Should I trade in my Protege 5 for a MSP?

[pro5]

I have posted this in the Protege forum but I also want MSP owners opinions...

A dealership nearby has two remaining 03.5 Yellow MSP's and desperately wants to sell them as most people want to buy the 2004 3's. They are willing to give me $3000 less than MSRP for my car as it has low, low, mileage.

I was planning on buying wheels, exhaust, and a stereo anyway.....should I do it?

pro5

 

[www.03msp.com]

I have posted this in the Protege forum but I also want MSP owners opinions...

A dealership nearby has two remaining 03.5 Yellow MSP's and desperately wants to sell them as most people want to buy the 2004 3's. They are willing to give me $3000 less than MSRP for my car as it has low, low, mileage.

I was planning on buying wheels, exhaust, and a stereo anyway.....should I do it?

pro5

YES! I did, got rid of my 2002.5 P5 for 2003.5 MSP!

 

[Turbo Matty P]

i went from a MSP to a P5 and I'm very happy!

 

[TX Speed Demon]

if you don't need the space a P5 offers then why not? The only benefit i really see to getting a P5 over the MSP is the sleeper look. if you're willing to buy a turbo kit for your 5 you can be very fast without letting anyone know till you hit the throttle.

 

[pro5]

Should I do it?

TX Speed Demon,
Good point but spending what would amount to $5000 Canadian to get a Hi-Boost Turbo doesn't sit right with me......I could spend this amount on the Mazdaspeed (yes it would be slower) but I would then get a stereo, wheels, better suspension, exhaust, and its all covered under warranty.

pro5

 

[jred321]

i say turbo the p5 and do it right, not like mazda did with the msp. anything extra that comes with the msp you'll probaby eventually want to change anyways, so if you already have a p5 i'd just turbo it

 

[TX Speed Demon]

TX Speed Demon,
Good point but spending what would amount to $5000 Canadian to get a Hi-Boost Turbo doesn't sit right with me......I could spend this amount on the Mazdaspeed (yes it would be slower) but I would then get a stereo, wheels, better suspension, exhaust, and its all covered under warranty.

pro5

Exactly why I bought an MSP. I may be a little slower than I'd like, but it's fast enough, and it's a great value when you take every thing else into consideration. I say go fot it.

 

[enigM@]

I say Hi-Boost that baby and let her rip!!

 

[Turbo Matty P]

A set of $200 springs on a P5 and a small T3 turbo will make you think twice about the MSP value. I also bought the entire SP audio system (minus cd player) for $300. So, you'd have handling, turbo, audio, looks, cargo room....and you can forget warranty on EITHER vehicle. A warranty is only good when a dealer honors it. Until then it's worthless.

 

[gcotton]

Get the MSP

 

[funnylittlman]

You'd already get the Kenwood crap from the MSP and the rims are pretty decent. There are a few tuning goods out there for the MSP and it's already turbo'ed. I would get the speed if you can cut a saweet deal. Good luck!

-fnny

 

[jrodhotrod]

I did it, and I am super happy with my Mazdaspeed.

Then again I made quite possibly the worst decision I have ever made when purchasing my P5 when I got an auto. Before the P5 I never knew how much fun driving could be because any car I owned before that was a crap car that was just work and a pain to drive.

With the MSP you might be slower then a turbo 5 out of the box, but it's all under factory warranty and you can do your upgrades in pieces, and the handling is superb. There is a big difference between the stock P5 suspension and the MSP.

Do whatever makes you happy and what you feel is right for you.

 

[II-Savy]

Get the real deal MSP not a hoge poge of add on's that never really work perfect from day one. Our systems work great and are under warr.

 

[KyRaceFan]

i say turbo the p5 and do it right, not like mazda did with the msp. anything extra that comes with the msp you'll probaby eventually want to change anyways, so if you already have a p5 i'd just turbo it

The car has a pretty nice turbo kit on it factory. It functions perfectly the way its designed. Its a little rich, but its safe, and its never gonna pop.

Ask any other owner of a factory boosted car, you cant just expect it to make huge power.
Even 300zs and supras need bigger injectors and tuning before they max out the turbos or they'll blwo the motors.
Sounds like the MSP to me....

 

[nate0123]

I have posted this in the Protege forum but I also want MSP owners opinions...

A dealership nearby has two remaining 03.5 Yellow MSP's and desperately wants to sell them as most people want to buy the 2004 3's. They are willing to give me $3000 less than MSRP for my car as it has low, low, mileage.

I was planning on buying wheels, exhaust, and a stereo anyway.....should I do it?

pro5

where is this dealer? I wouldn't mind having a dealer beg me to take a MSP off their hands

 

[jonnydoe48]

if you think about it, the p5 doesnt really have all that much more space. you trade in length for height.

 

[apocman]

Working in the Auto finance business. I would make sure that the selling price is $16348.USD or less. The invoice price for the MSP is $18748(I still have a copy of a bookout sheet to prove it).

I would have them agree to a starting price of $100 over invoice, then have them deduct the current $2500 rebate off of the 100 over invoice price of $18848.

This should bring the vehicle to a selling price of $16348. Check and see if you can also have them add an owners loyalty rebate as well (almost all manufactures) have an owners loyalty rebate that is allowed to be combined with any current special rebate.

You may also check and see if that particular dealership has been given any dealer incentives to move the vehicles that other dealers may not have for example. There is a new dealership and they are trying to build a customer base so the manufacture gives that particular dealership additional rebates to help them sell their cars.

Also be careful of them adding backend monies back onto the note, unless you really want to buy the products i.e. gap insurance, extended service plan etc.

so the selling price should be $16348.00 or less + TT&L

I LOVE my MSP and I would buy another one in a heartbeat...

Hope this helps...

Apoc

 

[daperspeed]

If you're financing it spend the extra $100 a month and trade it in for a better car like a STi or more preferably a EVO. Its worth it. Thats what I should have done. If I get some more money together I'm gonna sell the MSP...and get an EVO. As good as the MSP is those cars are just plain sick.

 

[MrDiggler]

I looked at both the P5 and MSP. Even with a sweet low-mileage P5 available to me locally for around 12k, I opted for the MSP for almost 5k more. I hit my favorite curvy road today for the first time in the MSP, and I'm now very confident that I made the best choice. Now I hate straight roads. The handling is nothing short of incredible. If you add up how much is different between the two cars and how much the mods would cost you, you're still cheaper with the MSP. And, it's warrantied.

 

[mspdfreak]

If you're financing it spend the extra $100 a month and trade it in for a better car like a STi or more preferably a EVO. Its worth it. Thats what I should have done. If I get some more money together I'm gonna sell the MSP...and get an EVO. As good as the MSP is those cars are just plain sick.

I don't know about that...an STi is more than 50% more than tha MSP, so your payment would reflect that (depending on how much you put down). Plus, it has NO STEREO! NONE! And although it's wired for one, they use the low-end Impreza wiring. And don't forget the insurance premium!

As for the EVO, yeah, it's quick, but the mileage sux, high insurance, and it rides like a brick. Plus, you see them everywhere. Just my opinion.