Purchasing a MSP

[CarShopper77]

Hello to everyone, I am a newbie to this thread but have been reading your comments for a few days now. I am considering purchasing an MSP, but I have a few questions. The first being in terms of some of the problems I have been hearing about regarding hesitation, bogging down, the clunk, etc... I am a college student and whatever I buy now has to last me four good years, I test drove one for twenty miles or so and didn't experience any of these problems but that's not a long time in the greater scheme of things. I don't know if I would be better served buying a SE-R Spec V, I prefered the way the MSP handled but, I haven't heard of any problems with the Spec V.
Also I have been offered 100 dollars below invoive and the minus the rebate on either a 2003 (Black) $17,561 or 2003.5 (Titanium) $18,026. The dealer tried to tell me the 2003 had different brakes, but all the info I can find say that the only changes were cosmetic (different wheels, colors, spoiler, front spoiler). Any information or comments regarding these issues would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Matthew]

id like to be the first to welcome you to the board...i hope you get the MSP but if for some reason you dont, my good friend is selling his white 02 spec-v with only 15k on it...

 

[1sty]

(hi)

The spec V has issues for sure.
The common issues withthe MSP are perfromance not reliabilty ones.

 

[Matthew]

also, i would do a search in the mazdaspeed section on the hesitation issue, and clunk...just type hesistation in the search field and use the drop down menu at the bottom left to select mazdaspeed protege section...then do the same thing with clunk as your key word...it may take a bit of browsing, but youll see plenty of write-ups

 

[changedman]

well, the clunk is about it, and the hesitation is being fixed. bout it. no reliability issues as first said

 

[z00mer]

Welcome to the board!!! As far as problems go w/ the MSP....they`re very minimal. The hesitation is now getting closer to a fix(w/ more hp. and trq.!!! ), and as for the clunk.....not everybody has that. By far....i`d rather have the MSP over the Spec V! I`ve known too many owners of the Spec V that had nothing but bad things to say about their rides.

So....how`re things going in JAX? I used to be stationed out there 2yrs. ago at NAS Mayport, on the JFK. Are they making any head way w/ the Jaguars....or do they still suck?(no offence ment if you`re a fan )

 

[Larone]

CarShopper, I'd go with the MSP as well. The Spec V is a good buy yes, but I simply think the MSP is a better car. You don't have to worry about reliability unless you decide to modify the car and do so incorrectly. I myself am a college student (just turned 20 on Aug 25th). I'm graduating with my bachelors degree in chemistry this december and i start medical school next august so I was pretty much in your shoes - ie. I needed something that would last me for at least 4/5 years w/out any major problems. I have 1800 miles on my titanium MSP and I haven't heard any clunk as yet. There is slight hesitation though but it's really not that bad at all - it only occurs between 4500 and 5000 rpm for me - and besides, a fix is coming out pretty soon.

 

[unwrittenLaw]

Get the MSP, better than the Spec V in most areas I think....

 

[t3ase]

See my post in this thread. Not to scare you off but just so you know some of the potentional "issues".

 

[KyRaceFan]

If you want bang for your buck tunability, then the MSP is the car to buy, especially over the Spec-V. On paper they look the same, similar weight, hp, tq, etc.
But the MSP is turbo, and much easier to tune, handles better, better stereo, wheels, and for me, looks.
Go with the turbo!!

 

[Notorious]

Welcome!

Of course I am a fan of the MSP, but the spec V is also a very fine car. I think for the buck the MSP might be a little better. Slightly faster acceleration and better handling.

 

[II-Savy]

:wtf:

 

[1sty]

Ignore and proceed.

CarShopper77

I am sure you have seen and heard alot on this subject now, where does you rdecision stand?

 

[CarShopper77]

I appreciate all of your input. I have been working with the dealer on a deal on a 2003.5 titanium MSP, So far I have gotten him to 500 below invoice and then apply the rebate. I just have to pull the trigger on the deal when the time is right - sometime over the weekend.