sonik

Has anyone driven a spec V and compared it to your MP3? I know supposedly there is a big horsewpower differance but I have heard the Spec V doesn't really do what nissan claims hp-wise. I just test drove one and was impressed but MP3s are so rare I can't find one to test drive to compare. Anyone?

sonik

22 views and no replies? There have to be some MP3 owners around here.

1chance

i test drove the spec-v and i thought the thing was great. it needs to put more power to the road cuz when i was test driving it i put a 30ft of rubber on the ground. the dealer didnt mind at all. he did the same thing in the parking lot. but the MP3 is so ******* rare i have only seen 1 in Az. i want that car so bad though.

sonik

Yeah the Mp3s are rare up here in seattle too. And since they are so rare when the dealers around here get them they charge crazy prices and won't let you test drive them. I wanna just test drive one soooo bad!!!

Mp3Angel

Trust me, if you got to test drive an Mp3 you'd fall right in love... the pick up is really good considering it's a four-cylinder. Haven't test driven the spec V though. The only time I seem to mind the lack in hp is when I get out of our VW Gti Vr6 and get into the mp3... THAT'S when you really notice that you don't have as much power. Handling, I couldn't ask for a better car!

sonik

well considering the spec V has the same displacement as some v6s (2.5L) I wonder how it would fair on pickup against an MP3

Mp3Angel

Probably would kick the mp3's *** then? I don't know, like I said, never driven the spec V

1chance

alight i have never driven the Mp3 due to its rarity but i am going to try to base these facts off numbers.

this is all motor trend


MP3- 2.0 I-4 engine with 5sp manual making 140hp. 0-60 in 8.9sec. 1/4 mile in 16.8 sec @ 82.3mph. braking 60-0 in 132ft. and slalom @ 64.8 mph.

Spec-V- 2.5 I-4 engine with 6spd manual making 175hp. 0-60 in 7.2sec. 1/4 mile in 15.6sec @90.3mph. braking 60-0 in 121ft. and slalom @ 66.0mph.

so there it goes, the spec v whips the **** out of the MP3 but in other areas the rarity of the MP3 to Spec-V is no comparison. i see like 20 Spec-v's a day and have only seen 1 MP3 since they have come out. but remember you can always add things to the engine of the MP3 and make it just as fast.

sonik

Yes I could do more stuff to the engine but the only thing that is gonna give me enough horses to get to around the spec v is gonna be a turbo,NOS, or a supercharger right? problem is I don't like turbos and NOS is iffy for me. So that leaves a supercharger (if they make one) For that kind of money it just doesn't seem like a good decision if I am mainly worried about HP. problem is, i really like the look of the protege over the Spec V. I guess one can't have it all.

1chance

you could try to put cams, better ignition, intake, exhuagst (god i cant spell today), and other things along that line. main reason i have read that the spec-v gets alot of its power (dont qoute me on this) is from longer valves. so who knows. it is possible but you are right you will never be able to get as much as the spec-v cuz it does have more displacement. but hell it is worth a try.

sonik

I have decided to keep my 95 dx for a little while longer and by then the new mazdaspeed protege will be out. We will see then how mazda compares to the spec V

Makaveli

Actually those facts are wrong..... not so sure about anything else, but I know that through the slalom, the MP3 murdered all other cars in it's class. It beat out a Z06 (Corvette) and a Ferrari (Modena I think) in the slalom as well!!!!

I also thought that the braking was better on the MP3 then the Spec-V, but not too sure.

1chance

yeah i got those from the most recent motor trend and i was really suprised that the braking and salom wher not that good. cuz the P5 beats the MP3 so i dont think they are right either...but i got the, from MT so i have to go with that.

Makaveli

Well they did the slalom at something like 68.8 mph in the other magazine (Car and Driver I think it was?)..... so I wouldn't put that much trust into those results then......

sonik

wow that is a big differance in the 0 to 60 catagory!!