Go for the 6.. one of my friends in my crew has a supercharge 4cyl. 6 that's running low 15's as it is.. the numbers on the 5- speed 6S (V6) are 15.1.. and the auto is 16.2 - 16.4 from what I've seen.. and I'm very disappointed with the MAZDASPEED :p Protege.. big whoop it can handle.. but so can the 6.. its missing straight line power.. I've got it my little 03 ES and well if you offer me enough I'll sell it to you.. Handling in the ES is close enough to the Mazdaspeed and I'm serious if you want my ES I'll sell it to you.. Its an 03 all options except auto tranny.. I have the Mazda front lip with side sills and rear bumper with two cut outs for the dual borla exhaust and down pipe... Its veery nice.. I have it down to 14.2 in the 1/4 at 100MPH even.. very little turbo lag.. only from about 1500 to 2500RPM.

I will keep this post about the two cars you created this thread for. Both are great in my opinion. By the end of the summer the '03.5 MSP will probably be released with a different front end I guess similar to this...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...9/fc232ea2.jpg

Its smaller lighter and offes nimbler handling...But the 6s is bigger and offeres a smoother more powerful engine. Depending on your insurance company I would be that the MSP would be more expensive becuase of its turbo (Most insurance companies associate that word with stupid fast, even though it is not always true)

Personally I would go in this order...

3rd. Mazda 6i
2nd. Mazda 6s with all the options
1st. Mazdaspeed Protege

two months ago i had to go thru the same decision process. i chose the mazda 6
its great car and the engine has potential for power that i dont even want to post because it would seem utter rediculous to most.
any way two days a go my fiance was involved in a serious car crash with the 6 and it is ( i think) totaled.
non the less we are fine and the car is a very safe auto. i also own a pro5
i dont regret my decision at all:D

"Car and Driver" was on today;

They testes the Mazda6 0-60 in 6.8secs and 15s flat in 1/4 mile.

So 'Motor Trend' and 'Car and Driver' both have really good times for the Mazda6.

...and the potential for the Mazda6 hasn't even begun.
but the MSP is almost at its end...lol

Besides that, Duratec Performance, AUTO-EXE, and Mazdaspeed have a bunch of performance parts out for this car NOW. The only thing next is a turbo for it, which you don't really need for this car. The only reason I would get a MSP over the Mazda6, is to keep the "young age" image, which I really don't care about.

i love my p5.
but i love the mazda6.
i'll probably end up getting both later on down the road.

but if u want power, why choose any of the two? sit in the rx-8 and go zoom zoom. :D

actually, i plan to own all three...

Mazdaspeed
 

I just bought my Mazdaspeed Protege and I test drove the 6 when I was at the dealer. They are both nice cars but I think totally different driving experience. Also the Mazda 6 with the 6 is about $5000.00 more. I could be wrong I think they will come out with more aftermarket parts for the Protege the way the magazines are talking. With that said you can make that six a very fast car with very little effort.

Or just buy an Accord Coupe with a 6-speed, stomp the 6s, and get Honda aftermarket support. Not to mention you would get a ton more equipment at around the same price point. Just don't buy a 6s automatic unless you like losing.

yup
 

yuo

nice
 

nice

mazdaspeed
 

sounds to me it breaks down like this...

mazdaspeed: fast fun car out of the box... great for track days and it's exclusive. cool car. (my choice for a 2nd car)

mazda6: fast fun car... but more for everyday use (truck space and rear seat for friends and well, ahem, g/f's). could be fun to mod this is you are into that kind of stuff. will be pretty popular but if you are customizing then that's cool. just don't get all the crap everyone else gets.

my choice? mazda 6. i ride motorcycles for my fast fun so mazda 6 is my choice. it's a better daily car (larger, more comfy, easier to fix), is upgradeable and not as "ricey". i don't really care about being exclusive, that is why God gave us personalitys.

actually i really like the p5... my next car is a toss up b/t the p5 and the ford ranger... funny choice huh?