Both fun cars. Spec V much torque-ier and has very low 1st gear ratio which will give you even more wheel torque. MP3 handling feels much better, which showed at the last autocross where I ran better times than the Spec V's ... Plus the MP3 just looks nicer

 

You have a definate point there. I am still very undecided. I really like the torque of the spec v but like the pro in every other possible way. I guess ya can't have it all.

 

I have raced a V-spec. It wasn't ****. He could never get any closer than my mirrors. We raced Quarter mile.

This happened months ago.

 

If it makes any difference, avg. slalom speed is much more closely related to driver skill than 1/4 mile and 0-60 times.

 

My buddy's Spec V tears my car apart. Sure a MP3 is lighter with 10 extra hp, but that wouldn't help against that car......unlesss the driver screwed up a shift, which is entirely possible with the world's worst shifter. The regular SE-R has a way better shifter.

 

if you want that MP3 up there with the Spec V....get this...CAI,Performance Muffler,Order the Intake and Exhaust Cams from the FS-ZE J Spec engine from Corksport...also order the High Compression Pistons...then you should be right there with the Spec V in hp and lighter too...go for it and kick Nissan ***!!!

 

other than the fact the Spec V can still upgrade it's intake and exhaust (not sure about the others yet) and still whoop on the MP3. And the Spec V costs less so it has more money to play with upgrades. The Spec V comes back and paddles the Mazda behind. Even the Mspeed can't compare with the Nissan power for the buck you pay.

 

Each mag's slalom results are a little different due to test condition and even the drive himself/herself. Some drivers pushs the car more and some less.

 

Cost less???? Down here they go for $25,000 to $28,000

How much are they up there? Less than $20,000?

170 Hp, okay, but the torque and when the torque is available is most important for a quick car

 

get off the spec v's D ,man...the Intake and exhaust arent even the major contributors to increase the hp..its the cams and pistons...theses are upgrades for the regular 2.0 but they are standard equipment for the 170 hp FS-ZE J-spec engine....I would estimate if you use all 3 the would up the output to around 170+ hp...and again whoop up on a spec v....the intake and exhaust would take it a step further...like maybe about 180...and i doubt they already have cams and pistons for a spec-v to upgrade it...also I'm SURE the Spec-V doesnt match it in Torque if the the 2.0 was upgraded like i said...zoom-aoom!

 

i never sat in or drove a MP3 but i first looked into the spec v. no doubt that the spec V had torque. it would definitely kick the protege's ***. i wanted to compare it with the MP3 but there wasn't one available, so i test drove the es which had 10 hp less. the acceleration was OK but the interior and quality was so much better than the spec V IMHO. AND it looked alot better and the handling was quite impressive to me too. plus the es was cheaper so that's what i got. but if all you care about is speed then go for the spec V. Pretty much everything else the protege was more satisfying.

 

When I test drove aspec V recently the salsesman offered it to me loaded for 18,500 out the door incl liscensing.

 

Ok, at the risk of sounding like a noob what is this fs-ze engine I keep hearing about? What is it out of? So if I just buy a new 2.0 es and replace the cam,pistons,exhaust that will get me to 170 or did you mean if I did all this to the MP3? I ask because to be really honest I would rather buy a stock pro and do what I want to it. I hate kenwood!!

 

fs-ze is the J spec protege 2.0 liter engine...stock output is 170hp...basically the same engine as the 2.0 here but with more aggressive cams and higher compression pistons

 

Is there a place I can read about this engine? Anyone have a link to a review of a J spec pro?