Mazdaspeed Protege

[Sertsa]

I've never owned a Mazda, but this upcoming Mazdaspeed Protege sounds interesting:

http://www.mazdausa.com/mazdaspeed/assets/mazdaspeed_protege_specs.pdf


That's the pdf link. To see the flash page, it looks like you have to go to mazdausa.com and find it.

Might be a nice car to start using for SCCA or NASA (not the space agency) stuff.

Oh, if interested, I came across the NASA info at Car & Driver a bit ago. Sounds like a great program for beginning club racing in the US. Just thought I'd share.

http://www.nasaproracing.com

 

[MazKid]

Yes the Mazdaspeed Protege is cool...170HP.

Also there's a Mazdaspeed Miata in the works...

 

[misnblu]

Yup and there is even a website I am a member of which has some really phat ride.

Here the link for the site.
They were one of the first to come out with that particular body style (Protoge P5) and is now really catching on with other manufacturers. Great cars but Ill take a third gen twin turbo RX-7 anytime.

[marquee]Misnblu[/marquee]

 

[Hooligan]

Whatever happened to the 626 MPS and 323 MPS? They seemed like they could be real WRX-hunters. The last I read of them was an issue of EVO some 18 months ago.

 

[MazKid]

626 MPS-gone now that the 6/Atenza is coming...

323 MPS-turned into the MP3 I guess...

 

[ShobThaBob]

If i were to be buying a nice economical cute car...it would either be the Matrix (180hp version) or a protege 5. The 5 is soooo kyoot. But....it just doesnt have enuf get up and go for me. That, and its very hard to find quality mazda upgrades. (unlike honda or toyota).

 

[misnblu]

I disagree, check out that link I posted earlier.
Check out some of the times and youll see there are possibilities.
Its a good car and the aftermarket has been slow to receive them.

[marquee]Misnblu[/marquee]

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by MazKid
626 MPS-gone now that the 6/Atenza is coming...

That's a shame. What exactly is the Atenza? Do you mean the standard 6? That's really lame compared to the MPS version. The thing even had a pillbox exhaust like the Clio V6.

www.mazdafun.com/news mps.htm

323 MPS-turned into the MP3 I guess...

That makes sense. Not my style, but it's interesting nonetheless.

 

[MazKid]

Hooligan-the Atenza is the Japanese version of the 6...really just the name change(cause everyone knows that the US and Europe can't deal with good car names...). And it's not that bad. 220hp 6-speed...3 body types. It's gonna be awsome.

Sure the 626MPS is awsome...but the 626 will be history in a matter of months, so I see no purpose for Mazda releasing an "old" car. It's from 2000, this is 2 years later. Sorry, but Mazda just couldn't go through with it...who knows, maybe they will make a 6MPS someday...

 

[MazKid]

ohh, and the thing about quality Mazda parts for the Protege 5, just go to your local Mazda dealer, they should have them if that's what you meant. And, if you could, I'd get the J-spec bumpers and cladding for the Protege 5(there they call it the 323 F), it looks awsome.

 

[Sertsa]

Mazkid: cool. Do you know of the new Mazda 6 will be mostly Mazda or, like the 626, have a whole lot o' Ford in it? Will it be made at the same plant?

 

[MazKid]

I don't know where it's going to be made, probably Michigan like the 626...

It's going to have a Ford engine(ohh no...)but that's it...

The 626 was poorly constucted...the ones from the 80s and early 90s were extremely good quality but then they got Fordolized and turned to crap...