Even MAZDA is saying there are a lot of 2003's Left!

[funnylittlman]

Check this out,

I'm on Mazda's website and even they say you can still get 2003's.... hehehe

Sounds like they're trying to get rid of them

Mazda Article

 

[Newf]

more importantly, the site is update with new PICS!!!!! for the 2003.5

all the colors are shown, and the blue is listed as LAser Blue Mica again.

 

[chuyler1]

There has been a Spicy Orange and two Black ones at my dealership for over a month. The Orange one has been there since I bought my P5 in February.

I was talking with my sales rep yesterday when I was getting my oil changed (he's a great guy) and he said they can't sell them, at least not like they were selling the MP3s.

 

[RevsTo9K]

I think Mazda's sales are starting to slide down the cliff. With the market and the economy the way it is right now, one and two year old used cars are VERY CHEAP!

Audi TT: You can get a 2000 or 2001 year model Audi TT with less than 40,000 miles for $19,000 to $22,000 depending on the mileage and condition. With the market and the economy the way it is right now, one and two year old used cars are VERY CHEAP!
Ebay Audi 1
Ebay Audi 2


Honda S2000: You can buy the 2000 to 2002 year models with 8000 to 40,000 miles for $19,500 to $23,000.
Ebay S2000 1
Ebay S2000 2
Ebay S2000 3
Ebay S2000 4

If those cars aren't your cup of tea, you can also find 1 to 2 year old Lexus IS300 for less than $24,000. The 2000 and 2001 Audi A4's are also going in this price range. So I am pretty sure the consumer that is in the price range to afford the MSP(which is $19,500 to $22,000, depending on how bad you got screwed), these people are realizing that they can now afford the car that was over $30,000 one to two years ago. I'd pick the $30,000 car any day of the week.

 

[changedman]

Mazda is slowly starting to realize that no one wants just a 170hp car for $20,000 when they can get a srt-4 for $20,000 or a mustang for a little more, etc. Mazda- BOTTOM LINE-- MORE POWER!!!! If Mazda wants to sell cars, they need MORE POWER!

 

[funnylittlman]

Mazda is slowly starting to realize that no one wants just a 170hp car for $20,000 when they can get a srt-4 for $20,000 or a mustang for a little more, etc. Mazda- BOTTOM LINE-- MORE POWER!!!! If Mazda wants to sell cars, they need MORE POWER!

Maybe the speed devision will do something about that...

Sheet, even MOPAR is stepping up behind the SRT4 making as fast as the EVO (HP wise that is)

 

[trekv2]

but MAZDASPEED still and will not have any turbo/intercooler upgrades for the MSP, unlike mopar

 

[1sty]

Well they lost 1/2 the original buyers when they made them wait over 4 months to get there cars so alot of people went to the WRX.

Besides that with the SRT/4 out there its hard to fathom a car that is ONLY getting 170 with a tubo, nissan and pals does that NA.

Mazda is also developing a Ford reputation for Reliabilty and the majority of there dealers are simply terrible.

Add to this all the reported problems the test cars had when tested and the close runner ups or winners where less expensive.

Throw in the fact that the car is damn near impossible to easily tune. You can get the VWs and with basic bolt on and a chip which will total $1500 when said and done with no big headaches. If you want power in the MSP you better rip off the first Cat and then you get to say hello to a permanent CEL. Not to mention the turbo and intercooler has to get ripped off to get real power which will cost about $3000. Spoolin Baby !

If mazda want to get some respect the Mazda 3 should be an entire new drivetrain that can hold alot more power. Not to mention a beefer engine and atleast 200 turbo horsepower or 180 NA.

Just my views
Enjoy!

 

[JAC]

Mazda is slowly starting to realize that no one wants just a 170hp car for $20,000 when they can get a srt-4 for $20,000 or a mustang for a little more, etc. Mazda- BOTTOM LINE-- MORE POWER!!!! If Mazda wants to sell cars, they need MORE POWER!

I agree with pd, lets face it, most people just buy cars based on the specs alone (if that). I also think it has to do with the colors available, I'm sure that they would've sold much faster if they had been released in Laser Bluer for example; lets face it, orange is not a very popular color for cars.

But the bottom line is: more power.

PD: I think that the 2003.5s will sell better, mostly because of the colors available.

 

[mp5]

My dealer has had an Orange MSP four over 4 months now. Originally they were asking $2000 over sticker. Now they're willing to deal a little off of sticker. They even had on display in the local mall for a while where every mall rat could cream themselves looking at it and still they havn't sold it.

 

[chuyler1]

You're all right.

Specs and numbers on paper sell cars. Thats why the MSP won't sell.

The problem, I think, is that Mazda doesn't want to turn away from the economy market with its cars. Nissan puts a 2.5L in their SpecV, the same engine that is in my sister's 2000 Altima (which is in the Mazda6 class). Mazda could have done this but they opted to keep the same engine across the platform and save money.

Had they taken the 2.3L from the 6 and put it on the protege platform as an option for the P5 and ES...they could have dropped a turbo on it for the MSP and people would be flocking to the Mazda showrooms for it. They should have been thinking of this when the MP3 was selling like crazy and the reviews were coming in about the lack of power.

 

[Heathen23]

Had they taken the 2.3L from the 6 and put it on the protege platform as an option for the P5 and ES...they could have dropped a turbo on it for the MSP and people would be flocking to the Mazda showrooms for it. They should have been thinking of this when the MP3 was selling like crazy and the reviews were coming in about the lack of power.

Mazda would never do this because of the cost involved. They made the production process so easy for the speeds by maintaining the same enigine platform and just adding the turbo and suspension. From a production standpoint they are just adding a few more stages to the assembly of the ES. It's a fantastic idea but the cost involved to keep the chasis the same and drop the M6 engine in it would be the equivilent of releasing another car. That is incredibly expensive only because you are creating a completely new formula for production.

That M6 engine on a protege sized chasis, if balanced properly, would be PIMP!

 

[1sty]

They damn well better do that for the mazda 3.
This cheezy 2.0L with no stregth and a weak ass drive drain can not continue thruhg another model.
they finaly upgraded the 626 now its the proteges turn.
Next the miata.

 

[chuyler1]

Well, if Nissan, Dodge, Honda, and all the other companies can put two engines on a compact car platform...I don't see why Mazda can't.

 

[1sty]

i'd be happy happy if mazda kept to the idae they had originaly and used the 2.3 L in the Mazda 3. Just like the protege and the 626 they have can have the same 4 banger.

 

[changedman]

Ya- look at cars today- its us next generation teens! WE WANT POWER! And MOST companies are responding- Nissan-> Maxima- 265hp!! Pontian GTO 300+ HP!, SRT-4 0-60 under 6! I mean come on, all us youngsters want POWER!

Look at me, for example- think a MP3 stock will do it? NO! I want power! Thats why I'm talking to Eckberg Motor Builders to get a turbo and crank it to 15psi+! None of this 140hp s***.

sorry, but i want power. I love that my mp3 can take a 270degree on ramp at 58mph (last night my friend watched- onramp sign said 25mph ) but power is equally important.

 

[Street KingFD]

Why can't we get the turbo Miata here like everywhere else has them.

 

[Heathen23]

Why can't we get the turbo Miata here like everywhere else has them.

Good freakin' question! I have read that the Miata is the best selling car in it's category ("sports" cars) so why didn't the enter that into the NA market?

 

[Grimace]

Emissions.

 

[BlackMSP]

people need to drive the mazda's to appreciate them. On paper they lose to SOME other cars in the class, but on the road they win. If I really wanted POWER for $20k I could have gotten a freaking Mustang SVT Cobra or an RX-7 Twin Turbo or even a corevette c5 I saw going for $21k seriously its not all about POWER. Our cars are awesome I just dont think $20k is a fair price. It should have been more like $17k... Eventually the market will start hitting hard and I think the prices will drop down even MORE. Its crazy out there. Right when my odometer rolled past 2k miles I bet it depreciated about $5k honestly.