P5 handling capabilities

[falsedawn]

It's a shame that most import cars are "softened" for the US market - engines are detuned for the crappy gas, and suspension is made more compliant for the crappy roads.
I had a drive in a UK spec WRX, and I can tell you that the P5 would not have a hope in hell of keeping up with a well driven WRX. The 4 wheel drive is incredible around corners. I imagine that even a feeble US spec WRX would easily outhandle a P5 (assuming it is being driven by a decent driver of course!)

 

[akProtege5]

A long time ago i took a TC in turns but killed my mp5 in the straits lines.

 

[aMaff]

That's cuz the TC is a bit over weight, and a lot soft...

 

[DeadGeneration]

I was testing out my car a few days ago in a parking lot and while trying to make as small of a circular turn as I could I ended up with the back end hardly moving and just the front end spinning around. It was amazing, I still plan on making a video of it because it felt like a theme park ride, like I dunno how you just see stuff spin around you but really your the one spinning.

 

[Tjay]

I love how this car handle. I have a silver P5. I was into Honda & Toyota back then '96-'01. I have never driven a car (stock) that handles like the p5 thats why the first time I test drove the car I fell in love w/ the handling. The funny thing is I dont road race, autox, or anything that has to do w/ handling. I only drag race my cars then...now after racing RC cars and owning the p5 I play around w/ the hangling alot.
Btw, My sister owns an EVo 9 MR and just so you guys know. With the same level of driving skills. There's no way the p5 can keep up w/ the EVO. These cars was made for road racing.

 

[iTaras1]

z**m Z**M

I i had this one experience while back with old Honda prelude 91 i think anyway this guy was annoing the hell out of me and he wanted to drag race out of the light with me. So I take off pass him then comes the fun part, long turn to the left with a down hill tur to the right. This guy let me tell you did not know what his car can do besouse after i was compleating my second turn to the right i glanced in the rear view mirror i saw him spinning. And some times i get those 2 lane tilted highway exits where i push this car to its limit.

 

[wildo]

I am on Eibach springs with an SR Motorsports 19mm rear sway bar and nitto 555 tires attached to 8 lbs rims.

Seriously?? What Make and size, please?

 

[rednecks_r_us]

My rims are an older generation of 5-Zigen FN01RC track only editions 16x7.
5-zigen is stamped into the rim and not a sticker like the streed editions. Center caps are not available for them.

I found this out after talking with 5-zigen direct.

 

[Sveivo]

My rims are an older generation of 5-Zigen FN01RC track only editions 16x7.
5-zigen is stamped into the rim and not a sticker like the streed editions. Center caps are not available for them.

I found this out after talking with 5-zigen direct.

Sweet!

 

[Breeegz]

i have no rear sway bar, and i still think i handle good...

i am comparing to pickups, vans, tractors, semi's, and my 4 monte carlo's... i can't wait to fix my rear endlinks!

 

[wildo]

My rims are an older generation of 5-Zigen FN01RC track only editions 16x7.
5-zigen is stamped into the rim and not a sticker like the streed editions. Center caps are not available for them.

I found this out after talking with 5-zigen direct.

Wild, man! sounds very nice

 

[Thieu]

Took my recently bought p5 through some local twisties along with my friend's new rsx-s.

P5 takes it in the corners... but definitely not in the straights.

Fun as hell to just floor it right at the apex and out of the corner.

 

[jmv]

Mazda seems to understand balance alot better than most car manufacturers.

 

[Red5_02]

Mazda seems to understand balance alot better than most car manufacturers.

Yeah, now they just need to figure out how to make a car that has gobs of power without a turbo.

 

[NJP5Guy]

the P5 handles very well - mine is stock and the spoiled little suburban kids with the WRX's and the EVO's cant touch it in terms of handling.

i take a very curvy parkway to work each day and i run about 70 mph average and BMW's cant corner or move like my P5....woohoo!

my tires suffer though. i will need new ones soon already

I'm sorry to say but the bmws will beat us in the handling department as will the evos. slap on an equivalent size for wheels and tires and our cars move closer to the bmw and evo but not quite enough......front wheel drive kills it every time.

 

[Breeegz]

^I'm having a similar discussion with my sister and her fiance

me = 5speed Protege5 2003.5
her = 93 BMW 3 series Automatic

I say put us on a road course and I bet the better driver would come out on top (shifting correctly would give +1 to me)

sister says you are probably right, however I bet if you ride in my car it would impress you...

Fiance says, are you crazy, have you ever HEARD of a BMW's Handling???!
Me says, yes, have you ever heard of a Protege?

Too bad I can't just race and settle this... one is in South Dakota, the other is in Alaska

 

[maitai92]

^I'm having a similar discussion with my sister and her fiance

me = 5speed Protege5 2003.5
her = 93 BMW 3 series Automatic

I say put us on a road course and I bet the better driver would come out on top (shifting correctly would give +1 to me)

sister says you are probably right, however I bet if you ride in my car it would impress you...

Fiance says, are you crazy, have you ever HEARD of a BMW's Handling???!
Me says, yes, have you ever heard of a Protege?

Too bad I can't just race and settle this... one is in South Dakota, the other is in Alaska

If youre talking about a 325is with equal driver ( even an auto) you won't have chance... (RWD close to 50/50 wieght dist)

 

[Breeegz]

325i stock suspension, intake and exhaust

 

[Red5_02]

I think he's got a pretty good chance. I can keep up with my friend's 325i through the turns and he's got all kinds of suspension mods.

 

[hex2bit]

I like all this talk about the p5 beating other cars. Since I'm a "spirited" driver, I can say that the p5 does handle quite well for a stock "family" car. It's predictable, gives good feedback, and at 45+ in cornering the rear end finally starts to want to slide. It can take a lot of the economy cars and even sportier cars if the drivers aren't good.

On the flip side, I can tell you that there are a lot of cars out there that can take the p5. The BMW will beat it, the EVO will beat it, most Subies will beat it. My brother has a stock Subaru Forester and it will beat the p5 in everything (except braking due to its crappy anti-lock brakes) if you know how to drive it. However his subie doesn't have the feel of the p5 so its harder to tell its limits and what the vehicle is doing.

It comes down to two things:
- The driver's abilities (most important)
- The vehicle's abilities (your limit)

Also, my brother works with a guy that has an EVO 8, and it can stomp my brother's subie. Those things are built for street racing. Off-road would be another story

In the interest of this thread, I will say I have taken some cars on highway off-ramps, including some ricers and an older subie. As long as we just need to slow down while cornering, our cars do very well