Comparing the Mazdaspeed to?

[Puckpimp71]

I'm looking at buying a black Mazdaspeed Protege. Right now I've got a 1991 Taurus SHO that I absolutely love, but the relationship has gotten way too committed with upkeep on repairs and maintenance. I drove the Mazdaspeed
Protege and fell in love... espcially with the price I'm being offered. I'll miss the power of the SHO, but this car handles so well and has decent pick-up. Anyway, I was wondering about the aftermarket available for this car, how any experienced people think it compare to the SHO, what kind of life can I expect from the drive train, average gas expense on a monthly basis, etc.... Also how difficult are these cars to work on??? The SHO is a PITA because there's no aftermaket (small and expensive), parts are discontinued on a daily basis and everything in that car is in the way of something else (took 7 hours just to get the sway bar bushings out and put poly ones in). Any input will be appreciated and you guys have got a good forum going here!

 

[AutoBox]

AFter market is still buildin for the msp...its relatively easy to work on......and shows nice gains with mods....dont expect blazing 1/4 times with out some serious work

 

[Puckpimp71]

I'm not expecting anywhere in the 13's at all. Mid-high 14's is reasonable until the car's off warranty, isn't it? The SHO's running mid-high 14's with about $800 worth of performance and suspension work. Honestly, I'm a handling and braking junkie more than anything and this car appears to have that taken care, although vented rotors would be nice. I've only taken the Protege out once, but you guys (and girls) that use it as a daily driver, how would you rate it 1 being the worst, 10 being the best? How much do you miss Cruise Control? Is the NVH bad?

 

[vonroll]

I've only taken the Protege out once, but you guys (and girls) that use it as a daily driver, how would you rate it 1 being the worst, 10 being the best? How much do you miss Cruise Control? Is the NVH bad?

I love mine. I'm still running the stock setup but, overall until you take the MSP out on the absolute twistiest road you can, you won't fully appreciate it. You can take any decreasing radius curve with so much ease that it's outright scary that a car can do this. Give me a great handling ride over straight line fast any day. ...you'll always catch them in the curves.

I don't miss the cruise. I rate it a 8.5. That's way high in my book.
I'm serious....go test drive that black one on some back country winders. You'll be sold.

 

[Puckpimp71]

I'm sold on it already... It should be in my driveway in the next week or so if all goes well....

 

[Heathen23]

I'm not expecting anywhere in the 13's at all. Mid-high 14's is reasonable until the car's off warranty, isn't it? The SHO's running mid-high 14's with about $800 worth of performance and suspension work. Honestly, I'm a handling and braking junkie more than anything and this car appears to have that taken care, although vented rotors would be nice. I've only taken the Protege out once, but you guys (and girls) that use it as a daily driver, how would you rate it 1 being the worst, 10 being the best? How much do you miss Cruise Control? Is the NVH bad?

If you are more interested in braking and handling then buy the msp twice. NVH however can get bad over time. Do a quick search on the forum for pros and cons of the msp. Someone did a thorough write up that might help you greatly.

 

[DiscreetSpeed]

great choice...better than SHO imo..

 

[Professor MSP]

Puckpimp71:

I find the Mazdaspeed Protege to be an all around excellent and exhilarating car. It is my daily driver. I found the combination of price, quickness, handling, looks, carrying capacity, exclusivity, and stereo trumped the other cars I was considering, namely, G35 6MT sedan, RX-8, WRX, SRT-4, Mazda 6s, and BMW 3-series. Note that my wife and I agreed to limit my choices to those cars that could reasonably handle four adults. Overall, I would give it a 9 (or A-) as a daily driver, and I abhor grade inflation!

What would make it a 10 is better NVH, especially the N and V. I intend to remedy this by installing Dynamat extreme and Tac mat in the doors, and Dynamat extreme in the trunk. I have yet to take an extended road trip, so I cannot comment on the lack of cruise control. I suspect I will look into an aftermarket cruise control after my first lengthy trip.

 

[pip7441622]

Forget black...get Titamium..if you can that is.

 

[yashooa]

Don't forget Orange you ******!
I have the Black but if you can get it Orange is the both the most eyeball searing and rare color of all the MSP's.

 

[rocketspeed]

If you like the handling of the MSP, you'll love it. If you're looking to burn fast 1/4 miles, get an SRT-4.

You should be able to expect good long term reliability from the MSP if you leave it stock, the boost levels are conservative. There aren't many stats on the MSP's reliability, but the Protege has a terrific reliability track record.

Fuel economy varies car to car (there are a lot of threads on this), but I seem to usually get 25mpg in mostly around town driving with a heavy foot.

 

[computerGeek]

You all rant and rave about its handling, are you all stock. I feel so much body role on this car it scares me. Do we have a rear strut on this thing. I need to lower this bad boy and strut and brace the hell out of it because it has to much body roll for me to go more than 50 around some turns I use to do 70 in, but that thing drove like it was on rails and felt like you were dragging you ass down concrete (God i miss the sheer raw power and handling of the 350). But ooooh Daddy i love the turbo!!!!!!!

 

[noclue119]

You all rant and rave about its handling, are you all stock. I feel so much body role on this car it scares me. Do we have a rear strut on this thing. I need to lower this bad boy and strut and brace the hell out of it because it has to much body roll for me to go more than 50 around some turns I use to do 70 in, but that thing drove like it was on rails and felt like you were dragging you ass down concrete (God i miss the sheer raw power and handling of the 350). But ooooh Daddy i love the turbo!!!!!!!

You are mentally sick and physically sick
1. Who does 70 around turns... I guess if you want a early visit to with elvis be my guest.
2. I burned the hell out of a 350 (track package) on the track i don't know what u are talking about. He has crazy body roll and mad undsteer. That brings me to my third point.
3. How the hell u get understeer out of RWD car is beyond me. I personally thing is just bad engineering.

Just FYI 350 Z has 225 Protenza, we have 215. there is no way 10mm gain can compensate for 400+ lbs. difference. Pluse we have better suspensions just the shear number do not work out. I'm going to have to throw down the B.S. Card... Sorry

 

[computerGeek]

No BS i hit 70 with ease of exit ramps. and i gues because i am higher in the MSP its a mental fear more so then a Physics fear. I had a track too and it had 245 on the rear and yess 225 front. they said the under steer was minimalized with new tie rods and 245 front 265 rear. I gues i was always better at handling a RWD car then front. I never Actually tracked a car, but i compare my cars to how they drive on the street. I was never affraid to hit the exit ramps where i live at anywhere from 50 to 80 depending on the diameter of the ramp but i have loss 10-15 mph of confidence with the MSP.

Who know you might be right, it may be BS, maybe its just a mental block for me!

 

[noclue119]

From my experience with both cars, i feel the msp is much more in control at higher speeds corner then the Z. I have driven all kinds of car, AWD(skyline), RWD (supra) and FWD(MSP).

*Thread jack*

 

[BremertonMSP]

Compared to the SHO, you will love the MSP's handling. Not that the SHO was a big slouch in this area, it's just a heavier car and wasn't set up like the MSP is.

If you do buy they MSP, make sure the PCM has been flashed, and the new "E" series rear sway bar bushings have been installed. They are both TSB items.

 

[evo..eater:)]

MSP is great. I love my car would not trade it in for any other car. Great Handling, Great looks and Great speed(nana)

 

[AGR]

Compare??????!!!!!!!


There is no Comparison!! (chair) The MAZDASPEED Rocks!!!!

 

[yashooa]

You all rant and rave about its handling, are you all stock. I feel so much body role on this car it scares me. Do we have a rear strut on this thing. I need to lower this bad boy and strut and brace the hell out of it because it has to much body roll for me to go more than 50 around some turns I use to do 70 in, but that thing drove like it was on rails and felt like you were dragging you ass down concrete (God i miss the sheer raw power and handling of the 350). But ooooh Daddy i love the turbo!!!!!!!

You sure you didn't fry a mobo and sniff in the fumes? Damn my car is crazy flat in the corners. It is the biggest saving grace of the car. It just flat out has great poise and extemely good handling prowess. Granted it is much flater now that they tweaked the whole suspension and replaced the rear mounting hardware.

 

[CarlM2]

I test drove the Contour SVT but never the SHO. I test drove it a lot. I really liked that car and was pretty close to buying it. However, at that time, I decided to buy a Miata... however, I then traded the Miata for the MSP because I needed the room. I had regretted the SVT purchase a little and followed friends who owned them. Within a year I had people offering me to sell theirs for 16,k, about 10,k less than the sticker... with and without mods. I've had lots of friends that owned Fords. I learned they tend to break and be a pain to fix.

So, Ford's fun cars of 2003 were ruled out before I went to look for a new car. I was planning on buying either a Mazda 6 or a Golf GTI... and maybe a Jetta GLI. I hate VW's handling. They're just sluggish, lots of understeer, and seem easy to get sideways. I also don't care for their manual transmissions.

Fast forward... The MSP provided a lot of value. Handling was exceptional, it was fun to drive, plenty of room, and the seats were very comfortable to me. It had a 'rightness' to it that I can't describe. I bought it in late August last year and I have over 12,k miles on it already. I do wish it had cruise but, that's its only shortcoming for me. The car is great on long trips otherwise. So much so, that my wife and I always take my car on long trips even though hers has cruise.

I would suggest some dynamat in the trunk and doors. It'll help keep the road roar down. I've done this in many cars but haven't done it in the MSP yet. But, it needs it. I rate the car overall as an 8. It would get a 9 but the engine management is crap and unchangeable without spending a ton. You get what you pay for and maybe a little more with this car.

I haven't regretted this purchase. In fact, I've enjoyed this car more than all buy 1 car I've owned in 15 years of owning cars. Of course, your first car is unbeatable ...