Just bought my MSP!

[tybrenis]

Hey everyone!

As you can see, I'm new to the forum but very excited about my purchase! I have been a mazda fan for years, and grew up driving my father's miatas (three of them!) which gave me an appreciation for mazda. Anyways, I've been hunting for an affordable MSP for a long time now and I finally made the purchase online. I don't get to pick her up for two weeks, but in the mean time, I can hang about the forums and get a better feel for my car and the community.

I bought the car with 92,000 miles on it, and I'm considering buying an extended warranty. As a college student, I don't have any cushion money for repairs if anything goes wrong - in everyone's experience, how reliable are these cars? Can I gamble and say it might be fine?

Thanks everyone!

- Tyler

[MSP2024]

you really dont want to know the answer to your question haha

[boostdprotegelx]

just DONT say it'll be fine...

(you MIGHT come out ok.)

[tybrenis]

Lol, that's what I figured. Worth $100 a month for an extended warranty?

[MSP2024]

i wish i had a warranty but im glad i dont cuz i like to be able to mod my car as i please, it just depends on what works best for you

[tybrenis]

i wish i had a warranty but im glad i dont cuz i like to be able to mod my car as i please, it just depends on what works best for you

That's true. I mean, I do plan on modding as I can afford to, but at the same time, I need a reliable car that I can count on every day to get to work and school. Did I make the right choice? Lol

[MSP2024]

mods and reliable dont really go hand in hand haha you might be lucky and have a freak that can take the abuse well,some are known to be like that, for me i snapped the lsd my second year and this summer i blew the motor, but i beat the hell out of mine, if you fix the mistakes mazda made then its a fun car to have but its just expensive to fix all the mistakes they made

[boostdprotegelx]

i bought a msp for dd purpose as well.

i am getting a FMIC, and Exhaust.. that's all the "performance" mods i'm doing.. but to me, they seem to make the car run better.

[tybrenis]

i bought a msp for dd purpose as well.

i am getting a FMIC, and Exhaust.. that's all the "performance" mods i'm doing.. but to me, they seem to make the car run better.

Thats about all I plan on - an exhaust first, a FMIC, a BOV, rims, maybe a boost controller, that should about cover me. I don't plan on building a race car or anything - but I do plan on driving it every day for a long time. I guess what everyone is saying is these cars are buggy and do have issues?

[MSP2024]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50549
just some of the problems, im not trying to scare you away from it im just letting you know that there are very well known problems i would stay away from the boost controller, people have blow just on stock boost

[tybrenis]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50549
just some of the problems, im not trying to scare you away from it im just letting you know that there are very well known problems i would stay away from the boost controller, people have blow just on stock boost

Thanks MSP2024,

I was looking at that manual yesterday and I think that's when it hit me maybe I should get an extended warranty. It sounds like it certainly could be worth it.

[MSP2024]

no problem, dont get me wrong i love my car its a sweet ass ride i love everytime i drive it, but to be safe i would get the warrenty,start saving for a built block,weld the lsd and have a shit load of fun with it

[dandan2]

i paid 2000 for my 3 year aftermarket warranty! saved my ass 3 days later wen i blew the motor on 12 psi! lol! it was fun while it lasted though but got a brand new short block for just 300 dollars!

[fishdonotbounce]

Who would be providing the extended warranty? A third party or mazda? Either way, the second that they see a single mod they will say that's the reason that whatever it is broke and then you're still screwed. There is plenty of support on the forums for the MSP so if anything does go wrong, just do it yourself and if it's something you can't do yourself, search for a reputable mechanic that won't screw you over. These days, freelance mechanics and small shops are itching for business. I found a 15 year ASE certified mech to do my timing belt, water pump, alt and ps belts and cam seals for $100. Welcome to the family and if there's anything you need, use the advanced search function and if you can't find it, feel free to ask (thumb)

[boostdprotegelx]

well there's people that have good luck, and people that have bad luck.. for instance..
mspmichele- 3 years stock block, 11psi. AUtox and circuit racing.hard driving.

505zoom had his stock block for a decent amount of time at 277whp.

it's luck of the draw. but realistically, if you're going to get an extended warranty, get one like Dandan2 said. get the aftermarket extended coverage.


I"m a mechanic myself. so if issues arise, i fix them myself. I also, have been offering my services out to people. i'm in MD..idk where you are, but if you need help, lmk. i'd be willing to.

and if you need any more questions answered, just pm me!

[greasemonkey524]

Wow! Another new member, Welcome! I would think a warranty would be a good idea also. Who knows how the previous owner(s) handled the car. If you're a college student and can afford the extra $100/mo I'd say go that route. I've had mine for close to 7 years now and (knock on some serious wood!) haven't had any issues with it. The car is pretty fragile so just take care of it. By the way, what color is it?

[tybrenis]

Thanks guys! It's black, and at 92,000 miles who knows what the previous owner did to it. I was excited to find a mostly unmodified car - the only upgrade I saw listed was an intake, and the sound system. However, looking really closely at the pictures, there is an aftermarket boost pod on the car too, so at that point, everything else is out the window. I get the car in two weeks, so we'll find out I guess.

Warranty-wise I would be buying an aftermarket warranty, not a mazda warranty.

[Soy]

Get the warranty - it's worth every penny.

I just had $6000 worth of work done on the car for $100 in co-pay. New turbo, exhaust manifold, wastegate, the works.

I paid $1200 for the warranty when i bought the car used, and it has already paid for itself 5x over.

[tybrenis]

Get the warranty - it's worth every penny.

I just had $6000 worth of work done on the car for $100 in co-pay. New turbo, exhaust manifold, wastegate, the works.

I paid $1200 for the warranty when i bought the car used, and it has already paid for itself 5x over.

You sold me. That's honestly all I needed to hear. How are they on mods? I talked to a guy on the phone today about a warranty and he said they would cover any factory installed parts, but obviously not aftermarket parts, as aftermarket systems (like an exhaust) usually have warranties on them. But as long as the repair is to a part that's unmodified, they don't care, right?

Hope not.

[boostdprotegelx]

yes they do care. because, they try to say oh well X did whatever to Z causing failure.. etc.

if you can find an aftermarket warranty which also covers performance parts, that's the route you wanna take.

having a boost gauge in the car is a SERIOUS necessity. it will tell many issues.

[StealthWyvern]

Hey everyone!

As you can see, I'm new to the forum but very excited about my purchase! I have been a mazda fan for years, and grew up driving my father's miatas (three of them!) which gave me an appreciation for mazda. Anyways, I've been hunting for an affordable MSP for a long time now and I finally made the purchase online. I don't get to pick her up for two weeks, but in the mean time, I can hang about the forums and get a better feel for my car and the community.

I bought the car with 92,000 miles on it, and I'm considering buying an extended warranty. As a college student, I don't have any cushion money for repairs if anything goes wrong - in everyone's experience, how reliable are these cars? Can I gamble and say it might be fine?

Thanks everyone!

- Tyler


Get the 3rd party warrenty if its not to much and get all your fluids changed ASAP! Keep a record of all oil changes(you cant do any yourself). Also look over the warrenty paper work real closely before you get it! If the car is modded at all i would get the 3rd party but get all the stock parts for when/if you have a issue.

[tybrenis]

Thanks guys for all the advice! I am definitely going to shoot for the warranty. Again, my only concern is them not covering the car because of aftermarket mods, but I don't think that it should be too big of a problem.

[Spiced MSP]

I agree with what everyone else said. Also, I think you would be fine as long as you don't drive your car hard all the time. But as everyone else said, once you start modding, the problems will arise one after another. I have been through one LSD already and I want to up the boost but really can't afford a built motor right now. Just be careful and continue to do some research. Everything you need to know, you can find on this forum. There is a thread on here about what mods to get for a daily driven MSP. That would help you out a lot. Also...Welcome to the forum and to your new MSP!!!

[Speedkid]

Welcome to the forums.

[Outlawstar98]

Welcome to the wounderfull life of the MSP, And where you from man?

[StealthWyvern]

Thanks guys for all the advice! I am definitely going to shoot for the warranty. Again, my only concern is them not covering the car because of aftermarket mods, but I don't think that it should be too big of a problem.

My car was and still is modded and they covered my warrenty. However they didn't send anyone out to look at my car either. The guy at AAMCO told them that my car didn't have any mods on it!

My warrenty didn't cover throwout bearing, clutch, presure plate, master and slave cylinders for the trans. Obviously it didnt cover wear and tear parts like tires, shocks, ect... ect...

Now here is the catch with 3rd party warrenties. The guy at AAMCO got the ok to repair my trans shop BEFORE letting them know I had hydraulic issues (master and slave clutch cylinder). If they knew I had those issues they wouldn't of covered the trans repair and I would of been up the creeck without a paddle!

If a none covered part causes damage to a covered part, that covered part isn't covered anymore due to the none covered part causing the damage. Just something to think about.


Edit: If you keep the boost level stock and leave the tune alone you shouldn't have any issues with the engine. Now the LSD is a random thing. No telling when or if it will go. Like anything else, take care of the car and it will take care of you.

[tybrenis]

Thanks everyone for your tips and warm welcome! I'm still thinking about what exactly to do, I don't get to pick up my car for another two weeks so I guess I'll have some time to think about it. I'm going to see exactly what sort of shape its in, have a mechanic give it a good look-over, and then decide.


Welcome to the wounderfull life of the MSP, And where you from man?

Thanks man! Actually I'm from right around the corner, Doylestown, PA.