Possible MSP owner to be.

[t3ase]

First off, I stumbled onto this board the other night and have been hooked reading through threads, page after page. Good information and lot of good attitudes. Nice to see that.

Now to the point. I've applied for credit through a local dealership and find out tomorrow if I was approved or not. With a bit of bad history, I'm very nervous and trying to keep a level head right now. If I *do* get approved and go to test drive the car, what do I look for? What can I expect? I'm 21, not a car entushiast by any means (yet :D) and have had two Honda Accords and a 78 Ford Fairmont before this-all automatic.

This will be my first Mazda and be my first manual, so I'm a bit uneasy. I've read Mazda's a great car and all, so I'm not doubting that at all. I just want to know what to ask for, what to look for, etc so I don't walk in there looking like a completely knowledgeless fool.

Any ideas?

Also, what can I expect driving a turbo'd car? Again, I've only driven the two accords, the Fairmont and my girlfriend's V6 Firebird. Is it a bit weird to get used to? I've read about this "sludge" feel when you're runnin about 3000rpm before the turbo kicks in. What do I feel once it does? Will it be noticable?

Thanks for the help,
C. Higgins

[andr3w]

The turbo is very responsive. I notice a little hiccup at certain rev points, but nothing that will really affect you.

Drive a few cars. I am glad I tried the Focus, WRX, Jetta, GTI, RSX etc before the Speed. I already knew manual, so that will be tough on you.

make sure you only pay MSRP, and ideally get financing ahead of time thru a bank - often better rates.

Good luck

[AGR]

The MAZDASPEED is wonderful! I shopped the market, but there is no way I could be happier! Just ask anybody here what I think of my MAZDASPEED. Going on 2,200 miles!!!

[AkiraFist]

within my budget, i couldn't be happier with an MSP.
especially an orange one, too :cool:

[slug420]

check for a coolant smell from the engine compartment, one person had a bad clamp on a hose and i thinka couple others have had a smell hangin around for a while with an unknown source.

Also take it for a test drive and make a note of listening for a clunk from the trunk.

Also ask if the car has been aligned according to the latest specs from mazda. Someone posted that their dealershpi received a TSB about a new alignment (not that new, but recent) which reduced torque steer.

All of these are very minor, mostly non-issues, and for the most part since you are in texas (warmer) you wont have the clunk or the coolant smell (its rare) and im sure it will be properly aligned already, but little things like this will make you out to be the educated consumer and not the knowledgeless fool that you are trying to avoid.

Might also want to ask them about the 2003.5 mazdaspeed which they will probably know nothing about. You can mention that it has some cosmetic changes including a new lip, no fogs, and a new spoiler and will come in titanium grey and yellow. Once again, you dont want a 2003.5 (or maybe you do...) but its another tidbit to help you look like an educated buyer.

This was my first new car buying experience, and the fact that I knew so much more about the car than anyone at the dealership did (or could be expected to) really gave me the confidence to make me feel super comfortable with a big purchase like this.

also, check the window sticker and make sure everything listed is included. Wheel locks, full tank of gas, cargo net etc etc.....

[t3ase]

Thank you very much for the input, especially slug's. Other than that, are there any details I want to go over with the dealer?

Turns out I'm going to have a cosigner, but I'm determined to get this damn car. I like the fact that it a) looks good and b) runs good without too much knowledge about aftermarket mods. Again, I'm not too mechanically inclined, so this car is perfect for me to start learning with. Not too much, but certainly not too little.

Now back to the point again.. Any other suggestions on what I need to do on the test drive? Cornering? Acceleration? How do I truly try out the car with a sales person next to me? Is it okay to drive it like it's meant to just while testing it or do I baby it?

This will be my first new car purchase, so I'm extremely anxious yet apprehensive.

[slug420]

as far as the test drive itself....I was just goin slow, takin it easy, wasnt even goin over 3k rpms until the dealer told me to take it up a little higher and urged me to go a bit faster on the windy road he directed me too.

my previous car was a 110hp 91 mx6 lx, which I loved, and all I was really lookin for in this car was something fun to drive. I knew that awesome handling on top of the already super fun to drive protege platform could only mean good things. I did also want something with a little zip to it and i knew coming from 110 hp that 170 would be plenty.

Also, I took it easy on my baby for the first 400 miles at least, handling-wise and throttle-wise so I didnt wanna go testing its handling/power on the test drive.

bottom line, I knew this was the car I was going to buy, just went for a test drive cuz I would have felt like a fool for having given the guy 20k for a car I had never even driven......just a formality i guess you could say


cmon......someone else post....dont make me the only whore :)

[t3ase]

*sigh* first post. good times.

[Bijou-MP5]

within yr you posted 3332 damn..

[t3ase]

hahah :)

[Bijou-MP5]

hey where's the girl on you avartar go? she was my type!!!

[chino]

NICE!!!

[dominoy2k1]

:wtf: will you be mine tease?

[t3ase]

Originally posted by Bijou-MP5
hey where's the girl on you avartar go? she was my type!!!
i think my girl is more popular than my car on this car forum.. that's a bad sign... i think.

[jflo]

t3ase...lisa is hot...let everyone be infatuated and lust over her :) hehehe...but wow, ur first post sounded so...unlike u...i don't knoe y. just does ! tehehehe

[chino]

That is a tempting picture in the background of you sig. Or it was until I talked to her :D :D :D



EDIT: People know her name!!! that is bad!

[t3ase]

Originally posted by chino
That is a tempting picture in the background of you sig. Or it was until I talked to her :D :D :D
uh oh.

[t3ase]

Originally posted by jflo
t3ase...lisa is hot...let everyone be infatuated and lust over her :) hehehe...but wow, ur first post sounded so...unlike u...i don't knoe y. just does ! tehehehe
prime example of how attitudes have changed.

[chino]

you know since I talked shit she is gonna pop up and lay the slap down on me!

[jflo]

yesssssssssssss i am prime

[jflo]

Originally posted by chino
you know since I talked shit she is gonna pop up and lay the slap down on me!

you'd like that wouldn't you

[t3ase]

Originally posted by chino
you know since I talked shit she is gonna pop up and lay the slap down on me!
careful, she may be moving to austin ;P

[Bijou-MP5]

do you have good pic of her? :D I just want to see how lucky you are

[t3ase]

pic? nigga, i be down wif da galleryize!@%$

[er.. lemme edit some of those pics]

[jflo]

damn it t3ase no editing ! must have all details !!

[t3ase]

Originally posted by Bijou-MP5
do you have good pic of her? :D I just want to see how lucky you are /members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/one.jpg/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/two.jpg
/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/three.jpg/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/four.jpg
/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/five.jpg/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/six.jpg
/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/seven.jpg/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/eight.jpg
/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/nine.jpg/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/ten.jpg

[t3ase]

didnt edit out anything other than her screenname. she was msgd be a few of the people on here last time i posted unedited pics and one guy didnt know when to quit.

[Bijou-MP5]

thanks for the pics man!!! :D
is she asian? you are one lucky man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

Edit: I wonder why the other guy won't quit... lol

and my favorite
http://www.protege5.com/members/t3ase/Personal-Lisa-Public/six.jpg

[t3ase]

I prefer to say she has a "mica" look to her. She looks asian in some pics, hispanic in some and even white in a few that I have. She says shes hispanic but there's definately somethin else in there.

[t3ase]

thank you for the compliment, by the way.

[mspdfreak]

Back to the original post...I'm married...damn!
I would test drive (with your cosigner) every car you are interested in within your price range. Find out what YOU like. Don't talk price until you're ready to buy. Once you are ready, make it clear that you don't want extended warranty, rust-proofing or anything else "extra" the dealer may try and sell you. Just say "what is the best deal you can give me on this car today?" (they love hearing that you are ready to buy on the spot) If it's not what you are ready to pay, walk out. They will still be there tomorrow, and it will give you time to think.
NEVER talk monthly payments with a salesman. They can still manipulate the price and get your payments where you tell them they need to be. When you make up your mind, ask for a written copy of what you will be paying, including TT&L.
Thr best thing to do, especially on this car, is to simply ask, "will you take $500 over invoice?" All he/she can do is say no.
Don't forget, these people are out to make money, but that doesn't mean they are trying to make the most money out of each car. The smart ones make a bit less on each car, but get you out the door without as much haggling, making more time to get to the next customer.
Anyway, I hope this helps, and good luck on your purchase!

[t3ase]

Originally posted by mspdfreak
Back to the original post...I'm married...damn!
I would test drive (with your cosigner) every car you are interested in within your price range. Find out what YOU like. Don't talk price until you're ready to buy. Once you are ready, make it clear that you don't want extended warranty, rust-proofing or anything else "extra" the dealer may try and sell you. Just say "what is the best deal you can give me on this car today?" (they love hearing that you are ready to buy on the spot) If it's not what you are ready to pay, walk out. They will still be there tomorrow, and it will give you time to think.
NEVER talk monthly payments with a salesman. They can still manipulate the price and get your payments where you tell them they need to be. When you make up your mind, ask for a written copy of what you will be paying, including TT&L.
Thr best thing to do, especially on this car, is to simply ask, "will you take $500 over invoice?" All he/she can do is say no.
Don't forget, these people are out to make money, but that doesn't mean they are trying to make the most money out of each car. The smart ones make a bit less on each car, but get you out the door without as much haggling, making more time to get to the next customer.
Anyway, I hope this helps, and good luck on your purchase! If you look at the dates, that post was from 02-13-2003. I've had my car since April 9, 2003. :)

[chino]

A little late but very good advice though. :D :D

[TitanB]

ROFL... I didnt notice date either. Thats great, I was like wth.. I know he knows a few things. Oh yeah like the new avatar. Your lady is quite pretty.

[t3ase]

thanks ;P

[mspeedpro]

t3ase, u think it might be a lil wierd seeing her for the first time?? I remember there was a girl i met online a couple years ago and we really hit it off but then when we finally met, it was so damn wierd. trick is... first time u meet her, do it at a big party :-)

[MarkSpark]

wait wait wait.Te@se!!! You haven't met the girl.?????

[t3ase]

erm. thread closed!
























:D