New to the protege5 and need help

[drummer829]

well i got in a little accident with my car so now i need something kind of cheap for my insurance is gonna go up. im a big fan of mazdas and i really like the protege5's...i was just wondering if an exhaust and intake setup has any noticeable gains from it..i know they arent too quick but i heard they have some nice handling..i figured id lower it, and do some other mods that wont hurt the engine...so just wondering for some ideas

 

[nate0123]

noticable gains... in sound, not power

maybe 2whp/tq per?

header will get you a little more

if you don't mind running premium you could advance your timing via mp3 reflash (provided it's manual)

 

[dxaveP5]

or you can just go boost
stock mazdaspeed protege setup and you'll be up in 160s or something near there.

 

[drummer829]

im always afraid the boosting will = more problems

 

[dxaveP5]

well boosting the original OE parts should be ok. unless ur internals are all abused and *****..then you should have problems

 

[mattgotthefd]

im always afraid the boosting will = more problems

always does. haha. The P5 is a great handling car though and a whole lot of fun. And for the low hp numbers it never really seemed that slow too me.

 

[Magus]

Things that will make your car more zoom-zoom worthy...

stock - 130 hp and 2700 lbs

CAI - ~5 hp
header - 4-1 ~10 hp 4-2-1 ~20hp (needs custom midpipe)
midpipe- ~5-8hp ( only for 4-1 header or stock)
catback- ~8hp
remove vtcs ~2hp
mp3 ecu - ~10hp (only manuals)

front motor mount ~5hp (it does not create hp just allows you to apply it)
drilled stock size rotors ~5hp (does not create hp just has like mass to turn)
UDP ~ 5hp (does not create hp just has less mass to turn)

 

[Magus]

It also depends on what you want from your car. If you want to outrun VW GTI's and etc.... you need turbo.

Is you like to take corners or autox, the P5 has potential. With my current mods I was only 1 sec down from a 350z & Rx-8, and 2 sec down from my dads C5 corvette (fastest speed possible was 45 mph). I had the Rx-8 driver drive my P5 and he could not drive it faster. He told me all i was missing was more power. If I did a full exhaust and removed the vtcs I think it would have just what it is missing from factory, right sized power.

 

[drummer829]

yea..what are vtcs?

 

[drummer829]

and i was thinkin just header back exhaust will be good enough for me..im always drivin my moms mazda3 and that things pretty peppy for a nice little car

 

[mp3-79bronco]

Things that will make your car more zoom-zoom worthy...

stock - 130 hp and 2700 lbs

CAI - ~5 hp
header - 4-1 ~10 hp 4-2-1 ~20hp (needs custom midpipe)
midpipe- ~5-8hp ( only for 4-1 header or stock)
catback- ~8hp
remove vtcs ~2hp
mp3 ecu - ~10hp (only manuals)

front motor mount ~5hp (it does not create hp just allows you to apply it)
drilled stock size rotors ~5hp (does not create hp just has like mass to turn)
UDP ~ 5hp (does not create hp just has less mass to turn)

with all that youd be lucky to get 120 to the wheels...100ish stock btw...

 

[drummer829]

well im not gonna be into racing, i just want a car thats gonna get up and go pretty good, but wont kill me in insurance either

 

[mp3-79bronco]

honestly do not waste your money on NA mods...if you want it to get up and go at all you will HAVE to turbo it.

 

[bafilio1]

But I do have to say I've driven p5s stock and my new p5. there is a noticable difference in "pep" maybe not enough for a "racer" type but for a 22yr old husband/dad in a suit driving to work its noticeable for me.

I have the 4-2-1, catback, cai. Its a fun car and cheap on insurance... my insurance dropped 20 bucks per month by adding this car and taking off my 2003 saturn vue.

plus from my years of modifying cars every time I turbo a vehicle or upgrade a turbo vehicle (2g dsms normally and 1 cavalier) they are always in the garage because something needs re-tweeked or fixed or upgraded once more. I would say stay NA if this is your daily driver, unless you get a MSP and leave it as it is.

 

[nate0123]

with N/A mods it won't be a different car.. it'll just be a slightly quicker version of itself, and perhaps nicer sounding as well

 

[drummer829]

yea, its between this and a focus st

 

[hornsfan10609]

SVT Focus? Having owned an SVT Cobra I say go with the Focus. This little Mazda can't run with a 200hp 6 speed Focus, plus the Ford will probably handle better and have nicer seats and stereo stock. You can get SVT Focus's with leather and HIDs.
I love my P5, and it probably gets slightly better mileage, has a nicer dashboard/interior and it doesn't require premium, but I know from experience that SVT knows how to make anything handle well.


If you meant a regular focus, go with the P5 all the way, much better looking car.

 

[localkineguy]

+1, I drove a Focus SVT and it was tons of fun. I like the look of the P5 much better but the SVT had more get-up-and-go. Interior of P5 was nicer too...I basically resonate everything ^he^ said

 

[sube]

Things that will make your car more zoom-zoom worthy...

stock - 130 hp and 2700 lbs

CAI - ~5 hp
header - 4-1 ~10 hp 4-2-1 ~20hp (needs custom midpipe)
midpipe- ~5-8hp ( only for 4-1 header or stock)
catback- ~8hp
remove vtcs ~2hp
mp3 ecu - ~10hp (only manuals)

front motor mount ~5hp (it does not create hp just allows you to apply it)
drilled stock size rotors ~5hp (does not create hp just has like mass to turn)
UDP ~ 5hp (does not create hp just has less mass to turn)

YER dreamin in technicolor my friend, those figures you quote are wildly optimistic to say the least. You would be pushing it to gain 15 to 20HP from that lot. If it was that easy everybody would be doing it and screw turboing.

Pat.

 

[gino]

Best all-around daily driver I've ever owned. For $17,400 new: unbeatable.

Some mods and numbers:

Magnaflow CB, resonator, no cats
4-2-1 header
Light pulleys
Overbored/polished throttle body
Flashed ECU
Injen CAI
Indium plugs
DynoJet:116 whp (stock dynoed 93) @5800
torque 123 lb/ft @ 5250 (no stock figure)
The above figures were repeatable three times within 6 months

Avg mpg 31.5-35+, 80% hiway 65-80 mph
Oil consumption less than 1/2 qt synthetic between changes (7500 miles)

MP3 springs
Tokico HPs
Goodyear 215/40/17 GS-D3 (summer shoes) on ADR Battles

Maintenance at 138K: 2 sets pads, 1 timing belt, 1 LF wheel bearing.

Will be installing MSP 2-cat pipe to make emissions in Colorado. May affect performance and mileage to a degree. Have to see.

Great performer, great handler. A keeper.