2003 vs. 2003.5: which to buy?

[Heathen23]

I am glad I got the black mica because it's very sleepy. I wanted a quiet look so it fit me well. Take a look here ~

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29425

If I was to do it all over again I would have waited for the 2003.7 and gotten silver when they had $2,000 rebates and offered S plan on them (Making the price around $17,000. I like the subtle colors and silver is soooooooooo easy to maintain. With the .7 wheels it looks amazing IMHO but I think I'm one of the few that feels this way about the silver.

 

[Pkay]

Black=people don't notice you as much.

I dunno.... my s*** gets noticed all the time. Get that black waxed up, get the rims shiney, and people notice all the time.


The black really compliments the rims in my opinion. Makes them stand out.

Plus a clean, waxed, black car= s*** hot

 

[Mazdaspd035]

I am glad I got the black mica because it's very sleepy. I wanted a quiet look so it fit me well. Take a look here ~

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29425

If I was to do it all over again I would have waited for the 2003.7 and gotten silver when they had $2,000 rebates and offered S plan on them (Making the price around $17,000. I like the subtle colors and silver is soooooooooo easy to maintain. With the .7 wheels it looks amazing IMHO but I think I'm one of the few that feels this way about the silver.

2003.7 never heard of those. Is that what your calling the blue and silver? I'm getting my Titanium tonight with the $2000 rebate. Rebate last until end of the month.

 

[Black Majik MSP]

Shift Knob and pedals say Mazdaspeed instead of Sparco on them on the 03.5

New front lip no fogs on the 03.5

Different finish on the rims for the 03.5

Different spoiler.

Exhaust on the 03.5 has an oval tip instead of a round tip.

Different colors available. Other then that they are identical in terms of the parts that make the car go.

You forgot the yellow stitching on the steering wheel, shift boot, & seats for the 03.5!

 

[Heathen23]

2003.7 never heard of those. Is that what your calling the blue and silver? I'm getting my Titanium tonight with the $2000 rebate. Rebate last until end of the month.

2003.7 are Sunlight Silver and Laser Blue. They were the last run of the MSP and last released.

That's good news on the rebate for you. They must have extended them because I was helping a friend shop MSP's around the end of August and rebates were to end at the end of that month.

I wouldn't sweat the sparco goods, even though they are very nice, because if you really like them they aren't hard to find. The seat stitching didn't matter to me because I took out my entire upholstry.

 

[Mazdaspd035]

2003.7 are Sunlight Silver and Laser Blue. They were the last run of the MSP and last released.

That's good news on the rebate for you. They must have extended them because I was helping a friend shop MSP's around the end of August and rebates were to end at the end of that month.

I wouldn't sweat the sparco goods, even though they are very nice, because if you really like them they aren't hard to find. The seat stitching didn't matter to me because I took out my entire upholstry.

Yeah, I was trying to get my MSP with that "Zero Time Event" rebate..I think it was $1500 or something. Thank god I waited now it's 2K. So the Titanium and Yellow are referred to as the 03.5 and the Silver and Blue are 03.7's? Cool deal, learn something new everyday.

 

[Heathen23]

Yeah, I was trying to get my MSP with that "Zero Time Event" rebate..I think it was $1500 or something. Thank god I waited now it's 2K. So the Titanium and Yellow are referred to as the 03.5 and the Silver and Blue are 03.7's? Cool deal, learn something new everyday.

Yup. You got it now

Well crap. That probably would have persueded my buD to get the MSP. Oh, well.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new ride

 

[Mazdaspd035]

Yup. You got it now

Well crap. That probably would have persueded my buD to get the MSP. Oh, well.

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new ride

Thanks for the welcome and the info

 

[CarlM2]

I had a choice of just about every option/choice possible on a 2003, 03.5, and 03.7 the week I was buying my MSP. I drove 2 03.5's and 2 '03's. Each one drove a little different. (Probably due to tire pressure, varying alignments, etc.) However, some had more pronounced hesitation than others. Specifically, the 03.5's were both worse than the '03's. The one I bought had (and still has) very little hesitation comparatively.

The other big factor was the seat material. The '03's have a different material than the 03.5's. I prefered the way they didn't tug at my clothes over the 03.5 which did. Orange or yellow stitching was equally hideous to me but, the comfort was good.

Everything else that's been said is true, it's what you prefer cosmetically. I liked the slightly less ricey wing on the 03, the pedals and shift knob are cooler to me, etc. Also, the black mica is a neat color. Bright colors annoy me. All preference stuff.

Good luck.... Test drive and your answer will become clear.

 

[eric_mspeed]

Guys (and any girls who responded), thank you very much for your prompt and helpful responses. I was aware of most of the cosmetic differences, and certainly the color differences.

No, what I was wondering about was primarily the handling. Somewhere on the Mazda site they indicate that the 2003s have a 27mm front swaybar and that the 2003.5s have 25mm front swaybars. I wasn't sure if that was true or not. Also concerned that there might have been an EPROM change of some kind, but I keep hearing about people getting there EPROMs flashed, so I can see that's going to be an issue bigger than '03 vs. '03.5 and I have some reading here to do on that subject.

Thanks again.

-Eric
'91 Eclipse GSX @ 15psi
http://home.comcast.net/~eric-ha/cars/myeclipse2/
'98 Outback
Maybe a Mazdaspeed Protege someday?

 

[SpicyMSP]

Eric you dont understand.. Tom green visited your town....!! OMGHI2U

 

[servoeyes]

The handling should be about the same...I 'm not sure about the sway bar difference, though...but it shouldn't change much. And the EPROM (or PCM/ECU/whatever you want to call it) is the same, until you get it flashed at the dealership. Just bring it up to the dealer unless you want to experience the "hesitation" that we all speak of and then have to get it flashed later.