umm.... your wrong about the skidpad. lower is not better. higher is better, you want to pull a higher amount of g's
the mp3 has a .84g skidpad
not 1.2 like you stated, id be happy as **** with a 1.2, thats a crazy amount of grip.
go get the november 2001 issue of road and track.
"Mazda's new MP3 is currently the best sports-car bargain in America"
Slalom Speed
MP3: 68.5mph
Z06: 67.1 mph
Ferrari 360 Spider: 66.6mph
look it up if you dont believe me.
i cant find a link to this particlar article, but if you want i can scan it.
The MP3 was also included in their Great Grip! article to find the best handling car that road and track has seen in the past year:
http://roadandtrack.com/features/art...?articleID=220