modifications

[p5sd]

Does anyone know how much of a difference a new exhaust and cool air intake makes in terms of horsepower, efficiency, etc.? If you have one installed, was it worth the money?
If you have listened to the factory stereo, you would notice how mediocre the speakers are. Those should be the first to replace. I'm sure I'll get some agreement here.

 

[Snomongoose]

I will answer both of these.

#1 The intake gave me about 3-5mph better in the quarter than the stock numbers posted in car and driver. If i got the car to hook better (only 3 runs that night) I would see about 16.7's out of the car. These are true numbers, I'm not inflating them like other people I've heard with 16.2's with nothing done to the car.

#2 The speakers weren't bad for stock, I'm kinda a car audio guy (installer here). I left the stock unit in for a while and put aftermarket speakers in. The speakers I choose definately needed an amp. Well, one thing lead to another and now I have a Poineer DEX-P1R, MTX amp, and Oz Audio separates in the front with Oz Co-ax in the rear. Woke the whole system up alot with the added power of the amp.

Mike http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mazda_protege5

 

[<hayula>]

i'm thinking about getting some new speakers. well I've been looking at these here (6x9s, this is the right size right??):

Kenwood eXcelon KFC-X698
what do you think?? am i gonna need an amp just to hear these?

 

[p5sd]

The front speakers are 5 X 7 and the rear are 6.5" round speakers. Depending on the model of speakers you may not need an amp, though it is preferable if you can afford one.
Snomongoose, can you tell the difference in the cold air intake just driving around town or is it really when you race the engine?

 

[Snomongoose]

You notice all the way around. I have a friend who finally got rid of his Neon for a P5 that he will be picking up Monday and he describe the sound as if I had an exhaust on the car. He had very little done to his Neon and I pulled away from him rather easily. He was in shock when I was saying that I consider my car slow still. I think that's what made him get the new car.

MPG has stay at a constant 25-27 after the install I did so I didn't loose on that. But you do feel a difference. Can't say enough about the day that I spent on it, it was well worth the time and money to build it. At the price of CAI ($250-$300) I would say if you are good with your hands to build it.

Since I help out at a car audio/import speed shop, I go to shows. Since going to the shows, the shop has sold 3 of these (Getting me to pretty much build them so I have gotten alot quicker).

Mike http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mazda_protege5

 

[roswel]

does anyone know the name of a company that produces adapter plates to put an aftermarket stereo in the p5. the stock one is double din and mine is single but nobody around has a plate and they say one doesn't exist. mazda has a compartment to fill the extra space but they want $120 cdn for it.

 

[Snomongoose]

There is no aftermarket kits presently out for our car. You can go to the dealer and buy the factory pocket, but be prepared to spend some money or you can go to any car audio shop and buy a metra pocket for the car.
http://www.metraonline.com/catalog/cat_details.asp?id=103619

There is the link to the metra pocket with model number.

The aftermarket harness is totally not available yet (I know because I have an aftermarket stereo in the car presently). The only people you can get the harness from (and this is only what I've heard) is Kenwood because of the MP3, and you would have to cut out the Kenwood plug.

Answer everything for you?

Mike http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mazda_protege5

 

[<hayula>]

thanks for the info on the speakers. I don't see how I can get more bass out of little speakers like that even with an upgrade. Right now I have bass at 5, mids at 3 and highs on 9 and I get pretty crisp sound. that's good enough for now i guess...

 

[Unwritten04]

The front speakers are 6x8's