msp and rx8 owners! need your help

[fc3spower]

Ok so I've owned plenty of cars but found myself stuck on the late 80's rx7 having a few of them but I wanna get a new car and I love mazdas.. My dilemma is what car.. I like the msp but I also love the look of the rx8, plus its a rotary so I'm right at home.. But I'm asking for your hp giving me feedback so I can hopefully make a better decision and investment.. Thanks

[BlueMSProtege]

I have an 03.5 MSP and I love it, so far I have had to replace radiator (fault of previous owner) and the wastegate actuator, I have added a modified short ram intake, modified aftermarket hotpipe, and an upgraded aftermarket bypass valve. I have had to replace the stock headunit and the sway bar bushings. That is all I have replaced at this point. I love driving it, and have learned alot about cars owning it (take that however you want to(its good and bad))

Pros of the msp: great looking car, not a gas guzzler like RX-8, (I get about 400 miles to the tank doing highway and city driving; about 330 city driving only), everyone does not have one, pretty good aftermarket support (except from mazda), can be driven daily, can be driven in snow, fun car, good potential for power if you have the money, nice colors, comfortable interior

Cons of the msp: weak internals, weak welds on lsd, expensive factory replacement parts (most of us replace with aftermarket when possible), if you have the 03.5 you cant get the wing, or front, side, or rear lip from mazda anymore (have to be lucky to find it private seller) lower hp than you would expect, have to replace headunit, finicky car, weak stock side mount intercooler, requires premium gas, swaybar bushings constantly dry out and cannot be regreased, motor mounts wear out frequently

[fc3spower]

Thanks. I've honestly always been in love with the msp but I could never afford it.. Especially insurance..lol. But things finally got better and I've owned mazdas for years now so I wanna stay with mazda. I appreciate your honesty man.. I wish someone would give me some feedback on the rx8.. I'm into the rx cuz I've owned so many 7 so I'm real handy with the rotary engine now. But still can't get over the msp.. I love them in spicy orange.. Haha.. Anyway come on rx8 guys.. Feedback please..

[disstractin_FC]

Buy a 3rd gen

[SpEcRv9]

you should PM flaps720..he has owned both he could give you a good comparison of the 2

[03MSP]

i love my msp besides the oil issue that im having right now

[fc3spower]

Lol call me crazy but I don't really want a 3rd Gen.. And I don't plan on getting a new car to like build it up.. Just a few things here and there.. Still got 2 rx7's to sink my money into lol..

[SvicksTc]

Love my rx8 but lacks tq and power don't get me wrong it starts moving just not until 4k rpm, I love that high redline though the gt suspension an interior package is top notch also it sucks down gas like it's Job is another draw back it handles extremely extremely well and can hold it's own on a circut course

all the options the car comes with are nice

hids
LSD
navi
Bose
6spd
nice comfy leather seats heats of course
etc etc

I love the ride and feel of he rx8 it's like nothing I've ever driven

Alot of ppl daily theirs however I don't with north east weather and like to keep my miles low on the motor

just have to drive both and do yoour research then you will know

sorry I'm on my iPhone if you want more info pm me later

[fc3spower]

Ah yeah. Well that helps a little.. And yeah I want something to daily.. But has some pep.. Gas isn't an issue really.. My rx7 swallows gas and I dailied that for like 2 years haha just trying to find the overall better choice ya know?

[BlueMSProtege]

Originally Posted by fc3spower

Thanks. I've honestly always been in love with the msp but I could never afford it.. Especially insurance..lol. But things finally got better and I've owned mazdas for years now so I wanna stay with mazda. I appreciate your honesty man.. I wish someone would give me some feedback on the rx8.. I'm into the rx cuz I've owned so many 7 so I'm real handy with the rotary engine now. But still can't get over the msp.. I love them in spicy orange.. Haha.. Anyway come on rx8 guys.. Feedback please..

Insurance should not be bad, who do you have? I told my insurance company the car had a turbo and everything but the vin number is listed simply as a four door sedan and that is what my insurance company lists the msp as

[fc3spower]

Well I had state farm and for my 88 rx7 and my 91 galant they beat me for 179.48 a month.. liability!! Just switched to Allstate and I'm paying 54.45 a month for the same and I just got a quote for the rx8 for 104 a month.. On statefarm it was gonna be like 400..just shy of it.. So now the cars I want are in reach lol.

[l337fpc]

Well, I have a high milage rx8 with a handful of mods. I love it. Yes lacks torque...as NA...turbo or SC...now your talking. As far as driving, I can't speak for the MSP, but the rx8 slices turns. The OE suspension is top notch; the only reason I upgraded was because they were aging.

As you know, it drinks oil and showers in gas. The MSP is way better on gas...but you only live once.

Best of luck, being torn between cars is the worst.

[fitftw]

I'm gonna have to ask... why a Miata isn't part of your decision? Way cheaper than an RX8. More fun than a Protege. Lighter than both. Just saying I don't understand why you're ruling it out completely.

[BlueMSProtege]

Originally Posted by l337fpc

Well, I have a high milage rx8 with a handful of mods. I love it. Yes lacks torque...as NA...turbo or SC...now your talking. As far as driving, I can't speak for the MSP, but the rx8 slices turns. The OE suspension is top notch; the only reason I upgraded was because they were aging.

As you know, it drinks oil and showers in gas. The MSP is way better on gas...but you only live once.

Best of luck, being torn between cars is the worst.

I forgot to mention driving, the stock suspension of the msp is top notch as well, the handling is great, body roll is nonexistent and twisties are a blast. Sorry that this probably makes your decision harder now since both cars handle extremely well

[BlueMSProtege]

I finish my semester may 8th, maybe one day we could meet up and I could give you a sample of driving the msp, maybe the rx-8 owner could join us so you could do a test of both?

[Maxxdsix]

If you like 4 door cars, the 6 is a blast to drive, and if you want more power you can get the speed6, but be prepared to be in the shop a decent amount of time, its AWD but mazda ****ed up somewhere cuz the speeds blow up alot, the regular 6 is just awsome

[fc3spower]

well as for the miata.. They are cool little cars but I already have 2 2 seaters don't want another..the 6, I actually don't really like them all that much. I work in a body shop and I've worked on 2 recently and I just didn't like them that much. I feel like its better for me to be torn between 2 cars as opposed to 4 lol that was atleast I can do a better comparison of them and the drives would be sweet man definitely let me know.

[Maxxdsix]

then i say go for the rx-8 because their sexy

[fc3spower]

thats true, but id like to weigh out a bunch of other things before i make a purchase that i may regret ya know? it really sucks haha

[disturbedfan121]

I just picked up an MSP for a dialy, and love it, its roomy, 4drs, mine isn't runnig right and still getting 26-28mpg. once i fix it im sure i'd get like 28-maybe 32 on highway. great for a dd, stock, it handles great tokico struts, racing beat springs, racing beat front and rear sway bars.. and now they're getting cheap, if you look on CL there are a bunch for like 4-8k in good shape with relatively low miles.

if you need a DD Msp is way to go.rx8's are cool but lack of storage sucks...i know, i have the miata still lol.

EDITL also in winter fwd is easier to deal with