It seems all of the magazines that are run by the baby-boomers sing the same song. R & T, C & D, and even WOW (Can) say the same things "build up your muscles, don't launch hard in traffic, blah... blahh.. all because of the "HUGE" amounts of torque steer. I don't know about the other MSP owners but I've driven quite a few high hp fwd cars, NA and turbo, and the MSP is quite a bit easier to handle under hard throttle launches than most. Next on the boomers peve list is the "harsh, spine compressing ride", I do admit that you can definately feel the road, which i believe enhances driver response, let alone feeling more a part of the road. In Van the roads aren't that great and everyone I've taken for a ride (even my mom) was impressed with the "feel" of the car, and never once commented of any "harshness". Last but not least, the paint, i must admit, i wasn't to fond of the colour in the pics. But because i owned a black '00 LX (ES) for 2 yrs, i ended up chosing orange, and let me say that the paint looked much better once i could touch it. It looked even better once i got behind the wheel, and it's grown on me ever since. I must say though that i'm not to big on all of the attention it draws (police, theifs, you know). I think if i ever have to paint it, i'll have to go silver. And of course i hear rumors that they are going to release a 2003.5 MSP in gun metal w/ a different fr bumper.
Anyways i think that so called "experienced" auto journalists should realize the context in which a car of this kind should should be placed. It seems as if they are comparing it to something like a lincoln town car. The MSP is definately a top car in it's class, if you read their articles you would think that it was an ugly, uncomfortable, back-breakin', uncontrolable 30k (20kUS) car that can handle well and accelerate decently.
The only thing that wish was better would be the seat bolstering, but that is a simple (yet kinda expensive) fix. But if that's all i have to complain about, i'm way ahead of the game.
