Twisties...Mazdaspeed Protege VS. Subaru WRX

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

Ok - so I had a very heated discussion with my brother while driving home in my MSP. He argued that the Subaru WRX (his car) will out handle a MSP on twisties end of story.

I seriously beg to differ since Mazdaspeed upgraded the suspension on the MSP.

What are your guys thoughts on which car would win on twisties? Im very curious but not sure which would win. I understand that Subaru WRX is World Rally Cross but I thought Mazda created the MSP specifically designed for twisties and the like....Suggestions?


Thanks guys,

Randy

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

unbiased opinions please...

[ForceFed]

Stock for Stock...Hmmm...I would have to go with the Speed on a Road coarse over the WRX in total overall WIn.
Lap times would tell the tale...and I bet the MSP would be quite a bit ahead.

[CHICO2003]

without question. have him drive the 2 back to back. the rex is a sloppy beast in comparison.

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

I completely agree with you guys..

It's so funny because everyone that looks under my car is like...what is that? I say its the stock custom tuned suspension..they are like....STOCK?! ...Im like...Umm yeah...

It's on their for a reason.

[CHICO2003]

lol that swaybar is actually a joke. get the clunk bracket fix and your car will not only handle better but won't make that god awful clunk/creak sound. (won't be quite as visible though... since it relocates it a bit more towards the front)

[vinnie mack]

here are some facts to consider against this argument. Note however that temperature, time of year, track configuration and driver would all be a factor.

As tested by Popular Mechanics at Willow Springs Raceway (Streets of Willow Springs) in August 03

03.5 Mazdaspeed Protege Lap time: 1:24:53
03 Subaru WRX STi Lap Time Lap time: 1:21:63

However with the STi purely in a different class I found that we would need better data on the WRX itself (non STi). This is difficult because the plain jane WRX isn't their "specialty" model so magazines testing it on the track are not really there.

It may be possible to figure out difference in HP for each lap-time to get concrete data. The STi is purely more beasty in HP then the MSP, how much that power makes up for the laptime is unknown.

link: http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/1270511.html?page=5

[CHICO2003]

dude... you can't put an STi into this. that shit just aint fair. Not only does it have 70+ more hp but far better handling as well. plus... popular mechanics? cool rag for crazy scientific shit but I'd leave the car testing up to the true pros.

[deVic]

the sti has 130 horse more LOL. the sti is a whole different realm of cars compared to ours

[vinnie mack]

yeah, i said all that.. lol. I don't see how Popular Mechanics or any magazine can be any different, lap times are lap times. That and it isn't rocket science (pun) to get data on a car with some pylons and a stop watch.

Either way,

"the Protegé was the quickest through the twisties. And it stopped shorter than everything else here."

[LordWorm]

get your brother to race you on a track and put your argument to bed once and for all - of course though, all that will REALLY tell is who is the better DRIVER.....not who has the better equipment. WRX has advantages over the MSP off the line, and mid corner. MSP will have the advantage of not having to lump around a heavy AWD system on the straights, and less drive train loss to boot.

I think the WRX is probably a better platform, but all of the BJ 323's (turbo or not) are very quick when in the hands of a fearless driver who understands how to drive them on a knifes edge....

[SteelWarrior]

ive had some fun on cruise night vs WRX's and they are typically faster but when they make a sharp corner, i have to slam on my breaks to come up short of under cutting them and rear ending the damn thing

so i would put money that my MSP would handle better on a course

drag strip would be a different matter though



and i drove a STI at my old dealership and i wasnt all that impressed, it was stupid fast but cornering sucked IMO. was like driving a brick vs my car, or at elast thats how it felt (keeping in mind im new to AWD and was not used to the car itself which factors in).

[Perro del Sol]

Having driven both and having the my buddy who has a WRX drive the car is well. Stock for Stock suspensiaon, the MSP handles better, which he has admitted. On road courses, he can pull on me in the straights, but as far as cornering and even braking, I have the advantages.

This is stock for stock, remember.

[Warlock2X]

here are some facts to consider against this argument. Note however that temperature, time of year, track configuration and driver would all be a factor.

As tested by Popular Mechanics at Willow Springs Raceway (Streets of Willow Springs) in August 03

03.5 Mazdaspeed Protege Lap time: 1:24:53
03 Subaru WRX STi Lap Time Lap time: 1:21:63

However with the STi purely in a different class I found that we would need better data on the WRX itself (non STi). This is difficult because the plain jane WRX isn't their "specialty" model so magazines testing it on the track are not really there.

It may be possible to figure out difference in HP for each lap-time to get concrete data. The STi is purely more beasty in HP then the MSP, how much that power makes up for the laptime is unknown.

link: http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/1270511.html?page=5

exactly it was an STi not a regular WRX.

[LinuxRacr]

MSP outhandles that year of a stock WRX period. Part of the reason is that it came with crappier tires.

[slo03.5msp]

This wasn't really a serious question was it?