Sport or GT????

[imailyang]

I thought I would just throw this out there to see things from a different perspective. I'm in the market to buy a new car and the MS3 is on the top of my list right now. But I don't know which one to get, the sport model of the GT.

Here are the pros and cons to me on each one.

GT:

Pro
1. color that I want (black)
2. HID head lights (what i really care about the most)
3. bose system (nice but dont really need)
4. rain sensing wipers (can you turn that off if you dont want it on caus rain-x is fine with me)
5. leather

Con
1. $1,700 more than the sport.

Sport

Pro
1. cheaper
2. just as fast
3. maybe a little lighter

Con

1. NO HIDS!!!!!!?
2. NO HIDSSSS!!!!@#$^
3. NO HIDSS@#$#$%^&!!!?

I just need some input because I'm sure that all of you went through this at some point before buying the car.

Thank guys.

 

[icspots]

It seems like you already know what you want, but a couple of comments.

Color:
The sport comes in black also, so you don't have to get a GT in order to get one.

Bose:
Are you planning on replacing any of the audio components? I ask because bose systems are notorious for having to replace pretty much everything if you're going to change anything.

Auto wipers:
on the wiper stalk one of the choices is "AUTO" (where "INT" is on the sport) If that isn't selected then the auto wipers ..... well, aren't auto.

HIDs:
If you want OEM HIDs then pretty much this is the time to get them. He headlights themselves cost ~$800 each, and that's not including the ballasts, bulbs, leveling switch and wiring. So for about the price of the lights themselves you're getting the lights plus all of the other toys that come with them on the GT trim. I really wish I'd held out a bit on finding a car with HIDs when i was buying. Oh well, I guess the next time I buy a car.

Leather:
Remember that the leather in the MS3 is only on the side bolsters, and the main seating surface is cloth. I actually like that better because you don't slide around on it.

 

[Mocoso]

It seems like you already know what you want, but a couple of comments.

Color:
The sport comes in black also, so you don't have to get a GT in order to get one.

Bose:
Are you planning on replacing any of the audio components? I ask because bose systems are notorious for having to replace pretty much everything if you're going to change anything.

Auto wipers:
on the wiper stalk one of the choices is "AUTO" (where "INT" is on the sport) If that isn't selected then the auto wipers ..... well, aren't auto.

HIDs:
If you want OEM HIDs then pretty much this is the time to get them. He headlights themselves cost ~$800 each, and that's not including the ballasts, bulbs, leveling switch and wiring. So for about the price of the lights themselves you're getting the lights plus all of the other toys that come with them on the GT trim. I really wish I'd held out a bit on finding a car with HIDs when i was buying. Oh well, I guess the next time I buy a car.

Leather:
Remember that the leather in the MS3 is only on the side bolsters, and the main seating surface is cloth. I actually like that better because you don't slide around on it.

You also get the trip computer on the GT... but I second the Bose issue: Im not sure how the MS3 Bose is set up but on other cars they do funky things which makes it hard to add to the stock system...

If HIDs are that important to you and youll be doing a lot of night/country/dark areas driving I would get the GT... if the car will be mostly a city dweller HIDs arent necessary... your call but as has been said: putting them on later will be more money than the 1700 difference...

 

[imailyang]

It seems like you already know what you want, but a couple of comments.

Color:
The sport comes in black also, so you don't have to get a GT in order to get one.

Bose:
Are you planning on replacing any of the audio components? I ask because bose systems are notorious for having to replace pretty much everything if you're going to change anything.

Auto wipers:
on the wiper stalk one of the choices is "AUTO" (where "INT" is on the sport) If that isn't selected then the auto wipers ..... well, aren't auto.

HIDs:
If you want OEM HIDs then pretty much this is the time to get them. He headlights themselves cost ~$800 each, and that's not including the ballasts, bulbs, leveling switch and wiring. So for about the price of the lights themselves you're getting the lights plus all of the other toys that come with them on the GT trim. I really wish I'd held out a bit on finding a car with HIDs when i was buying. Oh well, I guess the next time I buy a car.

Leather:
Remember that the leather in the MS3 is only on the side bolsters, and the main seating surface is cloth. I actually like that better because you don't slide around on it.

I will prolly just put in a 12" for bass but the stock unit sounds good. Are the head units hard to install? the shape and everything is just ungodly and it does look like anything would fit.

Thanks for the input tho.

 

[imailyang]

You also get the trip computer on the GT... but I second the Bose issue: Im not sure how the MS3 Bose is set up but on other cars they do funky things which makes it hard to add to the stock system...

If HIDs are that important to you and youll be doing a lot of night/country/dark areas driving I would get the GT... if the car will be mostly a city dweller HIDs arent necessary... your call but as has been said: putting them on later will be more money than the 1700 difference...

I'm in the city but i just hate how i cant see anything sometimes on a road that has streetlights with my yellow ass looking lights.

Thanks for the reply

 

[tsunami]

changing out the stock HU is more of a pita then you think... first yes it is big and ungodly and the dash kit looks like crap and the other part is you lose the display, your climate control, and all the other crap thats on there is gone... your best bet is to either get a LOC and use it or to mount a a/m hu in the glove box/ash tray/or on the dash where the OEM nav screen is.

 

[icspots]

The bose system does have a subwoofer under the seat, however if you're looking for a lot of bump then that's probably not going to be enough for you. If nothing else you can probably use speaker level outs for a sub.

as to losing the LCD if you change the HU, as of 2006 the LCD is a separate piece, so even without the HU in the car the ACC will work, it will display the ambient temperature, and the clock/DIS will work.... though you won't be able to change any of the clock settings without plugging the HU back in.

 

[ReFlex]

You also get the trip computer on the GT... but I second the Bose issue: Im not sure how the MS3 Bose is set up but on other cars they do funky things which makes it hard to add to the stock system...

If HIDs are that important to you and youll be doing a lot of night/country/dark areas driving I would get the GT... if the car will be mostly a city dweller HIDs arent necessary... your call but as has been said: putting them on later will be more money than the 1700 difference...

whats the trip computer?

 

[Olestra]

whats the trip computer?

Little computer that calculates your current fuel consumption, avg fuel consumption, distance you're able to travel based on remaining fuel (in km/mi) and average speed. It'll dispaly this information on the LCD screen just in the little space left of the radio information (I think the clock is displayed there in non-trip computer models). You have to switch between clock and trip computer information.

 

[fourthmeal]

The Bose HU actually allows for RCA output, sooo...its the better option. However, you can easily make do with the factory "sport" HU, and either convert it by modifiying it internally for RCA's, or use a Navone LOC. Also, there is the RF Three Sixty.2, PPI processor, JL's Clean Sweep, etc...all used to rectify the Sport model's HU back to a flat response. Factory stock, the Bose HU (which I wish I had now) provides for a better start, but the Sport, with some internal work (easy stuff), will suffice.

Oh, and I went with the sport because it was available. I think I would have picked the GT for the same reason.