SELL MSP or UPGRADE

[skrecht]

hey, seeking advice.
Stock 03 orange MSP. Never done any mods besides audio, due to so much negative feedback on what it takes to mod the msp without nighmares.
Only mod i'm considering is the UNICHIP. But some people still report issues, like fuel cutoff and such.
I want to be able to run with a stock srt4 and not look like a fool, or even still look like i'm in the race with an evo, and not look like i'm being passed while driving at normal speeds.
I'm at the point of hating the car (though i love the damn thing).
Its paid off, so a new car payment would suck, but i'm contemplating evo sti.
Here is teh question:
IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THE MSP WHERE I WANT WITH AS MINOR A HEADACHE AS POSSIBLE, OR SHOULD I JUST DUMP IT AND BUY SOMETHING FAST OUT OF THE BOX?
Your help will be very appreciated, cause i'm at the brink to make a decision of just leaving her completely stock and not waste my money, cause this car seems beyond help of boltons.
Thanks in advance

 

[ChopstickHero]

seems like you don't want to mod.

so buy something faster.

 

[Ryoga28]

Without major upgrades, I don't think you'll keep up with the cars you mentioned. Even after spending thousands you may still be a bit slower. Just get rid of the car and get one of the cars you mentioned.

 

[MSP #167]

with the mods i have done, i've beaten stock srt 4's, even one with boltons, and i've run even with 2 evo's with just exhaust.

And i don't even have a full exhaust.

I've spent <2k.

 

[skrecht]

what do you have

with the mods i have done, i've beaten stock srt 4's, even one with boltons, and i've run even with 2 evo's with just exhaust.

And i don't even have a full exhaust.

I've spent <2k.

I'm very eager to find out what you've done to the car then.
this car and i have a love hate relationship and i guess i want desperately not to sell it, so i'll wait for you to tell me what you have on your car cause if you say you'll run with srt and evos, for less than 2 grand..........anticipation.......

 

[lasermp5]

there is one mod you can do free that will put you above an srt4.... add curves

 

[MPNick]

hey, seeking advice.
Stock 03 orange MSP. Never done any mods besides audio, due to so much negative feedback on what it takes to mod the msp without nighmares.
Only mod i'm considering is the UNICHIP. But some people still report issues, like fuel cutoff and such.
I want to be able to run with a stock srt4 and not look like a fool, or even still look like i'm in the race with an evo, and not look like i'm being passed while driving at normal speeds.
I'm at the point of hating the car (though i love the damn thing).
Its paid off, so a new car payment would suck, but i'm contemplating evo sti.
Here is teh question:
IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THE MSP WHERE I WANT WITH AS MINOR A HEADACHE AS POSSIBLE, OR SHOULD I JUST DUMP IT AND BUY SOMETHING FAST OUT OF THE BOX?
Your help will be very appreciated, cause i'm at the brink to make a decision of just leaving her completely stock and not waste my money, cause this car seems beyond help of boltons.
Thanks in advance

MPI, little more boost, better intercooler and exhaust. This will get you over 200whp.

 

[MSP #167]

I'm very eager to find out what you've done to the car then.
this car and i have a love hate relationship and i guess i want desperately not to sell it, so i'll wait for you to tell me what you have on your car cause if you say you'll run with srt and evos, for less than 2 grand..........anticipation.......

Its really not much and i put down 200whp.

Injen SRI
HIBoost FMIC kit w/Greddy type S BOV
2.5 Apex Catless Downpipe
DSM AFC
Greddy Profec B Spec 2
AWR Front Motor Mount (didn't have on the dyno)

 

[jflo]

there is one mod you can do free that will put you above an srt4.... add curves

SRT-4s compensate for curves with the ACR package. when will everyone here learn...SRT-4s can handle pretty decently despite what you think.

oh and i'd recommend a DSMConvert's AFC/or MPNick's MPI Tuner and exhaust...i can tell you that after the AFC, your car feels a lot faster. a good exhaust (or even just a midpipe without cats) will also give you a good amount of horsepower for little money

 

[miss_steele_msp]

where are you located? i say dump the msp and get a sti

 

[daedalus]

dump it, buy my MSP, still have a sexy ass rare car built to perfection, and go out and murder modded sti's and evo's every day of the week.

 

[pluto316]

dump it, buy my MSP, still have a sexy ass rare car built to perfection, and go out and murder modded sti's and evo's every day of the week.

Want to trade with me?

 

[rigit]

#1 if you don't work on your own car then sell it and buy something faster.

#2 if you do/can work on your car then lets do the math.

option A keep your paid for car. make it faster than an evo/sti/srt
car $0.
built motor $3000-4000
standalone ECU $1000-1200
SRI or CAI $100-250
FMIC $800-1200
Full 2.5"-3" exhaust $500-1200
cooler plugs $10
Good Clutch $300-400
GT28RS or T3/T4 turbo $1000

total invested = $6500-10,000

Option B buy evo/sti
used prices are low-mid 20's, new they are 30ish. you could sell your car and put that towards it. an 03 MSP stock is worth about $13k at best. so if you got that and found a good used evo for the unlikely price of $20k you would be at about the same point $ wise. out $7000. however both of those prices are very optomistic and not including taxes and liscense fees and additional insurance costs. you would probably be closer to $13-15,000 total cash outlay.

So basically you could be faster for thousands less if you don't mind doing the work.

for the cheaper option (~3000) you could do all the bolt ons and leave the motor and turbo stock. the most boost you want to run is about 10psi due to the weak rods in our motors. this would get you at about 200-215WHP and put you in the neighborhood of a SRT.
recipe for this would look something like unichip, CAI, FMIC, TBE, cooler plugs

good luck and let us know what you decide.

 

[TheBryGuy]

I've heard the STI's have a lot of problems because of the AWD system and that's why you don't see many of them. Not claiming to know but that's what I've heard.

 

[jred321]

get an evo, reflash, turbo back exhaust, mbc, 300hp to all 4 wheels for <$1000 on top of the price of the car. done deal

 

[jred321]

I've heard the STI's have a lot of problems because of the AWD system and that's why you don't see many of them. Not claiming to know but that's what I've heard.

untrue, you don't see many of them because they're an expensive toy that isn't the most practical car in the world and that's not everyone's cup of tea

 

[TheBryGuy]

okay, another possible myth. I've also heard the evo's are actually faster than the sti's with much less money spent on upgrades. Is this true?

 

[jred321]

okay, another possible myth. I've also heard the evo's are actually faster than the sti's with much less money spent on upgrades. Is this true?

for the most part, yes, but you can still get good power out of an sti without a ton of money

 

[skrecht]

thanks a bunch for all your help.
i obviously have many new options to consider, so i'll have to sleep on it.
As for working on my car, can't do it, no time and no place around where i live for tuning
can't see myself putting that much money into the car when i know i'll be getting rid of it in a year or so for something better when i can afford it
my best choice is to get some bolt ons that actually give the car a good kick (whether a downpipe and exhaust, unichip, and fmic), then again, tuning the car after all those boltons is nearly impossible since i'll have to drive hours of out town
i'm in gainesville florida and no one in town tunes cars
then i need my car to run hassle free
don't have time to worry about things acting up
obviously i've got a lot to consider, thanks for all you help and keep the comments coming
peace

 

[MPNick]

no one in town tunes cars
then i need my car to run hassle free

Tune it right, tune it yourself.