MSP vs SRT-4

[Lost]

Hey guys, I'm in the market to buy a new car and am looking for some help. I've narrowed it down to 2 cars, the Mazdaspeed Protege and the Dodge SRT-4. The dodge seems to beat the protege out on everything (price, speed, upgradability). The only thing the Speed has over it is that the protege looks alot better on the interior and exterior and that it has a 450w stereo. So my question is this. As speed drivers what convinced you to buy the speed over the other cars out there and what advantages am I missing or haven't taken into consideration. Sorry if I seem a bit lame, but I'm just not wanting to regret a purchase of this extent.

Seriously, any help would be very appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[RX-KEVIN]

It boils down to if you want a MAZDA or a DODGE

 

[unwrittenLaw]

Do a search on the topic....but there's only like 5000 threads to read up on.

Good luck

 

[REMillers]

*Jumps in before the films develop*

Now for looks we can't say what you will like, that is a determination you will have to make. Personally I still like the MSP more in looks than the Neon. Those lights on the Neon have never been to my liking.

Build quailty:The 46G3 engine which the Neon is based off of is a great engine. But it has yet to be see how well it is going to hold up in the SRT. So far not many problems and the past Neons have really come a LONG way in quailty. The MSP engine is pretty good to, but not completely sold on the internals with a turbo application. So far they holding up pretty well, expect on higher boost situations.

Speed:The SRT will hands down beat the MSP. Sure the MSP post a high skidpad but it means squat. Take the SVT Focus for example (new one). It post a lower skidpad yet post one of the highest Salomns (71-72mph). The Neon also post higher times in other areas. It is faster in a 1/4 (some stocks are already in the 13.9s). Top end if great etc. But the MSP is a pure drivers car. Very comfortable like the other Proteges to drive hard and easily.


Personally I would take the MPS over the SRT if you want a everyday drive car that can compete pretty well at the track. The SRT would be more of a occasional driver with great track performance.

 

[crayz_d]

This is funny because I just did a bunch of research on this a week ago for one of my brother's friends. My conclusion is that the Mazdaspeed is a better car, as seemed to be Sport Compact Car's conclusion. Here is what I came up with enjoy and make your own conclusions.

<b>Don't buy either one until you have test driven both of them</b>, plus a few others to make sure that is what you want. The Mazdapseed has far more features and was built way better. Companies that helped put it together include; Mazdaspeed, Racing Beat (CA), Sparco, Kenwood, Callaway Cars, and Racing Hart. I haven't seen such research and development for the Dodge, plus everyone I have know that has owned a neon has said that they are the biggest pieces of junk ever and they hate them. It's American, lets face it, America has never made a good/reliable compact car. But if you go by numbers the SRT-4 "looks" good on paper. You would have to drive the Mazda and the Dodge to see the differences. You should be your own judge, don't decide off of pure numbers only.

<b>Quote from Sport Compact Car:</b>
"The Mazdaspeed Proteg gives up 73 hp and a 100 lb-ft of torque to the overendowed SRT-4, and yet it was surprisingly close to nudging the Dodge out of the top spot. The fact is, none of this car's test numbers, not even its winning handling numbers, do justice to the Proteg's true capabilities. This is an amazingly well-sorted car with surprisingly few compromises." <b>He also says</b> "Hustling the Mazdaspeed Proteg down a twisty road elicits the same slack-jawed amazement once reserved for the Integra Type R." - <b>Dave Coleman</b>

There is a link to the articles at the bottom of the page.

<b>Quote from Sport Compact Car:</b>
"Gathering performance data, it quickly became clear the SRT-4 was dominating the straight-line tests, and the Mazdaspeed Proteg was being equally relentless with the handling tests. To break the tie, we took to the mountains and let real-world speed decide the winner. As you have surely guessed, the SRT-4 was the faster of the two, but not by much. It took more than three miles for the SRT-4 to pull an appreciable gap on the Proteg. While not as solid and composed as the Proteg, the Neon still showed decent balance, good grip, strong, fade-free brakes, and of course, staggering pull between the corners." - <b>Dave Coleman</b>

Mazdaspeed
0-60: 6.9s
1/4 mile: 15.4s (I've seen as low as 14.7s)
Skidpad: 0.89g
Slalom: 70.3 mph
HP: 170
Torque: 155 lb/ft
Boost: 6.9psi (easily pushed to 7 or 8psi for 200+ hp)
Compression: 9.1:1
Differential: Limited-Slip
$20,500.00

Neon SRT-4
0-60: 5.6s
1/4 mile: 14.2s
Skidpad: 0.85g
Slalom: 69.0 mph
HP: 215
Torque: 245 lb/ft
Boost: 11-14 psi
Compression: 8.1:1
Differential: Open
$19,995.00

Yahoo Autos straight comparision

Car and Driver forum about SRT-4

Car and Driver Road Test Mazdaspeed Protege

Sport Compact Car Mazdaspeed Protege

Car and Driver Road Test Dodge Neon SRT-4

Sport Compact Car Dodge Neon SRT-4

Tough Crowd Comparison Test (Sport Compact Car)

 

[murdock_]

nice write up crazy

 

[murdock_]

btw dont let greg see this thread D: mods lock it

 

[OrangeAppeal]

I bought my MSP, because I have never liked the look or reliablilty of the Neon.....A neon is a neon is a neon....even if it's called an SRT-4.

I liked the look of the MSP and what it had to offer...I couldn't see myself driving a Neon. That's that when it comes between the two. I am not disappointed in my decision/purchase.

You have to ask your self:
"Will I feel comfortable with my self and be secure with my sexuality if I buy a Neon?"
(no one flip out...that last part was a joke)

 

[so-cal msp]

dodge cars fall apart. Mazdas don't.
So when I am racing a SRT-4 I usualy am expecting for the thing to catch on fire and blow up in a million tiny bits.
Just make sure you test drive both in the same day twice. That is what I did. I was immediatly sold on the Mazdaspeed but I made my self do the other test drives. No, you know what? scratch that!
If you really want to see how good of a car the Mazdaspeed is and how much value you get for your money. Take a whole day and test drive the following cars;
BMW 3series
Dodge SRT-4
Mini Cooper S
Civic SI
Accord coupe (manual, 4 cyclinder)
ford foucus SVT
Nissan SE-R V-SPEC
GTI 1.8T
And finally the Mazdaspeed
When you are done tell me what car you bought.

 

[buster]

Test em all!!

Dodge reliability with the Neon platform rivals the Protege so buy the car you like, not the one everyone else tells you to buy.

 

[03MzdSpdSTP]

ok been to a BMW, and Dodge and VW oh and the Ford...they would not let me test drive ne of those cars..They say WE DONT TEST DRIVE....grrrr i hate this I wanted to see what the Mini and the fucus, and the upgraded neon is all about..grrr **** tards!

well honda, nissan, and mazda! WOOT! thanks for the spin!


OH MSP all the way my 50cents now go buy a soda

 

[so-cal msp]

Dodge Reliability?????
I am sorry that does not compute.

 

[so-cal msp]

well you can't go in and act like you just wanna drive the thing. You have to lie to the jack asses and make them think you want to buy one of them! And then if they don't let you just explain to them that you are going to take your buisness elsware, to a dealership that does alow test drives. They will let you test drive it then.

 

[Lost]

Thanks all, I've already test drive the SRT-4 and was highly impressed... I've got an appointment to test drive the speed tomorrow (I'm already like a little kid the day before Christmas). I appreciate all the advise and such. I dunno. I'm going from a 2 door car to a 4 door sedan type. Not only that I want the speed to keep up with my friends but I'm kinda stuck in the middle. I've read alot about the speed being unable to take alot of boost without some major work. At the same time without sounding biased, but I've never thought of dodges as being a reliable car. Either way thank you all for your help and advise. Keep it coming

 

[yashooa]

Oh

Sweet merciful heavens! I'm way too down on my Ritalin right now to even comment.
Some cars are built to generate numbers. Some cars are built to generate smiles. You'd be hard pressed to get the grin off my face while in my MSP. The style, chassis refinement, build quality,
and really bitchin radio (for stock) did it for me. I got da MSP.
Not to mention the MSP dosent look like pure ass.
Beware....Beeewaaaarrrrre!

Hmm maybe I needs more Meth. Now where did I put my Rit?

 

[cbcbd]

The best way, if possible, is to test drive both cars on the same day, one right after the other.

After that's done, just get the one that leaves a grin on your face while you're driving it. It will probably be the MSP

 

[Lost]

Got a question for you Mazda speed drivers. Do you find the missing boost gauge annoying or such? I'm trying to figure out (besides the obvious ways) how you guys measure your boost.

 

[RX-KEVIN]

It's really only a tuning guage. I disconnect mine unless I am toying w/the boost. And I work at a Dodge/Mazda shop and there is a guy in my shop that was approached by a important chrysler person, and he wanted to know why he averaged 2 head gasket jobs a day on neons (I am serious). On the other hand I am a Mazda tech and we don't ever get proteges in under 60000 miles for anything but timing belt's (I know from experience) I put a cat on a protege with 240000 miles a week ago and it worked perfectly. Thats what convinced me to buy the protege

 

[REMillers]

Boost gauges are not needed for stock cars, it is more of a eye candy toy from factory. The MKIV Supra's never came with one....

 

[AGR]

Re: Oh

Sweet merciful heavens! I'm way too down on my Ritalin right now to even comment.
Some cars are built to generate numbers. Some cars are built to generate smiles. You'd be hard pressed to get the grin off my face while in my MSP. The style, chassis refinement, build quality,
and really bitchin radio (for stock) did it for me. I got da MSP.
Not to mention the MSP dosent look like pure ass.
Beware....Beeewaaaarrrrre!

Hmm maybe I needs more Meth. Now where did I put my Rit?

I agree with yashooa.

Hey! I know!! Why don't we just have the admins. make a permanent 'sticky' for the Neon SRT-4; since every '5' minutes someone else starts a thread featuring them. (lol)