Would you buy a MAZDASPEED2?

[niky]

it would probably have to go against D-stock.. right now if you were to race a 2 now, it would be in H-stock.. and comparing it with the Mini, not only its down on HP, but it's really down on the rear suspension to get the car to rotate.. the car wont last too long in H-Stock due to the fatigue of the torsion beam, not to mention uneven pavement.

I thought about it myself, but we'll see how 1 year of it in the WDCR region it will hold out. We have a lot of national champions here, but I'm only a regional champion for STS a couple of years back.

If the Mazdaspeed 2 revised the rear to something like multi-link somehow and disc brakes instead of heavy drums, then it might have a chance (assuming the motor can put out 180 whp, or 200 hp at the motor).

Wouldn't it be classed against the regular Cooper instead of the S? They both have similar acceleration figures in stock trim. (I've timed both in AT form). I think it can be made to perform... from a short autocross drive in the sedan a few months back... very easy to rotate the longer sedan compared to the hatch... but it may just be a question of creative alignment tuning.

Would they assign it a weight penalty, though, for being lighter? Not quite up-to-date with US racing regs.

 

[pomidor]

mazda2's rear suspension, labeled as "semi-independent" (whatever), is a no-no for me. They'd have to get a proper rear suspension first. But it's something I don't think Mazda would do because the car wasn't design for one to being with so

1 - Adding one on as an afterthought could yield less-then-expected results (handling wise)

2 - Adding one on as an afterthought could be expensive, and since mazda2 is supposed to be a budget car, mazda won't do it. due to cost constraints.

Also, looking at the car's specs, it's underpowered. If low-boost turbo is added (like on msp), and you load the car up with people, the car would still feel sluggish.

Looking at the budget components that went into this car, I don't think this car would be worth wearying the "mazdaspeed" badge. Protege 2.0L manual (non-mazdaspeed), for example, although 'budget' at the time, was already fairly peppy and with impressive handling for a car so cheap. mazda2 doesn't share those characteristics.

Maybe I'm full of it, but my reply/opinion to: "should mazda make a mazdaspeed2?" is: I don't think mazda will, and, don't bother (you can put makeup on a pig, but it's still a pig)

 

[R-X-R]

if a MS2 comes, i will be amazed.,.,

 

[niky]

mazda2's rear suspension, labeled as "semi-independent" (whatever), is a no-no for me. They'd have to get a proper rear suspension first. But it's something I don't think Mazda would do because the car wasn't design for one to being with so

1 - Adding one on as an afterthought could yield less-then-expected results (handling wise)

2 - Adding one on as an afterthought could be expensive, and since mazda2 is supposed to be a budget car, mazda won't do it. due to cost constraints.

Also, looking at the car's specs, it's underpowered. If low-boost turbo is added (like on msp), and you load the car up with people, the car would still feel sluggish.

Looking at the budget components that went into this car, I don't think this car would be worth wearying the "mazdaspeed" badge. Protege 2.0L manual (non-mazdaspeed), for example, although 'budget' at the time, was already fairly peppy and with impressive handling for a car so cheap. mazda2 doesn't share those characteristics.

Maybe I'm full of it, but my reply/opinion to: "should mazda make a mazdaspeed2?" is: I don't think mazda will, and, don't bother (you can put makeup on a pig, but it's still a pig)

Well...

A Protege has McPhersons all-around. If you really want the best suspension, you're looking at double-wishbones, a la the Mazda Miata.

And yet they made the Mazdaspeed Protege.

The Mazda2's competitors all have torsion beams. Some of the best hot hatches in the world (Renaultsport Clio, a bevy of Peugeots, etcetera) have torsion beams.

Granted, it's not the best layout... and it's not as flexible in terms of tuning as an independent rear, but you can still make this pig fly.

 

[DarKnight]

this is hilarious. i actually took my new ms3 to get my windows tinted at the dealer and they gave me a brand new 2 to drive. i didn't even know about this car, so i was shocked. i thought it was fairly ugly lol. but man o man was it slow!!!!!!! i almost died on the freeway several times because it was so slow. i would only vote yes for it because of the slowness of the 2!!! would be interesting. mazda should just make a speed model for every car in the lineup!! one thing i did like from the 2 is the horn is much louder then my ms3 hahaha!

 

[Rockin03mp5]

compared to a speed3, yes the 2 is slow.

compared to my p5, the 2 is plenty fast. lol.

 

[maple_leaf]

this is hilarious. i actually took my new ms3 to get my windows tinted at the dealer and they gave me a brand new 2 to drive. i didn't even know about this car, so i was shocked. i thought it was fairly ugly lol. but man o man was it slow!!!!!!! i almost died on the freeway several times because it was so slow. i would only vote yes for it because of the slowness of the 2!!! would be interesting. mazda should just make a speed model for every car in the lineup!! one thing i did like from the 2 is the horn is much louder then my ms3 hahaha!

Yeah...those two can't compare.

 

[Kalent]

After owning a Mazda 3 for a year now, I do LOVE my car, but I definitely regret not buying a speed. If there is a MS2 available, I will greatly consider swapping! The 2 is a very sharp car, and a speed version would be soooo sexy!!

 

[MikeHTally]

Well, Toyota makes a Yaris Turbo. I guess there might be a market for a MSP2.

 

[KrayzieFox]

I think a Speed2 would be a terrible idea. It would make it look like Mazda is just slapping Mazdaspeed on everything it makes and would totally take away from the value of the Mazdaspeed image as a whole.

 

[nate0123]

I think a Speed2 would be a terrible idea. It would make it look like Mazda is just slapping Mazdaspeed on everything it makes and would totally take away from the value of the Mazdaspeed image as a whole.

What in the hell are you talking about? Right now there is... um, let's see if I can count all of the Mazdaspeed models. Counting... counting... Oh, yea. There's all of one (1) Mazdaspeed model. Out of ten (10) models Mazda sells in the US. Yea, they're just going NUTS with that badge! (boom02)

And you are presuming from the get-go that a MS2 couldn't possibly be worthy of the MS badge, which I have to say is quite shortsighted.

CD said "the 2 is a hoot to drive. The 1.5-liter four-cylinders 100 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque wont exactly burn your hair off, but this engine revs freely and sounds good as it springs the 2s feathery 2300-pound curb weight (2350 with the automatic) into motion. Better yet, the electric power steering and the chassis offer surprising feel and quick, linear responses to driver inputs. Ditto the front-disc, rear-drum brakes."

And in the latest comparison test, the Mazda2 was a full second quicker to 60 versus the 120-hp Fiesta. And it only got one MPG less in the real world.

It wouldn't take much to make an awesome little go-cart: slightly stiffer suspension, rear discs, a power boost, and some styling tweaks (similar to the awesome-looking concepts Mazda put out) and you're there.

Or was your post supposed to be tongue-in-cheek?

 

[Wagonbacker9]

Well, Toyota makes a Yaris Turbo. I guess there might be a market for a MSP2.

to my knowledge, Mazda is the only japanese manufacturer to offer a factory turbo FWD vehicle... where did you see a Yaris Turbo?

 

[speed1585]

I would buy one if i was in the market for a small car. I am not I am in the market for a full/mid size sedan with awd, something like the mazdaspeed 6. I hope mazda has something come down the pipe I really wont to keep with mazda, but eventually I might have to bounce elsewhere.

 

[yudkib]

if it was like the mazdaspeed 3, i would be very interested. if it was like the mazdaspeed protege, id mod a stock one on my own.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

I think a Speed2 would be a terrible idea. It would make it look like Mazda is just slapping Mazdaspeed on everything it makes and would totally take away from the value of the Mazdaspeed image as a whole.

What in the hell are you talking about? Right now there is... um, let's see if I can count all of the Mazdaspeed models. Counting... counting... Oh, yea. There's all of one (1) Mazdaspeed model. Out of ten (10) models Mazda sells in the US. Yea, they're just going NUTS with that badge! (boom02)

And you are presuming from the get-go that a MS2 couldn't possibly be worthy of the MS badge, which I have to say is quite shortsighted.

CD said "the 2 is a hoot to drive. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder’s 100 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque won’t exactly burn your hair off, but this engine revs freely and sounds good as it springs the 2’s feathery 2300-pound curb weight (2350 with the automatic) into motion. Better yet, the electric power steering and the chassis offer surprising feel and quick, linear responses to driver inputs. Ditto the front-disc, rear-drum brakes."

And in the latest comparison test, the Mazda2 was a full second quicker to 60 versus the 120-hp Fiesta. And it only got one MPG less in the real world.

It wouldn't take much to make an awesome little go-cart: slightly stiffer suspension, rear discs, a power boost, and some styling tweaks (similar to the awesome-looking concepts Mazda put out) and you're there.

Or was your post supposed to be tongue-in-cheek?

i think what crazy is getting at is that the mazdaspeed vehicles used to be limited editions. but that kind of ended with the speed3.

i know this has been mentioned before but...
you know what would be easier than a turbo... would be if the 2.0L mzr fit in there, and wasn't too much more of a weight increase. probably less than all the turbo stuff anyways. n/a 150-160 hp would be plenty for this car, and keep out all of the turbo problems that the speeds have had (minus the msm). plus, they already have the engine available (from the base 3 and miata) so it would be cheap to adapt. the problem with a speed 2 is keeping the cost down. it is an economy car. maybe... make it a grand touring style option. maybe 2k more than the touring coming in at around 18k. (with destination, the touring is around 16k right now)

 

[bradboyd80]

I completely agree. It does have some nice styling just from glancing at some quick pics. If anything, they should bring back the MS6 to compete with the Evo and Sti.

 

[Mistersix]

i love this idea but is a mazdaspeed model even possible!? turbo would be hard because of packaging constraints and piping and the fmic/tmic etc... a bigger motor, i.e. 2.0 from the miata, may be a tough fit too.
a small eaton super charger may fit. would'nt require and intercooler and could run a modest amount of boost to increase power to say 140-160 range. this would keep things from getting to stressed out and breaking and still get decent mpg's. and create the illusion of a bigger motor.
it wont take much to make the car sporting, and crush everything in its class by keeping weight were it is and a nice close ratio gear box. 200+hp is probably asking a bit much. a lsd and manual tranny should be offered if not the only option.
mild suspension and cosmetic upgrades would be in line but nothing to dramatic. that way mazda does'nt scare away would-be customers of the plebian type. move to 16" wheels and aggresively bolstered seats.

either way if they dont make what i described. above i will.

 

[slideshow240]

factory option coilovers and hid's etc etc would be awesome

 

[MrDouble]

Would love to see MS2... Poor man's elise if you will, light, nimble, organic. No one makes cars like this anymore except maker above.

I think 2 looks worlds better than 2nd gen 3. Concept pics floating around looks great.

To meet price target of ~18K, mazda should stick to same formula as for MS3:

Turbo 1.5 200hp. 2.0NA would make the car even more nose heavy
Discs all around, bigger ones in front
Stiffened shocks/springs/tbars, thicker arb, 1in lower ride, 17"
Lsd
Manual steering
6-sp manual only, no dsg auto crap
Bolstered seats
Keep it under 2400lbs

I've got deposit for above car set aside.

 

[Antoine]

Would love to see MS2... Poor man's elise if you will, light, nimble, organic.

Light, Nimble & Organic...Great way to describe what the MS2 should be! (drive)