I have been checking these out for a while. Originally I like the ES, then the 6s came out and I love the way it looks and its options. Catch is, I have been driving a Merkur beater for quite a while, and its a 2.3Turbo. This car is awesome, got it for free, had to do some minor maintenance. I know the Mazda is FWD, which is my concern. How does this thing drive with having that kinda torque up front. I am really into turbo cars now, yet my options are limited as to what to get. I was checking out the neon's as well, but like the looks of the Mazda way better then the neon. Anyone shed some info...??? Good/Bad or whatever...
Looking at purchasing Mazdaspeed...
- Thread starter my8950
- Start date
It will jerk the wheel when the turbo kicks in. I had to get use to it, since my last car was a 92 vette and they rwd cars. Once you get the hang it the car is a blast to drive. I was worried the mazdaspeed wouldn't disappoint me, but this car can handle the curves with best of the vettes. Now it doesn't have the straight line power that the vette did, but I still get a smile everytime I get done driving my MSP.
I like mine and I do not think the torque steer is that bad, not as bad as on some nissan altimas. This car has a lot less power than a neon but makes up for it in handling. This is one of the best handling cars. It beats Porsches and other sport cars in slalom tests. Great car for fun backroad driving.
- :
- 2002 BJFW, 2007 BK3P, 1979 SA22C, 2005 BK3P
Merkur XR4Ti? Going from a rear wheel drive to a front wheel drive car, you will have "torque steer", meaning that when you hit the gas from a dead stop, the front wheels being powered will jerk the car to certain direction. All front wheel drive cars suffer from some level of torque steer. The Mazdaspeed solves this issue to some degree thanks to the limited slip differential up front that evens power distribution between both wheels.
In my opinion, both the neon SRT4 and mazdaspeed have thier own strengths and weaknesses - you will get more raw power and torque from the neon, but the Mazdaspeed's handling is a cut above that, still offers excellent power and has unmatched build quality in comparison. Many people prefer the interior of the Mazdaspeed to that of the SRT.
The best way to find out is to drive them both, decide which car you feel better in.
In my opinion, both the neon SRT4 and mazdaspeed have thier own strengths and weaknesses - you will get more raw power and torque from the neon, but the Mazdaspeed's handling is a cut above that, still offers excellent power and has unmatched build quality in comparison. Many people prefer the interior of the Mazdaspeed to that of the SRT.
The best way to find out is to drive them both, decide which car you feel better in.
compared to my laser, the mazdaspeed has no torque steer. open diff + power + bad suspension + gas = wheel wanting to go it's own way, car wanting to go another. i have to fight to keep that car straight, and on the mazdaspeed i notice it pulling sometimes, but it isn't bad at all.
Yeah, its an XR4ti...
Comparing this to a vette...I am in the process of setting my Mustang up with a T-70, so I am not necessarily worried about this Mazda running 9's in the quarter, I have another beast for that. I just saw this orange crush color Mazda, and totally blew my mind. Then I realized just what I was looking at and it opened my eyes back up to the Protege line again! Thing is, nobody in my area that I am aware of has these on the lot for tests. Let alone a Mazda dealer around here that has a clue of anything....I know of 4 in the somewhat local area, and they are pretty ridiculous! Thanks for the info, keep it coming!
Comparing this to a vette...I am in the process of setting my Mustang up with a T-70, so I am not necessarily worried about this Mazda running 9's in the quarter, I have another beast for that. I just saw this orange crush color Mazda, and totally blew my mind. Then I realized just what I was looking at and it opened my eyes back up to the Protege line again! Thing is, nobody in my area that I am aware of has these on the lot for tests. Let alone a Mazda dealer around here that has a clue of anything....I know of 4 in the somewhat local area, and they are pretty ridiculous! Thanks for the info, keep it coming!
MSP is one of the best daily drivers for under 25k on the market. Quick, great handling car, with turbo tunability. They wont be lightning fast without some serious cash, which IMO, is better spent on a older RWD car, like a miata, or something like a 1G AWD eclipse/talon. But the MSP has a warranty, great factory sound, comfort, and looks.
If its a new car daily driver you want thats sporty and fun, drive the MSP, 2003 Se-R Spec V, SRT-4, RSX-S, and a Jetta 1.8T, or GTi 1.8T. Theyre all similarly priced, powered, and handling. There are few others, like the SVT focus that could be included on that list. Id just do the research, get some price info from dealers, and then go from there.
Back to your basic question, how does it drive with the FWD, and some power. Awesome, while it does tq steer, the LSD does keep some of that in check. I drove a Jetta GLi VR6 last night, and it was WAAAAY worse on the TQ steer than my MSP.
Enjoy your test drives....
If its a new car daily driver you want thats sporty and fun, drive the MSP, 2003 Se-R Spec V, SRT-4, RSX-S, and a Jetta 1.8T, or GTi 1.8T. Theyre all similarly priced, powered, and handling. There are few others, like the SVT focus that could be included on that list. Id just do the research, get some price info from dealers, and then go from there.
Back to your basic question, how does it drive with the FWD, and some power. Awesome, while it does tq steer, the LSD does keep some of that in check. I drove a Jetta GLi VR6 last night, and it was WAAAAY worse on the TQ steer than my MSP.
Enjoy your test drives....
