New MSP Owner - Questions - WARNING: Newbie alert!

[brianseto]

Hi all

Bought a Black MSP last week, and so far I love the car. WRX was my second choice, but the WRX is more $$$, and doesn't look NEARLY as nice as the MSP does. (even though that functional hood scoop DOES rock).

I did have a couple of questions (and excuse my ignorance...this is my first semi-performance car):

First of all, did I get screwed on the price? The dealer told me that I could have gotten an '03.5 for invoice if I wanted to, but the '03 was a limited production, so he wasn't going to let it go for less than 20K. I ended up buying the thing (I DID also get the 1500 rebate, so that was cool) because while the black is pretty plain, it's also pretty classy looking. Kinda looks like a small IS300. The question I have is has anyone gotten an '03 for invoice? Plus the rebate?

Also, re: the throttle hesitation problem that ihas become so infamous...Is it a consistent problem? My car seems to do it , but only sporadically. Thoughts?

Lastly, after driving the car, while it's idling or after the ignition is turned off, a) There are some funny metallic pings coming from the engine compartment. Is this the turbo or the engine cooling down or something? is this normal? B) There's this funky smell coming from the car while it's cooling down...I know it's not oil, gas, or coolant...is it maybe a product of the exhaust?

Anyway, thanks in advance. I'm sure i'll be asking many more questions in the future.

Regards
Brian

[jonnydoe48]

the smell is either a coolant leak or exhaust. i smell it. it smells like pee to me.


is 20 your price with the rebate? and is that with tax? if so what is the tax rate of your state?

[brianseto]

Yeah, come to think of it, it DOES smell like pee. I know what burning coolant smells like though (my old Subaru GL-10 sprung a coolant leak from the turbo)

No, I paid 18.5K after the rebate. 20K before the rebate.

Oh, and are the pinging sounds normal?

Regards,
Brian

[jonnydoe48]

i dunno about the pinging sounds, havent noticed those myself. check with others.

heh i payed 18568 for my black..but that was without rebate.

[girth]

For most people the hesitation is sporadic -- depends how you drive but I can feel it a few times every time I drive the car.

The smell is somewhat common - I have it too and it smells like urine. Basically I agree with Johnny on that one -- I think it's coolant for what it's worth.

The "pings" as the engine cools down is normal. Every car does it to some extent but the MSP does it a LOT. Don't worry about it.

As far as price, you paid "plenty" considering they're not selling all that great right now, but overall you still got a great deal compared to most of us at the boards - most of us paid sticker, period. Be happy with what you paid IMO.

[brianseto]

Dang, congrats. You got a good deal.

Wait a minute...you didn't get the rebate....

I guess it all nets to the same thing. *grin*

[1sty]

Just to keep it straight both cars are limited production however not enough to price gouge for it as there are more coming out.
Also the dealers up here are still marking them to 22K and up so you did well. Some have done better but you got the car you wanted at the price you wanted to pay and thats all that counts.

The hesitation is a blindingly obvious problem, if you have it you will know it. Look in this thread for my description of the hesitation. http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24512

I have never heard your complaint about the metal sounds before, this concern me and may be worth having the dealer look at.


(hi) welcome to the board and congradulations on the new car.

[brianseto]

Anyway, thanks for the welcome and the advice, guys... maybe someone else has had this problem as well (the pinging..)

Ah, how wonderful the Information Age is.

Regards,
Brian

[dominoy2k1]

well i get a clicking sound sometimes, so does my moms lx....

[girth]

Trust me, that pinging and clicks as she cools down is normal. Usually it's coming from the exhaust as the metal cools - she gets mighty hot - just try touching your exhaust tip for 1 micro-second and you'll have a 3rd degree burn -- damn thing sticks out far enough that I burnt my leg as I was getting junk out of the trunk. Every car I've ever seen makes those noises as it cools.

[DiscreetSpeed]

that ping sound is from our turbo, let the car idle for a bit after you run it rough so the oil in the turb can finish recirculating, otherwise whats left there will eventually harden up and possibly shortening the turbos life, get a turbo timer as one of your first mods to prolong its life. just my .02

[Dexter]

its not just from the turbo, the entire exhaust system is cooling down. it does this on mine, and my moms ES.

re: the smell. im pretty sure its not coolant, mine had the smell for about 1,000 miles then it just went away. im pretty sure its the oils on the fresh parts on the car getting worked in. if someone could confirm this for me, it would be great, cuz id like to add this question to the FAQ

[nmaino]

The ping is the coolong of the exhaust and cats plus thousands of little other metal bits that are cooling off.

Sorry boys, but radiator fluid does not smell like pee. It is a very sweat smell (maybe you think pee smells "sweat"), you might have something else that is burning off.

[mooS mooS]

the Smell according to the TSB is Sulfur in your Gas interacting with the Catalytic converter ... the smell will supposedly go away after a while, when your Cat is " Seasoned" ... *shrug*

[ping]

If it smells like a sort of burning tar/urea smell that's the undercoating that was on 'em when they were imported - it's no big deal, should go away in 1000-1500 miles. Itf it smells like coolant (sweet burning) check the coolant line to the turbo, may have a small leak. Also no biggie, get to the dealer and have it fixed.

Hesitation is sporadic, seems worse when warm and a/c on.

Pinging normal as above. Also as noted, careful of that exhaust tip after a long run. Cooling down a turbo car is very important, take it easy those last 1-2 miles home (which is also good for neighborly relations...) or idle a minute or two when you return.

You got a very decent deal. And you'll warm to the black, just clean and wax it then look at it in sunlight to notice the multicolor blue mica flakes/sparkles... mmm...

Oh - and welcome!

[KyRaceFan]

congrats on the new car. Remember to take it easy on her for 600 miles or so(recommended break in), to keep it on for 30 seconds at idle to cool the turbo.

My car also has the faintly sweet smell, and my friends have noticed it.. it seems to be going away with more mileage.

Hope you enjoy it as much as im enjoying mine!

[unwound]

Originally posted by nmaino
The ping is the coolong of the exhaust and cats plus thousands of little other metal bits that are cooling off.

what he said. it is perfectly normal and it is mainly from the cats.
as for the smell, i never noticed it on mine.

[Limited Edition]

That smell is completely normal.
i remember smelling that the day i drove her home and parked it in the garage...it was a big smell.
But i knew it was just because everything was soo damn new, the motor had never been driven to 3000rpm or anything like that.
The pinging noise, i still get 'til this day after 8000km on my car. I get it on hot days after city driving. You don't need to drive the car hard in anyway to get that noise. It will ping louder after a highway drive or hard driven.

Everything you hear is normal.

Plus, i think you're the only one who mentioned that our cars remind me of a IS300 is many ways. It's just a fraction of the cost w/o the luxuries.

[jonnydoe48]

yeah, you will notice with each mile the smell gets less and less..unless you put your nose to the exhaust or something

[Smokedya]

I got my MSP in October last year when i came back from the desert. First the rear valance started coming off cause of the loose exaust issue. Then I got the coolant leak . It turns out my leak was worst of all. the main coolant line from the radiator to the engine leaked all my coolant in 1 day and a half. Dealer replaced with the old school clamps and it has been fine ever since.

Silver 2003.5 MSP
Mods:
cat back custom 2 1/2 piping to R&D mufflerhttp://www.msprotege.com/members/Smokedya/picture%20014.mpg
Greddy Turbo timer
Injen Race Divison CAI
NGK Plugs and Wires
Grounding Kit (blue)
interior neon custom

[Tri-C]

brianseto, it sounds as though you paid $18,500 after the rebate - is that correct?
There should be no price difference between an '03 and an 03.5 (except that the former stickered for $500 less than the latter). Any dealer who claims one is limited production and the other is not, is just blowing smoke.

I realize rebates may have changed since I bought my silver MSP on January 3 for $16,074 but, yes, it does sound as though you paid too much.

[brianmcd]

This thread is from july.....

[SpeedMcheen]

I found the '03.5 to be slightly more expensive than the '03. But I made off with an '03.5 for $18,900 out the door. With $2500 cash rebate, tax, delivery charge, etc. And I think I could've done better had I been more of a hard-ass.