Soon to be Mazda Owner

[bluetribal]

I am new to the board, Here is a little background on me.
I a currently selling my 99 Chevy S-10 to get back into the Import game. I am previously an 82 & 87 Turbo Toyota Supra owner. I have been in the world of Mini Trucks for a little over 3 yrs. Now I need more room to cary my crew to the car shows. I have a website www.eyecandyconnection.com where we provide show coverage of Imports, Trucks, Lowriders, & Models. So to cut to the chase, I am torn between a Speed Proteg wich will be tight on the wallet or a Protege 5 that will be easy on the wallet. Any advise would be great. I feel that if I settle for the P5 then I will regret not shelling out the $$ for the MSP.

Thanks for listening and sorry it is a lot to read. I normally don't talk so much but I want to get to know some of you, Not all of you! Hahaha

 

[PA_MP3_Man]

Wow nice truck. And as far as choosing between them I'd go for the MSP if I could. It's like 3 G's more which is like $60 more a month so It's up to you though. Why don't you buy a used MP3 if you can find one? Just my thoughts .

Oh and Welcome around. Good to have ya.

 

[slug420]

if its a lot easier on your wallet, you could go with the p5. then turbo it when you get some extra coin. at which point it would be faster than a MSP. Have you considered finding a used MP3? those go for low p5 prices i think

 

[bluetribal]

I don't like the looks of the MP3 or the MSP as much as I like the MP5. I wish they had the speed vesion in the P5! I was going to suffer the looks and go with the SPEED... I didn't know there was an aftermarket Turbo available for the MP5! How much does it run? Which company produces it?

PS thanks for the compliments on the truck, that was my Baby for the last 3 years. I have about $4K in aftermarket parts in it and I hardly broke the surface of where I wanted to take it. I would like to keep it but I need passenger room!

 

[Captain KRM P5]

I bought a loaded P5 for $18,500, dropped $3,500 ($22,000) in on it for the turbo and am much much faster than a Mazdaspeed. I can say that with confidence after driving one and after smoking a black one twice in a row using only 3/4 throttle. Buy a P5, turbo it later, and enjoy the "sleeper" lifestyle.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

There are numerous companies that make aftermarket turbo kits. Tripoint Engineering, who races Proteges and other Mazdas professionally, offers a kit using an Aerodyne turbocharger, but with Aerodyne ceasing operations the status of this kit remains up in the air. Spool Turbo makes several variations of kits for the Protege engine - you can find him on this board. Flyin Miata, in conjunction with Bell Engineering, offers a turbo kit on thier website (www.fmprotege.com).

Being that I bought the last one listed, I am somewhat biased . Check out thier website. The kit is very complete, solid and the website is packed with test information, numbers, work in progress, etc. PM me if you have any questions about it.

 

[bluetribal]

I kinda like fixing up my rides myself. With the MSP all I would be able to do is tint the windows! It's got everything else. With the MP5 I can chose some better looking rims, (I know the RH on the MSP are great rims but they aren't that good looking) Intake, Exhaust, and now a Turbo. I think I will go that route. But you never know until you are at the dealler and you buy it!

 

[Mark94]

With the MP5 I can chose some better looking rims, (I know the RH on the MSP are great rims but they aren't that good looking)

That's what I thought too. I liked the MP3 rims much better based on the pictures, but when I walked outside with my salesman to look at my new car, the first thing I said was, "wow, those rims look awesome."

They are much better in person and look proportioned to the car. All my co-workers have commented how much they like the rims.

Mark

 

[andr3w]

Hi Kuz

Tough decision, buying a an MP5 and bolting a good turbo on does may a lot of sense to you. But do not forget the MSP can be tuned too - moderate upgrades here and there are already being discussed elsewhere on this forum.

Also, there is more to the MSP than the turbo - i.e. the handling! Racing Beat suspension, the Tochigi Fuji LSD, Tokico dampers, larger drive-shafts, beefier clutch, the sparco/nardi accessories, the Kenwood setup... all under warrenty. Oh, and the paint job on the Orange MSP has to be seen to be believed.

Good luck and welcome to the club.

Andrew

 

[bluetribal]

Personally I didn't like the Pearl in the orange but was going to get it cuz' I don't want another dark car. And the rims didn't do it for me when I saw it in person at the auto show. I know the suspension is out of this world and I know I am going to regret not getting it, IF I don't.. But I also don't want to regret the monthly payments?
I also here that there is another batch of 2000 MSP coming out the middle of this year. But they removed the Fog Lights! Bad move I think. I think they are going to have a yellow one in this second batch cuz' the interior is going to have yellow accented stiching where as it had orange right now. That would be a major + cuz' if I get a MP5, it is going to be that HOT Yellow. I think it is all going to depend on how much $ I get out of my truck.
How is the $gas$ since you have to get the 92 octane. I have alway's gotten 87 and it just seems sooo drastic to fork out $2 per gallen. What kinda millage are you guys getting? All I could find in the brochure and on the net was in kilometers.

 

[slug420]

2003.5 msp should be out spring-summer (same time as my 2003 msp.... ) and is in a grey color as well as the yellow. 2003.5 doesnt have foglights (easily remedied) but does have a little front lip that all p5s and msps lack. diff wing too.

 

[ZoomZoomH]

*begin jackass comment*

now read with me

the car's name is MAZDASPEED PROTEGE, not Mazda Speed Protege

MAZDASPEED is ONE WORD

*end jackass comment*



and if I was you I would get the MSP just because it will kill any turbo P5s on a road race track

 

[nattyboy513]

i just filled the tank up for $17, that should good for about 290 miles. gas is not a problem. you will never get the ride of an msp from a p5... ever. get the msp, paint it ( 'twould be a shame ) it you dont like the color. the stereo kicks serious ass. you will not regret it.

 

[bluetribal]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I can deffinately see that there are probably battles in here amont the Turbo P5 guys and the MSP guys! Ha ha. I will soon join up with one of you two groups! As soon as my Freakn' truck sells. It is taking too long! I lowered the price and it is in the adds for a second week tomorrow. Oh and if that was me with the Mazda Speed instead of MazdaSpeed, my bad your fault. I can never seem to get that right.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

you will never get the ride of an msp from a p5... ever

True. I've got a faster car than the MSP and don't have the "buckboard" ride over the pavement. Took my car in for basic maint. today and the technician at the dealer described driving my car and the MSP as seeing the difference bewteen night and day - and that I had nothing at all to worry about.

Don't get me wrong, I like the MSP (want the orange paint), but I'm happier (and faster) with the route I took.

 

[Newf]

So, all were going to hear from this point on is people comparing mod'ed cars to a stock Speed.....oh joy.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

Nahh - in fact, I apologize if I came off a tad too harsh with that last post.

I do like the MSP. I think that if you want a quick car from the factory with good looks, solid performance and a better than average stereo, then the MSP is the way to go. It's certainly a better choice than the SRT4, the Focus SVT or the Spec V, all around, in my opinion.

Just not my cup of tea. But mad props to all who are lucky enough to grab one up.

 

[Newf]

no apology needed. Actually it was more of a general statement then one directed towards you yourself. Other people have said similar things, and to each is their own, but I just don't think it's fair to compare a mod'ed car to a stock one no matter what it is.

Not that I don't agree with you....heck if I had the money, I'd much rather turbo the mp3 and keep my nice blue car. But, unfortunately, I don't have that luxery so MSP it is.

take care.