Quite possibly the last MSP comparo

[daperspeed]

Guys, guys, guys...how short memories can be. Theres a bunch of bashing Road and Track in this thread but remember its RT that wrote that made the MSP/MP3 "famous"...the "Great Grip" article...you know the one where the MP3 outslalomed the Ferrari and Porsche.

Its interesting though that no comparo has ever been able to duplicate the numbers the MP3 got in that Great Grip RT article. In there the MP3 got a .90 skidpad and 70.xx mph in the slalom.

Could it be that the MP3 has better handling than the MSP or that the tires were shaved or something??? Dont know...

 

[Holy_Fluck]

hey guys not to defend the article or anything because I think the MSP is better than the sentra and celica (although that car looks damn nice). If anyone has read the Car and Driver review of the Mazdaspeed Miata. They stated that the MSP had great variations in its performance and since the MSM is put together at the factory there will not be a variations as they would all be the same. Maybe Road and Track got a bad one or something? Anyone else know about this?

 

[TampaBlackMSP]

I hate to say it, but it could be...on the other hand, you'd think a car co. would give a mag a strong car if it knew 'numbers' would be published - in this case, bulls*** numbers for the MSP, but who knows....it takes very little (well not very) to pump our cars up well and above all the others save the SRT (and even that is a good race unless they have stage whateverthefuck it is these days) - speaking from experience....anyway, I agree w/Z00mer - we know the real.

 

[omega0021]

IMO they should have beaten the 2004 SPEC-V's exterior designer with a nailbat. I loved the front fascia of the 2002 and 2003 SPEC-V; kinda reminded me of the Skylines in Japan. The new ones just look plain. And whats up with that big square block in the middle of the front bumper vent with the Nissan Badging? WTF?!?!? Sorry just had to vent there for a sec.

 

[muohio]

Ralliart: 15.8, HFP Civic Si: 16.0, MSP: 15.9, SRT4: 14.3, SVT Focus: 15.6,Nismo SpecV: 15.6 and TRD Celica: 15.8.

Those times alone are very suspect from experience and many other articles. For starters, my heavier Vibe GT has run a 15.8 in the quarter. The Celica GTS is lighter and has a better gear ratio since the tires are a little shorters so it shouldn't be at 15.8. Seems that C&D and Motortrend have had better tests. Personally I don't care anymore since the MSP are pretty much sold out and no one will experience having a new one in their garage again

 

[Black Majik MSP]

Hmmm.... having extensively raced both a Celica GT-S and an RSX-S in STS autox, I would prefer the GT-S. It has better handling out of the box, and the extra power in the RSX is hard to take advantage of because of the lack of LSD. In both cars, the inside wheel tends to light up, but the lower overall weight for the Celica is more of advantage than the RSX extra power.

The SCCA seems to agree with me since they moved the RSX out of DS and into the slower GS class for stock cars, while leaving the Celica in Ds because it was 'competitive' there.... Not that I believe that for a minute, mind you... The MSP, WRX, BMW 330, IS300, and ITR have dominant advantages over the GT-S in Stock form.

On the other hand, most of the handling issues can be made equal with the right aftermarket parts and the ability to shift and stay on the cam are nice touches with the RSX. It is also more comfy than the Celica for the street.

I can't speak for the rest of your rant, although I do tend to agree...

Most of the RSX & Celica owners I know don't auto-x their cars, which leaves 1 thing primarily & that is the 1320, which is what I was baseing my comparison on. The Celicas have had problems with their 6spd, whereas the Type S has one of the best tranny/shifter combos I've ever seen. The 2ZZ is also nothing compared to the K20...all of my friends who drive a Type S are now into the 13s & the motor has so much more potential. As for the handling, my one buddy has Progress springs/sways/tie bar & the motor mount inserts. If not for his lack of LSD, he could probably handle as well as me, if not better.