MazdaSpeed Protege vs. Standard Mazda 3

[buddyboi8]

I am looking to buy a differnet car and get rid of my old beater Ive driven around for 2 years. Im only 17 so my price range is about 8k. I have been looking at the MazdaSpeed Proteges and the standard Mazda 3's. I cant decide which one too choose. I want a car that has a little more pep and hp than most but I hear all these bad things about the msp and its realiability so I am undecided on mazda 3 or MSP

 

[kamon8404]

I have 91k and had zero problems and I've owned it for 5 years. Not to mention mine is modded

 

[sephiroth]

F/I engines are always ''less reliable'' than N/A, it's a simple fact of the automotive world. Whether you're worried about the acutal cost difference is another thing. stock FS-DET engines are still based on a widely used and very reliable engine, and aside from the LSD issue, and *maybe* cracked exhaust manifolds, most of the problems that crop up are due to aftermarket modifications like anything else.

 

[alca0811]

Just don't do crazy stuff to the MSP's engine and you are good. In fact, if you are looking at tuning, either engine it has the potential to mess with the reliability of the engine anyways. I would go with the MSP, but only because I miss my old one.

 

[sm76]

When my wife was looking for a new car last year we drove a new Mazda 3s GT as one of the options. I would take an MSP over that car any day; compared to a used 3 its not even a question. Test drive both and you should be able to make your choice easily. I drove my MSP for 100,000 miles before I took it off the road and had very few problems with it. As mentioned above, the differential and cracked exhaust manifolds are design issues that can cause problems. The other things I had go wrong in that time were the bypass valve actuator ($50 part) and the head unit of the radio died.

 

[sanblaster]

mazda 3.

 

[StealthWyvern]

F/I engines are always ''less reliable'' than N/A, it's a simple fact of the automotive world. Whether you're worried about the acutal cost difference is another thing. stock FS-DET engines are still based on a widely used and very reliable engine, and aside from the LSD issue, and *maybe* cracked exhaust manifolds, most of the problems that crop up are due to aftermarket modifications like anything else.

+1 but at the same time if you have a 100% stock MSP the first MOD I would do is hard pipes or FMIC. Thats just because the stock pipes are known to crack. I've had tons of issues with my MSP but they are all due to the mods the previous owner has done to the car. I take that back I caused one.. hitting a coon at 0 mph. lol

 

[hornsfan10609]

Once you fix and replace everthing wrong on the MSP they are great cars, very fun to drive, sharp looking, get decent/good gas mileage and can be pretty quick, definitely enough to outrun a 5-speed 3. They are tempermental like any other turbo car. If you want a car you have to work on a little find a clean MSP, if you want a reliable and comfortable car right out of the box get a 3.

 

[Cleverfrog]

Once you fix and replace everthing wrong on the MSP they are great cars, very fun to drive, sharp looking, get decent/good gas mileage and can be pretty quick, definitely enough to outrun a 5-speed 3. They are tempermental like any other turbo car. If you want a car you have to work on a little find a clean MSP, if you want a reliable and comfortable car right out of the box get a 3.

Excellent explanation

 

[SuperProtege5]

Coming from someone that currently drives a 2004 Mazda 3 2.3 and came from the Protege5 crowd, I would buy a Mazdaspeed Protege in a heartbeat if I could find a decent example local. I prefer the driveability of the MSP over the 3 (namely no DBW to contend with), the steering feel is much more direct that in the 3, and its kind of a rare car. That's not to say I don't love my 3 because I do. I like the leather, sunroof, and hatch styling along with cargo room, all of which aren't available on the MSP. So like mentioned above, drive both and see which you prefer and which fits your lifestyle currently the best.

 

[hornsfan10609]

Coming from someone that currently drives a 2004 Mazda 3 2.3 and came from the Protege5 crowd, I would buy a Mazdaspeed Protege in a heartbeat if I could find a decent example local. I prefer the driveability of the MSP over the 3 (namely no DBW to contend with), the steering feel is much more direct that in the 3, and its kind of a rare car. That's not to say I don't love my 3 because I do. I like the leather, sunroof, and hatch styling along with cargo room, all of which aren't available on the MSP. So like mentioned above, drive both and see which you prefer and which fits your lifestyle currently the best.

MSPs are rare alright I saw 4 MS3s today, I see about 4 MSPs every couple months, if that. Not to mention there are about a billion 3s out there.

 

[Perro del Sol]

When my wife was looking for a new car last year we drove a new Mazda 3s GT as one of the options. I would take an MSP over that car any day; compared to a used 3 its not even a question. Test drive both and you should be able to make your choice easily. I drove my MSP for 100,000 miles before I took it off the road and had very few problems with it. As mentioned above, the differential and cracked exhaust manifolds are design issues that can cause problems. The other things I had go wrong in that time were the bypass valve actuator ($50 part) and the head unit of the radio died.

What he said^^^^^^^

The MSP handle so much better, but the 3's are no slouches either. Just depends on what you are looking for.

 

[buddyboi8]

Ya im kinda leaning towards the MSP just cause i want something faster and i can easily add on too. Its so hard to find them in my area. I live in alberta and the only ones I can find are around 9000 dollars and they already have 170,000km on them so im thinking thats way to much maybe for 90k or 10k but not 170k

 

[Tuners and Rods]

I've driven both, the speed handles better but the 3 was much more responsive accel-wise to aggressive driving. I like the engine design of the 3's more too. Makes a whole lot more sense and easier to work on. Also the interiors are nicer too. Up to you though I'm torn between them.

 

[kamon8404]

^im not trying to hate but the msp is very easy to work on and will smoke a 3. The msp you drove may of had something wrong with it. FI owns NA all day.

 

[Tuners and Rods]

The MSP I own can be beaten by the 3i my girlfriend owns, both of which I drive, on a set distance straight-away ie 1/4 mile etc. Also FI does not always beat NA. I will not be beating any 440 Challengers or chargers or even a well built SBC, in the near future in stock form. It is easier to work on than alot of imports but having worked on both the newer 2.3 motors are much simpler in overall layout. That said it doesn't beat me by much and it is a bare bones car (manual locks and windows,five speed, etc,) and on a road with any kind of bend it can't hold the speed. I like them both. I'm talking about the first gen 3s as well which is a smaller lighter car than the new ones.

 

[sm76]

the msp i own can be beaten by the 3i my girlfriend owns,

b.s.


Both from Car and Driver:
A 3s runs the quarter mile in 16 flat. MSP in 15.4. Doubt anyone ever bothered testing a 3i.

 

[SuperProtege5]

The MSP I own can be beaten by the 3i my girlfriend owns, both of which I drive, on a set distance straight-away ie 1/4 mile etc. Also FI does not always beat NA. I will not be beating any 440 Challengers or chargers or even a well built SBC, in the near future in stock form. It is easier to work on than alot of imports but having worked on both the newer 2.3 motors are much simpler in overall layout. That said it doesn't beat me by much and it is a bare bones car (manual locks and windows,five speed, etc,) and on a road with any kind of bend it can't hold the speed. I like them both. I'm talking about the first gen 3s as well which is a smaller lighter car than the new ones.

Other B.S. part is that there is not a 2.3 motor in the 3i. It's only a 2.0L motor, same displacement as your MSP.

 

[Tuners and Rods]

^^^actually you are correct i got it confused with my girlfriends mom's 3 which does have the 2.3.
@sm76 The 3 is easily a couple hundred pounds lighter and since it doesn't have turbo lag it runs much better. It might still be another 2.0 but is no slough in stock form. Maybe my MSP is just slow it does have 100K and the 3 only 13,000.

 

[kamon8404]

Dude you need a tune up. My stock msp with only an afc was neck and neck with a stock wrx. Please tell me a 2.3 NA 3 keeps up with a wrx.