better handling ms3 or msp

what has better handling ms3 or msp?


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But the upholstery looks like something straight from Air Force One compared with the exterior paint. They call it Spicy Orange Mica. Looks more like Toxic Wasteland Persimmon to us, and we're pleased to report that the car also comes in black.

Since the Mazdaspeed Proteg is available in black, I won't harp on the shocking peach color that had kids smiling and grown-ups asking, "Is it supposed to look like that?" Like what? "A radioactive Popsicle."

a freaky psychedelic pumpkin paint job

it's painted a color I can only describe as "neon nectarine."

(rofl)
 
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Ouch... Where did those quotes come from?

The protege in essence is a smaller, lighter and nimbler car. By all rights is would/could be classified as the "better handling" car. I would however love to see some Autox'ers post up some times on shared courses and video if possible. Lets just see who is running faster times.
 
i own an msp, and my cousin owns a ms3 which i drive often.... i think the msp is better in handling, and he agrees with me
 
The car and driver review from a couple posts up...

car and driver also gave v6 camaro 1st place over a v6 hyundai genesis by one point. the genesis was quicker, stopped better, had more power, handled better but the camaro won by virtue of its "gotta have a camaro" factor.

so obviously, car and driver is the authoritative objective expert on what a performance car needs to be (stfu)

never mind the fact that none of those posts addresses the point of the thread. old men from detroit whining about orange paint does not impress. i say all this being a lifelong C&D subscriber. Sport Compact Car was the magazine which initially called the MSP the best handling FWD car ever made if we're looking for quotes.

driven both extensively, there is no comparison. stock to stock and driver to driver, the protege handles better. just like stock proteges and stock 3s. my sister in law's 1.6 01 protege could run circles around my wife's 07 mazda3s 2.3. and likewise, my rx7 and miata and my brother's mazdaspeed miata could absolutely school every single one of those and then some in the handling department. and there are cars beyond that which are going to perform better still in all categories. so arguing the point is semantics frankly.

but hey, i'm just making logical sense. don't let that stop you guys :D
 
mmm. no it didn't... mp3 had a tighter steering ratio... and when car and driver did their 10 best handling cars of all time, it was the Mp3 that they used, not the msp


I believe that the MP3 and MSP have the same steering ratio, which is 15.4:1

The MS3 has a quicker/tighter steering ratio than both, at 14.7:1
 
Regardless, it still seems the ratio is 15.4:1.... (dunno)

I can't find a spec sheet anywhere that lists either the MSP's or the MP3's steering ratio as anything but 15.4:1.
 
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FWIW..MZ3 holds the Street FWD track record at Buttonwillow Raceway
 
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Truth. The MP3 had a better ratio from what I understand.

Please show me documentation supporting that...

Every spec sheet I've come across says that the MSP and MP3 share the same ratio, 15.4:1 (which, mind you, is SLOWER than the 14.7:1 ratio in the MS3).

MSP:

http://www.mazdaspd.com/

http://www.autocoast.com/mazdaspeedclub/03_mazdaspeed_specs.pdf

MP3:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=46530

http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/2001/August03/05.htm

http://old.soliton.net/protege/index.shtml?specs

(dunno)
 
Please show me documentation supporting that...

Every spec sheet I've come across says that the MSP and MP3 share the same ratio, 15.4:1 (which, mind you, is SLOWER than the 14.7:1 ratio in the MS3).

MSP:

http://www.mazdaspd.com/

http://www.autocoast.com/mazdaspeedclub/03_mazdaspeed_specs.pdf

MP3:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=46530

http://www.hispanianews.com/archive/2001/August03/05.htm

http://old.soliton.net/protege/index.shtml?specs

(dunno)

i bet the articles didn't know that there was a differnt rack.. the probably assumed it was different... but i can assure you they are different
 
this thread just reminded me that i put my name and CC# down on a Spicy Orange MSP when they first came out. i backed out once the car arrived. but i find it funny how i ended up buying a MS3 later.
 
i bet the articles didn't know that there was a differnt rack.. the probably assumed it was different... but i can assure you they are different

im not too sure about oem part numbers but rockauto has the same part number listing for the mp3 and msp from A1CARDONE and ACDELCO

i know its not a mazda part but you would think the aftermarket replacement would be different if they were different parts from the factory
 
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