Thinking of Buying a MSP..HELP

[baseer]

I'm looking for a new whip, and so far the competition is a 2000 solara v6 5 speed, a celica gts, or a prelude....all under $10,000 with hopefully under 100k miles. I came across a mazdaspeed protege with 60K miles for about $9000. I am looking for something reliable (only jap) , and quick. I am a little skepticle of a turbo on a stock car. I was just looking around the forums, and I noticed that msp has problems like lsd (watever that means) and some other things....Is this car reliable? When I say reliable, I mean the only thing that I have to worry about are normal maintenance things.

and also *- i don't plan on modding anything at all.
- is this car for me??

thanks guys!:)

[Kooldino]

The MSP is by far the best car on your list.

Yes, the LSD (limited slip differential) is known to break in many cases, but other than that it's a reliable car.

[Mr.E]

My last car was a 99 prelude and I loved it. I am still debating whether my msp is better in handling and power delivery. IMO, if you can handle a day to day 2-door then get the lude(gotta be a 5 speed, SH is a bonus) if you need a 4-door get the MSP. Take into consideration a Prelude will get much more life from the engine (175,000++) than a turbo MSP. Therefore you have more options w/ mileage n price. WHP is greater in the lude w/ no mods than the "j" but all power is top end, past 4400rpm-the 7200 redline.

[Kansei]

Mr.E - your MSP outhandles your Prelude, no questions asked.

baseer - I agree with Kooldino that the MSP is the best car on your list. It's beautiful, incredibly fun, very sporty, and needs no modifications to be an awesome car.

A toyota Camry solara? nuff said

[Mr.E]

LUDE:
- Wider Stance
- Lower Center of Gravity
- Lighter ( slighty)
In logic terms this usually means a car will handle better. Like I said my jury is still out. Just curious, have you had the chance to drive the hell out of both.

[Velocifero]

I say the msp, not because I am biased, but if you are leaving it stock you shouldnt have too many problems at all. When I first got my car I was pulling on my friends lude, we were both CAI only, and he is a way way better driver than me. The other cars on the list don't sound like they are your type, you're not a girl are you? I am sure to catch some shit for that one, but it is mostly geared towards the celica. I would have to agree that the MSP is a far superior handler as well.

[Velocifero]

LUDE:
- Wider Stance
- Lower Center of Gravity
- Lighter ( slighty)
In logic terms this usually means a car will handle better. Like I said my jury is still out. Just curious, have you had the chance to drive the hell out of both.
yep ;-)

[smo0f]

my vote is for the prelude or the solara

[Mr.E]

In this case, I really am lookin foward to the push the MSP's limit. I was not able to push my Lude hard enough. The harder I drove the corner, the lude's reponse and capability always surprised me. FYI, I always pedal heavy and corner huggin.

[Kansei]

LUDE:
- Wider Stance
- Lower Center of Gravity
- Lighter ( slighty)
In logic terms this usually means a car will handle better. Like I said my jury is still out. Just curious, have you had the chance to drive the hell out of both.

Mazdaspeed Protege is lighter than the 5th gen prelude, albeit by like 40 pounds. Wow for a car that small the lude sure is heavy.

You underestimate the pwnage that is the twin trapezoidal rear suspension, young one :P learn to embrace it. The Protege MP3 (what the MSP is a turboed version of) wasn't hailed as the best handling fwd car in the world for nothing.

[baseer]

"" Take into consideration a Prelude will get much more life from the engine (175,000++) than a turbo MSP.'""

that comment alone is strong enought to go after a lude. I am a college student, and you KNOW i cant afford to pay for random shit that goes bad...haha thats why i got rid of my ford.

but this lsd thingy, how much does it cost to fix??

[Mr.E]

Truly I stand corrected and misinformed 2954 vs. 2843 ( via edmunds specs) in favor of the MSP.(bang) Well 200 rated hp vs 170 rated hp. 111 lbs? Just another issue in the great " which is better debate?"(deadhorse)

[II-Savy]

See below.

[Dugg E Fresh]

"" Take into consideration a Prelude will get much more life from the engine (175,000++) than a turbo MSP.'""

that comment alone is strong enought to go after a lude. I am a college student, and you KNOW i cant afford to pay for random shit that goes bad...haha thats why i got rid of my ford.

but this lsd thingy, how much does it cost to fix??I'm going to do the work myself (with some friends). All together the LSD to replace, with seals, bearings, and welding will set me back over $600. I DO want to say, besides that, this car has not given me much of a problem at all. I WILL NOT trade and WILL NOT sell. It's just too fun. Even if you keep it stock, this thing is just a blast to drive. It responds well to a heavy foot, it gets great gas mileage, and it can corner better than most any car out there. You're going to run into little "quirks" with any car. I accept these as the hand we are dealt. If you want something that you won't have to touch for the life of the car, get a honda. If you want something that you can't wait to drive everyday, get the MSP. I've had both, the MSP is substantially better in so many ways than the modded Civics I have owned.

EDIT: Probably not what II-Savy meant by "see below." Sorry.

[Mr.E]

"" Take into consideration a Prelude will get much more life from the engine (175,000++) than a turbo MSP.'""

that comment alone is strong enought to go after a lude. I am a college student, and you KNOW i cant afford to pay for random shit that goes bad...haha thats why i got rid of my ford.

but this lsd thingy, how much does it cost to fix??



Search though here, but definitly take all the posts w/ a grain(or two, or more) of salt. All cars have slight issues the LSD(limited slip differential) is the main one.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92110&highlight=LSD+replacement

FYI, the Lude will burn oil after it gets high in mileage and the O2 sensors have a tendency to go bad( Check out preludepower.com; VERY HELPFUL)

[baseer]

so what mileage does the LSD usually go bad at?

does it really cost $600 to fix the LSD?

I will prolly be looking at the MSP this weekend,
other than the basic used car quistions, what should I ask about the MSP or LSD specifically?

[Captain KRM P5]

LUDE:
- Wider Stance
- Lower Center of Gravity
- Lighter ( slighty)
In logic terms this usually means a car will handle better. Like I said my jury is still out. Just curious, have you had the chance to drive the hell out of both.
sport compact car ranked the mazdaspeed protege as "the best handling front wheel drive car ever made" when it came out. last car to hold that honor was the venerable Integra Type-R

here it what alot of the haters - for any car - fail to come back and realize; alot of what you get out of the car is what you put into it. if you mod the hell out of a car, mod it incorrectly, beat the hell out of it, push it past its design limitations and fail to do maintenance, the car is going to have problems regardless of what it is. i know a couple people with bone stock or close to bone stock mazdaspeed proteges in my area alone. pushing over 70,000 miles and the car is as mechanically sound right down to an OEM limited slip differential. no turbo issues, no clutch chatter, never even been ECU flashed. does it get driven hard? yes. is every stop light a drag strip? no. thermostat failed and the car overheated around 60,000 miles on one of them. head gasket, head, engine etc were all just fine. thermostat was a cheap fix.

every problem i have ever had with my protege except a window switch is one i have caused on my own :)

[baconbitz]

LUDE:
- Wider Stance
- Lower Center of Gravity
- Lighter ( slighty)
In logic terms this usually means a car will handle better. Like I said my jury is still out. Just curious, have you had the chance to drive the hell out of both.

I stomp on my buddies 2000 Prelude on a regular basis. Hes got an HKS exhaust with high flow cats, aem v2 intake, and skunk2 springs on tokicos. I beat him straight line and in the curves.

I'd say if you don't know alot about cars go for the Prelude. Its a nice car that is decently quick, looks good, and will run forever, what more could you want? The MSP is a great car but if you, handles great, quick, looks awesome, but you are most likely going to have more costly problems than you would with the prelude.

[Velocifero]

Only thing I have repaired that has failed on mine is the wastegate actuator, and that could have been related to my driving and the mods I have done.

[Kansei]

every problem i have ever had with my protege except a window switch is one i have caused on my own :)

glad I'm not the only one who has had the same luck :)

[Dugg E Fresh]

so what mileage does the LSD usually go bad at?

does it really cost $600 to fix the LSD?

I will prolly be looking at the MSP this weekend,
other than the basic used car quistions, what should I ask about the MSP or LSD specifically?
Different mileages. Check out the "LSD failure" thread (i think you already have). I think at 600 bones, just for all the parts & service, I got off OK. I got a brand new LSD, main bearings, tranny seals, and shipping for about $550. I'm going to pay a guy to weld it up and go get the bearings pressed on. I will be doing the rest of the work myself (friends too). If not, I'm lookin' at another $250-$300 in labor alone. It will be better than stock and I won't have to worry about it ever again.
You aren't planning on modding the shit out of it. I would say the only "substantial" possible problem would be the LSD. AND that is "iffy" on when or even IF it well go. Yashooa thrashed his car for over 100K before his let go:

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2769014&postcount=169

EDIT: WHAT COLOR IS IT? You could ask if the LSD has been replaced, but I don't know that the dealer would be honest with you...

[Velocifero]

Different mileages. Check out the "LSD failure" thread (i think you already have). I think at 600 bones, just for all the parts & service, I got off OK. I got a brand new LSD, main bearings, tranny seals, and shipping for about $550. I'm going to pay a guy to weld it up and go get the bearings pressed on. I will be doing the rest of the work myself (friends too). If not, I'm lookin' at another $250-$300 in labor alone. It will be better than stock and I won't have to worry about it ever again.
You aren't planning on modding the shit out of it. I would say the only "substantial" possible problem would be the LSD. AND that is "iffy" on when or even IF it well go. Yashooa thrashed his car for over 100K before his let go:

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2769014&postcount=169

EDIT: WHAT COLOR IS IT? You could ask if the LSD has been replaced, but I don't know that the dealer would be honest with you...
If you can call Mazda USA with the VIN they can tell you if any work has ever been done on the car that was reportable, meaning if it went to a repped shop or had any warranty work done it was documented and reported. i did this with mine, no reported work done on the 11K miles that I bought it at. Only thing you worry about then is if the person did all their own work or took it to friendly shops that did work under the reporting table.

[Mazdaspeed48]

honda= NA
MSP= turboooooo

nuff said.

[MP3Architect]

every problem i have ever had with my protege except a window switch is one i have caused on my own :)
i cannot emphasize that enough!

I've owned both an MP3(at 90k miles when sold) and a mazdaspeed protege (now at almost 30k miles) and the only single problem i had with either that wasn't my fault was the power window actuator went out on my mp3 passanger rear window. that was it. as far as preludes.....i have personally always liked them. ive thought they were styled very nicely and considered them great cars. i recall racing one in my stock mp3 and not having too much of an issue in keeping up (i was losing but i was only a car back)...ive never raced a prelude in my msp because.....well i wouldn't think it would keep up at all. i was offered a race actually by a guy with a turbo'd lude a few weeks back and figured that would be worht my time but the cops were out that night so i never got the chance. as far as handleling? are you kidding me?!?!?!? the mp3 held a slalom time damn close to a 911. a 911!!!!! and that was n/a. but im not knockin the lude's....i still like them a lot only i would take a speed protege over them any day. no doubt.

[orng1]

The prelude is a nice car also but I never noticed how well a 4dr does work out so well for daily driving as with this car. It's just a perfect car for me, it fits me very well as for head and legroom as well as being able to seat 5 people even if most are big guys as I am now try that in a prelude, you'd be lucky enough to fit one person back there and that's siting sideways.

[Brian MP5T]

MSP = Awesome Suspension and Great Handling.