well...IMO.... DOMESTICS SUCK MY NADS!! So you know my take on which cars should be excluded...but the nissan or the mazda would be my choice.

 

i still prefer my 99 Si

 

something i found interesting is that thew nissan SER tranny will bolt onto the tiburon's V6, according to SCC's 8 best buys. i think this could be kinda cool a 6spd tiburon w/ an LSD.

out of all the cars mentioned id prolly take theses cars as follows

SE-R spec V
1.8T GTI (that felt weird to say but they impress me)
the SI
mazdaspeed protoge
tiburon


and whats this crap about "looks like nissan's finally making it in the import market"

nissan has awalys been a strong force in the import market and will continue to be for years to come, hell nisssans impress me more than hondas...

 

Someone mentioned that the Si will be discontinued after 2003? Any idea where you got this information???

Hopefully, if Honda is smart, this is what it will do:

1) Give the RSX base and Type-S 17s w/ grippier tires, say Continentals or the Michelin Pilots. Give the Si new 16s with similar tires to improve performance and allow some differentiation between Si and base RSX.

2) Make the damn sunroof optional! It only adds weight and makes the base price jump up. If they got rid of the sunroof I'd say MSRP would be around 18.2 or so.

3) Retune the RSX base and Type-S suspension, as well as the Si, but once again leave some room for differentiation.

4) Add LSD to RSX base and Type-S and raise their price slightly to have more of a price difference for between the base RSX and the Si. RSX goes up a bit, Si goes down.

 

Not sure how much of this is wishful thinking, but I assume the Si will be out for a refreshening in 04 and vtec.net listed the 04MY when the RSX will be refreshed, so it gives them the perfect opportunity to make some much needed changes!

 

I think a lot of people feel that way because Nissan had a dry spell after their SE-Rs and 240SX models were dropped and all they had were basically trucks and Sentra SE's. Only fairly recently (like Toyota) have they been coming out with new performance related models (again). But all their real goodies are still kept on the other side of the ocean IMO.

 

Yeah when is NISMO part suppose to arrive? I kept hearing it all over the forums and car mags last year, but I've yet to see any on the market. Went to the Nissan site and couldn't find a link???

 

When was Nismo rumoured to arrive? I dont think they ever will. Just as Mugen, RalliArt, STi will never be a subsidery of our local dealers.

 

point taken

 

Just got a Vivid Blue 03 Si on Sat.. Love it! Sitting inside definately lets you forget about the outside styling.
I have to admit I wasn't crazy about the min-mini-mini-odyssey look... or as a friend of mine would say "bean-appeal". And as far as the specs, well I'd look at the Sentra SE-R as the best bang/specs for the buck.
So why did I get the Si? I got an inside deal from a friend of mine at the dealership. I have yet to take the "smurf" out on the open-road and really see/feel what it can do. I LOVE the interior....rally-like appeal. Plus all the plus-values of getting a Honda (resale value) as well as the long-term reliability of a Honda. I've had a 91 Hatch DX for the past umf years! This is defiantely a nice upgrade power-wise as well as comfort ride.
I've read the suggestions to upgrade the tire and wheels, but I think I'll put off until it gets warmer. I'm definately giving Honda an A on this one. Although it could use better options, I think it's the best they got out right now.