RHAGEL

I saw a Neon SRT-4 yesterday on the road and it was everything mazda has and more. The look, not as stylin as the MSP but it was intimidating and looked powerful. It has the look of a Vipers little brother. The exhaust was awsome, it passed me with a low growl that would rattle my windows at full throttle. Besides what I saw, just read about it and you would see that for the price the MSP falls way behind the SRT-4. I think mazdas problem is that they are just 2 steps behind, I will stay loyal and wait until mazda can get up to speed. Give it some more boost and a larger displacement and then well talk.

nate0123

Maybe if it didn't have fugly Neon styling and Chrysler quality/reliability, and had 1/2 the Protege verve and handling feel... it would be an option.

cjb200

Just too bad it's a Neon . Sit inside one, and you won't be as excited about it. I'd still pay more for an MSP than a Dodge any day.

turbonium959

I so double what he said. Chrysler vehicles are known to have a major problem within first 2-3 years. They just fall apart, and cannot be put together. One thing that Neon SRT-4 has over MSP is power. On the outside, as well as the inside, the car looks hideous. The quality of the parts that were used in that car look like they came from "99 cent" store. And I would not mention that MSP handles sooooo much better then anything in its class! I would rather drive in a comfortable, and a very attractive car, then a piece of junk that only drives faster then others!

redrims

Okay, I stayed quiet for a long time when people bashed the handling of the SRT-4. The SRT-4 handles really well and all of you under estimate it. True, the MazdaSpeed handles better, but its not a huge difference.

From Sport Compact Car October 2002

Handling:
Lateral grip (200ft skidpad) - .88g
Slalom (700ft, six cone) - 72mph

Braking
60-0 stopping distance - 123ft.




From Sport Compact Car December 2002

Handling
Lateral grip (200ft skidpad) - .85g
Slalom (700ft, six cone) - 69.0mph

Braking
60-0 stopping distance - 119ft.



I know you guys want to be loyal to Mazda, but don't let your obsession for Mazda cause you to over look cars and depreciate them.

turbonium959

I was not saying what I did because I am loyal to Mazda. I work with cars all the time, and I have seen and driven both of the latest models of Mazda and Dodge (not SRT-4 nor MSP), and in the long run, I would take Mazda any time. I would even take a Honda Civic, because I can make it go just as fast, if I spend my money right. Anyhow, my point was not that MSP outhandles everything by a mile, but a point that Mazda Portege overall, compared to a Dodge Neon, overall, is a much better car.

itzkcatz

Neons blow. just because they add some cool things doesnt change the fact its a crap box

ukroadracer

The Neon doesn't get a limited slip diff, so all that power will have a hard time getting to the ground out of the tight corners.

redrims

They have an aftermarket LSD in the making by Mopar, so that will be easily solved. (which means an even quicker 0-60 and 1/4 mile) It's due out soon and I'm sure a lot of SRT-4 guys will get it.

Besides I rather believe a magazine that has actually tested these cars than people who are tyring to make there own theories.

Davard

All those early Neons were ringers. Chrysler is infamous for providing early production cars (and those for the press fleet) that are tweaked. I talked with a friend who works for an independent test firm (the company putting on the Mazda6 thing), and he said that the SRT-4s in the early test fleet were not representative of what the public would be buying (as evidenced by the SCC dyno numbers exceeding the factory specs...at the wheels).

Mazda us actually conservative with the numbers on the Mazdaspeed Pro, especially the torque rating.

redrims

So the SRT-4s, due out in June, are going to be a de-tuned version of the current few out now?

eeterp

Consider the quality of the MSP LSD and the fact that it's already installed. The case ppl are making is that you get more for your dollar in the MSP, except for horsepower. The real decision ppl have to make is, do you want the extra horsepower or the extra reliability?

Personally, I'd just buy a 2.0L DX protege, turbo it, and put on some coilovers, and maybe the quaife unit or the msp lsd.

RHAGEL

I have to respect redrims, doing your homework is what it is all about. I have read SCC, Road & Track and Automobile and they all say that the SRT-4 blows the Mazdaspeed away. Teh handling may not be as good, but close. And for reliability, nobody here can say ****. A new engine, turbo and just about everything else, give it a chance to prove itself. This is not an ordinary neon, If it was, I would never would of brought it up. I would just laugh at it and think it was just another POS.

eeterp

Sounds like Dodge added more parts to break. New doesn't mean better (or worse). Don't take it personally if people here think the MSP will have an advantage on reliability. Maybe Dodge will shock the world with an unbreakable Neon, even though reputation says otherwise...
Actually, I think that the MSP's 3mph advantage in the slalom is as signifigant as the Neon's edge in the 1/4mi. Also, I'm reading/hearing that the pre-production SRT may have more hp than the actual SRT that will hit the dealers. True or not, it's something to think about.
Why not throw the 1.8t Jetta into the comparison too? I see a turbo Caviler is in the mix as well.

TheMAN

haha..... let's trash on the msp more

americans' concept of "fast" = straight line brute force speed