HELP I am one confused Protege!

[BANANA]

So Im new here, thinking about buying a protege5. Recently found a very special one, the lazer blue color with something interesting about it.

its a protege5 MP3.

ive done a ton of reserch but can't find any information or stats on it... Does it even exist? or did someone just rebadge a regular old protege5?

 

[BlkWidow]

It's a badge that was be sold back in the day.

 

[KrayzieFox]

No such thing exists. It's a P5 with a MP3 badge. You sure it doesn't say MP5? There were some of those badges floating around as well..

 

[BANANA]

Thanks for the input guys!
Hm ok. In his add for the car, it states that it is a MAZDA PROTEGE5 MP3 special edition...

I checked the car out myself, it felt a lot peppier than the avarage protege5. and the badge defiantly said mp3. The guy selling it is your avarage college student, who bought it with 8000 miles on it from a dealer. it had a few aftermarket upgrades done to it by the previous (first) owner such as low jack and a clifford solaris security system...

anyway what im trying to get at ,

is it possible the car had a swap? what are the main differences between the mp3 and standard protege sedan?

 

[TWISFM]

are you looking at a hatchback or sedan?

 

[BlkWidow]

only difference is in the ecu, the MP3 MSP and protege all share the same engine. Ok and different suspension

 

[kickniteasy]

As far as I know it was some minor suspension parts, something like a intake and exhaust that added about 10HP and the stereo system with some bodykit pieces thrown in. It was ONLY available in sedan form. Don't get duped into paying a few grand extra because osmeone bought a $10 badge and is now claiming it's a special edition. If he insists it's a special edition (which he may honestly believe since he bought it from a dealer and I'm sure that's what they told him to sell it at a higher price) just explain to him that a 5 minute google search can extinguish the argument.

 

[BANANA]

are you looking at a hatchback or sedan?

It's a hatchback, but since the people above said a mp3 hatch didn't exist i was wondering if maybe the first owner did some sort of swap from a mp3 sedan in it?

but if the only difference is in the tuning...?

hm.

 

[BlkWidow]

but if the only difference is in the tuning...?

hm.

from the factory

 

[mp3-79bronco]

the only difference engine wise is a ecu, vtcs less intake manifold, and a rb axleback muffler section

 

[TWISFM]

there is no swap to be had...really..

 

[kickniteasy]

It's a hatchback, but since the people above said a mp3 hatch didn't exist i was wondering if maybe the first owner did some sort of swap from a mp3 sedan in it?

but if the only difference is in the tuning...?

hm.

Yeah, there's no "swap" to do. The big difference was the stereo and even then by today's standards it's not even that great anymore. Like we said, it's a badged protege 5, even if there was a swap to do, which there isn't, it wouldn't be the real thing anyway so wouldn't warrant any sort of special pricing. Just be sure to get across when you're talking with him that you know it's nothing more than a regular protege 5 with a badge and maybe a couple basic add ons and you're not going to be duped into believing it's a "special edition" when it's clearly not.

 

[BANANA]

Thanks guys

bit bummed its not the real thing, but hey least im informed (stooges)