Evo owner and MS Protege [Archive]

fly2low

12-31-2003, 06:35 AM

Greetings all,

I am an Evo owner and I am looking to purchase an MS Protege. No, I do love my Evo and NOT planning to sell it :D . In fact, I love it too much that I've driven the car for 3700 miles for the past 5 weeks.

I am getting too attached to my Evo and planning to get another car that I can use for daily driving. Knowing myself, I know that I can't just buy an econobox for that purpose.

I test drove an SVT Focus, what a :bs:. slow, no rear seats and trunk.

No Neon. Especially with $5-7k mark up in Southern California area.

The choice comes to MS Protege, naturally.:p. This car is an excellent car on the paper plus I can get a very good deal.

However, the "hesitation" problem somewhat scares me now.

1) I am under the impression that Mazda still can't fix this problem. However, it is possible that only the owners that still have this problem is posting here. A representative bias error.

2) I am under the impression that the "hesitation" problem is more severe in places with drastic changes in the climate. I need some feedback from Southern California owners regarding this issue.

I understand that this issue has been discussed frequently. However, I am trying to narrow it to a specific geographical location/climate. Please pardon me.

In addition, I need to make a purchase decision by Saturday, Jan 3.

Should I buy the MS Protege or should I keep shopping?

These 2 cars will be completely stock.

Thanks in advance!

PS: If you have to ask me why I bought the Evo instead of the STi, then I have to ask you why you bought the MS Protege instead of the Neon SRT-4 ;)

jonnydoe48

12-31-2003, 06:38 AM

the hesistation is fixed. mazda fixed it through a flash that advances the timing i believe.

the hesistation shouldnt really bother you in SC (im from northern california). After i was flashed, i really cant feel it anymore.

i love my car. alot of people dont, however. just gather a few opinions before you make your decision. good luck =)

fly2low

12-31-2003, 06:40 AM

Thanks for the response. However, some people on this forum seem to experience the hesitation after the flash. That's my concern. I am going to put A LOT of miles on the car.

jflo

12-31-2003, 06:40 AM

omg...if u're worried about the hesitation, get a boost controller set @ 8-10 psi and u'll bet set...oh yeah, since u're in cali...join MOCC !!! www.moccforums.com ...bring that bad EVO down to the meets ! it'd be nice to see one in person for once...while it's standing still bahh

yes i knoe u want to keep it stock, but come on...a lil' boost controller ain't so bad right ? :D

shaolin

12-31-2003, 06:43 AM

I live in Vegas. Never had a hesitation problem, however I felt a surge, or loss of power midrange. No bucking, and not a real hesitation per se. Got it flashed, and have felt a smoother power delivery throughout the powerband. I recommend the car, but beware the clunk, and don't mess with boost, unless you plan on engine management, fuel management, forged internals, and everything else that goes along with an upraded turbo setup.

fly2low

12-31-2003, 06:44 AM

jflo,

Did you have a hesitation problem at all?

mp5jeff

12-31-2003, 06:45 AM

acctualy a little boost controller IS bad, look at how many blown engines there have been because people turn the boost up to 10-12 psi, no it wont hurt your engine intially most likely but after TIME it will fuck shit up as we have seen...

ForceFed

12-31-2003, 06:48 AM

Well the hesitation should not be your only concern.
I think that there is other underlying problems surfacing with the car and mazdas tuning of it.
My car is not flashed nor do i plan on doing it.If you run the boost up to around 8-10 then it helps a little but the hesitation is still there.
I love the looks of the car and all the goodies it comes with but the headaches it gives me daily are not worth it in my opinion.
If I had to buy the car again ,I WOULDN"T!
I got one real early and had to pay sticker though.
This car gives me more trouble than any mustang I ever owned and I had quite a few modded.I worked on those cars almost daily but they were not NEW!
Hell,the dealer wasn't letting anyone test drive the cars when i bought it!I had to buy from spec sheets alone!NO TEST DRIVE!
I will never do that again!
I am actually meeting a guy at the suburu dealer today to look at a WRX.
I don't know what may happen today but the the new year may bring a new car!:D

shaolin

12-31-2003, 06:50 AM

Well hopefully you get what you want. I haven't experienced any problems as of yet. Knock on wood...just got the flash to smooth out the powerband...

fly2low

12-31-2003, 06:53 AM

ForceFed,

I am sorry for what's happening. I lived in Central Ohio and I know how the dealers there behave when they have a special car.

Your concern is exactly my concern. I don't want to have a daily driver that gives me a headache more than my weekend car. I dont want to end up with a 4 dr Lotus :D.

Yet, I don't want to end up with 2 Lancers in my garage (Ralliart?).

jflo

12-31-2003, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by fly2low
jflo,

Did you have a hesitation problem at all?

actually, no because my car came flashed already...yeah...

jflo

12-31-2003, 06:57 AM

maybe u'll be as lucky as i am and have a problem free (performance wise- my sub is still cut out and stuff...) car. it's been pretty good to me so far. i missed it the past 3 days while it was at the dealer...hehe

ForceFed

12-31-2003, 07:00 AM

the car is more of a nuisence than a true problem.It is all the little things that go wrong all the time.You would think mazda would put a little more time and research into a car of this caliber.This was supposed to be the beginning of great thing for the Mazdaspeed nameplate here in the states.I think the name may be tainted for all future Mazdaspeed projects from mazda.That or maybe we woke them up and they will pull their head outta their ass and make sure these "SPECIAL" cars are fuckin right when they hit the showroom floor next time.Only time will tell.
Lets see what the Mazdaspeed Miata brings to the table.I hope they start getting it right as I would love to see the RX-8 in mazdaspeed trim as it woud more than likely be on bad ass car if they decide to bring back the BOOST!
Matt

ForceFed

12-31-2003, 07:05 AM

Originally posted by ForceFed
the car is more of a nuisence than a true problem.

With the damn exception that i am on motor and turbo numbering 2!
Hmmppfff!!!
Matt

mp5jeff

12-31-2003, 07:05 AM

lol

mspdfreak

12-31-2003, 07:43 AM

Just my humblr opinion, but I believe you will love the MSP. I've had none of these problems others have discussed here, but then I don't race it and haven't made any mods. I think with resposible driving and proper maintenance, you will be more than satisfied with this car. Besides, if you feel the need for speed, you've got the EVO to turn to. In any case, good luck with your decision. (Oh, and mileage is terrific. I got 36mpg highway on a recent roadtrip, and if I don't get on the turbo too hard, I still get around 25mpg city.)

fly2low

12-31-2003, 07:59 AM

20 mpg has been the best so far. That's for my trip to Santa Barbara & Solvang.

The combination of the turbo, AWD, and short gearing doesn't really help the mpg. Driving in LA is either a jam or above 3500 rpm :).

With the turbocharge engine, I won't let the tank has less than 1/4. So, it means a refill every 190 miles.

Just for your entertainment, I will list the things that I dislike from the Evo:
1) Gas consumption as described above (but who cares).
2) Wind noise.
3) Huge turning radius, U-turn is a disaster.
4) 150 Watts stereo? I envy you guys.

What I like:
1) Power and handling are no worse (if not better) than a Lotus Esprit S4 :).
2) Weather versatility. The car still sticks to the asphalt in rainy days. Rear wiper is a plus.
3) Adjustable headlight :). Intercooler spray.
4) Recaro seat is fantastic. The ride on this car IS NOT too stiff. It's getting better at high speed. I hate cushy seats, though. So don't count my opinion.

shaolin

12-31-2003, 08:52 AM

Wow. I got thumbs up from an EVO driver last night. I was just like "what?" He didn't pounce me like I thought he would?

Autox MSP

12-31-2003, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by fly2low

PS: If you have to ask me why I bought the Evo instead of the STi, then I have to ask you why you bought the MS Protege instead of the Neon SRT-4 ;)

From my experience working on DSMs, Mitsubshis will fall apart and electronics fail, while subarus are reliable as hondas. There is a reason why mitsubishi has to give heavy incentives and no payments for a year.

I'm sure the Evo is a better built car but i'd be afrid to buy one with out a extended warrenty. I drove a used evo with 6k miles on it and had a horribly loud drivetrain whine while another one on the lot didn't.

In many UK mags, the Spec C STi always beat out the EVO. The suspension can easily be changed in the usdm evo to handle just as well, us versions are dialed in with understeer so stupid drivers don't spin out.

03MSPRO

12-31-2003, 09:41 AM

I'll sell mine for $14k. It has only 4500 miles since I have a company vehicle. It already has Thermal exhaust, boost gauge, turbo timer, Optima battery. I never increased the boost or installed a boost controller (Mazda read this).

Maniac0301

12-31-2003, 10:01 AM

I've had my car for 2 weeks now and for what its worth I love it. Have had no issues whatsoever and no hesitation at all. I drive alot of miles and the odo is sitting at 1300. For the price you can get the MSP I don't think there is a finer car available. BTW don't discount the SRT if you can get one at sticker I would seriously consider it I just couldnt afford the extra 6k over what I bought my MSP for.

rocketspeed

12-31-2003, 10:07 AM

I've had no trouble with hesitation and I wouldn't worry about it for a second.

The MSP is actually relatively trouble free so far, IMHO. There are a couple of common problems, but they are minor (ie. the flash, replacing the rear sway bushings).

Most of the people around here that have had disasterous failures have been upping their boost.

There have been a couple of people who have had random problems with cars that haven't been modded, but that's inevitable with any type of car.

This applies to anyone that thinks the MSP has problems- please, please, please check vwvortex.com, focaljet.com's SVT section, b15sentra.net's spec v section or the website for any competitive car. Even the Civic Si has problems, which has to be frustrating since they bought a Honda and on top of that, the car is slow!

The Spec V's all have crunchy gearboxes. Those motors are N/A, but they chew through them like there's no tomorrow over there. The motors that don't blow, have major oil consumption issues.

The SVT Focus's clutches tend to fail prematurely, if they don't break loose and exit the transmission housing first (I'm not kidding, check focaljet.com, this is common). They have had not one, but FIVE flashes for the SVT Focus, and they still haven't gotten it right. The RPM's don't drop between shifts, there's surging in the midrange, revving engines when started cold and more. The dual stage intake cables on the SVT break. They released a revised part, it breaks too. People have been through this 2, 3, 4 times often. The heat shield for the cat falls off, but before it does, it vibrates like mad.

The VW's have failing ignition coils that leave you stranded or limping home, faulty window regulators that break and leave you with your window down and unable to close it. Bad transmissions are common. Fearsome electrical gremlins.

People like to run their mouths when their car breaks- and I don't blame them, it pisses me off too. You get a slanted view around any of these boards, however, as everyone uses them to gripe.

As for the SVT Focus being slow, its only a couple 10ths slower than the MSP either 0-60 or 1/4 mi and the handling is just about the same. The high revving motor is fun, the 6 speed transmission is slick (and much quieter on the highway) and the SVT is overall an easier car to drive because it has smoother power delivery and way less torque steer.

The downsides to that car- you're right about less room (although its offset by the added utility of a hatch), plus weak low end power. And reliability is questionable.

I own and love both.

CHICO2003

12-31-2003, 10:22 AM

Originally posted by fly2low

PS: If you have to ask me why I bought the Evo instead of the STi, then I have to ask you why you bought the MS Protege instead of the Neon SRT-4 ;) [/B]

Definitely wasn't going to ask you this... since I feel the Evo is a better car in every possible way. However, I don't understand your logic. You mentioned you weren't considering the "Neon" (which I must assume is the SRT-4) since there's a 5-7k markup. (which is INSANE!! to think someoone would buy one for $27 grand is just idiotic!!) Anyway, as you know, an MSP can be had for as low as $15k or so. That's a 10k+ difference!! Assuming we MSP owners actually LIKE the Neon, that definitely puts it in a higher price range and thus, out of reach for a lot of us. In contrast, the Evo and Sti are roughly the same price.

Anyway, enough about that crap! Don't worry about the hesitation or anything really since they can be fixed. There is NO car in this price range ($15-17 or so... depending on certain factors) that can even come close to the MSP!! so... GET ONE!!! :D ... then come back and tell us how your Evo sucks in comparrison! LOL j/k

ThrillRide

12-31-2003, 10:49 AM

fly2low if your not planning on tunning the car you will be just fine. i don't know if anyone has said this yet but most of the cars at the dealerships should have been flashed now. either way you will be fine if it is a daily driver. if you up the boost don't flash the car! just IMO.....but check with others too. i had mine flashed and the hesitation has come back. had it flashed (supposedly) at around 2k and now have almost 9k. but none of that matters if you are not going to tune it. you will have clunk issues (search) you will have a coolant leak (search) and maybe a few other hickups. however most new cars have their little hickups.
hope that helps. just search around a lot. you will find many differing opinions! choose wisly.

GUNNAR

12-31-2003, 10:55 AM

Hi, I have an EVO and MSP. The MSP is a great car. I can haul my kids in it and it handles great. It has a more comfortable ride for everyday use.

I think you can't go wrong with the MSP!

Mark94

12-31-2003, 11:07 AM

I had one problem with my previous speed and none so far with this speed. My previous speed had the coolant leak and that was fixed due to a faulty flange.

Neither had bad hesitation, but what I did feel (which wasn't much) was fixed by the reflash. Both had the cluck in the rear (nothing in the front) but that seems to be fixed so far by the new e-series bushings.

No major problems so far and I love the car. I still love my Prelude more but the speed is turning out to be a nice daily driver for me.

Mark

murph1379

12-31-2003, 11:10 AM

Wow, the MSP is more comfortable? That must be one stiff car! I've ridden in an STi, but it was only a couple blocks, and I was more worried about whether the driver was going to kill me than whether the ride was forgiving. =]

murph1379

12-31-2003, 11:16 AM

Originally posted by Mark94
I still love my Prelude more but the speed is turning out to be a nice daily driver for me.

I'm surprised you like the lude more, why do you like it more than the speed? Speed seems to have it in every category, though I know the honda will prolly hold together longer...

I have a civic now, and I love the Integra GSR, but it's getting a bit old now, and the MSP has all the things I liked about the Integra, as well as a better sound system. I've heard people say the speed will replace the Integra Type R as the autox king. What do you think?

Novot

12-31-2003, 11:28 AM

I'm a big fan of the MSP -- I don't know what all the problems are everyone alludes to. This is my 7th car and the MSP is by far the best I've owned. Problems I've had: windshield cracked (which mazda replaced under warranty), radio broke x2, also replaced under warranty. That's it after a year. The ECU was flashed by the dealer this summer, so the hesitation is gone. I get great gas mileage (I average 30 mpg -- although I don't drive in the "city" much -- I get 33-35 mpg on the highway) and have fun driving it when I can get behind the wheel (my wife uses it for her daily driver and loves it -- I get to drive the 12 year old miata). Go test drive one, you'll like it I think. It's not an EVO, but it isn't supposed to be, either! BTW: I kept mine stock and haven't tickered with it at all.

GUNNAR

12-31-2003, 11:32 AM

Originally posted by murph1379
Wow, the MSP is more comfortable? That must be one stiff car! I've ridden in an STi, but it was only a couple blocks, and I was more worried about whether the driver was going to kill me than whether the ride was forgiving. =]

Yes, the EVO is very stiff for a factory car, from what I read alot stiffer than a STI. I had 03 WRX and you can't even compare the two. The steering is so fast, thank God for the recaro seats. It is also hard not to drive the EVO fast.

I have autocross the MSP and it handles great, it is also a stiff car but not a stiff as an EVO. They are both great cars!

perfworks

12-31-2003, 12:35 PM

Fly,
Welcome to the board. Have any pics of your EVO?

yashooa

12-31-2003, 12:38 PM

Originally posted by fly2low
Thanks for the response. However, some people on this forum seem to experience the hesitation after the flash. That's my concern. I am going to put A LOT of miles on the car.

My car dreams like a FUCKING dream and I put over 100 miles a day on it at 10-12PSI with good milage to boot. I never really had the hesitation to a large degree I only had a pulse which is all gone now.

yashooa

12-31-2003, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by mspdfreak
Just my humblr opinion, but I believe you will love the MSP. I've had none of these problems others have discussed here, but then I don't race it and haven't made any mods. I think with resposible driving and proper maintenance, you will be more than satisfied with this car. Besides, if you feel the need for speed, you've got the EVO to turn to. In any case, good luck with your decision. (Oh, and mileage is terrific. I got 36mpg highway on a recent roadtrip, and if I don't get on the turbo too hard, I still get around 25mpg city.)

36MPG here as well...WOOHOO a fellow mileage bragart to hang with! :p

Mark94

12-31-2003, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by murph1379
I'm surprised you like the lude more, why do you like it more than the speed? Speed seems to have it in every category, though I know the honda will prolly hold together longer...

I have a civic now, and I love the Integra GSR, but it's getting a bit old now, and the MSP has all the things I liked about the Integra, as well as a better sound system. I've heard people say the speed will replace the Integra Type R as the autox king. What do you think?

I love my Prelude more because it was my first labor of love and everything about it appeals to me. My Prelude is better in every category (in my opinion at least) than the MSP. Granted my Prelude is not stock, but it handles better, is definitely quicker and I think it looks better.

I'm not taking anything away from the MSP though. You may say well the Prelude is not stock so of course it may handle better or be quicker but the MSP technically is not factory stock either. All these parts are not Mazda parts and most were not installed from the factory so that is my basis.

Also, the Prelude has never given me a problem at all. Just basic maintenance. And for a 10 year old car people can't believe that it is not a new car. I think its styling and interior are great and was ahead of its time.

Again this is also my opinion, but I also love the Protege (why would I have bought two of them if I didn't think they were worth it). I enjoy driving the Protege but the Prelude just holds a special place in my heart and I have a totally different feeling when driving it. I know it's not a ferrari but I sure feel like I'm driving one when I'm behind the wheel of the Prelude. I think that feeling comes from the stance of the Prelude. It sits so low and the driver also sits low in the seat. Compare this to the Protege and I feel like I'm in an SUV. The seats in the Pro are so high and the damn roof line of the Pro is one of my big gripes. I have about a foot of space between the top of my head and the headliner.

I have ordered some performance parts for the Protege so the Prelude my not be quicker for long... time will tell.

Here are a few pics of why I LOVE my Prelude.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid33/p2df31a5a9ce26d8d2f017f4c05946a96/fd3e46a1.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p117d0098e13688e6f9f910261b8171c1/fc35989d.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p092963eed28391c01f608bbf274d15d8/fc3598a8.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p9234c2feeeac1cc88d775bf46695c185/fc359572.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid96/p845f605e2f166f6d39f53f190c382a48/fa207284.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid96/p7cebf474edc95ade6831aa6a5ce510af/fa207278.jpg

Here's that high roof line I was talking about (Previous Speed)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid47/pfb750c3e1b8f244c8d4f78d22e4d03f2/fcc8dd2c.jpg

Mark

yashooa

12-31-2003, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by GUNNAR
Hi, I have an EVO and MSP. The MSP is a great car. I can haul my kids in it and it handles great. It has a more comfortable ride for everyday use.

I think you can't go wrong with the MSP!
Agreed! It's sporty run about with some minor tuning potential, great looks, great handling, good milage and a ridiculously low price point. It is a very fine little automobile. There has only been one manufacturer defect failure (that I know of) so far. All told there has only been about 5 motor failures on this board counting the defective motor so all in all not a bad record considering several thousand 03-03.5's have been made. Not that every owner is on here.
It is not made as an edurance racer to be ran at WOT up and down the gears at MAX boost for week on end. If you drive it right even with a touch of boost and some minor mods it will last a long while stock it should last until you drive it off a cliff for the insurance payoff :p That was a joke :D

yashooa

12-31-2003, 01:00 PM

Mark94 that is a nice looking driveway:D
I really like that yr of Prelude and yours is done tastefully.

GotRice?

12-31-2003, 01:02 PM

For a daily driver, get an '04 VW TDI. With 174 lb-ft of torque, it's a step up from the old motors. You can easily get 40+ mpg, a good ride, and over 40 standard features (just stop in...). But seriously, check one out. With the new diesel regs, my next car will probably be a TDI.

They can be chipped to get over 200 lb-ft out of em. Check out tdiclub.com for upgrade info.

Peas, out.

yashooa

12-31-2003, 01:04 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mark94
[B]I love my Prelude more because it was my first labor of love and everything about it appeals to me. My Prelude is better in every category (in my opinion at least) than the MSP. Granted my Prelude is not stock, but it handles better, is definitely quicker and I think it looks better.

I'm not taking anything away from the MSP though. You may say well the Prelude is not stock so of course it may handle better or be quicker but the MSP technically is not factory stock either. All these parts are not Mazda parts and most were not installed from the factory so that is my basis.

Also, the Prelude has never given me a problem at all. Just basic maintenance. And for a 10 year old car people can't believe that it is not a new car. I think its styling and interior are great and was ahead of its time.

Again this is also my opinion, but I also love the Protege (why would I have bought two of them if I didn't think they were worth it). I enjoy driving the Protege but the Prelude just holds a special place in my heart and I have a totally different feeling when driving it. I know it's not a ferrari but I sure feel like I'm driving one when I'm behind the wheel of the Prelude. I think that feeling comes from the stance of the Prelude. It sits so low and the driver also sits low in the seat. Compare this to the Protege and I feel like I'm in an SUV. The seats in the Pro are so high and the damn roof line of the Pro is one of my big gripes. I have about a foot of space between the top of my head and the headliner.

I have ordered some performance parts for the Protege so the Prelude my not be quicker for long... time will tell.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mark94

That roof line is why so many tall guys like the car like AGR and House they are 6'5'' and 6'7''.

murph1379

12-31-2003, 01:10 PM

Mark - you're lude's in great shape! (and tastefully modded) That generation of prelude was the only one I liked, and alas, they just don't make cars like that anymore.

I wish those integras didn't have such high resale value, if I coulda made one work financially I'd have bought one.

Ahh well, the MSP will be good, and will probably net less tickets. =]

fly2low

12-31-2003, 04:06 PM

The Evo is not a DSM car. It is made in the Mitsubishi factory in Japan. My sticker also says 100% of parts content from Japan. :)

The logic behind my "no Neon" policy is indeed the mark up. at 27k it is approaching the Evo territory. It doesn't make sense financially. With the current pricing of the MSP, it is almost impossible to resist it :).

Gunnar: I would love to hear more comparissons on both cars.

Thanks

Mark94

12-31-2003, 04:30 PM

I don't think that you will regret the MSP purchase. If you can manage to fight off the modding bug then I'm sure it will provide you with many trouble free years. I don't know how much others drive or how much abuse they put their cars through, but I haven't had anything Major go wrong with the MSP. I baby the car and even though I have two modded cars, I don't do it to be faster than the next guy. I do it because I love to work on cars and it gets me out of the house :) I always shift around 3000 in both cars and have had great luck with both so far.

The MSP is a great daily commuter with decent performance and some extras to make your trip more enjoyable.

Mark

shaolin

12-31-2003, 06:36 PM

Okay, if you do plan on buying the car, hold off on turning up the boost. You'd see some pretty nice gains by just turning the car back into what it's original concept was. What I mean by that is, don't play with the boost, and get a FMIC with hardpipes, an intake and a free flowing exhaust. I promise that will give you enough gains to put a big grin on your face.

Wait for more advancements with the ECU tuning, namely engine and fuel management, and get forged internals (just to be on the safe side) before you mess with the stock boost settings.

Quik89Si

12-31-2003, 09:02 PM

Originally posted by shaolin
Okay, if you do plan on buying the car, hold off on turning up the boost. You'd see some pretty nice gains by just turning the car back into what it's original concept was. What I mean by that is, don't play with the boost, and get a FMIC with hardpipes, an intake and a free flowing exhaust. I promise that will give you enough gains to put a big grin on your face.

My thoughts exactly!!

Alex

MSP Pro

12-31-2003, 09:36 PM

It's just about New Year's and Mazda is kicking all the 2003s out the door with the factory to dealer rebates. I think that if fly2low doesn't get off the dime and buy one soon, then there aren't going to be any left! At $15k new, you aren't going to lose much money if you really don't like the MSP....

I bought mine last January for MSRP and I STILL LOVE MY MAZDASPEED! :cool:

dbacksfan

01-01-2004, 12:06 AM

I live in Phoenix so the climate is similar to Southern Cal. The flash seems to have fixed my problem with the hesitation. The car is extremely fun to drive. I bought it back in June and I still love it. Since you own an EVO I don't think you could pick a better daily driver than the MSP. Anything else just wouldn't be satisfying.

monkeymsp

01-01-2004, 08:31 AM

Originally posted by yashooa
36MPG here as well...WOOHOO a fellow mileage bragart to hang with! :p

36!?! and 33?? I get like 24-26 all highway ~80miles/day. You must be driving like wussies to get milage like that!! ;)

GUNNAR

01-01-2004, 10:32 AM

Since we are on the subject, here is an cool Vid at this Link, Click on the EVO.avi.

http://extremegnome.com/vids/

spacemonkey

01-01-2004, 11:56 AM

I bought my car as a daily driver and loving it. I also sometimes do delivery in it if im not in my bros golf. I personally haven't had any problem with it...2nd months and 4,000 miles

Definately not a striahgt line car...not all that powerful. But you can't beat the handeling for FWD. The ride is a bit stiff becasue of the suspension...its a great autocrossing car.

My car was already flashed fromt he dealer. So no Hesitation. I live in Orlando so I suspect we have similar weather.

The clunk can be annoying but its only a problem in cold weather. I didn't notice it till this winter. The dealer is suppose to have a fix for it.

I haven't had any coolant leaks....thats probally the only other problem you have to worry about. The dealer will replace that.

As for daily driving...I had a friend who drove to Nopi and back...and drove all over Florida without a problem.

I say its a fun car to drive and if you can get it for $16-17K...its a steal! Comes with alot of cool stuff. Test drive on cuz thats what metters most. Best wishes on your choice.

Edit: Im getting pretty good milage on my car too...22-25mpg in the city and atleast 30 on the highway, I guess I'm a conservative driver...never going pass 3000-3500 rpm if possible. But then again I came from driving gas guzzling V8 Explorer (the X). I can gladly say that I don't feel like my MSP is going to flip or explode.