Would you trade in the Spec........

[ktspecv]

I currently have an 02 Spec-V with about 26k on the odom. I still owe about $15k and was thinking about trading it in for the Mazdaspeed. First question..........is it worth the money I will lose to trade it in? And I may get nothing but biased answers being on a Mazdaspeed forum, but is the Mazdaspeed that much better of a car to trade in for?? Thanks for the input....just doing my homework. And here's a few pix of my ride.....

http://alyssamyjoy.com/Rorh1.JPG
http://alyssamyjoy.com/ValveCover4.JPG
http://alyssamyjoy.com/GaugesNew.JPG

[dominoy2k1]

looks good....i would keep it....

[ktspecv]

Oh.......and should I not post images like this?? I see more people linking images instead of posting in the thread. I'm assuming that saves on the bandwidth. Feel free to edit mods....

[AGR]

Gorgeous car, my friend! A year ago, I was going to buy an SE-R Spec V. Having owned 3 Nissans, I certainly like the quality. I waited, and then the MAZDASPEED was introduced, and I haven't looked back.

There is a member here (turboge) who just traded an '02 Spec V, on a MAZDASPEED. He could give you better advice, I think.

Most of the MAZDASPEED owners here will tell you how much they enjoy their cars - I promise you!

my baby.......
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dd02b3127cce95dd866cfbed0000001610

[ktspecv]

Wow, nice ride AGR#7. A couple questions that maybe a search would find but I thought I would ask...

1. How is the paint on the Speed? I never owned a Mazda so not sure about the quality. Anything has to be better than the Spec paint........sucks.


2. Any probs with the tranny? Again, not familiar with Mazda's but does this share a tranny from a different Mazda or is this brand new for the SPeed?

3. Does the Mazdaspeed come stock with a BOV? If not, are there any aftermarket ones yet?


Thanks for the info!

[03MzdSpdSTP]

nice Spec V

[Heathen23]

With that kind of number still left on your principle I say don't do it. They are not different enough to justify the trade in loss.

Let me qualify my answer;

If you have plenty of $ and it is not a big concern then you really should test drive the speed and talk to turboge (considering he has owned both).

It is just my opinion that the financial hit you would take would be larger than it's worth . You might do better trying to sell your Spec-V to a private buyer while continuing to pay down your principle. You would get more for your spec and have time to make a more planned decision. The worst outcome in that situation is you can't sell your spec and you have paid it down a good bit. You could still trade in and get alot more for your $.

I can't get enough of my MSP. I traded in my previous vehicle to get it. It took some planning and research but it was a great decision in my situation. But the vehicle I traded was 1k short of paid off. Just make sure there is a good financial fit.

What type of APR's are on the two different loans? That could make a big difference!

[AGR]

Originally posted by ktspecv
Wow, nice ride AGR#7. A couple questions that maybe a search would find but I thought I would ask...

1. How is the paint on the Speed? I never owned a Mazda so not sure about the quality. Anything has to be better than the Spec paint........sucks.

2. Any probs with the tranny? Again, not familiar with Mazda's but does this share a tranny from a different Mazda or is this brand new for the SPeed?

3. Does the Mazdaspeed come stock with a BOV? If not, are there any aftermarket ones yet?


Thanks for the info!

Thanks for the kind words!

* The paint is nice on the MAZDASPEED. I'm not sure if it's really better or worse than any other manufacturer. The Black Mica; I really like. The Spicy Orange Mica is nice, too - just not my color.

* The tranny is the same as in the Protege ES 2.0 liter. The clutch is heavy duty in the MAZDASPEED, however. No problems with mine, and I'm right at 5,000 miles.

* Yes; they do have BOVs. Many are changing them over to higher performance models. Mine is still stock, and seems fine.

[Daemos]

Owning an 03 Spec V...I don't have much to say about the 02s.

But Personally I wouldn't own an 02, they have alot of problems compared to the 03s. The tranny, I dunno, It's like REALLY REALLY notchy, I thought the 03 was pretty bad (after test driving RSXs and Celicas) but the 02s are :s

Stock for Stock the MSP out does the Spec in performance. It's not a huge diffrence but it's there.

The Spec Would win for other things like higher crash tests (w/o side impact airbags) CC, sunroof, side impact airbags.

If you plan to mod...I would say it all depends on how much money you're willing to throw into the car. You can make any car handle like a go kart, and be as fast at the strips..it all comes down to the $$$.

Now without doing any major engine/tranny build ups (Ie reinforcing) the Spec will probally edge out in terms of power.

Handling...well concerding both already have good suspension setups already, I believe the protege's chassis is stiffer than the Specs, edge wise...handling...the protege would probally edge out the Spec.

Again both of these are quite marginal.

I personally say (I know this is now off topic) if you really wanna get rid of your spec, find a used 2000 Celica GTS. Hotkics just released their suspension kit for the car...on stock engine...and modified suspension it like went 75.2 mph down the slalom (which is now a record for a sport compact car, apparently) and pulled off 1.04 Gs down the skidpad. Testing was done by SCC. (expensive, but worth it) (the protege and the spec will probally need alot of suspension work, more than the celica needs to do that)

Oh yea, and 1/4 speeds, intake and exhaust on a GTS will drop you to like low 14s easily. (I don't think it's that easy on the protege or the spec)

And the car is a sexy sexy beast.

And the look is nice...but the only problem comes is finding a used celica GTS 6-speed that HASN'T been ragged on.

But I really perfer new cars to used...you never know what's happened to a used car.

Personally if you're planning to mod, and performance is all where it's at for you, I'd stick with the spec, with the slew of JWT developed mods for the engine comming out...you can have like a 350whp Turbo car or a pretty powerful NA car easily.

IF you plan to stay stock (or really close to), and performance is more important to creature comforts, go with the MSP.

[I-Am-Chris]

Originally posted by Daemos

1. And the look is nice...but the only problem comes is finding a used celica GTS 6-speed that HASN'T been ragged on.

2. IF you plan to stay stock (or really close to), and performance is more important to creature comforts, go with the MSP.

1. Yeah that would be great if they didnt drop out of the powerband when you shift into second

2. WTF r u talking about? I would say the creature comforts of the MSP r quiet nice. Badass interior, Full 450W kenwood mp3/cd player and system. Handles like a beast for stock, and after I boosted up its pretty damn quick (faster than a Rex (wrx))

[CruzinAltitude]

I am the very proud owner of a Pro5 so I cant speak about the MSP's proformance but let me say this, Your SpecV is beautiful and a great driving machine (I test drove one about a year back). If you still owe that much on the car and stand to loose quite a bit of money, hang on the kick ass car you have!

[1sty]

As long as your car has no mechanical problems that are driving you nuts I would hold off on getting a new car. If you have to list yours in the want adds to see what you can get for it. Dealers will try to rake you by atleast $4000.

The MSP has been known to idle problems both stock and with a simple intake added on. However there are members all over it to fix it. The paint is solid on the mazdas, the only know exception is the yellow ones. The manual trannys can be a problem but haven't been for must people. The transmission just lets you know when its not happy.

I personaly wouldn't look to seriously engine modify either car for power as their drivetrains aren't going to handle alot of power. Thats what the SRT/4 is for, kind of a chame there aren't any cars like the 240sx around anymore.

[Grimace]

Originally posted by I-Am-Chris


1. Yeah that would be great if they didnt drop out of the powerband when you shift into second



The model year 2000 Celica GT-S had a 8400 RPM redline. Shifting at redline would keep it in the powerband.
For 2001 and onwards though, the redline was reduced to 7800 RPM (to try and counteract the number of blown engine warranty fixes from people mis-shifting the close-gated 6-spd.) In the 2001+, even shifting at redline will drop you out of the powerband.
IMHO, 2000 is the most desireable year.

[Limited Edition]

Hello,
Your Spec-V looks really clean and good! Nice clean mods and pictures. IMO, at this point with 26K on the odometer, you won't lose as much money if you were to sell later. If the MAZDASPEED didn't exisit i would probably have picked up the Spec-V myself. They are both great cars, but MSP imo looks better. So, that's entirely up to you. Both cars have slightly lower re sale value compared to Toyota's and Honda's. I'm sure you're already aware of that the car has. So that for you to decide! (thumb)

[perfworks]

i have always been a nissan fan
my first car was a 300z
but im partial to my mazda pro5 because...well... i dont know
its wierd the car does something to you
its great to drive and the looks and styling are great too. now i would imagine that the MSP would be even greater.
so if you got the money IMO i would do it. if not then dont worry your car isnt too shabby. nissan makes a great car and drivetrain.
plus you did a nice original job on yours
later

[Daemos]

Originally posted by Grimace


The model year 2000 Celica GT-S had a 8400 RPM redline. Shifting at redline would keep it in the powerband.
For 2001 and onwards though, the redline was reduced to 7800 RPM (to try and counteract the number of blown engine warranty fixes from people mis-shifting the close-gated 6-spd.) In the 2001+, even shifting at redline will drop you out of the powerband.
IMHO, 2000 is the most desireable year.

the crappy ecu happened in 2002...so a 2000-2001 models would be desirable. (the ecu was a "glitch" according to toyota...hah)

Yea...the 6speed is REALLY close gated, really short throws, alot of Spec V owners when they first got the cars had "Celica-itis" which ment alot of baddd mishfiting.

And their lift, which is why they get so quick times stock. they easliy hit high 14s stock. And Just an Intake and Exhaust will drop them to times like 14.1. I don't think either the spec nor the MSP will drop that low with just an addition of an intake and exhaust O.o;

[choke on words]

Dude, keep that car. That thing looks sweet(2thumbs)

[turboge]

I traded in my 2002 Spec V for a Mazdaspeed. I hated that Spec V in so many ways, this car makes all those bad memories go away.

[AGR]

Braden: That's a nice Titanium MAZDASPEED in your Avatar...... hint,,,,,hint,,,,

[Slipstream]

I have to ask, why are you looking to dump the Spec? Aside from your apparent disappointment with the paint and transmission. It's one car I'm considering myself (mainly because of the hard-to-beat pricing you can find on them now), but I've heard mixed reviews on it.

[Daemos]

Only the 2002s had tranny/engine problems.

Most were fixed for 2003.

The only problem that still remains in the 2003s is the paint. But Some Meguires Gold Class Wax does it good.

The only problems I've had with paint was when some dude sideswiped me, and the most he did was peel off some of the wax, and give me 2 minor scratches and 3 paint chips.

I have no problems with my spec. But I wouldn't drive a 2002, just too many problems.

[ktspecv]

Thanks everyone for the advice and comments about the Spec. A couple reasons why I was even looking around at other cars....

1. I hate the '02 tranny. Shifts are hard as hell. My 89 Nissan PU had smoother shifts than this.

2. The paint sucks.

3. Startup problems.


Can't think of too much more than that. I love the torque on this car and I'm sure as soon as the Jim Wolf stuff comes out, this car can be made into a real beast! I really wasn't looking, but saw the Mazdaspeed and loved the looks of it. Also helped that it came with a turbo. I'll have to think about it some more. If money wasn't an object, I would just wait for the STi and live a happy life..........

[turboge]

I had the same probs with my Spec V, I couldn't stand it, I got fed up and got a deal on a MSP and said bye bye spec V.

I think the MSP is a far superior car despite some tuning issues.

[ktspecv]

Originally posted by turboge
I had the same probs with my Spec V, I couldn't stand it, I got fed up and got a deal on a MSP and said bye bye spec V.

I think the MSP is a far superior car despite some tuning issues.

If you don't mind me asking....how much did you pay for your MSP? Did you trade in your Spec or sell it privately? Thanks for your help!

[turboge]

19800 for the MSP, traded in the Spec V and took a hit, but the market went to shit so I got out of it in time to taking a bigger hit.

[funnylittlman]

Just keep it...
demodding a car and sellin the parts are a pain in the arse.. but that's b/c I had many problems with my 99 max.. oh I was going to be V2 Stillen Supercharged, and I ended up sellin the car :(

http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_b/276000-276999/276024_1_full.jpg

[I'm Allen]

Monday morning (04/07/03) I owned a white 2002 spec V. Great car, no problems what-so-ever. Monday evening, I owned a black MS Protege. You have a very, very nice looking spec. I had only done intake and exhaust to mine so it was an easy decision for me to get rid of it. I only got to drive the MSP for about 20 miles, but I like it so much better. I think you would be happy with the trade.

Allen-

[AGR]

Welcome aboard, Allen.

....5,000 miles, and the Grin hurts, but I have gotten used to it.

[PaulMP3]

The fact that these cars are so limited makes them real special. If you don't mind the loss, trade it in. If your tight on cash, be economical, you got a sweet ride already. keep it.

[cornflaykes]

Originally posted by I-Am-Chris


1. Yeah that would be great if they didnt drop out of the powerband when you shift into second

2. WTF r u talking about? I would say the creature comforts of the MSP r quiet nice. Badass interior, Full 450W kenwood mp3/cd player and system. Handles like a beast for stock, and after I boosted up its pretty damn quick (faster than a Rex (wrx))

you beat a wrx in your mazdaspeed at 9 psi , who was drining the wrx some grandma....... i hope it was stock also ....the wrx has alot more potential than a mazda speed .... why dont your turn your boost over ten psi and see what happens .....say bye bye to msp........ i cant wait til the 24 when my new wrx will be here and the p5 will be gone ......... i was going to get an msp until my friend went boost happy........

[Lawerence]

Originally posted by turboge
I traded in my 2002 Spec V for a Mazdaspeed. I hated that Spec V in so many ways, this car makes all those bad memories go away.
WOW!!!
So did I!!!
Strange isnt it that all these former specV owners are trying to get into MSPs ;)

Actually, I like the specV very much...but the MSP is just much more fun to drive, my specV was faster...but the MSP is not far off, and I dont have to use laughing gas to get low 14s...
TO be fair thats all I had in the Spec (55shot), then my friend bought it from me modded it (runs 13's now), and I got my MSP.
The rest is how they say? History. :)

[ktspecv]

Damn.......decisions, decisions. I'll see if I can get the dealer to swap my tranny for the 03 tranny. I think that improvement alone would make me wanna keep my ride. Thanks for all your help. I really do like the look and potential of the MS. I think down the line, a lot more mods will be available for it and you will see some crazy fast ones on the street and track. Thanks again!

[rodslinger]

Depends. Do you like the smooth linear power of the 2.5 in the Spec or do you like the jerky, surging feeling the hack job ECU tuning in the Mazdaspeed gives you? :D

[1sty]

Ofcoarse you could suplement the MSPs ecu jerkyness with the Nissans TRANSMISSIONS jerkiness.

[AGR]

Originally posted by rodslinger
Depends. Do you like the smooth linear power of the 2.5 in the Spec or do you like the jerky, surging feeling the hack job ECU tuning in the Mazdaspeed gives you? :D

The only time I experience this jerky, hiccupping is sometimes while accelerating in 2nd gear. Other than that, it is non-existent.

[funnylittlman]

Originally posted by 1st MP3 in NH
Ofcoarse you could suplement the MSPs ecu jerkyness with the Nissans TRANSMISSIONS jerkiness.

Yeah,

Nissan has had some problems w/ that 6 spd.. syncros and grinding gears OH MY!

[1sty]

More then that, I have a few friends that are on there 3rd transmissions. That car is junk, period. I'll take a rich running PCM for safety against a combustable tranny any day.

[Cirielle]

My husband has a Spec V and in my humble opinion my new car blows his car out of the water! Heck, he kinda feels that way too! He likes his Spec V, but there are some things that he kinda wishes were better. I.E. the turning radius for the Spec V sucks!!!!!!!!!!
I just traded in my 2001 Subaru Impreza 2.5 R.S. I loved (and still do) that car! He was my man! My wonderful man at that! I would have kept him except I needed a 4-door car (have a 7 month old daughter and hit her head on the roof when I tried to put her in my old car; that was the deciding factor for me!).
If you love your Spec V, then you should stick with it. If you are just somewhat happy with it, then go for the Mazdaspeed! My husband just lucked out that he gets the best of both worlds!

[funnylittlman]

Nice to see another speed in VA ! :D

[rodslinger]

I knew I could put some activity in here.... ;)

And it was the 2002 Spec that had all the issues. Same with the 2003 MSP I hope. I might get one if they get the tuning right on the next gen or someone has a definate fix for the driveability.

[1sty]

Has the 2003 Spec really been out long enough to determine if it also has problems? Seemed to take almost a year to tell the first one was crap!

[AGR]

2003 issues? ....none that concern me, really. This car is wonderful. (thumb)

[rodslinger]

Originally posted by 1st MP3 in NH
Has the 2003 Spec really been out long enough to determine if it also has problems?

I think it's been out long enough. I haven't heard any owner complaints. (or at least nothing as serious as the 2002 owners)


Originally posted by 1st MP3 in NH
Seemed to take almost a year to tell the first one was crap!

The owners knew almost immediately. It just took Nissan a year to fess up to the problems. Kinda like the cold rattle on the N/A FS motors that Mazda "didn't know about" for so long and the clunk in the MP3 and MSP. All cars have issues of some sort. It's just up to us to put the heat on the manufacturers to take care of them.

[Daemos]

If I had an 02 I'd probally trade it in too (but for an STi or Evo 8)...I drove my friend's 02, the tranny drove me TOTALLY insane, it was just REALLY clunky, the 03 tranny makes all the diffrence.

There's a guy in my city totaled his 02 spec, wasn't planning to get another one, drove the 03, and loved the new tranny and is waiting for it.

If you can get an 03 tranny, keep the spec...if you're stuck with the 02, there's a discussion on one of the sentra forums about the only major diffrence between the 03s and the 02s are the gear ratios, and the tranny bearrings, which have the smoother shifting in the 03s.

It all depends though, the 2002s seemed to have endless problems, while the 2003s have almost none.

[Daemos]

Originally posted by cornflaykes


you beat a wrx in your mazdaspeed at 9 psi , who was drining the wrx some grandma....... i hope it was stock also ....the wrx has alot more potential than a mazda speed .... why dont your turn your boost over ten psi and see what happens .....say bye bye to msp........ i cant wait til the 24 when my new wrx will be here and the p5 will be gone ......... i was going to get an msp until my friend went boost happy........

werd...

you getting the STi? I love the STi, I was about to trade in my spec for one (for the first one they get in stock)...then I found out the price and ran away...I hate it that the evos arn't comming to canada >< And I hate dealermarkups...

[1sty]

Just get teh WRX, it can be bumped up to the STIs power for the price gap, not warrentied of coarse but it can be done.

[Yellospeed]

Haven't heard any complainst regarding 2003's?

Whoa... I was browsing b15sentra.net for a while.. and there's plenty o whining there..

Letsee.... Paint chips, leaking trunk, misalligned panels, mismatched paint, foam barf...

That being said.. if you already bought it... you mght as well stick w/ it.. nice cars come and go..... you might as well save your money from swapping to the MSP ... and buy something even nicer next time...

[funnylittlman]

Originally posted by rodslinger
I knew I could put some activity in here.... ;)

And it was the 2002 Spec that had all the issues. Same with the 2003 MSP I hope.

Well what issues? :D

AND why you hoping for issues?:mad:

[rodslinger]

I wasn't hoping for issues to be there. I meant to say that I hoped the existing issues would ONLY be on the 2003 and that they would get rid of the clunk and fix the stumbles for the next run.

[Daemos]

Originally posted by Yellospeed
Haven't heard any complainst regarding 2003's?

Whoa... I was browsing b15sentra.net for a while.. and there's plenty o whining there..

Letsee.... Paint chips, leaking trunk, misalligned panels, mismatched paint, foam barf...

That being said.. if you already bought it... you mght as well stick w/ it.. nice cars come and go..... you might as well save your money from swapping to the MSP ... and buy something even nicer next time...

Those are the minority...all you ever do is hear about problems.

99% of the 2003s have no problems...the leaking trunk issue, is a 2002 issue, paint...it's always been an issue...misalligned panels...that's a new one...foam barf...heh that one is a funny one...it's from the heating vents...but that's not really a problem since it solves the problem of uneven flow of air when heat is on.

I haven't heard too much about the mismatched paint though...that's a first...unless if you're talking like the hood to the bumper...Bumper is plastic, hood is metal...paint will reflect diffrently off both, since they are diffrent materials.

[Daemos]

Originally posted by 1st MP3 in NH
Just get teh WRX, it can be bumped up to the STIs power for the price gap, not warrentied of coarse but it can be done.

I want the 6 speed manual, the nicer interior, and the cool guages ;)

and just the prevliage saying that "I own an STi" heh....but again...the price tag scared me away...I COULD trade in my spec for a WRX no problems right now...but that's not what I want :p

[1sty]

But it would be hella cool to mod up a regular WRX and take donw an STI.

Thats right, I brought out the hella!
(rofl)

[funnylittlman]

Originally posted by rodslinger
I wasn't hoping for issues to be there. I meant to say that I hoped the existing issues would ONLY be on the 2003 and that they would get rid of the clunk and fix the stumbles for the next run.

Oh ok :D

Gotcha