. I got the car home and 3 days later it was at the dealership being fixed for front wheel bearing and control arm bushings. 4 days after that, it was back to the dealership for Another wheel bearing. Im just not looking for a car that is going to give me major problems and make me friends at the service department. I want to drive it with only normal maintenance for a long time and not worry.

Should we expect to see these cars reaching 100,000, 150,000, 200,000 miles with only normal maintenace? Or would this be reaching for the stars?

I know that some people put the car back to stock but you can spot easily if it was modified if you look at it really closely. Just get it for a test drive and bring to a family mechanic or another dealership.
Your main concern will be the boost increase in the MSP and you should check all the vacuum line and boost lines in intake manifold, BPV, and wastegate actuator to find signs of EBC.
BTW, there are a couple of MSP for sale in the forum that have not been abused.

 

[awsmp5]

when you say you're gonna keep it stock i find it hard to imagine that will be true.
hell i have a p5, doesn't match performance on msp in any perspective and said i was gonna keep it stock. well look how that turned out. i started with light modding and now i've spent atleast 1.2k or so in it (thats a lot for a high school guy with a gf btw)

well yeah i dunno much about msp in detail so you can ask all the other guys that know a lot about it in this forum

anyhoo welcome to the forum

 

[ghettobubba2001]

just ems/front mount/and boost the speed to 10 lbs and it will be a fun ride.

 

[Allen]

Leave it in stock form and it should be a reliable daily drive as long as you are an easy-going driver. First thing to check at the dealership or if you buy it used from someone is to make sure the turbo isn't leaking. To me, the turbo is the most important issue to make sure the car does not have any problems with then you would obviously check everything else on it.

 

[mspdfreak]

I had mine for 35k and kept it bone stock. I didn't drag it or abuse it. I never had a problem. I kinda wish I'd kept it as a daily driver.

Oh well, I'm running 13's bone stock on the GT. Whenever I miss the 'speed, I just hit the gas.

 

[mspHtown]

I had mine for 35k and kept it bone stock. I didn't drag it or abuse it. I never had a problem. I kinda wish I'd kept it as a daily driver.

Oh well, I'm running 13's bone stock on the GT. Whenever I miss the 'speed, I just hit the gas.

then you gota slow down for the corner... just messin with you! im not gonna read through the whole thread but my msp has been reliable. i have had a few minor problems but nothing big:
head unit ****** up twice
windshield crack twice (not stress but lovely rocks)
3 flats
clunk
front suspension squeek
sunroof stuck in the open position


i have 35000 miles. started modding at about 20000miles.

 

[MrDiggler]

^ Yours has a sunroof?

FWIW, I'd do it again. I've had some piss poor warranty support and a few headaches, but I love the car. I'm at 51k miles and except for the LSD failure (and I was stock and don't abuse), it's never left me stranded. Mine still doesn't use a drop of oil between 5-7k mile oil changes (RL or RP oil, btw)...and mine had been pre-owned and modded for 8k miles before I bought it. It had a MBC on it when I picked it up from the Mazda dealer!

The driving experience and the handling are wonderful, and there's lots of support for any issues you run into now that the community has had three years to learn about the car.

 

[ChopstickHero]

My MSP has been pretty solid too.

I bought it used at 45K miles on it. I was a little weary, but it had zero signs of modding. The sales manager told me it was an older guy who used the car for commuting. I got a good deal on it too with an extended warranty. The only "regular" things that have been replaced are the rear bushings, the stereo and the windshield. Everything else has been solid.

Again, this car is a love or hate thing. some people absolutely hate it when they run into probs, but majority of MSP owners love their car.

 

[pluto316]

If I was to do it again I would have never bought a P5 and got that TurboII instead. Without a P5 I never would have gotten a MSP, but then again, I wouldn't have met the cool MSP owners I know today, etc.

All and all, I enjoy my car for the most part, I just want coil-overs and a real exhaust. Those two things would really wake it up in my eyes after driving it for 3 years.

 

[OrangeAppeal]

Original owner with about 72,000 on my MSP. Only mods on it are the Turbo Timer/Pressure Gauge and tinted windows. The only thing I have taken my car to the dealer for is/was:

Hesitation ("fixed" with the remapping of the ECU)
Clunk (Multiple replacements of bushings and rear sway bar)
- this will not go away unless the mounting point of the rear
bushings is moved (has been done...search the forums here)
Regular alignments

I've done the following myself:

Radio (replaced the ribbon cable to the face)
Front brakes (They just needed to be replaced)
Regular Oil Changes
Soon to be making my own sway bar mounts to eliminate the clunk.

I would not call this car unreliable by any means.

 

[mspdfreak]

then you gota slow down for the corner.

That's cool, I'll be waiting for you at the apex, smokin' a cig.

 

[Shift4]

Whats the frickin deal here?! I somehow CANT post new topics here! I have two accounts and NEITHER work - Has anyone experienced this problem? It just lags out when I try and post. . .

 

[Bakum]

Well.... After reading this topic I feel a little re-assured. I bought my MSP on June 10th Pre-Owned and it had no signs of Mods. I have seen the previous owner around my neighborhood, and he never had anything extra on and didn't seem to beat it to the ground.

The "Clunk" that everyone is refering to sounds rather annoying but there is a post to have the postioning of the bushings pushed to the correct location for about $150 from what i read. Given there is only a limited number of MSP ever built you would think Mazda would issue a Recall for the bushings, but w/e, it can be fixed.

Oh and my HU broke this morning, so warantee covered that still, but I would recommend upgraded that quickly. Other than that, I love the car so far, its a blast to drive, and a definate upgrade from my 2000 Civic Si. Good luck in your MSP shopping.

 

[yashooa]

103,000 miles 101,000 at 12-15PSI very reliable however the diffs do break and I think all of them will break eventually.

So in short it is a great little car but the welds are weak on the diff and it can be a HELLASHISHLY expensive repair if you don't do it yourself.
Mine lastest 3.5 yrs and 103,000 miles.