Turbo Protege 2003! It's Official

[ezrider1026]

Personally i think it is bulls***. Big ben is right who the hell is going to buy this car? What spend 25,000 (after taxes) When i can get a rsx, wrx, or hell even a mustang gt. They need to turn that s*** up to at least 200hp at the wheels to get my attention. As far as i'm concerned i have met alot of cool people on this site i almost feel like family. If i sold my car today i would still log on here tommorrow. If there is anyone out there don't be upset i bet spoolin would blow the doors off that s***. Just remeber what ever the future holds this is still mp3.com were runnin this s***.

 

[norman]

I see your point APEXi. I agree there are significant differences between the two cars...my oops. I also did not think of the fact that the domestic cars exhaust have to extend over the axle and ours do not. I stand corrected. And lets pass this along to all the people with the "angry bumblebee" mufflers, those sound just plain bad.

OK Back to the thread,

 

[LT1 Power]

This is just my opinion but it would have to sell for less than 20k because of the competition. There is no way someone is going to pass up the WRX for the same price. I hope that the output figures are conservative on this car because they are just too low.

 

[Kooldino]

1-It's probably 170 @ the crank, but I'm sure you could do some cheap mods and get another 10hp out of it.

2-The orange doesn't look ugly...it's decent looking. I'm glad it's not yellow or blue.

3-Notice the grill is slightly different...the lip that was once BLACK is now orange...a nice touch.

4- I doubt they'll charge $23K for it. My guess is $21 - $22K.

155lb/ft of TQ? That's weak, man. What did people's mp3's have that are turbo'ed?

BTW, what do larger driveshafts do?

 

[NC_MP3]

The 170 HP thing is at the crank. I don't feel like re reading the article, but I think it said something like "Delivering 170 HP solidly to the ground THROUGH a limited slip differential..." That to the ground thing was put in there to tell you it has a LSD.

 

[derrick1623]

mixed messages

i dont know whether im pissed off or happy as s*** that this new pro is hittin the streets. ive already got about 1200 in my car, and with blue windows, i doubt i could trade it in but, then again...i love my car, and there are so few...ill prob keep it til i die. adding everything i can along the way( hopefully warrantied)lol.

 

[chdesign]

What I like about them bringing that car here is that they are bringing MAZDASPEED with it!!!!!! The car is ok but here is my beef. A. Nothing about upgraded internals said....meaning it is a callaway turbo kit bolted onto a stock 2.0L as I have read somewhere else that the cars are built on teh line as normal then turbo kits installed pre-port. So I'm guessing the 170 HP is at the crank and its only pushing 5 PSI. Which is kinda sad seeing I am pushing 5 PSI non-intercooled and making the same number. B. i see no front mount intercooler...if its so limited make a front mount in the thing for christs sake. C. that orange color has to go....I will keep my turboed ES thank you.

 

[manuel]

hmm i think its still WAY to early to start guessing on the price for the car, but i agree the car shouldnt be more than 22k with everything. i dont think some of us are looking past the BASE PRICE of the car, there are also other factors to consider. well 1 in my case, insurance. if the protege is remotely priced similar to the WRX i would check the insurance rates for both cars, im am positive insurance quotes for both cars are at extreme ends. now i would friggin LOVE to have a WRX if the protege is priced similar to it, but a buying factor for ME also includes looking at insurance. oh and yeah finally MAZDASPEED decides to come to the U.S. now lets all cross our fingers and toes and hope the 170 is at the wheels when it is actually produced

 

[OceanPark]

Did you guys read the page2?? It said:

Horsepower (SAE hp @ rpm) 170@ 5500 rpm - estimated
Torque (SAE lb-ft @ rpm) 155 lb-ft @4500 rpm - estimated

Do you think this is the numbers on the wheel??? I don't think so.

Anyway, I like the Mazdaspeed protg.
If you do the math, it is smarter to re-paint the car into whatever color you like.
But probably 3X more to upgrade a turbo and install a LSD.

The Turbo Neon = around 20,000
Sentra SE-R Spec V(175hp with LSD) = around 18,000
MazdaSpeed Protg = 23,000??????????????? (Guess not)

 

[trobbins]

So if you read the page again... you will read:

"Delivering an estimated 170 horsepower solidly to the ground is a Tochigi Fuji Sangyo KK Super Limited-Slip Differential, assisted by larger 24mm driveshafts (versus 22mm for the standard Proteg). "

This is different then reading it as:

"Delivering an estimated 170 horsepower solidly to the ground"

What this means is that the engine is producing the 170hp and handing off the 170 hp to the LSD. So I figure this is the HP rating at the flywheel, not at the ground.

So the sentence in picture form is

ENGINE(170HP) -> LSD -> driveshafts(HP???)

I think this is just a bit of clever wording on behalf of Mazda marketers.

Tim

 

[Thxbrett]

170 horsepower and a T-25 have not got me excited about this car unfortunately. No upgraded lower compression pistons, AWD,220 horsepower or 6 speed. Mazda are suggesting a MSRP of less then $25,000. It better be less than $20,000! Why would I buy this front wheel drive underpowered car that has little tuning potential? Subaru or Mitsubishi will get my business next year with either the STI or the EVO for about $4000 more. What will that buy? 6 speed, AWD, Brembo brakes,260+ horsepower,8000 redline, upgraded motor with VVT and bigger turbocharger with a better intercooler and water sprayer with the STI. Evo 7 may be packing even more grunt. The Dodge Neon SR-T is the Mazdaspeed Protege's competition. Lets see, under $20,000, over 200 horsepower, 148 mph top speed(claimed) upgraded suspension and brakes, front mount intercooler and 2.4 liters of displacement. Yes its ugly, yes the interior is hideous, yes I am dubious about the build quality and reliabilty of a Neon. I was hoping for a little more out of this Mazdaspeed Protege, not just a MP3 with a Callaway T-25 turbo kit slapped on it. Hopefully Mazda will develop some more exciting products in the future in Japan and import them here( Mazda 6 AWD, twin turbo). The current P5 is available right now in Japan with AWD and a 170 hp N/A motor? I was hoping that Mazda would turbocharge the new 2.3 liter motor and strengthen it for that application. My BPT motor from 1990 is more sophisticated and durable then the current offerings from Mazda. I will definately test drive a Protege when its released, and I wouldn't be surprised if we develop some go fast goodies for it. I hope its at least a good drive.

Brett Payne
M2 Performance

 

[Newf]

Guys....I have one thing left to say. I'm waiting for one car.....

MazdaSpeed 6 ( Atenza )


My car is only 7 months old yet. I figure by the time the Mazdaspeed 6 comes out ( If they make it) I'll be due for a trade in. Imagine a Atenza with a turbo, Racingbeat setup, and aother kickass stereo. Now were talking. As long as it's not $30,000 that is.

As for the color for the Mazdaspeed 3, I think that if everyone keeps saying how ugly it is, they'll change it to something else. They just better not change it to blue or yellow.

So for now....say you like Orange! even if you don't like it... Just kidding.

 

[dustobub]

I am pretty sure it is coming in black mica also. Now that would look sweet however I am slightly partial to black since I own a black P5.

Dustin

 

[sundevilMP5]

mazda is just being smart...if they introduce a great car that nobody can afford the dealers will just get stuck with them...by adding a modest turbo...the car is still pretty cool...but it will probably bust open the market for protege parts...granted it's no WRX (i'm really partial to subies) but it's built for a different purpose...

 

[sundevilMP5]

mazda is just being smart...if they introduce a great car that nobody can afford the dealers will just get stuck with them...by adding a modest turbo...the car is still pretty cool...but it will probably bust open the market for protege parts...granted it's no WRX (i'm really partial to subies) but it's built for a different purpose... anyways that's my input

 

[MP3skaterNC]

when i first heard of the mazdaspeed protege, i was kinda happy, a turbo pro that we could get parts off of, but the more i thought about it, the madder i got. they made this car in like 7th months right, so how hard would it of been to just slap that turbo on our cars before they sent them out, kinda makes you think, plus even though we're the og's now we have look alikes running around that can blow us away, its not fair damnit. the least they could of done is made a different ******* body kit, its just an mp3 with a turbo, lsd, and a different system... you all might be happy, but it kinda makes me think that they don't really give a **** about us since they pretty much are rereleasing our cars with more power. i guess thats just MHO but im entitled to it.

 

[Antoine]

they don't really give a **** about us

Check the threads when we were calling Mazda NA about helping with the national MP3/P5 meet...I believe they pretty much blew us off...Mazda sells cars to make a profit...not to be your best friend...Unfortunately this is the way the auto business works...so don't worry about Mazda...realize and enjoy the friends and experiences you get from your Mazda (whatever model).

 

[MP3skaterNC]

yea i understand that, but damn, we represent a special project for them they could at least show alittle compassion, but no they turn around and produce something that they said they weren't going to make 6 months later. oh well, i hope that that car doesn't sell well, i know it won't if its going to be in the 23 grand range because i could get a base wrx for that much that has 50 more hp and more aftermarket support.

 

[manuel]

yea i understand that, but damn, we represent a special project for them they could at least show alittle compassion, but no they turn around and produce something that they said they weren't going to make 6 months later. oh well, i hope that that car doesn't sell well, i know it won't if its going to be in the 23 grand range because i could get a base wrx for that much that has 50 more hp and more aftermarket support.

mazda said they werent gonna make a car like this? why would you hope for mazda to not sell their mazdaspeed cars? that would mean they MIGHT NOT ever make more OEM type of performance parts for the protege. and whats all this about its an mp3 that can blow my socks off? uhm if you dont want to get "beat" go and buy a turbo kit, i mean you are a hardcore racer right? worrying about getting beat by the MP protege and all....a wrx? im pretty sure the MP protege isnt modded to peak performance, im no car buff or nothing but all i know its simply boosting 5psi. maybe you wont get as much as the wrx if you do small common mods to the MPprotege but heck, id rather get the mazdaspeed than wrx. its not all about being the fastest on your block. oh and companies that sell arent here to be your friend, they are here to make money. and i guess as far as aftermarket support, yes the wrx has more but the protege is barely marking its spot in the import scene. i mean at first NOONE had CAI for the mp3, but look, MHP even made CARBON FIBER cai and other versions of the intake. i also dont feel its an mp3. its a protege with turbo and body kits/parts. i mean its like if i have a regular ES, am i gonna say you have an ES? no, its an mp3. i hope im clear with the point im trying to make, if not im a dumbass. well later.

 

[slammin mp3]

how can you guys actually sit here and say that you dont like that color? i was thinking of getting my mp3 painted to almost the same color orange. for some reason i dont believe protech.com they have had a lot of false information in the past. even if this car was at the auto show it might have been a concepted, just like a few years ago when they had a protege with an hks turbo in it. i would nt get my hopes up until i see it either at the dealer or on mazda's websites. the next vechical that i heard that was suppossed to get the mazdaspeed special packaging was the 626.