Talking to Lawyer

[Dr.Sound]

it does happen.
VW are WAAAAAY worse in reliability.

my mom's 2003 115hp golf almost blew a head gasket just because the temp sensor burnt out, which in turn didnt turn the fan on, which in turn overheated the coolant.
the only reason it didnt blow was because i was driving it that day........first time in like 8 months. i'm just used to keeping my eye on the gauges.

problems with VWs electronics = 100,000 x MSP suspension problems.
at least u can drive with a clunk.

 

[ZenProtege]

I agree with blkzoom zoom. My proteges got problems too but thats just the nature of the beast. When I had my car in the shop and they gave me a bad madza3 I realized how nice my car actually was compared to others. Also think of all the problems ppl run into who try to put mods on their car that ours already has stock. I really don't think with all things considered it could be that bad. Have your ridden in a honda or eclipse with a suspension as nice as ours? If so then you know that our suspension is like a cadillac compared to the stiff clunky suspensions they have to get just to compete w/ our proteges

 

[Spooled]

I've heard the same thing about VW's. In fact, they tend to dominate the "least reliable" lists.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

Unfortunatley VW has had some huge reliablitiy problems that seem to be continuing with even the 04 passats. However I will admit that we got the new A5 platform Jetta today and that is one neat piece. It is the first time I have done a pdi on a Vw and it didn't have any fault codes stored in any system. I am hoping this is a sign of the future for Vw because it really is getting rediculous.

 

[Matthew]

im not saying otehr cars are more or less reliable with mroe or less problems. im saying the msp has too many.

 

[JHew84]

i guess i am slightly biased when i see the rest of us 3rd gen owners with little or no problems AT ALL. almost none, with a few execptions like the moron who tried to purposely shift into reverse everytime he got a new tranny and wondered why the dealer told him to **** off.

but msps got small to large probs...motor, lsd, headunit, clunk, sub, alarm, plstic pieces coming off, leaks, turbos, etc. granted there are more parts to GO wrong, but DAMN~

regular proteges probably dont have problems because they have been in production for a lot longer, parts are tried and true, go buy a 1st year production of any generation and it WILL have a shitload of problems, garunteed, why do you think prudent consumers wait for second year production? they are always better and all the kinks are worked out, come to find out, MSP's were produced what, 1 year, there really was no afterthought to produce a more solid car, like blkzoom has already pointed out, they ARE making upgraded parts to fix the problems, which WOULD have gone on the next year production vehicles had there been any, but there aren't... not to mention to simple fact that the MSP is modified, any modified car is going to have more problems than an unmodified car, so mix the 2 together, modified and first year production OF the modifications, and of course you are going to have problems, you say anyone who did the research and buys it is an idiot, i say anyone who doesnt realize why these problems occur is an idiot (no offense)...

its a fact of life, cars will break, they were designed by man and are therefore destined for failure, some sooner than others, personally i have heard far worse horror stories from subaru and volkswagon owners than any mazda owner, most people b**** because mazda won't warranty modified cars, DUH , beleive it or not, when you put more strain on parts, they tend to break, mazda realizes this, and isn't going to pay because you wanted to play, it may suck and sometimes people might get burned by it, but if you want them to fix your car, dont touch it, i've had personal friends who had stock subaru's that wouldn't be repaired under warranty for some pretty stupid reasons, we should consider ourselves lucky that at least mazda waits til we modify the damn thing to say they wont cover it...

regardless, i hung around here for at least 2 months before i bought my speed, read all the problems, all the stupid warranty BS, and i still bought a speed, and to be 100% honest, i am more than happy with what i got, and i got exactly what i expected, a decently quick car that handles better than most everything i've ever driven, its got its little quarks, but you know what, the goods heavily outweight the bads, i'd take an MSP over a P5/Protege any day of the week...

 

[ZenProtege]

well said

 

[jersey_emt]

well said

Agreed

 

[ONRAILS]

Seriously... if you wanted a "smooth" ride, you should've bought a cadillac or something. The msp has an awesome suspension, it's the the best "smooth ride" quality, but then again it wasn't made for that. Come on now... most, if not all the stupid little quirks that the msp has, is repaired by the dealership under warranty. Sure, I get ticked off sometimes with the stuff, but then I remember that I bought this $17k car for it's handling and looks. You want a handling beast that doesn't make noise or have quirks... buy a ferrari, bmw, porshe, etc...

 

[mazdaspeedpower]

Well said indeed.

I've had my MSP for a while..and I read all the problems. I've had a few minor issues with mine. Klunk, coolant leak twice, blew a sub(that was my fault, and the dealer still replaced it anyways cause they said it shouldn't have blown no matter how much I was abusing it), and the driver side door had to be adjusted to fix the wind noise I was hearing. My dealer has fixed all these things very quickly and efficiently, and when I went in for my last tune up, and to get the klunk, coolant leak, and wind noise fixed, they threw in synthetic oil for free for me...I know, not much, but still it's something. I've beaten the **** out of my car, run it hard as hell. She still holds strong as the day I bought her. I've boosted in 5th, going uphill, in the cold, with 3 other people in the car, and a trunk full of luggage. No problems. My car is stock, so I'm not worried at all, and my dealer is really cool, and will not give me troubles. I got lucky with my dealer, they are super cool about everything. When I had my p5 they pretty much threw some mods at me. And when I first got my MSP, they where asking when I wanted them to install a boost controller, Turbo Timer and new alarm system.covered too even. I think it helps that I direct alot of customers to them, everytime I go in, they tell me stories about how someone will come in and say "hey, some guy with a really nice grey Protege all tuned up said I should look her for a nice car, and then I looked into your cars. They are nice" and then they'll give them a nice deal, and then they are super cool with me all the time. The one guy says I should become a car salesmen...I really do sell the cars for them almost..lol..telling them about how nice the ride is, and all that. I truly do love my MSP, and all Mazdas. And despite some minor problems, they are nice. Though, as with ANY car manufacturer, there are a few lemons out there...it's inevitable. Nothing can be done perfect. I know I got lucky with a great dealer, and a problem free speed...but even the ones with problems eventually get fixed, or bought back. SO all in all, it's sweet as ****.

 

[Tito1]

I would not disagree that the car provides an amaizing ride, performance and looks. I think this car does have a smooth tide, how many cars feel as stable at 100 mi/hr. But making noise down the road is simply annoying. When this car came out it's as if Mazda was reading my mind.

...but, how do I enjoy my car, or try and sell it when it literally sounds like a squeeky bed. I've been into the dealership for repair 4 times now, first time was before 18 months. According to the lawyer, lemon law in Cali is either enforced in regards to a defect in the 'safety', 'opereation', or 'value' of the car. And no one would purchase my car for its full value. All they need to do is sit in it and ask 'does it always squeek like this'. The value argument can be the more difficult to prove, but is an acceptable reason to invoke the lemon law.

And to the idea that one should expect squeeks, klunks ect. when purchasing a performance car is simply deluding themself. It just what happens when a car is poorly engineered.

Hopefully I'll remember to send my info to the lawyer on Mon. Then he'll get back to me in 24 hr's...I'll keep ya posted

Tito

 

[Dexter]

oh noes my car is stock minus CAI and i have no ******* problems i drive a LEMON ea a dick

 

[KpaBap]

And to the idea that one should expect squeeks, klunks ect. when purchasing a performance car is simply deluding themself. It just what happens when a car is poorly engineered.

My thoughts exactly, my Miata's suspension is just as amazing (or even more so) as the MSP's and it doesn't make any weird noises, clunks or squeaks (except when AutoRnD does a bad job at installing struts, but that's another story...)

 

[Dexter]

yes i agree about the clunks and squeeks wholehearteldy but i dont think its something that cant be fixed or makes the car a lemon.

 

[Tito1]

When a car is placed in a showroom by a car manufacturer certain assumptions about reliablity and saftey are made. Hence the ability to invoke the lemon law. The noises I've had to deal with, and are so far unfixable breaks the that inherent assumption about quality.

This car cost $20k...That is way more money than I've ever spent on anything. Hell I don't even own the thing (hence no mods). Maybe if I didn't have to work for my toys, than I wouldn't care. But even going to the dealer to get stuff fixed costs me money at work.
So I'll see what happens.

 

[KpaBap]

sure does make it a lemon in the eyes of a potential buyer

 

[Dexter]

well whatever then im gonna drive my lemon to the store

 

[Tito1]

Dexter- If it is shown that the problem affects the 'value' of the car than it is covered by lemon law in Cali. Think of the lenders, cars are an investment, and value is very important.

*edit* Not to the store...go hit up some last mountain roads first

 

[Dexter]

yes i agree. i am just an achy pussy. dont mind me.

 

[Spooled]

Dexter- If it is shown that the problem affects the 'value' of the car than it is covered by lemon law in Cali. Think of the lenders, cars are an investment, and value is very important.

*edit* Not to the store...go hit up some last mountain roads first

Not flaming here, but cars aren't an investment. Lenders consider them collateral. If the car burst into flames and you don't have insurance, you're f$%^&@, not them.

As far as the value comment is concerned, I totally agree. All the problems that I am having with the car have stopped me from selling it multiple times. Not necessarily because of the perceived "loss of value", but because my Speed somehow knows when I have someone interested in it and decides to s*** oil out the turbo or pop the radio. So by the time it's back out of the shop, the person has lost interest. I swear it's possessed...