Potential MP5 Owner...just wanted to ask a ??

[Demoniam]

Hey All.

I'm Tony, from NC. I've been driving a 2000 Dodge Dakota for the last 2 years. Now that the wife is knocked-up, and the baby boy will be here in October, I need something with more than 2 seats. Just wanted to say hi, and check in on some of the reasons why I should go with the MP5. I like the look of the car, but want to know more about the pros/cons to having this as my baby hauler. I just wanted to know what the owners of the car think..

Also, I have my eye on a 2002 MP5 with 40,000 miles that is listed at the dealer for 10,900. Sound good, or where should I be looking to spend?

Thanks for your help!

PS, The wife is leaning towards the Saturn VUE, Mazda Tribute, ar the Scion XB. I'd like an smaller SUV, but miss the ride of a car!

 

[Demoniam]

Also forgot...there is a 2002 MSP for sale nearby...bright yellow, 70,000miles at $9,500..I know nothing about these, though, but it looks sweet!

 

[pluto316]

Either way, man. The MSP is going to be more fun to drive, but the Protege5 (in my opinion) is a little easier to move stuff with because of the hatchback.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

the price sounds pretty fair. I paid 10,000 for mine & it was an 02.5 w/ 60k miles. I love the car. Its a wagon but is almost as fun as my Mazdaspeed. Also you can fit a wide assortment of things in that car. We use it all the time w/ my wife & my nephew. He's 2. Just today I found out that the back is a great diaper changing area while we were at the park. Just crack the hatch, layem down & get to changin the diaper

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

he said MP3 lol

the MP3 is basically the same vehicle as the PR5 except in a sedan & I think came w/ a 140 hp 2.o engine as apposed to the 130 hp PR5 engine. other than that and some better suspension material standard there's no real difference between the two

Either way, man. The MSP is going to be more fun to drive, but the Protege5 (in my opinion) is a little easier to move stuff with because of the hatchback.

 

[QuenteK25]

Just crack the hatch, layem down & have at it.

That could totally be misconstrued!

Ok back on topic...I'd definitely go with the Protege 5 since you'll have a little one in tow as well.

 

[Demoniam]

Today has been rather good, as long as I don't jinx it. A guy met up with me at 12:00 today and offered me $3,000 today, and he'd bring the remaining $3,000 tomorrow morning. So hopefully, this will work out for both of us. The good thing was that I bought the truck 2 years ago, so I'm only losing out on my stereo equip in the truck. Cross your fingers for me!

Anyways, the dealerships were colsed today, so we went scouting for MP5s..I drove by the yellow MSP in my area. Same one as listed in my second post. The guy let me take a ride, and I must say that I was thoroughly impressed!
Enough room, good amout of pep! Even the wife was happy with it, except for the curb rash on the pssgr side rims. If all goes well, tomorrow, I will drive the red 02 MP5, and figure out what the hell I want.

Anything that I should keep my out for when test driving either car? What are "problem areas" for either?

Thanks for helping a newb out!

t

 

[CTt3P5]

Confused? In an earlier post you mentioned an MP3 now you are talking about an MSP...did you look at both? The MP3 also featured a Kenwood HU that played MP3's....the MSP offered a factory turbo (sorry don't know HP off the top of my head) as well as an upgraded audio system with sub and amp along with different body kit and rims.

I would go with the P5 as it will be more versatile with the hatch. Just my biased opinion of course.

Some things I can think of quick are the VCTS recall (if you search you will find out a lot on that subject...not sure if it affected the sedans) and HU problems with the MP3 and MSP.

 

[Thieu]

I paid 8k for my 02.5 w/ 59k miles (4 months ago). (peep)

my advice: don't buy from a dealer...

 

[QuenteK25]

my advice: don't buy from a dealer...

I second that...it's worth the headache of finding a reputable private seller. Saves you a few thousand $.

 

[CTt3P5]

I agree about a private seller but that price from the dealer is good. The dealer I bought my P5 from was asking 11,499 (with 62k)! End of the month, so they had it marked down to 10,499 but I had seen it over the internet with a price of 8900, so that is what I paid.

 

[RaiderMS3]

the good thing about the P5 is there is no real issues. One recall for a 2003 year P5s. Otherwise, take the car to a local mechanic for a real inspection of everything, then carfax it on your own to see if it is a salvage or in a wreck or was a Katrina car, or if it is put together from 22 different P5s.

Feel free to take pics of it from all angles and post em. We have seen P5s with accident repair with incorrect parts on them.

Other than that, the price is good, but haggle for the sake of beating up a stealer for fun.

Oh, and once you get it, let the modding begin.

 

[Demoniam]

We're buying it tomorrow for $9000 out the door. Plus, they're doing a full detail, full gas tank, and they actually drove it out to me from their dealership about 30 miles away to test drive. Clean carfax, and it passed my mazda buddy's rigorous test. The only other MP5 in my area has 10K less miles and is $3000 more in price. Plus it's graphite metallic, awesome color! Bring on the mods!

 

[pluto316]

You mean bring on the turbo because a N/A P5 is a joke!

 

[Demoniam]

Will the MSP Lower-Lip fit on the p5 bumper? I like the look, but don't wanna go with a full body kit...

 

[RaiderMS3]

yup, it will.

 

[Hughes412]

The P5 is a good car. The protege line is a good reliable car. The one main down fall is the aftermarket support. There isn't much there and what is there is realy only for the turbo side. When it comes to N/A parts we are left out in the cold. If you want a daily driver that will be good on gas and some times rag on this is the car. But If I had 6k cash to put down on something I could think of a few others I'd get first.

 

[Demoniam]

Does the mp5 take well to the turbo setup? I won't do it if it'll kill the engine life too badly. I don't wanna go crazy with it, since it'll become the baby carrier, but a little more UMPH would be nice!

 

[RaiderMS3]

They tend to become ventillated via piston through block. The connecting rods are as thick as a finger. If you do it, you will want to build up the bottom end on it. If you you get one with an automatic, you will have to beef that up as much as possible.

 

[Hughes412]

Does the mp5 take well to the turbo setup? I won't do it if it'll kill the engine life too badly. I don't wanna go crazy with it, since it'll become the baby carrier, but a little more UMPH would be nice!

If this is going to be you primary car then DO NOT turbo it. Our blocks suck. If you can spend a little more time looking through here youll see a lot of people have problems with their turbos. Now if you have to cash to do it right, then thats another story. But Im talking 7 to 10 thousand. Just to do it right youll need rods (400+) pistons (400+), LSD (it would suck to have power and not get it to the ground 600-1000) maybe gears (I dont know on the price but itll be a couple of hundred) and then the kit it self 2500.00-3500.00 and the install another 1000+. So you can see that this if done right will cost out the ass.