Quick Pro5
 

I just got myself the latest copy of Motor Trend and they have a comparison of Protege5, Toyota Matrix Xrs and Subaru WRX Hatchback.
They tested the acceleration of each and the Protege5 has a decent 8.8 secs to 60mph.
Not bad. That's quite fast actually!
They prefer the Matrix over the Pro5 but I still think Pro5 is a much better car.:evilgrin:

Well, compared to the acceleration of the XRS and WRX, that's quite slow. But, it'll beat a Metro! :D

I don't think that 0-60 is representative of the P5's speed since Motor Trend does that test on a downhill straight, hence all cars are always faster than tested by other magazines.

That comparo was one year ago I think, so someone may post a "welcome to last year" pic soon.:D . It's all good fun.

no my friend this is a new copy of Motor Trend.
this wasnt done a year ago... what do you drive ? i wonder.

seems like a past article from last year (didn't find anything new)

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/wagon/112_0205_wag/
The Next Bandwagons: 2003 Toyota Matrix, 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX, 2002 Mazda Protege5
Three sizeable, sporty, SUV alternatives

By Chris Walton
Photography by Wesley Allison
Motor Trend, May 2002




and these are the 2 closest new articles, but none include the Protege...

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0212_fun/

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...2_0302_clutch/

The latest issue of Motor Trend features two comparison tests with Mazda's, but not the Protege5. One comparison (featured on the cover) pits the RX-8 against the 350Z and 330i. The other one pits the Mazdaspeed Protege against the Cooper S, Neon SRT-4, and SVT Focus. Unfortunately, Motor Trend always seems to have an anti-Mazda bias. They wrote the MSP has sloppy handling, way too much turbo lag, and ridiculous torque steer. They also wrote that every MSP they have driven has broken down. They gave it last place by a wide margin.

BTW, they clocked the MSP's 0-60mph time at 7.2 seconds. That's quick... but still not fast. However, other publications clocked it at 6.9 seconds... with no turbo lag... and outstanding handling.

Yah, and most of the times the "comments" are unjustified.

I consider Motor Trend trash when compared to CD and Road and Track.

I agree, motor trend is trash. Road and track is by far the best car magazine out there.

What a crock of shit. Sloppy handling on an MSP?!! How the hell do they get that and yet CD tested it as one of the highest slalom speeds ever recorded? WTF are they smoking?!

i think most articles in mags are bull....

i used to write for a mag (not a car mag) a few years ago... so that tells you something about the quality of the stuff in the mags....

i think mags make good toilet time reading...

Evidently Mazda hasn't paid them enough. Motor Trash is worthless IMHO. :rant: They apply BS "correction factors" to their test results, making them unrealistic, and it's a well-known fact that the Car of the Year contest is basically a payoff in which carmakers are required to submit a "promotional package"- including copies of ads extolling Motor Trend- before their cars will be considered for first place. :mad: Of course, if you remember the late 80's, the Ford T-bird won COTY every time it got a minor styling update, and look what a marketing success it was. :rolleyes:

BTW I am obviously not the Chris Walton who writes for MT. :D

I think some companys (Honda, Ford, Etc) pay off magazines to give there car(s) a good review..cause alot of car mags gave the Focus a great review and Focus is a pile of shit

Well, that explains their Car of the Year article this year. Every car that was considered was written about in the article, giving the staff's views and test results. The Tiburon even got several paragraphs. The heavily praised (by other publications) Mazda6? It was mentioned in a single sentence... in passing...

In response to Motor Trend's May article, Car and Driver came out with this article in June 2002 .

As for the Matrix vs. P5 debate...many people have already demonstrated their abilities to be masterdebaters. ;) Well here are some numbers:
Matrix XRS
180 hp @ 7,600 rpm
130 lb.-ft. @ 6,800 rpm

Protege5
130 hp @ 6,000 rpm
135lb.-ft @ 4,000 rpm

How many people here drive around town in 2nd gear just to make max torque and horsepower? And 130lb-ft of torque at 6800 rpm? I'll take my P5 and its more accessible 135lb-ft@4000 rpm anyday, thank you.

My PR5 seems to be fine except for 1st and 2nd gear, that could make for bad days on the drag circuit......