The '02 ES would be good for auto-x. Both the P5 and the ES have the firmer struts/rear springs/slightly larger sway bars, and 4-wheel disc brakes. The sedan is lighter, and most of the P5's extra weight is glass, and it's all up high where you don't need it. A DX or LX would be lighter still, but not by the same margin. The suspensions on the the DX/LX are by no means "flaccid", and most autocrossers upgrade the parts anyway. DX's also have no tach. Dohhhh! But I'd give a vote for the '02 ES anyday.

 

You ARE faster than a P5, opinion or not...the fastest 3rd Gen other than MP3 and MSP is the 99-00 ES....the 1.8L rocks!!

 

I know I'll going to get called out for this on, BUT!
I have an 03 lx and I'll leave my sig on this on so you can see what is and what ISN'T modded on my car.

I raced both at the same time an MP# and a P5. All three of us have the same mods and sterios. I came out on top. The MP3 has a little more HP but if you are not a great driver is isn't enough to really tell. And with the P5 being heavier the same thing goes about the diving. Know I am not the best driver in the world but I am very good.

OK let the beating begin

 

I raced both at the same time an MP# and a P5. All three of us have the same mods and sterios. I came out on top. The MP3 has a little more HP but if you are not a great driver is isn't enough to really tell. And with the P5 being heavier the same thing goes about the diving. Know I am not the best driver in the world but I am very good

Weight was a definite factor there, as the MP3 is very heavy, as heavy as the P5, maybe even more so. The MP3 is also turning larger and much heavier 17" wheels, with about an inch more rolling diameter than even the 16's on the P5. Good driving never hurts either!

 

I'm an "old dude", 48, so I prefer a sedan. The ES is similar to the 5 (except the body obviously), wheels, tires, red dash, suspension, fog lamps etc. The DX cannot be had with a sunroof or storage in the center console. The LX can be loaded up but will not have the 16" wheels. Also, the ES only came with a blackish seat color. The P5 was very popular so the resale will be higher. You can get a used ES for much cheaper.

 

OT, but, heh, I'm NOT the oldest ricer! Only 47, w00t!

 

Feeling young every day!!!

 

<--middle aged ricer 31 & 1/2

 

Exactly.... 1.8L is the fastest other than the MP3 and MSP.... and the sedans are lighter....and if u get the 99 - 00 1.8L sedan... it is WAY lighter than the 01+ pros/pro5s

the only problem with the 1.8L is the speed governor... BUT then again u wont be hitting those speeds in auto-x'ing anyway.....

plus the powerband for the 1.8L is more linear..... and the 1.8L is WAY more rev happy..

but then again.. maybe i'm a little BIASED!!!!! hehe

seriously i think the best car for auto-x would be a 99-00 1.8L .... (basically the ES [but then again i have an LX with 1.8L])
it is lighter
the engine power output is more linear
it loves to rev and loves to be in the high rpm ranges...

plus ALL 3rd gen pro suspension parts are interchangeable.... so just get suspension upgrades..... and u should be good to go... plus u can find a 99 - 00 pro for dirt cheap nowadays....

 

Autox is not about weight and HP, it's about weight and tires. A few other points if you're looking at the car primarily for autox...

1) The 16" tires on the 01+ ES and P5 cause tire selection problems. If you have 15" wheels, you can run 225/50R15 or 225/45/R15 R-compound tires, which are roughly the same height as the stock tires. The only 225-width R-compounds available for 16-inch wheels are 225/50R16's, which will RAISE the car, hurting gearing and handling. This by itself is enough to knock the 01+ES/P5 out of serious autox competition.

2) 5-lug hubs are meaningless on an autocross course.

3) 4-wheel disks don't matter either because autox courses aren't long or fast enough to cause brake fade on a car as light as a Protege. The drum setup is very good and will slow the car down just fine. The only Pro to avoid due to brakes is the 2001 LX 2.0, the only 3G Pro to combine the smaller 9" front disks with the larger, heavier F-series engine.

I'm going to agree with VagaBond-X here... best 3rd-gen Protege for autox (excluding the MP3 and MSP) is the 99-00 ES, by far. Its wheels are 6" wide, the same width as every other ES/P5, but it has the superior 15" wheels (see #1 above), big front brakes, and it packs 100 lbs less weight than any of the 01+ cars. The slightly more powerful engine and VERY slightly stiffer suspension of the 01+ cars is not enough to offset the weight gain.

 

Well as I said in a previous post, I want AutoX to be a hobby of mine. I don't plan on entering for pure competition, I was more curious which handled better. While now that I look back on it I should have phrased differently :P

But yea I think I'm going to go on an 02 P5 based more on style than anything I really like how it looks inside and out, plus I'm always in need of room to put stuff in my car :P

 

Amen to carguycw's last post. The 225/50-16's look like chocolate donuts in the fenderwells of a P5/ES, and unless you've got the green for the lower-profile Hoo$ier$ you're stuck with the 205/45-16 Kumho Ecsta 700, which is not nearly as good as the Victoracer or V-710. As for the rear drum brakes, before you leave the line, (without your foot on the brake pedal )pull the handbrake up about 2 clicks (assuming it is properly adjusted mind you), and you'll effectively "pre-load" the rears a bit, giving you much better brake feel, a firmer pedal, and more rear brake bias. The car will stop better because the back brakes will be doing more of the work. The rear brake bias on the drum equipped cars is a little weak. I didn't know about the 2001 LX 2.0 having bum brakes, but it certainly sounds like a problem to avoid. The 99-00 1.8L is the way to go, as the lighter weight more than makes up for the slight suspension geometery/firmness changes in '01 and the larger motor.