Mazda6 or Protege Speed?
 

Alright, I am looking to buy a car at the end of summer. (My first one) I am stuck between the mazda6 s and the mazda protege speed. I am looking basically at a decent interior and being able to upgrade to make it go faster. :) Sorry for being a newb and thanks in advance.

I'd go for the Mazda Speed Protege.

Faster, sportier, less on the road, and less offered than the Mazda 6. The 6 is a very nice car, just more for the mid-life person driving it.

It is also your personal preference. They are both very nice cars.....

My $.02

-R

Mazda6 s

The Mazda6 is just as fast WITHOUT the turbo

MSP 0-60 6.7 14.6 1/4

Mazda6 0-60 6.67 15.1 1/4

'Got my times from motor trend.'

The Mazda6 is roomier, just as sporty, as several body kits out already, and is going to have really good aftermarket support.
They already have aftermarket intake, exhaust, headers, and an upgraded ECU for it. They also claim that these 3 mods, I/H/E, alone is a 30hp gain because the Mazda6 exhaust flow is very restrictive. With these 3 mods, you can easily destroy a MSP.

AUTO EXE makes a beautiful body kit and as a lot of suspension parts for it i.e coilovers, strut bar, struts, springs.

If I had the choice, it would be the Mazda6 EASILY.

Personally....If I were in the market for a new sporty sedan..and those were the two choices....it would definately be the 6.

why can't people learn to properly spell MAZDASPEED Protege????? :rolleyes:

Mazdaspeed is ONE WORD!!!!!

it's not mazda protege speed, mazda speed protege, it's MAZDASPEED PROTEGE!!!!

this is even worse than people calling Protege5 MP5 :rolleyes:

A new car when you're 16? Can your parents kick down some money to me too?

Why can't people find something more important to waste their time crying over?! :rolleyes:

Well mate it all depends if you want to stay in the protegeclub (is that one or two words........ better get it right before some one gets up me too.) see if you get a 6 you wont be able to bring it in here HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...f/fc33cd01.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/members/20omz

Go for the 6.

Well I'm a bit biased I suppose. Go for the 6 :D

Don't get either. If you want real speed, buy my mint '92 Mustang GT with less than 23k orig miles. It's got serious speed, looks incredible and will be 10K less than a 6 or MSpd.
http://68.110.227.119:8080/stangpage_files/mustang2.jpg

Mazda6 0-60 6.67 15.1 1/4

nnnnn???! i think the last i saw was mid-high 7sec for 0-60mph.
its a V6, but its a weak car.

Weak? Have you driven the Mazda 6? For basically the same price the 6 would spank the pro. If you are taking about 0-60 who gives a shit, its the whole driving experience that counts. I have driven both of the cars and the MS Pro is pale in comparison.

It is?

If you think the MSP is pale in comparison, you haven't driven it the right way....trust me :angel:

p.s. The Mazda6 isn't "weak" either, though.

Re: Mazda6 or Protege Speed?
 

Mazda6s w/ the V6 will be your choice.

the Mazdaspeed Protege pretty much has reached a threshold of decreasing returns in performance potential for the Protege. You really won't get much more power out of that motor without some serious additional $$$.

Because the Mazda6 V6 is a Duratec-block engine, I believe tuners for the Duratec engine is already working on ways to make more power out of this variation of the Duratec V6.

and you'll see more gains from your performance mods on the V6, because there IS no replacement for displacement (for NA applications that is :p )

Sorry for all calling the MAZDASPEED PROTEGE by a different name. Also no my parents arent really giving my any money, but they are splitting insurance costs with me. :) I am getting a job that will allow me to pay for the car payments on either of the cars. Thanks for all your input guys...now hopefully I can have my new 6 by the end of summer.

I would chose the MSP. It has been around longer, therefore most of the shakes and rattles have been removed. The 6 is a newer model. It has been combed over as well as the PRO but, to each their own. MSP.

did i mention there are already aftermarket performance parts available for the Atenza/6 overseas in Japan and Europe?

3rd gen Proteges didn't get aftermarket support until the MP3 showed up in 2001...

this headstart in aftermarket support for the 6 will only bode well for future performance parts for it :D

It will for the future models of the 6 but, if the base still has problems so will a souped up aftermarket version. Unless you put a crap load of cash into it. My 2cents.

Mentioned just because you're near the same price-point & it's something very upgradeable, - the MINI Cooper S!

At the price-point you're considering, it'd be a personal loss for you not to consider it. Just go drive one, - then try & wipe the smile off your face within an hour! I DARE YOU! :D

Financially: one of the best decisions possible. No car is a true "investment," via depreciation, but the MINI, well check out the ALG (Automotive Lease Guide) data for yourself, - it's ranked #1 in the small auto class. It's some 15% higher in residual value than the once-hard-to-find Acura MDX, which had unbelievable residuals. Also, manuals are a mere, 15-18% of the american car population, thus, when you go to trade it in or sell it yourself, you're looking at a small population of folks interested.
The MINI S is only available in the famous german Getrag 6-speed & rarer still in availability (something never to be true of the Mazda family). This actually helps you retain value & sell it to S-hunting 2nd-hand MINI desirees when that time comes...if ever.

Quality: MINI is now produced by BMW. The 2003 models are the second running, meaning they've worked-out 1st year bugs. 6-speed, super-charger with a GETRAG transmission, standard ASC+T traction control.

Environmentally: Fuel economy would be about the same to the MazdaSpeed. Small yet useful: fold down the seats, open the hatchback & throw your 32" trinitron in!

Safety: Forr-get about it,- Six Airbags STANDARD. ABS with Four wheel disc brakes STANDARD. Optional Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). ASC+T (Traction control & elec. brake force distribution) STANDARD.

MINIs are built 50% stronger than the BMW 3 series in order to provide the safest small car possible. [Check that too, with both the IIHS & NHTSA].

enough.... I know this was to be betwixt the 2 Mazdas only.

I personally would avoid the MazdaSpeed, as it's beginning seemed its' end. EBay auctions for them ran without bids or never meeting reserve. Meaning? -- They're not going to hold their value well, as the market never took to them.

Much more importantly, its the Last of the Mazda-Mohicans isn't it? I thought the 2004MY was reining in the new "Mazda 3," which if true, will send your "old" body-style MazdaSpeed value down too fast.


The MINI S I'm soon to pick-up is $25,100 with:
1) PREMIUM PKG.: Cruise control, Multi-function leather Sport steering wheel, Dual-pane panoramic sunroof, Automatic AC with carbon air filter, and an On-board computer that provides a detailed trip odometer and tracks your average speed, fuel consumption, the distance you can go on your remaining fuel, and outside temperature.

2) SPORT PKG.: Xenon headlights w/ power-washers, upgraded 17" rims & runflats, DSC (see above) & Fog lamps.

3) COLD WEATHER PKG.: Heated front seats, Heated side-view mirrors & Heated washer jets.

+ Harmon Kardon 6 CD-Changer

GO over to the MINI community: seek

-Make sure you see & drive it! No comparison/decision can be well made otherwise.

How often does a new BMW auto company spring up?!

ok.

Good luck. Be happy with what you decide.

PS. I'm here 'cause my first new car was a '00 Protege ES 5-speed, which we still really love and baby!

The MCS (MINI Cooper S) starts actually becoming available at $21k with a few things the dealers add. Mods are available to boost its' supercharged engine from 163hp to just over 210.

The "plain" MINI Cooper with 116hp starts at $16,700 I believe, - but don't quote me on that one.

Giddy-up!

MINI S: The most horse for the buck! (I wrote that)!

-theBUK

You forgot one of the important ones: Cargo space.

With the rear seats folded down, you're at 25+ cubic feet for cargo.

Pretty decent for an econobox born to rave through the curves IMHO.

-theBUK

Uh, the mini is a terrible car. Are you sure you really drove one?

:wtf:
The Cooper S I rode in kicked ass. We were the lead car in front of a bunch of Subarus (WRXs etc), and even Mazdaspeed Proteges. Not to say that they couldn't have gone faster, but we were kicking ass. Reliability is another question though. I don't really trust anything built in England. :)

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...5/mini2fav.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...uriteMINIs.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...worksMINIs.jpg


Yep.

Just terrible! ;)

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...upbuilding.jpg

What the hell was with that dash board? Damn, nice tach a foot away from the rest of the gauge combo. My friend got in the drivers seat and was like "WHY DO MY KNEES HIT THE WHEEL?" and the sales lady was like "SPORTY HUH?". This is when he FELL out of the car was like "THIS THING IS A BIG PIECE OF SHIT!!" and walked out.


It's great when you have a rich friend and every salesman is willing to bend over backwards to help them.


"COME BACK SIR!! TEST DRIVE IT!!"

this post is full of intelligence

has your friend heard of seat adjustment? they put those in for a reason you know

The Mini is a nice car but I think its kind of girly, that's an opinion. But the rear is really cramped, that's a fact.

And I don't get it, you post some pics and marketing of the Mini, and that's supposed to illustrate what? I can put a Cavalier in the same pic.

Seat adjustment? Psssh, forget that noise. For that kind of price I expected more steel some place. What were they using that money for? Like, HERE'S THE CAR SIR, AND WITH THE MONEY LEFT OVER HERE'S THE EXTRA STEEL AND PLASTIC YOU COULD BUY.

The dash board was like an ECHO.

It's really really small, not sports car small. Small like stupid small.

It's a stupid car.

ok :rolleyes:

:o

umm.... 'cause your friend is IGOR? :D I don't know.

The seats slide forward for access to the rear seats, so, seeing as how many folks examine cars they're thinking of driving, it probably just needed to slide back into position.

The design is BMW's own, allowing 7-footers a comfortable driving position.

Add the SatNav and your Speedometer will be placed next to the Tach for you.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/100425/navi.jpg

Now, the doors do open 80 degrees, so put a helmet on Igor for his next fall. ;)

-theBUK

Nothing, Leungwingkei.

Nothing. :rolleyes:

'Nevermind the bullocks....'

Re: Mazda6 or Protege Speed?
 

IMO, your better off getting a MazdaSpeed. It fits you for your age.

-Roomy
-Fast
-Sporty
-Won't look like your driving your parents car.

One word, uhh, number 6 ... no wait, 12.

That car looks like they made what I don't want a car to ever look like.

So there.

Go with the mazdaspeed.

The 6 is not a sport car. The spirit of a sport car is not with a V6.
It doesn't feel as sharp. the review that I saw is that the engine is crappy( I exagerate) and is not that powerfull. The number on paper look good but the real feeling is another story.
The only V6 that I would accept is the Vr6 on a GTI, the structure of that car is really strong and it give the feeling that you drive a tank with unlimited torque without anny effect on the steering. Also the sound of the engine is awsome. The mazda 6 sound is quite sissi IMO.

Try the acura RSX, its a big High rev. engine with a real sport spirit. Yes the torque curve is not perfect, but with 200 HP and with someone who know how to drive those kind of car you can fry a mazdaspeed anyday. Also the engine is normaly aspirated so no problem with the long term reliability.

The problem with the MSP is that most part are the same as the normal protege. I already have torque steer with my LX so I cant imagine with a turbo... Almost every part where made for 130 HP.
IMO the long term reliability will be bad with the MSP. In french we have this expression " le citron est pas mal pressé" the transalation is close of this" the lemon is really squeezed" Their is no room left for upgrade at the risk of driving a grenade.

I thought the MINI was pretty cool piece of kit. I didn't have any issues with knee room, head room, any of that other stuff. Felt good, drove well and had a nice sunroof ( the kind a Pro5 should have, incidentally ). Dealer markup is outrageous at 6 grand.

I have a P5, and i've driven the mazda 6 (at Rev It Up, so i've pushed em HARD) and i've driven a lot of other cars too. The MSP at Rev It Up had a REALLY raped clutch, so it's not fair for me to judge the power, but the suspension is GREAT. it's super tite and nice.
My friends and I were all prettty impressed with the Mazda 6, especially the agility and handling and brakes of it, expecting it to feel a little sloppier for its size. We drove the automatics, and there was a bit of lag and lack of low-end power, but i think those problems would be eliminated with a 5-speed (or is it 6?)...
Give em both a test drive!

ANother thing to think about...is that the M6 might be a little easier to get in the color and options that you want!

Oh, just so you guys know, my last car was a Celica GT-S, so I know what handling is :P
I remember when iwas car shopping, i was looking at the Suzuki Aerio S and i read some reviews online and some people were like DUDE THIS CAR IS FREAKING AWESOME!@ IT HANDLES LIKE A BEAST AND ITS SO FAST!@....Then i test drove one and it was like such a quirky and average car....SO yeah :p