Handling characteristics of the MSP?

[PeterG185]

Hi,
Since i'm new here let me first introduce myself. I'm from Dexter MI(45 mins out from detroit) and am 17 yrs old. I'm looking at cars right now seeing as the lease on my Jeep Wrangler is going to end soon. I've been looking at the MSP and really do like it. Went up to Bill Cook Mazda in Farmington Hills today and they had 1 Spicy Orange and 2 Black ones that just arrived the day earlier. I really do like the car it's pimped out right from the start at an attractive price. Alright so i've been reading up on it and i was reading in C & D that it has a fair amount of torque steer(sp) and i wanna know how noticble is it really? Also why the hell is the lease rate on it so high?

Peace

 

[andr3w]

Peter, I live in Dexter (actually between Pinckney and dexter) and have an orange MSP - from Bill Cook. Wanna go for a real spin? I got snow tires on right now but still handles great. Torque steer is more than manageable. Those old farts from C&D need their heads checked.

Lease rate is high since a) there are no incentives on this car, b) the lease companies figure that it will not do well in an auction and lose alot of its value, c) leasing is really only practical on luxury cars, d) lease rates have gone up in general since the manufacturers and dealers have been getting burnt, e) you are likely paying full sticker (unless you get Bill Cook down a bit) so you do not benefit from negotiating a reduction in the capitalized cost.

Leasing makes mod's unpractical, at the very least you'll need snow tires, believe me!

 

[scapamouche]

There IS quite a bit of torque steer, but it is certainly controllable if you're ready for it.

As far as the handling goes otherwise, it's wonderful on the highway, and has moderate understeer on an aurocross course.

As for the lease rate, I expect it's because the residual value on the car is fairly low: The payments are based on taking the difference between the purchase and residual prices, so if the residual is low, or there's a markup on the car, you'll see high lease payments.

 

[murdock_]

for the day i have had it noticed it pulling to the left but its still a real fun car

 

[jroof]

This is my second fwd car and the torque steer is about 20x worse on this one than the last one. It is managable, you just have to be careful. I've heard a little bit about an adjustment to the alignment to help with it.

 

[ebsalem]

my take on handling:

It has as good or better turn-in than than a S2000 and dramatically better turn-in than an ACR Neon.

The springs are soft enough you won't spill your supper big gulp but the sway bars are big enough it can keep all four wheels on the ground. (Which technically speaking is the way it should be.)

The wheel-hop is a problem, but can be managed with some expierience. The MSP clutch is actually a bigger b**** to live with than the light-weight clutch on my AutoX-only 911.

Once the wheels, both of them, are pulling the car and not hopping you can nail it (takes about a car-length) and then you're ready for take off.

my take on the lease rate:
They know we prize the car over the money. Mine's on a 60 month loan; payment is $397

my take on the stereo: (not that you asked)
The Stereo sucks. My replacement head-unit is already on order.

It's a fun car and gets lots of attention from your age group, but it also get's notice from the law enforcement community too. So be carefull.

You'll have a blast with the car, given your age get an insurance quote before you sign.

e
age, 35

 

[Grimace]

The updated alignment specs will help, and MAKE SURE THOSE TIRES ARE INFLATED EQUALLY! Even a few psi will make a big difference on a LSD-equiped FWD car.

 

[PeterG185]

Hey,
Thanks for the advice, i guess the only real way to tell what the torque steer feels like is to go out and drive it. I'm gonna see if there's other people that i can lease it through and maby get that quote down a little. Andr3w that'd be cool if you could take me out for that spin. I'm assuming you live on Dexter Pinckney road? I'm off of mast so that's a 5 min drive from my place and we could meet at the recycle thing just past the stop light.
I'll let you guys know what i'm gonna do. It's narrowed down to MSP, Jetta with the 4 cylinder Turbo engine(VR6 is over rated) and maby in a long shot the WRX