the best 0-60 time he's gotten with those crappy michelin pilot sports is 5.9 sec on the g-tech. (and thats without reaction time)

i test drove one like couple of month ago... and that car is fast...!! i wanted one... but my parents wont co-sign.... sigh...

the mazdaspeed is the best handling car i've ever driven stock. granted i'm no pro test-driver, but that's what i think it has going for it. other than that, i wasn't much a fan. i especially hated the place that they put the shifter vs. the arm rest. the armrest was in the way of my shifting position. i've got an armrest in my jetta, and it's always in it's "up and outta the way" position. this wasn't an option in the mazdaspeed.

i wouldn't call the mazdaspeed a ripoff. it's a turboed 4 banger awd at a decent price, and handles soo well. however it's not in the same class as an srt-4 or rex

the masdaspeed isn't awd, it's got a factory LSD from what my friend has told me, he's got a 2003 gunmetal colored one.

Id have to say that the best handling car i've ever test drove would have to be a Honda S2000 but if i had to guess on a new sport compact i would have to say the new lancer evo (75 mph on the slalom)