REQUIRED READING: The June issue ROAD & TRACK has a comparison between the MAZDA MP3 and.... the FERRARI 360 Modena, CHEVROLET Corvette Z06, PORSCHE 911 Turbo, LOTUS Elise, MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo VII, BMW M3 Coupe, and the PORSCHE Boxer.

With the MP3 listing at $18,500 and the Ferrari 360 totally in at $171,243, it safe to say that the Mazda MP3 is in very good company. Even though it rates in last place(8th) , everybody was VERY IMPPRESSED with the car, check out the specs and you'll also see why this car is awesome steal and a awesome car!

Later, Speedbump.

 

Okay I can see the MP3 being well liked, but the choice of "company" is a bit off the wall. The MP3 would fall behind in any engine performance category. Don't get me wrong I love the MP3 but it's a compact car derived from a low cost vehical category!
Now on the subject of handling, the MP3 would fare well, so maybe if R&T added a 50 shot of NOS to help it keep up in the 1/4 mile

 

I thought R&T made there name by doing screwy comparisons like that though. Didn't R7T do that GTO v GTO comparrison a long time ago??

Or was that Car and Driver?

 

I do remember about 1990 R&T did an article on the 90 Mustang vs. the 90 Camero...like that's origional
Or the test about the dually diesel pickups...like that's interesting...the 1/4 mile run was impressive
I must add, atleast it's something to read in the rag isle when the wife is taking extra long shopping!

 

I read that comparisson too. Must say, that is a little off the wall, but I'm a loyal Car And Driver follower, so when R & T pulls stuff like this, it only re-affirms why I don't read them.

 

what's wrong with that? They all knew that the MP3 had excellent handling, so they put it in there even though it never really had much chance against the others. However the whole test is one big hairpin turn, so it probably kept up pretty well. They had nothing but praise for the car in the article anyways

 

I thought that article was about cars that tear up the track and the MP3 (besides needing at least 50 more hp) does that. It handles as well as the other cars in the test according to numerous magazines. In fact the MP3 was faster through the slalom than the ZO6 and the 360 Modena (the two fastest cars ever recorded in stock trim).

 

talk about screwy comparisons.....how about the one that pit the Lingenfielder (spelling) Corvette against a F-16 Blue Angles Fighter? now THAT WAS SCREWY! lol not to mention a waste of space and a tv show segment as well!

 

this is kinda why i dont read road and track.... too screwy

im a car and driver guy since i was 5....

 

screwy but sometimes u got to admit, it's interesting. like seeing how a f18 put out 10,000lbs torque that's about 1000 civics LOL.

 

(F-18) but that was one scary car! 0-60 in 2.9!!!

Don

 

I guess...but seeing as how I spent 8 months up close and personal with fighter jets watching them take off and land on an aircraft carrier, watching them put in air shows for VIP's that they would bring on the ship.....it just didn't excite me much. guess those that hadn't had that kind of contact....it might be a little interesting.

 

Off the deck isn't it more like 0.9?

 

Hey Nick,

No I meant the Corvette. Off a carrier I think the F-18 would dust it. They had an incar camera showing first gear, Never seen a speedo sweep faster than a tach!


Don

 

I know what you mean! My Dad let me take the Vette out around near my house today, and I found an empty Cul-De-Sac where they're still building houses, and let her idle along in 1st gear at about 20 Km/h. As I was turning around (had the wheel locked) I just punched it. BAD idea! Spun almost completely around, and stalled as I slammed on the brakes and reefed on the E. The Vette is an awesome car, and a force to be reckoned with for sure. Learned my lesson!

Btw, after getting out of the Vette, and into my car, the clutch, everything felt SLUSHY! Try driving just 30 mins with a real heavy clutch and "notchy" gearbox, then jump into the P5 and give her a go! Yikes!