Ok, here it goes. Now, remember, I own an MP3. Ive also driven an Orange 2003 a couple of times since I was considering getting it. Im going to base this opinion on driving all 3 cars as un-biased as I can be. Right off the bat, yes, Im buying the MSP. Some of this is brutally honest, Im not trying to offend anyone, just stating my opinion and some fact.
Suspension: Noticeably stiffer in the front vs MP3, but only marginally. The rear is exactly the same. But, the speed compared the mp3 is very very smooth over bumps. I dont know what the magazines were talking about when they said it was rougher, but their crazy. 4 people drove my mp3, and the speed last night, and they all agreed that the Speed goes over bumps at least 2 times smoother. Even noise coming into the cabin is lower, things like Tire noise while driving. Tire noise while hitting bumps also quieter. I guess this would the Bridgestones VS. the Dunlops. Bumps that make the car go up/dwn are definitely smoother. Bumps that make the car sway left/right, seem about the same with that little jerky feeling to it. But overall, much better car going over my roads here.
Steering: The Mp3 has a European Spec close ratio steering column. The MSP has a stock one. As soon as I turned the wheel in the 2003.5, I noticed that it was different. Much lighter, much easier to turn left/right. But, there is a disadvantage here. The MP3 feels more connected to the road, and turns quicker with less movement of the wheel. The MSP turns fast, but you have to move the wheel a tad further. Now, on an AutoX course, track, etc, the MP3 would clearly have the better steering as you can just tell what the front wheels are doing so much easier. But, around town, the MSP is better. Why? Because, as a side effect, you dont have to grab the wheel with such a tight grip to turn it, and it also doesnt get pulled out of your hand as easy as the MP3 does when going bumps and ruts in the road. The Bridestones may have a small effect on this as well. But, I do believe that its all steering that is causing that. Again, smoother over city roads.
Stereo: The biggest disappointment of the car. The stereo is nowhere near the quality of the MP3 Excelon Setup. The mp3 has a TRUE Excelon setup, meaning head unit, all speakers, and sub. The MSP does not have an Excelon head unit, Im guessing the speakers in the doors are Excelon. The 6x9s in my car sound much clearer then what those little tweeters in the msp could ever reproduce, and the speakers in the doors sound very much like any other drop in speaker from Bose or other manufactures. It is a great stereo, still sounds good. Far better then any other stock one I have heard. But, not as good as the MP3. My Head unit also seems to have this screw up like the last speed brought into town, where it gets stuck when rotating, and all you can do it reset it and hope for the best. So, that is going back. The display is a little easier to see, that is the only better thing about it. The remote is ugly. The sub is loud, but doesnt hit hard at all. Ill be putting another sub in anyways. Keep in mind, my 6x9s in my car were replaced by warranty with Excelon kfc-698 ( I think thats the number) 300 Watt speakers which did sound a little better then the stock mp3s, but are very very close in sound to the stock mp3s. The front door speakers are probably the same from what I have been told, but since I cant see them, I dont know. They dont sound like it. The stereo pissed me off so much with it getting stuck all the time, so I gave up on it. Ill play with the settings more later. I do know how to tweak a kenwood deck, so dont suggest it.
Tires: The Mp3s look a hell of a lot sexier. The bridgestones look like all season tires. The tread is not aggressive at all, and is not that deep when comparing it to my Dunlops when they were new. They are quiet, stick like glueso far. It is raining today, so Ill try to see what their like in the rain. I only put 100 kms on it last night, 20 of which I never did myseld, so I wont comment on these tires more until I can do it fairly.
RIMS: By biggest concern before seeing it as you all know. In person, they look like a cross between a Chromy bling blingy type rim, and a dark metal rim. They are not Gunmetal. Anyone that says they are gunmetal rims has clearly never seen gunmetal before. They do go from a dark color, to a chromy finish as you look at them in different angles and light. Very nice effect, and shines quite nice even at night. They are darker then Id want, but it suits the car nicely. I washed her last night, and I think the finish is a little higher quality then that on the MP3s, so Im hoping they dont scratch as easy, and dont pit like the mp3s did. Having said this, the MP3 rims are still nicer. Way nicer. But, the 2003.5 rims have a different look all together, more of a classy, shiney look vs a bright in your face look like the mp3. This is all opinion of course. I think once I get the windows tinted, and other things slapped on, this car is going to look amazing. Do I like them better then the 2003s? Hmmm, not sure. Its a different look. Everyone that seen the car last night kept sayingCOOL rims, I want the rims, where can I get those rims.so I guess, most people like them. Most people like the 2003's as well. I wont be trading them for the 2003s, I can tell you that for sure. So, I guess I do like them better. Would I put them on the orange car? No. The silver rims on the orange suit it better. Would I put them on the black? Yes/No. All depends on the look your going for. I think rims should be a contrast of the car color. Silver car, dark rims. Red car, silver rims. The only color I like with the same color rims is white with white wheels, and some black cars with black wheels. Again, this is all opinion.
Paint: One word, stunning. I wont compare it to the blue mica. Just two different of a paint. Pictures, really dont capture it well. Then again pictures dont capture the orange well either. The metallic in it is dead obvious. Same as the Orange? No. Ill put it is this way.
The metallic in the orange: The flakes are much larger, but there isnt as many.
The Titanium: The flakes are smaller, but more concentrated, ant so it creates an entirely different effect.
The Titanium is a darker color, light hits it, its very close to silver. As the light moves over the car when its moving, the car goes from dark to light almost brilliantly. Very similar to the Aston Martin in the new James Bond Movie. If you cant see the car, see the movie, same effect in the paint. The paint does have a little blue in it, and in certain lights, the paint almost glows with this light blue hue. Very hard to explain, you have to see it. Ive seen the car 3-4 different colors since yesterday. As the orange is pale without sun, the titanium is just plain grey. In sun, both paints looks their best. Driving around last night ( Orange owners dont take offense) but everyone agreed I was nuts for considering the orange over this. Its just a different look. One is in your face loud, and the titanium is classy and rich looking. Do I like it better then the blue.I think I actually do. Dirt does not show up on it well at all. Its pouring today, so I know 1st hand.
Interior: All you 2003 owners complaining about this and this.grow up. Harsh yes, but your being silly and childish. These cars are so close to each other its not even funny. Yes, my seats have little squares in the middle, yes my stuff has MAzdaspeed written on it. Whoopie. But you know what, everyone that drove the 2003 here in town, and then got in mine last night, liked mine better. The shifter ( larger then the 2003 )does not feel like a tree trunk ( Over exaggerated by someone here ), the woman, my father, even salesman said its still a little too small, so that will tell you its not that big ( About half the size of the mp3 one, and half an inch to 1 inch thicker then the 2003). Personally, it fits my hand a lot better then both the MP3, and 2003, but everyones hands are a different size. The yellow in the interior looks alright. I wasnt fussy about the orange stitching either. The shifter does look really cool, the needles look really neat adding a nice touch. The peddles feel better under my feet then the sparcos, or at least the gas does. I like the brake/clutch in the 2003s maybe a little better, but the gas peddle is better for my feet. Speaking of clutch, anyone thats driven a MP3, its not that much different. If anyone was going to complain about a stiffer clutch, I figured the woman would, but she never said it was. It does engage in a different spot, and I like it more. The shifter also seems a lot more smooth, less notchy then the mp3, far better then a p5/es etc. Ive never had troubles with my MP3 tranny, but this one just feel smoother. Go figure.
Alarm: too damn sensitive, had to fix it. Started to rain this morning, and the rain drops set it off! Im not kidding. No noise at all, no trucks no nothing around, as soon as the rain started hitting it ( It was raining hard ) every now and thenhonk.honk. Easily fixed. Compustar going in it anyways. Already have it.
