WARNING, LONG... but potentially worth your time. This is a mazda love thread, in a way.
So, it is official. The MSP beats the Trans Am.
But not in a straight line. Oh God, no.
Where it wins is as a complete, enjoyable car for me, and I suspect, many of you.
First off, this is all my own opinion/experience based on both cars as stock. There is also a touch of humor (hopefully). Though there may be some facts included.
My dad owns a 2002 Trans Am WS6. He lets me drive it whenever I ask. It is the epitome of the low-price, low-slung big block sports car. I haven't driven his car since I got my MSP, however. And I've come to the realization that I simply have the better car, and he got screwed.
Look:
Handling: (winner, MSP)
The MSP is tighter/better, although if you don't mind a little oversteer followed by downshifting and smashing the gas, the Trans Am is actually pretty nimble. Just a little more scary. Just keep in mind, the speeds at which the MSP 'gets a little understeer' are the speeds at which the Trans Am 'decides its front end should see what the back end is up to.' And the Trans Am suspension is harsh, without providing the sense of grip the MSP's does.
Interior: (winner, MSP)
Dear God, for a 34K car, my Dad's interior is like a Fisher-Price "my first car interior" toy. Everything is this crude molding plastic... the windows controls have a plastic panel over them that can cut you 'cause Pontiac didn't sand it down. The gauges are ok, though I prefer white-face gauges. However, his leather is pretty nice, until its summer and its a black car with black leather and OHMYGOD you can't breathe when you open the (huge ass, heavy) door, much less sit in the the inferno that is the interior. Also, the leather is already starting to wear where you rub the seat getting in/out. The MSP has a classy interior. My dad is jealous; he says it looks like a degree of luxury car. And our stereo is way better. Though the Trans Am has a very nice and boomy 10" sub in the back. I also like the seating position better in the MSP - in the Trans Am, I feel too low and its like I can't see over the car. With the MSP I see where everything is, at all times.
Tranny/Engine: (winner, Trans Am, but if it only had 280hp, it'd be the MSP)
The WS6 is faster than hell. Wow. Woooooo. A tire smoking beast. It makes you want to yell "**** you EVOs" and then pump some AC/DC. And my God the engine and exhaust sound amazing! But I love my turbo whine, and the turkey, and for a 4-cyl, I think our cars have a great tone. And tranny-wise, our shifting is much nicer/smoother (except @#$#$-ing 1 - 2), as is the clutch. However, this might be cause the Trans Am tranny has 325+ horsies to deal with, and ours simply doesn't. Also, I can drive my car really hard and get 20 miles to the gallon, whereas my dads car dips down to 14 miles if he floors it everywhere.
Police Attention: (winner, MSP)
Cops love the Trans Am. In both the good and bad way. Not too bad for my silver haired 50yr old dad, but real bad news for a punk ass 20yr old (i.e. me). My MSP is black. No one cares about it, at least not until I go flying recklessly through left turns.
Value: (winner, MSP)
I have more trunk space, passenger space, interior space, cheaper tires (compared to them 18"ers), better mileage, and a cheaper to replace engine (although its much, much simpler to blow up - right Ken?). It's hard for me to break my car if I keep it stock. My Dad's heard horror stories of stock WS6's snapping drivetrains and absolutely frying clutches. And his car cost 15,000 more than mine. And I have a better warranty. Although he did get 0% financing on it. Curse you Mazda. Oh, and they both have bad thin coats of paint.
Looks: (Matter of taste) (Winner, MSP, anyways)
I hate the giant snout, huge webbed tail-lights and garish death-wing of the WS6. I love my speed from head-light to tail-light. But that's just me.
Unqiue factor: (Winner, MSP)
Last year, they made like 10,000+ WS6's (since it was the last year of the car). Not to mention all the other years they made WS6's. There are only 1999 other exact year models of my car in the world! That kicks so much ass. We see WS6's everywhere we go - I only see speeds thanks to this board and the very rare random run in. And the random run ins are mostly cause I'm in a college town, where Proteges are freakin' everywhere!
Fun factor: (Tie)
Both cars kick serious ass. I highly recommend either to you. But for me, personally, the MSP is the better car beyond any shadow of a doubt. We'll see how well it holds up next week when my Dad and I are competing in auto-x!
That's all. I just wanted to share some love. And make a thread mentioning the MSP being better than the WS6 that isn't complete made-up racer fantasy
So, it is official. The MSP beats the Trans Am.
But not in a straight line. Oh God, no.
Where it wins is as a complete, enjoyable car for me, and I suspect, many of you.
First off, this is all my own opinion/experience based on both cars as stock. There is also a touch of humor (hopefully). Though there may be some facts included.
My dad owns a 2002 Trans Am WS6. He lets me drive it whenever I ask. It is the epitome of the low-price, low-slung big block sports car. I haven't driven his car since I got my MSP, however. And I've come to the realization that I simply have the better car, and he got screwed.
Look:Handling: (winner, MSP)
The MSP is tighter/better, although if you don't mind a little oversteer followed by downshifting and smashing the gas, the Trans Am is actually pretty nimble. Just a little more scary. Just keep in mind, the speeds at which the MSP 'gets a little understeer' are the speeds at which the Trans Am 'decides its front end should see what the back end is up to.' And the Trans Am suspension is harsh, without providing the sense of grip the MSP's does.
Interior: (winner, MSP)
Dear God, for a 34K car, my Dad's interior is like a Fisher-Price "my first car interior" toy. Everything is this crude molding plastic... the windows controls have a plastic panel over them that can cut you 'cause Pontiac didn't sand it down. The gauges are ok, though I prefer white-face gauges. However, his leather is pretty nice, until its summer and its a black car with black leather and OHMYGOD you can't breathe when you open the (huge ass, heavy) door, much less sit in the the inferno that is the interior. Also, the leather is already starting to wear where you rub the seat getting in/out. The MSP has a classy interior. My dad is jealous; he says it looks like a degree of luxury car. And our stereo is way better. Though the Trans Am has a very nice and boomy 10" sub in the back. I also like the seating position better in the MSP - in the Trans Am, I feel too low and its like I can't see over the car. With the MSP I see where everything is, at all times.
Tranny/Engine: (winner, Trans Am, but if it only had 280hp, it'd be the MSP)
The WS6 is faster than hell. Wow. Woooooo. A tire smoking beast. It makes you want to yell "**** you EVOs" and then pump some AC/DC. And my God the engine and exhaust sound amazing! But I love my turbo whine, and the turkey, and for a 4-cyl, I think our cars have a great tone. And tranny-wise, our shifting is much nicer/smoother (except @#$#$-ing 1 - 2), as is the clutch. However, this might be cause the Trans Am tranny has 325+ horsies to deal with, and ours simply doesn't. Also, I can drive my car really hard and get 20 miles to the gallon, whereas my dads car dips down to 14 miles if he floors it everywhere.
Police Attention: (winner, MSP)
Cops love the Trans Am. In both the good and bad way. Not too bad for my silver haired 50yr old dad, but real bad news for a punk ass 20yr old (i.e. me). My MSP is black. No one cares about it, at least not until I go flying recklessly through left turns.
Value: (winner, MSP)
I have more trunk space, passenger space, interior space, cheaper tires (compared to them 18"ers), better mileage, and a cheaper to replace engine (although its much, much simpler to blow up - right Ken?
). It's hard for me to break my car if I keep it stock. My Dad's heard horror stories of stock WS6's snapping drivetrains and absolutely frying clutches. And his car cost 15,000 more than mine. And I have a better warranty. Although he did get 0% financing on it. Curse you Mazda. Oh, and they both have bad thin coats of paint.Looks: (Matter of taste) (Winner, MSP, anyways)
I hate the giant snout, huge webbed tail-lights and garish death-wing of the WS6. I love my speed from head-light to tail-light. But that's just me.
Unqiue factor: (Winner, MSP)
Last year, they made like 10,000+ WS6's (since it was the last year of the car). Not to mention all the other years they made WS6's. There are only 1999 other exact year models of my car in the world! That kicks so much ass. We see WS6's everywhere we go - I only see speeds thanks to this board and the very rare random run in. And the random run ins are mostly cause I'm in a college town, where Proteges are freakin' everywhere!
Fun factor: (Tie)
Both cars kick serious ass. I highly recommend either to you. But for me, personally, the MSP is the better car beyond any shadow of a doubt. We'll see how well it holds up next week when my Dad and I are competing in auto-x!
That's all. I just wanted to share some love. And make a thread mentioning the MSP being better than the WS6 that isn't complete made-up racer fantasy
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i deserved it
