car and driver article... grrr...

hey,
has anyone else read the article in the new car and driver? i don't have it with me so i can't tell you what page or anything, but they compare it against an srt-4, mazdaspeed protege and an svt focus. the put the spec v in dead last. WHY!? is it really as horrible as they make it out to be!? i'm looking into buying one myself, but this article is a huge turn off. please! someone say it ain't so!

Spec-V is better than the SVT and looks better than the neon. Also the the Spec-V has the most displacment out of all them. So if you plain on modding go with the Spec-V if your not but want a fast out of the box car get the neon. So no I dont agree with Car&Want to be Driver.

If you look around all the sentra boards you will find atleast one or 2 threads on each one saying their opinions. The general consensus is that they're right in their own way. The srt-4 is much much faster and a better bargain, but to the average consumer, it is still a neon and chances are the quality isn't great. The mazdaspeed is about the same speed as the spec, more expensive, but it has exceptional handling. The SVT...well, I'll just say the SVT shouldn't have beat the spec, because it isn't better in any category. Basically each car has it's strong points, and those strong points are better than that same area on the spec, but if you look at the car as a whole (including price) the spec should have done much better.

The guy who wrote it was very biased against the Spec V. He kept ranting about the handling. I think the Spec handles exceptionally well. it was designed as an autocrosser. Dave Coleman uses it as a rally car. Etc... This guy went on for like three paragraphs trying to cleverly describe how the handling sucks. He was a moron! I think he spends too much time in $100k exotics.

Anyhow... bottom line is that I love my Spec V. Great power, great handling, great look, great price, usefullness of 4 doors, and low insurance. So, it doesn't matter what Car and Driver thinks.

i'm gonna have to say you guys sound right on. that guy seemed biased as hell, which was too bad. i have to say though, that MS protege looks mighty fine to me. But i'm all over these se-r's. thanks for your help!

i agree, the Spec-V is should be in 2nd place or even 1st. I read it, but they comparing those four cars too, especially the Neon SRT-4, when i saw that cover of car and driver, i knew who was already in 1st and when i read it, the writer is fuken biased as hell. I also agree with Phoenix 77, that guy rides too much exotics

Everyone knows that Car and Driver are heavily influenced by the North American auto makers. Some might even say they are in the "Big Three's" pocket.

So, it is no surprise to me to see the Neon (Dodge), Focus (Ford) and Mazda (Ford) finish on top of the competition.

Did anyone notice a car in this comparison? Where's the GTI?

Now don't get me wrong. I love the Spec. My wife drives one. Last year it had my title for "Best bang for your buck". This year number 2 to the Neon, but who wants a Neon. This market segment is starting to get very crowded and I do feel that Nissan will have to step up the performance numbers very soon in order to remain competitive.

Just my .02