What to look for when test driving a MSP?

[Jam06TC]

Hello everyone, i currently own a 2006 Scion TC Stage 2 turbo kit from Zero Point Industires, Injen CAI, ZPI Custom Exhaust, and i am looking for a new car for my arsenal. I have a few questions

I have been test driving a 2003 MSP with 59,876 miles on it for about two weeks drove it several times everything seems to check out ok, turbo holds boost well and all aftermarket parts were done professionally, clean carfax as well. Is there anything i should pay special attention for that i may not notice without the hint?

[smo0f]

i'm more interested in your tc. got any pics and stats?

[Jam06TC]

248.8 Hp @ 5750 RPm
259.9 Torque @ 4500 rpm

03/15/06

[smo0f]

very nice, take it to the track?

[Jam06TC]

Havent Had the luxury closest track is about 3 hrs away, i tear up some strips downtown tho haha.

Anyone any quirky parts about the MSP? iam going again in 45 mins to drive it again...anyone?

[brealmp3]

build the bottom end of your speed.

[ruskiMSP]

good luck w/ the MSP, great car, but how well do u know weather or not it was raped and abused by previous owner.

[Jam06TC]

Just drove it agian and iam more disapointed this time.

Psi gains are iffy if any at all rpm ranges in all gears(accoring to the autometer gauge inside), The Autometer Air Fuel guage does not work, smoke accumulates coming from the turbo cover and smells like coolant fluid. in harsh driving there is strong power untill 4,200 rpm and then it feels like all power is lost for several seconds and then it kicks back in, when letting off the accelerator to stop after you completly stop the car bogs down so severely it nearly dies


any soultions, or what Would i have to do to fix it?

edit: also there was a small silver toggle switch located near the right knee area attached was a black wire with a white line, when switched there is no noticeable change in idleing, or driving, no lights or gauges light up or appear to work any diffrently

[Jam06TC]

Iam assuming it wasnt reemed to badly it was driven by a woman, not saying they a woman wouldnt reeam on it but a little less likely

[msp35]

that may be the alarm kill switch....other issues:
the stuttering you noticed is the shitty tuning care of Mazda. to fix you'll need some sort of ems. coolant smell is actually normal for nearly all MSPs.
not sure about the turbo smoke issue.

[Jam06TC]

The smoke seems like mabye coolant somehow dripping onto the turbo, its not a darker/oily smoke, what kind of EMS would you reccomend? was there an alarm kill switch stock on the cars or was that something someone rigged in?

[Earful]

Nice TC....I have seen this model with a supercharger at my local speed shop..putting down close to same numbers...

[Puckpimp71]

The stock radio likes to freeze up.

[ND4MSP]

Don't mean to pry too much, but why a msp? I could see getting one of you didn't already own a sporty compact. If/when my msp gets paid off my next car will prob be a rwd two seater. You'll def enjoy the nimbleness of the msp though.

[Shift4]

guys, sorry, I know this is off topic but its the only way I can pose this question seeing as - I am not able to post a topic - I get an error screen when I try - why is this?!

[Scott]

Where are you located? I want to make sure it isn't my former MSP you're trying to buy.

[Jam06TC]

Where are you located? I want to make sure it isn't my former MSP you're trying to buy.

New Albany, Indiana

Spicy Orange

[ping]

The hesitation about 4200RPM - was it warm out? You may have hit the "fuel cut" in the stock EMS. Part-throttle it's not as much of an issue, but the power delivery is not as smooth in the MSP as others, unles syou go standalone EMS (and that's as much as I know about standalone EMS's, I can spell them...)

Rear suspension clunk = get bushings replaced, and it'll come back, but there are aftermarket kits to take care of that.

Front suspension squornk sound when cold = unlubricated f sway bar bushings, no big deal.

If boosted over stock, some have reported durability issues (LSD and trans isn't good for >230HP or so, engine needs forged internals at >8-9psi boost). Others have had luck at 10psi forever. It's not like the VW 1.8T where you can double the boost with no other changes.

Radio likes to freeze, to unfreeze you hit a little button for 10 seconds, then reprogram all your presets. This happens 3x/year. You get good at it because otherwise it's a really good sounding stock ICE system.

Tramlines on bad pavement - almost all 45 series tires do.

Very agile, you almost have to smile while driving it.

Orange is very noticable, don't misbehave because you're easily ID'd!

Anyone else? Note the above HP figures are generalities from reading these boards too many times... YMMV...

Check the "mileage" thread for longevity stuff

[Chiguy_2002]

Mileage thread:

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123626540

Haven't had mine for too long yet, but so far so good besides the hesistation.

[Alejo_NIN]

if you get it, you'll regret it, but you would never want to get rid of it....is like bad KARMA

[ping]

Ah heck, you probably won't regret it. I've had mine a couple years and it's never let me down - as long as I remember that a couplenot-so-bad squeaks and rattles are normal for this class of car, especially with so satisfying a suspension...

[Alejo_NIN]

i love the rattles and squeaks.....they're UNIQUE

[RX]

If you purchase the MSP, this forum will be your saviour. :D

[Jam06TC]

Well guys i went with a SRT-4 its an 04' with Mopar stage 2 Turbo, Borla Catless Exhaust, and Suspension, Mopar BOV Conversion, for 900$ less than the MSP was going to cost(SRT with 11k miles MSP with 60k)

[pluto316]

Well guys i went with a SRT-4 its an 04' with Mopar stage 2 Turbo, Borla Catless Exhaust, and Suspension, Mopar BOV Conversion, for 900$ less than the MSP was going to cost(SRT with 11k miles MSP with 60k)

I don't blame you.

[Alejo_NIN]

Well guys i went with a SRT-4 its an 04' with Mopar stage 2 Turbo, Borla Catless Exhaust, and Suspension, Mopar BOV Conversion, for 900$ less than the MSP was going to cost(SRT with 11k miles MSP with 60k)
another NEON, bah.....come on!

those cars have the worst handling.....and they're cheap....imagine lowering the back windows doing 60mph...?

[Puckpimp71]

how would you lower the back windows?

[Alejo_NIN]

the back windows are manual, and the front are electric....

[zentrandi]

^^
wtf?

[Puckpimp71]

the back windows are manual, and the front are electric....
That's what I meant... What we have here is a failure to communicate! it's all good

[ping]

Just reach back and lower the DS window my hand - no big deal - need to work on that yoga (oommmmmmmm).

Get a limited slip and give the rest of the sport compact world something to think about - congratulations on the purchase.

[Jam06TC]

Just reach back and lower the DS window my hand - no big deal - need to work on that yoga (oommmmmmmm).

Get a limited slip and give the rest of the sport compact world something to think about - congratulations on the purchase.


It does have the LSD, its a 2004 the first year they started them. And why would i need to roll the back windows down they dont help me any haha

[210_ZOOM]

it's a neon! enough said