Newb Question.

[TitanB]

Hello everyone, Im a newb Just got my MSP this past friday. Got a few questions.

For starters, I'm having a hard time telling if my car is a 2003 or 2003.5. Its Titanium, has an oval exhaust, and says mazdaspeed on the shifter and pedals. Called the 1800 number and asked what number I was, I said it was 2003.5 and he gave me 1127. Would it make a difference if I said it was 2003.5 over 2003?

2nd, What do you guys use to wash/bath your beauties?

3rd, Looked thru the aftermarket parts list, and didnt see one so Ill ask, does anyone make a Carbon Fiber hood for the MSP.

4th, Im very interested in learning more about cars, any suggestions on ways to do that?


Thanks.

 

[girth]

1. Yes, you have a 2003.5 and it does make a difference when you get your production number. Sounds like you did the right thing though. Titanium was only made in 2003.5 models.

2. Water and soap.

3. Yes, there are a couple different ones at least -- Ion Performance makes one that comes to mind and it looks nice. They post on this board.

4. Read this board! Best way there is. Then buy a book on turbos.

 

[DiscreetSpeed]

you have the badest car by far....

 

[jred321]

1) 2003.5 you have #1127 of the second batch
2) meguiar's just about every week
3) i think the hood is the same as the regular protege, and i know i have seen msp's with c/f hoods so just look around
4) the best way to learn is to do. don't be afraid to break things by doing a mod, almost everything can be fixed. just learn before doing things.
https://www.amazon.com (commissions earned)
depending on how much you know about cars, you might want to get a general car guide before this book, but for turbo info this is the way to go.

edit: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/

 

[FrozenMazda]

1. 2003.5. The Silver came out in June or July (I think)

2. I've been using a combination of Zymol Wash and wax. I do both every Sunday while listening to whatever race is on the radio.

3. Check out www.corksport.com for items relating to the Protege. The MSP's hood is the same and they have one on their test car.

4. Get some oil on ya. Reading up on it is one thing, but IMHO, there's no replacing first hand experience. If your town has a Tech school or the community college has classes relating to automotives, enroll in it. Better yet, if you've got a friend who's a car junkie and works on them, ask if you can help. Stop my his garage with a rag for you and a six-pack of somehting. He'll probably like the help and you'll learn something too.

Congrats on the MSP purchase. Enjoy it.

 

[YuYuRena]

Hello everyone, Im a newb Just got my MSP this past friday. Got a few questions.

For starters, I'm having a hard time telling if my car is a 2003 or 2003.5. Its Titanium, has an oval exhaust, and says mazdaspeed on the shifter and pedals. Called the 1800 number and asked what number I was, I said it was 2003.5 and he gave me 1127. Would it make a difference if I said it was 2003.5 over 2003?

2nd, What do you guys use to wash/bath your beauties?

3rd, Looked thru the aftermarket parts list, and didnt see one so Ill ask, does anyone make a Carbon Fiber hood for the MSP.

4th, Im very interested in learning more about cars, any suggestions on ways to do that?


Thanks.

03.5 silver came out in may, cuz that's when I got mine.

I use meguiar for wax

there's cf hood available like wing west evo hood, which I have seen in person on a spicy orange and it's not bad. wait a bit on that and let everyone chip in. also I think in the for sale section there's a thread about organizing a group buy to motivate ion to build an evo cf hood.

Use google and ask around you'll find plenty of information. with questions about forced induction go to your local library.