VIZZ1

So last night I get my 2003 MSP towed because it is making a god awful sound. To me it sounded as though something was wrong with the exhaust, and there was. I get a call from Mazda this morning saying my downpipe is craked in half and that my turbo is messed up. They say that it is my fault by dropping the clutch in 1st gear yet they are still going to fix it under the warranty. I want to know if anyone else has had any problems similiar or no what is going on. I know how to drive a manual transmission, I get every scheduled check up and change the oil every 2500mi. What is curious to me is that they say it is a problem due to abuse or misuse while driving yet they are fixing it for me. I just want everyones opinion on this. I have had my car at the service drive many times more than I should have by now. I've had to get my rotors replaced/machined, the master cylinder on my clutch replaced and now this. As well as many other little things like AC controls stop working or AC cuts out. Thanks for the feedback.


I still love my MSP...

kmaalfiisa

wouldn't know what to say

there is a problem.....

exactly what kind of sound was this?

Roddimus Prime

you are very lucky. Mazda is fixing something for free... cherish this time. It won't happen often.

Just FYI, anyone who buys a new car and actually expects the dealership to honor their warranty lives in a fantasy land.

juddz

There's a shocker.... Mazda is saying that a problem with one of their cars is the owner's fault. Gee, that never happens, does it?

Here's a thought: Mazda just may want to engineer their cars for the harshest use imaginable. Especially when we are talking about a performance model, which will most likely be used under severe conditions by at least some people (autocrossing, etc). Then, after engineering it for this hard use, add a little more engineering on top of it. Engineers call this extra margin of durability "a safety margin". Oh, and here is another thought. The customer is always right. Back when I owned my Neon, I took it into the dealer on a couple of occaisions to get minor things done. Not once did they ever tell me what was my fault and what wasn't. They usually just fixed the problem, and sent me on my way with a handshake. One of the things I took it in for obviously was my fault, but I didn't have to explain anything. My satisfaction was more important to them than the thirty bucks it probably cost them for the part. And, get this. I came in with a flat after they were closed one night, and they fixed it anyways. By taking the tire off of the rim, and patching it from the inside (not using leather and goo). That's what I call service. And, it is one of the reasons that anyone considering a used MSP or even a new Mazda3 would also do well to consider a SRT-4 Neon as an alternative.

juddz

...I should also have mentioned that Dodge dealer fixed my flat for free... that's service.

Anyhow, sorry to threadjack. Just wanted to throw in my $0.02.

hughes412

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth! They might have just said that to see what you would say. I have never had a problem with warrenty stuff.

VIZZ1

so the downpipe cracked at the weld to the straight pipe and the housing of the turbo is cracked. so im getting a new exhaust system and a new turbo. mazda has always treated me well with my warranty including replacing the shift **** because the leather came loose. my concern isnt to do with the warranty but to do with the vehicle, as in will i continue to have problems with its durability?

Roddimus Prime

i would say "yes". Remember this is basically an economy car with a turbo+suspension. It's not a high end car. Problems happen. and I'd say the MSP is mazda's most troubled car. More problems with that little booger than any other car I've owned.

Phantom Cruiser

What I want to know is....how do THEY know you were "dropping the clutch in 1st gear"? Is this something they've conjured up in their minds or a personal confession that you made to them?

IMHO I think they are probably full of p00p, but you're lucky that they are fixing it for you!!

Roddimus Prime

they are setting him up for denial in the near future...what they'll do is write up on his record that he's abusing the vehicle...this allows them to say (later) that he has a previous history of damaging his car.

This is part of the reason I just turned down the service writing position here. I hate dealers.

VIZZ1

they told me that they have seen these problems before from people dropping the clutch in 1st. i told them i do not and they had nothing else for me. i know im lucky to get a new turbo and new exhaust. i just love my MSP but i dont want to keep having problems...

Roddimus Prime

sorry to break your heart then man..... msp's have numerous problems.

suspension clunks
faulty stereos (refurbed units)
turbo coolant/oil leaks
intercooler hose fractures
ECU coding
LSD's cracking under drag launches
etc.

enjoy it for what it is and don't expect a whole lot out of it. If you wanted a true econo-racer there's always the Evo.

juddz

....or the Subaru WRX. You can find them slightly used all day long here in the Detroit area in the mid teens. Come to think of it, that's about the same that you would pay for an equivalent used MSP. Evo's haven't been sold as long in the USA, so used ones will put you into the twenties.

The SRT-4 Neon is also a darned good choice for going fast on a budget. They are durable. Fast right out of the box. Cost right around 20K. And, there are tons of upgrades available. Mopar mods alone will take you past 300hp. The downsides include the handling limitations and torque steer implications of packing this much hp in a fwd chassis (whereas the Evo and WRX have AWD to balance things out a bit). You already live with those limitations in a MSP, albiet they are not as pronounced (in part due to much less power in the Mazda). Also, if you owned a SRT-4 you would have to live with a cheapo interior that looks as if it were assembled using bits and pieces of Rubbermaid containers. But, at least you would have the comfort of Dodge's standard 70K powertrain warranty.