Jetta 1.8T vs. Mazdaspeed Protoge vs. SVT Focus?
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Jetta 1.8T vs. Mazdaspeed Protoge vs. SVT Focus?
VW Jetta GLS 1.8T
Mazda Mazdaspeed Protoge
Ford SVT Focus
which is best? i have the jetta right now but considering trading it in for one of the other 2. other cars i can think of in this class are the new Civic Si and Sentra SE-R V-Spec...but not considering those
Mazda Mazdaspeed Protoge
Ford SVT Focus
which is best? i have the jetta right now but considering trading it in for one of the other 2. other cars i can think of in this class are the new Civic Si and Sentra SE-R V-Spec...but not considering those
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From: Rochester, NY
The Mazdaspeed Protege hasen't gotten many good reviews. The SVT Focus has gotten alot of good reviews, but Focus' have a poor reliabilty record. Of the two, I like the SVT Focus with the Euro package.
Last edited by mule2k; Aug 18, 2003 at 04:14 PM.
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Mazdaspeeds have issues with hesitation. Mazda is supposedly working on it but there is no fix yet. You might check out mp3.com for more information. They are sweet handling cars. I test drove both the MSP and SVT Focus and preferred the MSP. Of course here I am shopping for a WRX.
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Car Info: 1999 Mazda Miata
VW Jetta/GTI 1.8T, Mazdaspeed Protoge, Ford Focus SVT, Honda Civic Si, Nissan Sentra SE-R V-Spec, Toyota Celica GTS, Toyota Matrix XRS, Mini Cooper S, Hyundai Tiburon, Acura RSX, Mitsubishi Eclipse
am i missing anything that seems to be in that class?
am i missing anything that seems to be in that class?
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My wife has a 2002 eclipse GT and I love the car but there is one that you forgot to mention that is in the same price range as the eclipse and the celica ,,,,,, The Wrx. If you get it bone stock with no options it is the same as a eclipse and my wife has one and I like the wrx way better in terms of performance. The eclipse is great for highway and crusing but it is FWD and heavy as hell
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i think the WRX sorta has its own category...closer to the price of the RSX-S and performance to an SRT-4.
believe me, my ultimate choice is a WRX. im just wondering what ppl prefer out of these...i highly doubt im getting rid of the jetta tho. at this point if i were to trade it in it would be an 02 wrblue wrx wagon 5spd thats going for pretty cheap
believe me, my ultimate choice is a WRX. im just wondering what ppl prefer out of these...i highly doubt im getting rid of the jetta tho. at this point if i were to trade it in it would be an 02 wrblue wrx wagon 5spd thats going for pretty cheap
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Car Info: 2004 Impreza Outback Sport
Not sure about the Mazda but I've read terrible things about the reliability of both the Jettas/Golfs and the Focus. Also, I've read the the Focus does terribly in the safety tests, one resulted in what amounted to serious injury/death for rear seat passengers. Even my dad, a long time Ford fan, hated the focus he got as a courtesy car.
Obviously, test drive them and do alot of research. Yahoo has partnered with Consumer reports that allows you to acces their entire New Car site for 3 months for only $10. I used it when I was narrowing my search. Originally i wanted a base RSX but the insurance would cost too much. Then I thought about getting a 4 Door Golf GLS, but I was mortified at the low reliability of newer VWs as shown on the site. Then I thought about the Protege 5 but decided I didn't care for the appearence and wanted AWD. Looked into the OBS on it did well on the site. When I test drove the OBS that sealed the deal
Obviously, test drive them and do alot of research. Yahoo has partnered with Consumer reports that allows you to acces their entire New Car site for 3 months for only $10. I used it when I was narrowing my search. Originally i wanted a base RSX but the insurance would cost too much. Then I thought about getting a 4 Door Golf GLS, but I was mortified at the low reliability of newer VWs as shown on the site. Then I thought about the Protege 5 but decided I didn't care for the appearence and wanted AWD. Looked into the OBS on it did well on the site. When I test drove the OBS that sealed the deal
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If you were choosing from those 3 i'd get the protege... but if its just fwd performance youre after i'd get the SRT neon.... Besides we all know you can always just debadge it and say it's a GDA WRX with swapped taillights and the center diff welded 
-DE
nah i take it back the Neon looks way better... sorry SRT-4 fans
P.S. ya'll can take a joke now right...?
-DE
nah i take it back the Neon looks way better... sorry SRT-4 fans
P.S. ya'll can take a joke now right...?
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For me i'd get the Mazdaspeed. Ive riden in the MP3 and seen them in action at autocrosses and those cars are nuts... Another 40hp and a BETTER suspension, mmm...
Other than that, either the Cooper S for its fun capability or the Civic Si for its interior, shifter and usefullness (but lacks in the fun cadigory)
But personally, i'd stay away from FWD...
Other than that, either the Cooper S for its fun capability or the Civic Si for its interior, shifter and usefullness (but lacks in the fun cadigory)
But personally, i'd stay away from FWD...
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Am I the only one who was downright befuddled when they first peared into the window of a Civic Si? I couldn't believe the shifter was on the dash. Anyone drive one? Is it uncomfortable or do you get used to it?
Speaking of the Civic SI, when i was shopping around I did an insurance quote on it and it was the SAME as a base RSX(what I originally wanted but then decided against due to insurance costs). Oh well, my subaru could beat the snot out of them in the snow, and given the winter we had last year, that'll be important
Speaking of the Civic SI, when i was shopping around I did an insurance quote on it and it was the SAME as a base RSX(what I originally wanted but then decided against due to insurance costs). Oh well, my subaru could beat the snot out of them in the snow, and given the winter we had last year, that'll be important
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Take a look at some of the rally cars, they either have paddle shifters or the shifter right next to the wheel. So having it located there is actually a GOOD thing, since its right next to the wheel it reduces the distance you have to reach. I havent driven one myself, but I did try it out while I was in the car and I liked it alot.
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My only problem with the Si shifter is the lower gears are hard to shift into smoothly ... the dash mounted thing would be nice if that car had more horsepower and better tires...
-DE
You could buy an SI and swap a RSX-s motor in... if you like.
-DE
You could buy an SI and swap a RSX-s motor in... if you like.
