mp3 vs MSP reliability

[bud_d]

Hey,

I might be upgrading my mp3 to a spicy msp, any major reliability differences? I really don't see any being the only big diff is the turbo....
thoughts?

[daedalus]

ummm wow. depends. do you like vegas? I would have to venture an educated guess that the msp is much less reliable than the mp3. The turbo makes all the difference. Now a lot of people have had a lot of luck, and a lot of people have gone boom. NA engines will be more reliable b/c there is less crap to go wrong. Turbo's tend to have more that go wrong b/c there is (1) more crap in the engine, (2) more forces on the engine, (3) the uncanny tendency to boost the crap out of your car.

this is just my opinion, but i think the mp3 would be more reliable. No boost leaks, turbo failure, egr valves, turkey, piston ring failure, rod snapping, clutch burning... you get the idea.

[mspdfreak]

No, if it hasn't been modded you should be fine. BUT, if the boost has been upped and beaten on, you're screwed. The main thing is buying from someone who takes care of their vehicles. Look for paperwork for everything done to the car. Even oil changes...it shows the previous owner was responsible.

[Mallard]

You're bound to lose money switching cars like that. Why not build your engine and turbo it for less money and feel confident that it will hold together?

[bud_d]

boosting is an idea, im also looking at a black '02 Si...opinions?

[RyanJayG]

'02 si? eeeew.... '00 maybe

[rocketspeed]

Why not sell your MP3 and get a faster rig than either the MSP or the Si?

Or, if you're on a limited budget, consider a new Nissan Spec V. Base ones go for about $14.5k out the door these days spankin' new. You'll get a better interest rate on the loan on a new car. The handling of the Spec will be close to the MP3 (doesn't take a lot of work to get it up to par, either) and it'll be a lot faster. They're fairly reliable- its no Honda Accord, but its better than average.

[bud_d]

eh, spec V is outta my price range, the base Sentra's start low, but the spec v's are 18+

Ryan, the si is not super attractive, agreed, but it's black, and if you tint the windows dark, and throw some rims on her, it drasticly improves the looks. And obviously from a reliability standpoint honda's rock.

[Wha'Happened]

true Honda's do rock from several stand points. The styling on the new-gen Si's leave alot to be desired. The 99-00's on the other hand, (cool). As far as your question goes, I would say without a doubt that the MP3 will be much more reliable than an MSP ever will. I mean think about it, what could possibly go wrong on an MP3 that couldnt go wrong on an MSP? Nothing, an MSP is just a MP3 with more stuff attached to it, same basic car, just more parts to mess up. Not just more parts, but less reliable, easier to wear down parts like a turbo. I say turbo the MP3, and this is coming from an MSP owner (blah)

[rocketspeed]

[QUOTE=bud_d]eh, spec V is outta my price range, the base Sentra's start low, but the spec v's are 18+

QUOTE]

Oh contraire, mon ami. They can't give away Specs at the Nissan lot. $2k rebates on them, plus heavy dealer discounts. A base model will run you $14.4k from carsdirect.com and local dealers I've talked to here in MA will beat even that price by a few hundred. Thinking about replacing my SVT Focus with one- the resale on the MSP is too crappy to trade it. Not that the SVT resale is better, but I've owned it longer so the loan isn't so large anymore.

http://www.carsdirect.com/build/options?zipcode=01886&acode=USB40NIC061E0&restore=false

You won't get a used MSP for much less.