Living in the city, the fastest I can go is 45mph
I drive the shittiest of all proteges(engine wise)....the 1.6L
and it is fine. Highway, I usually don't speed

again, I know it is underpowered, but depending where you are living in and the style of driving, maybe the pro isn't for you.

In the city, I take mad turns and pull stunts that civics can't even imagine.....stock vs. stock.

I like the protege....handling
I don't like the engine, but I can live with it

 

"IMO "stock for stock" our P5 outhandled our Focus, but it will never have anywhere near the amount of hp & tq that a turbo car will have. We have since upgraded the suspension on the Focus with springs, sway bars, strut bars, bushings, you name it and it corners like one scary beast! "

YEAH BUT HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU HAVE TO INVEST???
PUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF CASH INTO THE PROTEGE AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS....
ALSO IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACCELERATION NUMBERS , THE FOCUS IS SLOWER THEN THE PROTEGE BY ABOUT 1SEC. CHECK OUT CAR&DRIVER,MOTOR TREND ETC...
PROTEGE IS THE COOLEST!

 

$15k including the car that was bought with 63 miles on it for the Focus. The Protege was more than that when bought new. I think that is a pretty good investment considering that the Focus now runs the 1/4 in 13.42@110 (should be high 12's with a decent 60ft) on street tires and lays down 325hp and 363tq at the wheels. The Focus would outrun a BMW M roadster with only a set of springs. The comparison was stock for stock but if you want to talk about modding for the same money, the Focus is still faster. Much faster.

We love the looks of the PR5 and the handling. I don't know of a turbo that you can put on the Protege and get those numbers without putting more into the kit that the entire mod list on the Focus costs.

 

damn that's a lot of whp for a focus!

but, you're right, it still LOOKs like a focus...



shoot, I'd be happy with a round 200 or 210 in the MSP.

considering there are a few sub-15 sec runs out there in STOCK MSP's at a measely 140-something whp....

<drool>

 

No, you're nice.

Perhaps you missed my point. In the prior post, one guy said "It can be done", then Jesse said " No it can't!" so I was pointing out that it probably could be done with appropriate suspension tuning (Like JICs). Furthermore, I theorized that the MSP could probably out handle an S2000.

I realize that projecting improvements is a lame way to compare vehicles (well, what if the protege had coilovers? well, what if the S2000 had coilovers? What if? What if? What if?). But there is no need to belittle me.

 

a Protege *can* outrun, and outhandle an S2000. Just because it can doesn't mean it will. Stock? S2000 wins, no question. The day I saw a Caravan literally eat a Camero SS alive (both pretty modified... especially the Dodge) is the day I believed anything is possible.

 

ok, i know my car, i know it's boundaries, i know when it will hug a corner and when it's gonna give... i will tell you this much: a first gen pro might not out run a stock eclipse of the same years, but handling wise, there is no comparisson in the world. that car drives, handles and turns like dick. thats one car, at least the equivalent years, that i know my car will always outhandle. but wtf are we trying to compare here? i mean, basically, you're saying it will out handle the chevy cavalier, the dodge lancer, the ford tempo, the mercury tracer (non-bp versions), any 4 door geo, any 4 door camry, corolla, the hyundai accent, the mitsubishi galant, etc.. all have 4 cylinder versions, offer 4 door versions, and qualify as 4 door mid-size or compact sedan???? i mean, where's the line? deliniate for me! i mean everybody seems to say that the pro will out run this and that... but some of the racing jollies on this board are full bull, no if ands or buts.
peace
ps. failed to mention hondas

 

haha it seems alot of people here love to compare apples to oranges =P

The only cars that can be compared to the mp5 are the focus and any other "5 door" car out there....the base model toyota matrix at 140hp is about an equal measure and in most respects matches the mp5 but for style and a little suspension tuning I think the stock mp5 edges the matrix. Plus the matrix costs more.

I picked up my 2003.5 MP5 with 10 miles on it for 14,900.
I have thrown almost 500 at it including a custom CAI, ractive exhaust, eibach pro-kit and alot of cosmetic and driver feedback modifications. So I would like to think I can match the 140 or so hp of the matrix and other cars.

For handling I have driven few cars that could match the new mazdas in the same price range. stock.

 

My solution for EVERYTHING:

Get a pre-owned sport bike. (Preferably a '98 Yamaha R6, cause its my favorite). Now you can happily do a 1/4 mile in 11s or less for under $4K.

 

yeah but you have to change your nickname to "organ donor"

 

The s2000 is worth like 26k and the P5 is worth like 17k. Ummmmmmmmm about 9k less. Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking? I smell TURBO And just remeber that this two cars are in a different class. I think maybe the MP3 could keep up with it on turns as well as the mazdaspeed.