Next daily driver? MSP or SRT-4

Haven driven both cars many times, the SRT/4 is not that far behind the MSP in handling. Maybe in a professionals hands it is but not in the majority of ours. The performance parts department at dodge has several upgraded suspension options to choose from that will make a significant difference. Mazda on the other hand has NOTHING for real power mods. They have the typicle noise maker exhuast and intakes which yeild virtualy no gains. Aftermarket is another animal all together but there is alot more reliability in aftermarket suspensions then in power mods, they are easier to install, and cost alot less.

If you want an affordable daily driver that you are willing to sacrifice power on demand for some economy and you are NOT going to try and get that power on you own, then the MSP is the way to go. A fun way toso long as you fix the "clunk"
If on the other hand you are not going to be happy until you have 250whp then the msp is not even close to a realistic option as it takes a mountian of cash to do that in an MSP reliably. After all reliability is the name of the game for a daily driver and having played the mod game with a protege for power, from experience I can say that you had better have two cars before even attempting it.
 
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1sty said:
Haven driven both cars many times, the SRT/4 is not that far behind the MSP in handling. Maybe in a professionals hands it is but not in the majority of ours. The performance parts department at dodge has several upgraded suspension options to choose from that will make a significant difference. Mazda on the other hand has NOTHING for real power mods. They have the typicle noise maker exhuast and intakes which yeild virtualy no gains. Aftermarket is another animal all together but there is alot more reliability in aftermarket suspensions then in power mods, they are easier to install, and cost alot less.

If you want an affordable daily driver that you are willing to sacrifice power on demand for some economy and you are NOT going to try and get that power on you own, then the MSP is the way to go. A fun way toso long as you fix the "clunk"
If on the other hand you are not going to be happy until you have 250whp then the msp is not even close to a realistic option as it takes a mountian of cash to do that in an MSP reliably. After all reliability is the name of the game for a daily driver and having played the mod game with a protege for power, from experience I can say that you had better have two cars before even attempting it.
Click to expand...

(drinks) Excellent and truthful post!
 
with the mods he has planned, he'll stomp an SRT-4 without difficulty, i can guarantee you that. Mario, retard, or whoever...the msp wins against a stock or lightly modded SRT-4 under those conditions at 10psi.
 
1moreMPH said:
with the mods he has planned, he'll stomp an SRT-4 without difficulty, i can guarantee you that. Mario, retard, or whoever...the msp wins against a stock or lightly modded SRT-4 under those conditions at 10psi.
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Not true. I saw a guy running an SRT-4 with Mopar stage 1 at out novice school. Besides how friggen fast the car was, the suspension setup was pretty remarkable. I ran a search on Google and the stage 1 setup put up some pretty impressive numbers. To get an MSP to run 10psi safely and efficiently, you're spending roughly $1200 (exhaust, hard pipes, IC upgrade, etc). That gets you to roughly 210whp.

Mopar stage 1 upgrade gets the SRT-4 up to 240whp for $400 MSRP, spend $450 on good tires (stock SRT-4 tires are piles of crap), and $300 on GC coilovers and you'll smoke an MSP and likely have something more reliable because the upgrade is made by Mopar and they know what they are doing. Hell, you probably wouldn't even need the Mopar upgrade to do it.

Even at that, I would still take the MSP over the SRT-4 for daily use. Better gas mileage, VERY rare car, cheaper insurance, better interior, etc.
 
1moreMPH said:
...With those mods you mentioned (TBE, SMIC, CAI, Unichip, and maybe manifold) you're looking at ~210hp/220tq at the wheels or more. If you boost 10 psi (which is totally safe at that level) i would say you're at ~230-240 at the wheels. Those mods will also lock the tempermental beast of the MSP away, and will only give you a very solid, consistently powerful, fun to drive, responsive handling god of asphalt. You will beat srt-4s with those mods at 10psi without difficulty...
Click to expand...

^ Truth. You get enough hp to stomp a stock SRT-4 and you keep the MSP handling. On the other hand, Dodge's Mopar "Stage" Upgrades are cheap, reliable, and warrantied and eat small children...
 
Both cars you are comparing would be perfect for what you need. In reality you need to go out and find this car. It may be difficult finding a decent, low mileage car, that has not been beaten. You should look at both cars, you are looking in the used car market and can't expect to find these cars easily. You should keep your option's open to find the best deal on either car.

Also concider insurance, call your insurance company and see what the rates would be on both cars, if one is significantly more, that could be a deal breaker.
 
1moreMPH said:
with the mods he has planned, he'll stomp an SRT-4 without difficulty, i can guarantee you that. Mario, retard, or whoever...the msp wins against a stock or lightly modded SRT-4 under those conditions at 10psi.
Click to expand...
Stage 1 SRT4's with just an exhuast can run in the 12's. THere is a women up here that did it constantly. The MSP is not getting where near thos numbers realiably without well over $5K invested.

Everyone needs to keep in mind that simply getting a car to product more power does not make it reliable. That does the exact opposite. Remeber that the protege engine and platform was originaly designed for 120 crank ho. Over the years they got it upt to 140 and then boosted it to 170. NOTHING on the MSP was ment to hande 200 whp. Everything on and in the car including engine internal, tranny, clutch, limited slip, and the rest of the drive train can not sustain that abuse any where near as long as the SRT can or as well.
So to keep up with an srt/4 in the long run and be truely reliable you will need to replace or be ready to repair all of the above items.

Now on the other side, the SRT4 can have some suspension mods done that will not stress the rest of the car and will allow it to absolutely destroy an MSP on any track. That can be done for far less money. Even if an MSP comes close to the power of the SRT like stated by someone else, the stage 1 power kit for $500 will fix that problem too.
 
The Neon SRT4 raised the game for sport compacts. Its already a legend in its own right. It just came out and PWNED everything in and even a lot of cars above its price range and took abuse like a champ.

Only and I mean ONLY its interior fit and finish and material quality holds it back from being the completely unstopable. It it had an interior of the same level of quality (for an econobox) as my P5, I would own one today.
 
ok, enough of this mopar s***. Read his posts:
for the MSP he would get smic, tbe, unichip, mani, and intake.
for the Dodge he would only get a few small suspension bits.

that means, that yes indeed, the MSP WILL BE FASTAR. now, another SRT-4 next to him on the strip or at a light with a few mods or mopar stage whatever will probably get ahead of him, or at least stay right with him. But for the 2 cars that he's comparing, and the planned mods, the MSP will handle bettter and out-perform the neon.
 
1sty said:
Stage 1 SRT4's with just an exhuast can run in the 12's. THere is a women up here that did it constantly. The MSP is not getting where near thos numbers realiably without well over $5K invested.

Everyone needs to keep in mind that simply getting a car to product more power does not make it reliable. That does the exact opposite. Remeber that the protege engine and platform was originaly designed for 120 crank ho. Over the years they got it upt to 140 and then boosted it to 170. NOTHING on the MSP was ment to hande 200 whp. Everything on and in the car including engine internal, tranny, clutch, limited slip, and the rest of the drive train can not sustain that abuse any where near as long as the SRT can or as well.
So to keep up with an srt/4 in the long run and be truely reliable you will need to replace or be ready to repair all of the above items.

Now on the other side, the SRT4 can have some suspension mods done that will not stress the rest of the car and will allow it to absolutely destroy an MSP on any track. That can be done for far less money. Even if an MSP comes close to the power of the SRT like stated by someone else, the stage 1 power kit for $500 will fix that problem too.
Click to expand...


theres a guy over here with a stage2 and more, nearing 350 whp .. that thing can move like a mofo (shocked)
 
1moreMPH said:
ok, enough of this mopar s***. Read his posts:
for the MSP he would get smic, tbe, unichip, mani, and intake.
for the Dodge he would only get a few small suspension bits.
Click to expand...

Exactly, with those mods combo, on any track the SRT is the better car.
The MSP with that combo will not beat a stage 1 SRT/4 with a $1500 or so in suspension. Not going to happen. That combo will destroy the MSPs gas millage, make it alot less reliable and still not hit the SRT's numbers
 
1sty said:
Exactly, with those mods combo, on any track the SRT is the better car.
The MSP with that combo will not beat a stage 1 SRT/4 with a $1500 or so in suspension. Not going to happen. That combo will destroy the MSPs gas millage, make it alot less reliable and still not hit the SRT's numbers
Click to expand...

Bingo!

I mean I love the MSP myself but lets call a spade a spade people.

In the end it just comes down to personal choice. Both are great fun ways to get from point A to point B!

Just take your pick!
 
i'm in this dilema too, and i've come to the comclusion the srt-4 is a better platform, engine-wise, than the MSP for what i expect out of them which is power.

yes, the new is just a neon with a turbo, but no matter how bad the taste on these car's interior is, it is still far better in HP numbers than the MSP.

I've spoken to Evo owners who despise the EVO because of it's interior, and believe me, it is 40K dollar car...so not every car is gonna be perfect for your taste, there's always gonna be something that you don't like.

For what is worth, i'm leaning towards the SRT-4, not just because of the power, but because parts are alot more mass produced than for the MSP.
Want it or not, we're stuck with the 3 vendors we have. when they notice that their stuff doesn't sell anymore, they'll move on, leaving us MSP owners in the dust. and they're actually already making parts for others cars and some have even gone broke.

Had i known the SRT-4, most likely i had gone that route, i own a MSP, so i try to make the best out of it....

on looks, well...need i say more?
 
Honestly I love my Mazda and I've seen and ridden in the MSP's. But I myself almost came close to buying the SRT4 at one point. I think there great looking cars, sound good, and if built well will decimate.

I know you mentioned that its going to be a daily driver and if you do buy the SRT4 you don't plan on doing any big mods other than suspension.

I say test drive both, and go with your gut. Can't go wrong with 2 well made cars.
 
The Evo is the poster boy for crappy interiors in a high priced car. But its such a talented and capable vehicle, that its owners don't care. Its interior is not much better than the SRT4s but it costs thousands more. Sometimes, its just about the power. (drive2)
 
to add to that list, the 350Z's interior is complete crap for a $38K car.
Compare thh dash of it and the neon and they are remarkably similar
 
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