Cool article. 20k and under cars

[BerettaSpeed]

If it's a re-post, blow me, i'm a n00b.

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/features/0301scc_under20gs/

 

[BlackMSP]

*drool* SRT-4 shoulda woulda coulda :X

 

[BerettaSpeed]

They said some good things about the MS as well, both those cars rock, but the neons looks just don't thrill me, but i'd take it.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

the MSP and Neon are in 2 different categories. you really can't compare them. one is a drag car built for straight line speed, and the other a road race car made for endurance and handling. i drove both and the MSP drives sexier than the SRT. i agree that the SRT styling is a bit of a turnoff, especially those bug-eyed headlights.

 

[1sty]

the MSP and Neon are in 2 different categories. you really can't compare them. one is a drag car built for straight line speed, and the other a road race car made for endurance and handling. i drove both and the MSP drives sexier than the SRT. i agree that the SRT styling is a bit of a turnoff, especially those bug-eyed headlights.

Oh, jesus not again.:bs:
They are the same class of car, the MSP is barely a better handler, less then .1g and can't brake as good. You could turn down the Neons boost and bring it back to the MSPs power level and in autocross the driver will still be the biggest factor of who wins.
The biggest difference is they have more power you have a better stereo. They have a longer warrenty you have a better looking car.

 

[1sty]

*drool* SRT-4 shoulda woulda coulda :X

Would you really?
Even though the Neon has much more power the fact that alot of writers had a problem making up there minds says a hell of alot about the MSP.
If its anything like the MP3, yes I know the suspension is damn neer identical, then the feel of the car alone is worth 50 hp. I still rember the day I test drove my car and was incredibly exited to take it out for a spin, then when I was done I just sat in the car in ahw of the ride. I didn't even take any crazy turns it was just that I was so incredibly conneced to the road and the car.

 

[rodslinger]

You could turn down the Neons boost and bring it back to the MSPs power level and in autocross the driver will still be the biggest factor of who wins.

The Neon has been put at a disadvantage also with regard to wheels and tires. The stock wheels are a 17x6 versus 17x7 almost everyone else uses and is running a 205 series tire. It may get a decent improvement moving up to a 7 or 7.5 inch wheel and a 215 to 225 size tire. Either way, I enjoyed the feel of the MSP better after test driving both several times.

 

[1sty]

What turned you off to the neon or was it just that the MSp turned you on(naughty) and the neon did little if anything?

 

[Newf]

isn't this the same article that's been around since like November?

I never really read it, just glanced at it....at work don't have time.

 

[rodslinger]

What turned you off to the neon or was it just that the MSp turned you on(naughty) and the neon did little if anything?

I ended up not buying either. I liked the look and feel of the MSP but the stumble issue bothered me a lot. I test drove three different ones at three different dealers and they all did it. The SRT-4 had a very smooth, linear power build and AWESOME seats but the shifter felt a little balky. For the most part both cars really felt great. Mazda and Dodge both did a good job. It ultimately came down to the fact that I already have a Protege5 and an older Shelby Dodge in the garage so I needed to try something different. I ended up buying a 2003 Sentra Spec-V. Fortunately the attention the MSP and SRT-4 has created basically took the Spec off the map and you could land a killer deal on them. I was able to drive off in a loaded Spec for about $4000 less than the MSP or SRT-4 was going to cost.

I'm also waiting on the 2003.5 MSP models. I might swap the P5 for a silver one when they get here.

 

[1sty]

Whats the "Stumble issue"?

 

[Grimace]

rodslinger - how are you liking your Spec? Trouble free so far? (Any clunks? )

 

[rodslinger]

rodslinger - how are you liking your Spec? Trouble free so far? (Any clunks? )

It's all good. Everything is tight. No clunks or anything but this is the second car in as many weeks. I didn't accept delivery on the first one as the paint was in really bad shape. You could actually see streaks in the finish. The dealer located another one and it's fine. It seems they got all the issues resolved for the 2003 models. I've already blown a speaker though. I don't think the Audio Fanatic package was very well thought out. I have to go in this afternoon to get the speaker replaced.

[Whats the "Stumble issue"?

It felt like a surging once the car got into boost. It was most noticable to me in 3rd gear between 3500 and 5000rpms. Almost like a bad MAF or the fuel tables weren't dialed in correctly. Hard to explain but accelleration wasn't as smooth as it should have been. I've seen other people have noticed it and waiting to see what happens with it before I decide if I want to trade or not. Maybe intake mods or revised calibration from Mazda will correct it. I'll hang around and see.

 

[BerettaSpeed]

isn't this the same article that's been around since like November?

I never really read it, just glanced at it....at work don't have time.

Quite possible, it has been in my favorites for awhile, like I said, I am a n00b.

 

[BlackMSP]

Would you really?

Yes, but I wouldnt go out of my way to do it. I would NOT trade my MSP for a SRT-4 right now as is, but if I had it to do over I would have chosen the SRT-4. It's hard to explain... lol...

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

Oh, jesus not again.:bs:
They are the same class of car, the MSP is barely a better handler, less then .1g and can't brake as good. You could turn down the Neons boost and bring it back to the MSPs power level and in autocross the driver will still be the biggest factor of who wins.
The biggest difference is they have more power you have a better stereo. They have a longer warrenty you have a better looking car.

hey freak you huh!!!!! thats what the dealer told me so go flame them!!!

 

[chuyler1]

The vibe I got from that article was that they would have voted the MSP #1 if it had more meat under the hood, but they couldn't place it 1st w/o having their head handed to them because they were only judging performance and hp is a big part of that.

 

[1sty]

hey freak you huh!!!!! thats what the dealer told me so go flame them!!!

I'll do that ASAP!
Damn dealers!