caranddriver.. mazdaspeed 3rd
May-5th-2003 | 06:31 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 144
From: Sarasota, FL
caranddriver.. mazdaspeed 3rd
Well it was about time someone showed Mazda up. I never thought I would see the day a Find On Racetrack Dead would beat out a Mazda or anything Japanese. But two Japanese auto makers got their butts kicked by the good ole american boys!! A 14.2 and a 1st place finish for the new Neon SRT-4! and a 2nd from the SVT focus.. geeeez.. well mazdaspeed needs some help because a 15.6 out of a tubocharged protege?!? They have the handling now they need the thing from the good ole american boys' book... RAW POWER!! I'm sorry but I'll take my little ES turbo... there's no mountain roads or anything around here that handling matters.. Its all straight and the fastest of the fastest is what gets it.. bad decision mazda! btw.. my clubs website will be up soon.. look for us if you live around sarasota!! turbo integgy.. turbo protege! woooo and the 98 Civic hatch (black with Type-r integgy engine).. I'll have it up soon
May-5th-2003 | 08:01 PM
#3
Protege Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 460
From: GA
Any magazine that gives a Dodge Neon first place has to be suspect.....the neon has a pretty solid reputation for being a complete piece of junk, and now with a new engine, it shoots to first place....
On the other hand , the competition wasnt that tough and it was only a 3 point spread.
Did they grade styling at all? That three foot wing on back of the neon has GOT to go...
On the other hand , the competition wasnt that tough and it was only a 3 point spread.
Did they grade styling at all? That three foot wing on back of the neon has GOT to go...
Last edited by Mach 1; May-5th-2003 at 08:06 PM.
May-5th-2003 | 08:19 PM
#4
WiCky=))
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 883
From: Canada
And in the same issue a Audi RS6 and S4 beating a M5 and M3 respectively. Four wheel drive understeering cars beating a much more well balanced car, something seems fishy.
CandD almost rated cars with the best handling and fun to drive. This time they went with the most powerful for some reason.
CandD almost rated cars with the best handling and fun to drive. This time they went with the most powerful for some reason.
May-5th-2003 | 09:26 PM
#6
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 778
From: New Jersey
I went to the NYC autoshow last week. They had some neons running an autox corse they had set up out front. I gotta tell ya these things can rip some ***. After the neons they had a viper run the couse and autox is not for a viper.
I like the giant wing on the srt-4 it goes with the rest of the car. Go on show me something better and form fitting, on that round car.
I like the giant wing on the srt-4 it goes with the rest of the car. Go on show me something better and form fitting, on that round car.
May-5th-2003 | 09:30 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 144
From: Sarasota, FL
I was thinking i was going to get bashed for what i said.. but everyone seems to agree that here in america its the power that rules all.. i'm sorry but i have no twisty roads so i need straight line not something slow made for corners.. i like the design of the neon personally.. nothing more intimidating then a hhuuuge chrome intercooler staring back at you.. personally.. sign me up for the SRT-4 next time around!! maybe a drunk driver will hit me again?
May-5th-2003 | 09:33 PM
#8
whatever
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 490
From: cyberspace, where else?
Wasn't it Car and Driver that picked the Pro LX #1 when they did the small sedan shootout about a year ago? Called it a "4-door Miata", as I recall.
And then they give the crown to a glorified K-car?
Let's hope it's just a one-time lapse into bad taste.
And then they give the crown to a glorified K-car?
Let's hope it's just a one-time lapse into bad taste.
May-5th-2003 | 11:42 PM
#9
Protege Newbie
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 13
From: Mclean, VA
Originally posted by Mark_02DX
Wasn't it Car and Driver that picked the Pro LX #1 when they did the small sedan shootout about a year ago? Called it a "4-door Miata", as I recall.
And then they give the crown to a glorified K-car?
Let's hope it's just a one-time lapse into bad taste.
Wasn't it Car and Driver that picked the Pro LX #1 when they did the small sedan shootout about a year ago? Called it a "4-door Miata", as I recall.
And then they give the crown to a glorified K-car?
Let's hope it's just a one-time lapse into bad taste.
Last edited by skater69; May-5th-2003 at 11:44 PM.
May-6th-2003 | 12:20 AM
#10
Protege Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 460
From: GA
Originally posted by premdrumusr
i like the design of the neon personally.. nothing more intimidating then a hhuuuge chrome intercooler staring back at you.. personally.. sign me up for the SRT-4 next time around!! maybe a drunk driver will hit me again?
i like the design of the neon personally.. nothing more intimidating then a hhuuuge chrome intercooler staring back at you.. personally.. sign me up for the SRT-4 next time around!! maybe a drunk driver will hit me again?
May-6th-2003 | 01:24 AM
#12
formerly chastan
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,350
From: California, USA
Originally posted by skater69
Yup. Car and Driver has actually picked the Protege #1 in 2 big car comparos in the past. They're always singing praise for the normally aspirated Proteges. I was reading Motor Trend and they also just had a comparo and picked the Neon 1st against the Mazdaspeed and the SVT focus. 5.6 0-60 vs 7.x and slower........I can't really blame them. I think the Neon does 0-100 in something like 13.9! For $20k not bad at all......but don't get me wrong.....I'd NEVER buy a piece of junk Neon even if it is fast. I'll take my "slow" ES any day.
Yup. Car and Driver has actually picked the Protege #1 in 2 big car comparos in the past. They're always singing praise for the normally aspirated Proteges. I was reading Motor Trend and they also just had a comparo and picked the Neon 1st against the Mazdaspeed and the SVT focus. 5.6 0-60 vs 7.x and slower........I can't really blame them. I think the Neon does 0-100 in something like 13.9! For $20k not bad at all......but don't get me wrong.....I'd NEVER buy a piece of junk Neon even if it is fast. I'll take my "slow" ES any day.
Car and Driver... I don't know, I've never read it
May-6th-2003 | 12:28 PM
#15
Certified Sick Individual
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,141
From: Houston, TX.
Autoweek is good. They don't really give awards but they do comparos sometimes (they tell you the good points on each instead of saying this one is better than the other one). The awards they do give are voted on by the readers. I can't stomach the other mags anymore, it seems like only idiots write for and subscribe to them.