leungwingkei

They refunded a portion of the purchase price. I think it was $1000 or $2000. I'm not saying this is the case with the Protege's with the FS-DE. It's all speculation.

Mach 1

How did it come to light? Are Miatas on the dyno that much? Guess it is a popular car to play with?

HubbMP5

Just to put the "sports car" argument to rest, the generally accepted definition thereof is: rear wheel drive (occaisionally all wheel; Diablo VT, etc...), 2 door, and 2 seater. Speed has little to do with it as many "sports cars" are defined by driving feel. Like it or not, the Miata is considered a sports car even though its not particularly fast. Also the MR2 is, in fact, a sports car.

300-400 HP comes more within the realm of performance car or perhaps even supercar.

KrisA

PseudoRealityX - nice MR2. Welcome to the club, are you on www.mr2faq.com yet?

As far as MR2's being sports cars, all I can say is DUH. If in your definition of a sports car an MR2, RX-7 or Miata does not fit then you need to adjust you definition.

As far as the 1ZZ-FE vs FS-DE goes, I'd take a 1ZZ in my Protege over the FS any day of the week. The 1ZZ is smoother, has as much (or more) power, plus gets wayyyyyy better gas mileage. I'm hoping that the new MZR engines in the Mazda3 are much more efficient than the FS-DE, which I think is a piece of crap. Don't get me wrong I love my Protege, I just hate the engine!

Edit - one more thing. I've been an MR2 Turbo owner for 4 years now and have been part of the online community for the whole time. Never once have I heard anyone say the 3S-GTE is overrated. They typically dyno between 165-175 RWHP which when you account for the very stout tranny seems right for 200FWHP. I have heard that the GENIII 3S-GTE rated at 240hp is UNDERRATED and actually produces about 20hp more though!

Some owners dyno much less than 165 but it is usually due to deteriorated ignition components or sacked out 10 year old engines with missing compression.

Phantom Cruiser

I can tell you for a fact that all the stock Foci (130 to the CRANK) that I have seen dyno'd will net 101-105 at the wheels. I went and dyno'd my STOCK PR5 (130 to the crank) and I got 102.1fwhp & 114tq. This was when the car was brand new too.

Of course, I've seen lots of dynos (even the GTI with 155fwhp w/chip) so I was prepared mentally for those types of numbers. People who think their car should have 130 because that is what is rated at the crank should have their heads pulled out of their asses!

At any rate, I took my 102 at the wheels and laid down a nice 16.84 1/4 mile time. Not too shabby considering what I have seen STOCK HONDAS run. Plus, I'm a girl with "no skillz yO".

Carry on...

~Karen

Lamsock

I can't believe people here are even talking about a Corolla. C'mon, guys. The new Corolla looks like the new Camry, and the new Camry looks like a minivan. It's ridiculous. The thick front end and tall sides make the Corolla look like a clown car at the circus. The Protege5 may be edged out 0-60, but who cares?
Everything about the look&feel of the protege is better and sportier.

The car I'm going to sell is a 240hp, 280ft-lb supercharged Olds LSS. (Very rare- only a handful of these were supercharged). This car will cream most everything out there 0 to 60, or 50 to 100- bone stock.

If I wanted something fast like this, I would not have bought the Protege. I like the Protege5 because of the total package.

But I still can't believe you guys are considering goofy Corollas! I'm so disappointed..

KrisA

Nobody is "considering" the blah Corolla, we are just saying that it has a better engine. The Protege is a much better total package, despite not because of, the FS-DE.

I want my MZR!!!

Lamsock

Agreed.
I guess the 2.0 is not the most sophisticated engine in the world. But after hearing all the problems with other small, "sporty" cars (VW, Focus!), I'm hoping the Mazda will be reliable. From what I've heard, I think it will be very much so.

It's a good compromise all around!
Good Lord, I think I'm becoming a Mazda enthusiast!!

Phantom Cruiser

Horsepower...bah! I traded in my 95 Mustang GT (had n2o) for the little Protege5...because I like it!

Mach 1

Agreed, I sold my heavily moddified 1993 mustang GT which was VERY fast for a 2000 Protege ES, because I want reliable and good on gas. Who cares about HP? If you do, you shouldnt be driving a Mazda...

Scarmiglio

Just be glad you don't have a VW with the base 2.0L engine. Bad Gas Mileage, Low HP, Low Torque, and slow as molasses.

It would be cool, though, to do an engine swap to the new 2.3L in the Mazda6. Not sure if it would fit, but in a year or so when some Mazda6s have been wrecked, it would be something to look into (probably cheaper than a turbo kit anyway).

jaje

as much as you guys hate honda engines...the jdm prelude type s (220hp lsd) would be a perfect match for this platform...low end torque and an eager revving normally aspirated engine

jaje

There was a version of the Type S that came with the ATTS System but the orginal Type S was LSD equipped...i helped a buddy build up a civic sedan drag car using the jdm type s h22a w/ lsd (not atts)

USDM 1997-2001 Honda Prelude SH
200hp 2.2 liter inline 4 dohc 2 stage vtec 10:1 compression
5 Spd Manual
ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System) Differential...it allows the outside wheels to spin up to 15% faster than the inside wheels giving it rwd handling characteristics

General USDM Prelude SH info
http://www.theautochannel.com/vehicl.../solo0133.html

http://www.edmunds.com/used/1997/hon.../overview.html

JDM Honda Prelude Type S (also called SiR S Spec)
~220hp 2.2 liter inline 4 dohc 2 stage vtec 11:1 compression
5 spd manual
LSD

JDM Prelude Info
http://www.h22a.com/specs.html

Installshield

If anything ATTS gave it quirky handling characteristics. If you broke loose in a turn, good luck regaining control.

bbarbulo

JDM H22As come with LSD most of them. Not too many ATTS are imported since we have ATTS here on the USDM SH. Not like it matters....no one will dare to throw the H22A into a Protege.