New York Auto Show Thread
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: The Golden State
New York Auto Show Thread
It starts April 15th.
Debut cars will be Chrysler's new LX sedan, Cadillac CTSv, Buick Rendevous, the new Toyota Solara, the new Toyota Prius (if that sort of car intrests you), a new Toyota minivan (ditto), Chevy's Malibu Maxx, the Ford Focus chassised Mazda 3, and droptop 350z and SAAB 9/3.
Debut cars will be Chrysler's new LX sedan, Cadillac CTSv, Buick Rendevous, the new Toyota Solara, the new Toyota Prius (if that sort of car intrests you), a new Toyota minivan (ditto), Chevy's Malibu Maxx, the Ford Focus chassised Mazda 3, and droptop 350z and SAAB 9/3.
Re: Re: New York Auto Show Thread
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Sorry this is a little off topic, but kinda related since you mentioned the Focus...
I autocrossed this weekend and there was a guy there with an SVT Focus... less than 1k miles, unmodded, and man was that thing fast. I just don't know how to describe that little car's performance to you in text... smooth, quiet growling scream, flat, no body roll, just gone. We were not in the same class (thank goodness) but his raw time was almost 2 seconds better than mine (45.8 sec vs. a 43.9). That is ONE HELLUVA LITTLE PLATFORM.
If the new Mazda on this platform gets ANY of the technology from the RX-7 or RX-8 cars, that could be a screamer. I'm anxious to see the Mazda 3.
I autocrossed this weekend and there was a guy there with an SVT Focus... less than 1k miles, unmodded, and man was that thing fast. I just don't know how to describe that little car's performance to you in text... smooth, quiet growling scream, flat, no body roll, just gone. We were not in the same class (thank goodness) but his raw time was almost 2 seconds better than mine (45.8 sec vs. a 43.9). That is ONE HELLUVA LITTLE PLATFORM.
If the new Mazda on this platform gets ANY of the technology from the RX-7 or RX-8 cars, that could be a screamer. I'm anxious to see the Mazda 3.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Originally posted by ProudPony
Sorry this is a little off topic, but kinda related since you mentioned the Focus...
I autocrossed this weekend and there was a guy there with an SVT Focus... less than 1k miles, unmodded, and man was that thing fast. I just don't know how to describe that little car's performance to you in text... smooth, quiet growling scream, flat, no body roll, just gone. We were not in the same class (thank goodness) but his raw time was almost 2 seconds better than mine (45.8 sec vs. a 43.9). That is ONE HELLUVA LITTLE PLATFORM.
If the new Mazda on this platform gets ANY of the technology from the RX-7 or RX-8 cars, that could be a screamer. I'm anxious to see the Mazda 3.
Sorry this is a little off topic, but kinda related since you mentioned the Focus...
I autocrossed this weekend and there was a guy there with an SVT Focus... less than 1k miles, unmodded, and man was that thing fast. I just don't know how to describe that little car's performance to you in text... smooth, quiet growling scream, flat, no body roll, just gone. We were not in the same class (thank goodness) but his raw time was almost 2 seconds better than mine (45.8 sec vs. a 43.9). That is ONE HELLUVA LITTLE PLATFORM.
If the new Mazda on this platform gets ANY of the technology from the RX-7 or RX-8 cars, that could be a screamer. I'm anxious to see the Mazda 3.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 599
From: Inland Empire, CA
Originally posted by ProudPony
If the new Mazda on this platform gets ANY of the technology from the RX-7 or RX-8 cars, that could be a screamer. I'm anxious to see the Mazda 3.
If the new Mazda on this platform gets ANY of the technology from the RX-7 or RX-8 cars, that could be a screamer. I'm anxious to see the Mazda 3.
I'm excited about the Chrysler LX cars, I'd all but forgotten about them. Maybe a big surprise will come out of it?
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Originally posted by MunchE
Actually, the Protege MP3 was named the best handling car under 30k not too long ago, and the MazdaSpeed Protege is supposed to be pretty badass as well.
Actually, the Protege MP3 was named the best handling car under 30k not too long ago, and the MazdaSpeed Protege is supposed to be pretty badass as well.
isn't the MP3 just a paint/stereo package?
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Originally posted by Z28x
I find it hard to beleive the MP3 handles better than a Mustang GT, WRX, RSX or Camaro SS.
isn't the MP3 just a paint/stereo package?
I find it hard to beleive the MP3 handles better than a Mustang GT, WRX, RSX or Camaro SS.
isn't the MP3 just a paint/stereo package?
After seeing the cars at that autoX just this weekend, I can tell you for certain, that with only street/race tires bolted onto both, the WRX and RSX will clean both the GT and SS ***** in handling on an autoX course, largely due to front-end weight and RWD. A bone stock WRX sedan was cranking some 42.0's and even a ringer 41.9xx to my 45.xxx's.
My car is no slouch ('89 LX 5.0), but I really got schooled by the newer compact sports cars. This is exactly why they PAX-handicap certain cars when racing across classes, and fortunately they keep RWD V8 cars in different classes than FWD or AWD coupes! There was also a Ram Air T/A WS6 there, and he got schooled too... his times were 43.xxx's and he was on Kumho Racers!
At least I was on my street tires...
On the average road (where we are not supposed to do this) the ponycars can use their horsepower to gain time and advantage, but on the short, tight courses it's all about sticking, and the FWD mini-rice-rockets have the edge - hands-down. Look for Civics, Accords, RX-7, CRX, and VW rabbits to dominate, with the Miatas, RX-7, and 200Z cars being very strong too.
Beleive me, I'd LOVE to have a 1/4 mile drag race positioned at the end of the 27-turn autoX course!!! Them ricers - they'd all have a new daddy then!!!
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 599
From: Inland Empire, CA
Originally posted by Z28x
I find it hard to beleive the MP3 handles better than a Mustang GT, WRX, RSX or Camaro SS.
isn't the MP3 just a paint/stereo package?
I find it hard to beleive the MP3 handles better than a Mustang GT, WRX, RSX or Camaro SS.
isn't the MP3 just a paint/stereo package?
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/compa...4/page007.html
The stock Protegé is a good performer in terms of handling, and the MP3 takes this dynamic to a higher level. Mazda recruited Racing Beat, an aftermarket tuning company that has supplied RX-7 enthusiasts with hop-up parts for years, to beef up this platform. The Protegé was lowered and fitted with Tokico shocks, higher-rate (read: stiffer) springs, larger stabilizer bars and a front strut-tower brace. Topping (or should we say bottoming?) it off are a set of 17-inch Racing Hart alloy wheels wearing 205/45ZR17 Dunlop tires. A quicker steering ratio sharpens up the response even more.
As we expected, the MP3 shone brightest on the race track and in the twisty sections of our driving loop. The car's handling is fantastic; cornering, even in tight switchbacks, is dead flat and the MP3 simply feels locked to the pavement. The Protegé's steering drew raves for its smooth and quick (yet not darty) action and highly communicative nature. Through our 600-foot slalom, the Mazda topped the others with a 67.4 mph effort, smoking all but the Sentra by some 3 mph — a significant difference in that test.
As we expected, the MP3 shone brightest on the race track and in the twisty sections of our driving loop. The car's handling is fantastic; cornering, even in tight switchbacks, is dead flat and the MP3 simply feels locked to the pavement. The Protegé's steering drew raves for its smooth and quick (yet not darty) action and highly communicative nature. Through our 600-foot slalom, the Mazda topped the others with a 67.4 mph effort, smoking all but the Sentra by some 3 mph — a significant difference in that test.
It was in our November 2001 issue that we included the Mazda MP3 in our "Ten Hot Cars You Can Afford" cover story. And it sure made a bold statement about its handling prowess, as the MP3 was absolutely sensational, demonstrating genuine sports-car performance. So this time every editor immediately voted for this compact 4-door sedan to be included in our best-handling car shootout.
<snip>
Herta was impressed by the Mazda's level of competence on the track. "Wow!" he said. "The suspension is quite good. The chassis is very balanced and it does pretty much anything you ask it to do. As I turn the steering wheel, I can feel the front tires loading up and the car follows it as if riding on rails. And once the front bite starts to fall away, I can also feel it through the steering as the turning effort gets lighter."
<snip>
Herta was impressed by the Mazda's level of competence on the track. "Wow!" he said. "The suspension is quite good. The chassis is very balanced and it does pretty much anything you ask it to do. As I turn the steering wheel, I can feel the front tires loading up and the car follows it as if riding on rails. And once the front bite starts to fall away, I can also feel it through the steering as the turning effort gets lighter."
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
Re: Re: Re: Re: New York Auto Show Thread
Originally posted by Chuck!
Add me too the mix
Will they announce pricing with it, or will that be at a later time?
Add me too the mix
Will they announce pricing with it, or will that be at a later time?