Mazdaboy42

I need some outside opinions on this. I currently own a white Protege 5 that I think is great. I orginally wanted a MP3, but when i went shopping in the late '02 model year, they obviously didn't have any. Now I met this guy saturday night that has a blue mp3 and wants to sell. He wants $15.5K(US) for it and has installed a nitrous set up with a 55 shot. I don't want the nitrous so I am hoping he would take it off and I can talk him down a bit.

The real problem is I don't know if I want the hassle of selling my car and buying another one less than 8 months after getting this one. I haven't put much of anything into my car that I can't take out and reinstall stock components.

ARRGH, please let me know what y'all think.

Installshield

Sounds bad dude.

First off the depriciation of your p5 is higher right now than it ever will be. Depending on you mileage you could have already lost thousands on it.

Second who knows how hard this guy was running his MP3 especially with Nitrous. A couple guys have gouged the cylinder bores using Nitrous which can lead to "leak down".

If you factor in the money you would lose on the deal you could spend it on the supsension of your P5. You have essentially a slightly better balanced vehicle to start with, and all the MP3's suspension components fit your P5. I might catch hell for that but some say the increase in weight is worth it for the better front/rear weight balance. That would probably be your most cost productive coarse of action (that sounds completely awesome) but the choice is yours alone.

Stinkyxy

Agree ....
if you wanted a sportier car then put the money into the P5 that you would of spent on the MP3 ..... makes more sense

proman

Is there any particular reason you want the mp3 for? if it's just for the suspension parts then, like previously stated, just get the parts and they will fit on your P5. but then it does have that extra 10 hp, larger stock wheels and no cruise controller if that matters at all to you.

Sir Nuke

Stick with the P-5 and upgrade it if you desire.....at least with the p-5, on top of the others things said previousely, you will still have a warrantee too.

soma

well, i traded in my p5 to a used mp3....i have to say it was well worth the trade for me....but just like mazdaboy 42, i went to the dealership to buy one a little too late...luckily, i got it off of a lease....you will have the noise of the suspension in the winter time though...you're car will clunk and squeak. Its all personnal preference. I'm really not much of a hatchback/wagon fan anymore....I find the sedans much more easier to mod also...but thats my 2 cents

soma

forgot to post about the nitrous...be very wary.....Nitrous is used so that you go faster than you're engine should normally handle....so installshield is totally right....stay away from anyone who wants to sell you a car with a nitrous system