test drive of the 2003.5 msp

[turbolsd]

I went to the mazda rev it up event at Hollywood Park and it was very good. There was a test drive center where you can test drive the miata, protege5, mazda6, mpv and the mazdaspeed protege. The test drive center had a course very similar that is somewhat similar to the competition course and you are able to take the car onto this course. Well the main differences between the 2003 and the 2003.5 is that the 2003.5 has aluminum piping, mazdaspeed shift knob and pedals and the shift boot is stiched. Everything else is the same except for the spoiler and the front lip. The exhaust is bigger and during the test drive, the car is quite a bit louder than the 2003 msp. The car felt exactly the same and the acceleration was the same but just louder. The msps handled very very well and the car oversteered but very easy to recover and the lsd really came into effect on the track. The rims on the 2003.5 are darker but the look of the 2003 look more agressive. After being able to take the mazdaspeed onto the autocross setup, you are able to tell the ultimate capabilities of the car. You can't really tell the capability until you take this car to an autocross because there are just angles, turns and strategies used that can't be applied because the streets aren't setup for this purpose. It felt better than the integra type R, my previous vehicle.
The suspension set-up is unbelieveable. The car is very controllable and once you think it is pushing the limits, the time needed to recover is very minimal.

[unwrittenLaw]

nice report...

wish there was an autox around here...:(

[Dexter]

i want aluminum piping. ehehe

[311Mazda]

Is it just me or dose this report seem bogus? How come I havn't seen anything else about a 2003.5 MSP? I havn't seen pictures of anything this guy is talking about. And also, it's not the easyist thing in the world to get a FWD car to oversteer, even if it has a hardcore rear roll bar like the MSP dose. I'm not trying to make waves here but....am I just really misinformed? :confused:

[derrick1623]

hey 311, there are plenty of pics available of the 2003.5 msp's...

what "hardcore rear roll bar"???

[redrims]

Originally posted by 311Mazda
Is it just me or dose this report seem bogus? How come I havn't seen anything else about a 2003.5 MSP? I havn't seen pictures of anything this guy is talking about. And also, it's not the easyist thing in the world to get a FWD car to oversteer, even if it has a hardcore rear roll bar like the MSP dose. I'm not trying to make waves here but....am I just really misinformed? :confused:

where have you been?...lol

We've only been talking about 2003.5 MSP since the beginning of the year.:rolleyes:

and maybe he meant torque steer, cause when I drove the 2003 msp, it did have quite a bit of torque steer.

[Newf]

How much louder? does it have a deeper growl, or higher pitch, or is it annoying loud?

And the rims are darker yes, but are they gunmetal or more of a dark silver?

Too bad you didn't take you camera


thanks though.

[mazdadan]

Originally posted by derrick1623
what "hardcore rear roll bar"???

He's probably referring to the rear sway bar....some people call them roll bars. Personally, I know a Protege can oversteer, because my ES will slightly oversteer with my AWR sway bar on the stiffest setting.

[Newf]

something else, I will be VERY VERY VERY surprised if the final car has different piping. Maybe that test car was an exception.

[twiztedjeckel]

the spicey orange test car had hard pipes, they were powder coated black. you can see them in some of adds, or maybe it was the sport compact car article. so yes, i wouldn't be surprised if they change things. i don't get why they do that.

[Slipstream]

Can others who have done the Rev It Up confirm the aluminum piping? I would be surprised if they put it on all the track cars, but didn't on production. I suspect it's an all or nothing deal.

[turbolsd]

There was definate oversteer since the rear was sliding outwards and overly turning in when I excited the turn somewhat like a rear wheel drive car. Lsd does that to cars. There was torque steer as well. There were 3 2003.5 mazdaspeeds at the event. One was at the showroom, one was at the slalom practice course, and one at the test drive center.

The car is louder a bit. It is deep, not bee-like.

[I-Am-Chris]

damn ive gotten mine to oversteer before over in dallas on a corner (had 3 people in the back lol)

[Dexter]

yes there is oversteer

[311Mazda]

Damn....I just am really misinformed. haha I havn't been on the site in a long time...I posted alot when it first opend back in 01' but now I have the chance to go online at my job so I check in here alot. I guess I'll just have to look around to see pics on the 2003.5 an stuff...

[scapamouche]

311: Come out to the next SFR SCCA autox this coming Sunday at Candlestick park! I'll show you a bit of oversteer ;) I'll be running my MSP in the first run group of the day, starting around 9am. If you make it, I'll take you out on course with me for a run... The car handles AWESOME!!! I am STOCK except for my tires (225/45-17 Azenis) but I'm usually competitive with the modified WRXs in my class....

Plus, you might get the bug and join us more regularly...

[Allen]

Originally posted by scapamouche
311: Come out to the next SFR SCCA autox this coming Sunday at Candlestick park! I'll show you a bit of oversteer ;) I'll be running my MSP in the first run group of the day, starting around 9am. If you make it, I'll take you out on course with me for a run... The car handles AWESOME!!! I am STOCK except for my tires (225/45-17 Azenis) but I'm usually competitive with the modified WRXs in my class....

Plus, you might get the bug and join us more regularly...

Don't listen to scapamouche ... he is evil (laugh) ... plain evil.... all he wants to do is lure you into autocross and have you become addicted to ... ACK!! Help.... he's got me.... help me..... AHHHHHHHHHHHH.......

[moment's later]

Oh, I'm sorry... did I say something? Autocross racing rules!! (rockon)

[03MzdSpdSTP]

AUTO Xin IS FUN!!! esp when the car has so much bodyroll it isnt even funny!!(Gotta love a Stock susp on a 92 saturn SL1 Type R)
Hella mad body roll.

[murdock_]

mazda rev it up tour thing coming to boston this summer in july.. info about it at the mazda site.. im signed up... im lookin forward to it