"Help me figure out what cat I want" thread # 10000
 

I'm looking for a car to replace my '97 that I'm selling. The car must have a torsen, have a nice interior, have relatively low miles, not be in a color I don't like, obviously no autotrash (preferably a M6), preferably be either a 10AE or a '01-'05. I would prefer to buy from a private party but I'm not a dealership. Must have clean carfax and check out when inspected my independent mechanic.
I've found:

'04 MSM with 85K miles for $10500. Red. Kinda far.

'01 Sport, 66K miles, what looks like a leather interior (therefor torsen from what I've read). New tires. $8500, dark blue. Nearer then the MSM

'03 MX5, 75K miles, red, advertised as having a 6 speed (therefor torsen?), has black leather interior, tires look to have good tread. Special edition on account of the black leather and 6 speed?

There are also some NC's in my price range but I don't think in interested, but then again I am looking for a more modern car. Same distance as the above.

What do y'all think you would buy with your money?

This:
Scott Volvo | 2013 Volvo C30 R-Design | 800.280.2353

That does not meet all my requirements.

I want that car in AWD, and about $10,000 less.

Turbo Veloster. The 6 speed car was fun. The auto was not.

The MSM has beefier gearbox and diff, plus it has boost right from the get go. They go moderately well with just an intake and exhaust.

It also has all the intercooler piping sorted already!

+1

The seats in the turbo are amazing! I would daily the shit out of that car.

MSM. Great platform to start with, as stated above.

So tempted to get the MSM...

If I could afford a new Turbo Veloster then I'd have a 5.0 mustang, but I really don't want to pay nearly that much. The MSM is on the very top of what I'd pay.

How about an S2000? It would probably have a few more miles but it'd be faster from the box.

Have you ever driven one? I haven't, but from what I've read I dont think I'd like the lack of low end grunt.

A MSM at a good price will give you the most bang for the buck.

^^An S2000 dyno graph is like a stock miata until it hits VTACH, so whats the problem?

both are slow?

Unless you drive your daily like you stole it then you don't want an s2000. It is a race engine in a street car.

I've heard the MSM is similar in the way that it doesn't make power until the turbo spools at 4500rpm.

I can get a MSM around here for roughly the same price as a S2000. I'm probably going to go look at a car this weekend, maybe even bring one home.

This problem is actually the result of some issues with the hardware in the MSM. If you go to Mazda-speed.com the problem is discussed in depth and there are a few things you need to do to fix it and all are very cheap.

Good to hear, I had a look at some of the MSM stuff on Begi and Flyinmiata which pretty much pushed me over the edge towards the MSM, so I'm gonna try and go look at it this weekend.

The stock ECU on the MSM is the worst part about the car. In my opinion the most important mod for a MSM is a standalone. Add in injectors, intake and turn the boost up to 15psi and you've pretty much got 200whp/tq.

Other than that. Awesome car! :)

PLEASE DRIVE A NC BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING!!

In my thread you asked why I went with that over a msm or s2000. Basically I was looking for the same things as you, and I wanted to get a NB or s2000 to turbo. I drove a s2000, hated it. I drove a NB, and it was exactly what I expected, nicer than my NA, but still the same car and relatively same interior. Then I drove a NC right after the NB, and I instantly liked it way better than anything else I had driven. I pulled a 2006 SE with 86k miles for 10.5k, right in the upper limits of what you are looking at. I would never suggest someone spend that much on a NB without driving a NC.

Interior is lightyears nicer. The seats are great, the instrumentation and button layout is great, the soft top mechanism is AWESOME, the sound is better than a NA/NB, and overall the chassis is much stiffer. The stock suspension is a little soft, but there are many good upgrades available for any price range. And the turbo aftermarket is picking up now. Honestly, just make sure you at least drive one to see if you love it as much as I do.