rustychops41

Remember too that the automotive press uses corrected numbers, since most speedo's are inaccurate, some fast, some slow. My '02 DX went an actual (radar checked) 72 MPH at 70 indicated with the stock 15" RE-92's, but my 205/45-16's made it spot on. But my friend's P5 went 68 actual at 70 indicated with his stock 195-50-16 Dunlops. Also top speed demands much higher power proportionate to simply "accelerating faster. I had a 1982 Toyota PU with a 22R that went about 96 MPH (drag limited, a real "brick"), and after putting on a Downey header, a mildly hotter cam, and dual Mikuni sidedrafts, it went. . . . about 98 MPH. It got to 60-75 MPH much quicker, but top speed was a whole different story. With today's more aerodynamic cars though, maybe that's changed.

dons155

yea man i actually did get it up to 118mph, i wouldnt bullshit it. then it just let off i was running in 5th at around 6, its redlines a 6 1/2. It was a very cold day. No one else in the car, bone stock, not even a system. mayb ill take a picture next time I punch it hard?

taker ez

TeamPlayers

I got mine up to 130 on the autobahn once.

tonkabui

the manumatics on the mazda doesn't have the safety precaution of shifting at redline for you... hee hee... oops.

hughes412

Well I guess with the wind, my system AND MY 220LBS OF BUT weighed it down! lol! After I get the header I'll have to try it again. Plus I have new wheels coming in that are supposed to be lighter! Anyone know the weight of the stock 15in alu. wheels?

Roddimus Prime

I'm 280lbs and my p5 (almost stock) had no problems hitting 130mph. My civic on the other hand couldn't 100mph downhill.

Jakers

should a spoiler matter at all for top speed, cuase mine maxed out at 99, with the mp3 style spoiler

FlyinHawaiian071

Well, I guess its time for my two cents. I've hit 112 in my protege, and that was at the governor... Actually, I've hit it on several occasions. Theoretically speaking, I guess I could hit 130-132 without the governor but then would be rev-limited due to my gearing. I run out of RPMs at about 6500 + change. I don't think that any of us shmoes can write out own code for the cars, and the only way to get rid of the governator would be to put a aftermarket ECU in or find someone who has written thier own code (such as Wagner Motorsports).

Frankly speaking, at those speeds aerodynamics become a major factor, especially when you consider that a Cessna 172 airplane takes off at 65 Knots or around 72-75 mph. Most passenger sedans are shaped like airfoils, with a curved top and a flat bottom. Now, we're talkin about diffusers, downforcers and wings that work, and of course...money. My next question would be if there are any actual aerodynamic devices out there that will work for our cars? Most of the ones out there (all of them) are for show and will start limiting your top speed at as little as 50 mph. Don't believe me? I'll do the math for you to show how many pounds of force are being created by drag.

Bottom line, if you really want to increase your tops speed, get a new ECU, and change the gearing in your car.

Roddimus Prime

or a nice long tube header....DaveB picked up 8mph top end on his automatic p5 with just adding the obx header to his car. It doesn't sound like much but he's able to get around more cars now at the track....thats what it's all about.

juddz

These cars should be completely stable aerodynamically well beyond 120mph.... after all, they are also sold in Europe, where cars are required to obtain and run at that speed for long durations (on the autobahn for instance).

hughes412

HAHA, man if my can HAD to run at 120 for more than a mile I think it would be that bug on your window whos *** is right in the way!! LOL

As far as the drag goes, that could have alot to do with it. The p5s have the front air dam and mine don't, so more air goes under. I think I will go try it this weekend if its not to windy.

FlyinHawaiian071

Well wouldn't the only way he could pick up that extra 8 mph be if he wasn't hitting the governor or rev-limiter in the first place? That was my whole point in the fact that if we want our cars to go faster than (the average here) 115 mph, then we'd need to change the top gearing of the cars and the code/whole ECU. Also, the reason why the cars are governed to the certain speed is not only because the manufacturer feels its stupid to go any faster, but the cars haven't been aerodynamically tested past that point and it probably gets pretty sketchy past that anyway. Mercedes-Benz for example has governed all their cars to 155mph because of the unstable aerodynamics at those speeds. Not all cars on the Autobahn go 200 mph.

juddz

People on this forum do not believe that there is a governor on the P5.... and I am not in a position to debate them, as I have not had the ol' girl up at that lofty speed. For your ES or LX, yes, it's governed. That is a fact.

Cars are governed for a number of reasons. One reason that it allows the manufacturer to purchase cheaper tires for the vehicle, which can save thirty bucks per vehicle. That's huge savings in the auto industry, where every day engineering strives to split a nickel. Governing the car limits the driver to staying under the speed rating.

I still maintain that the Protege offers adequete aerodynamics. Consider this: the eighties 5.0L Mustangs are a lot less aerodynamic, and they will do more than 140mph.

macdaddyslomo

You should really read the Protege FAQ..the only 3rd gen with a governor is the 99-00 1.8L's...any other 3rd gen(including P5) is drag limited, meaning they dont have the power to overcome the drag at around 115+mph. That is why the long tube header Matty references to is giving extra power,hence it is able to overcome the drag at 115 and push above 120. They arent "sketchy" beyond these speeds...an MSP can go well beyond 115, and if it was unstable above this Mazda would have installed a governor on them....

FlyinHawaiian071

Alright, I gotcha now, I wonder why they decided to screw us with the 99-00 models and put a governor on... The car is capable of much more. I knew that the MP3 and MSP did not have governors on them, and the suspension is much more suited at those speeds. Seriously speaking though, (don't worry, I'm not trying to beat the dead horse) even my ES model is not suited, with a stock suspension, for very high speeds, and I'm sorry if you don't believe me on the aerodynamics thing, but it's very true. Cars are inherently aerdynamically efficient when producing lift, but very inefficient when it comes to drag (as you said). That is why sports cars have undercar diffusers, downforcers, front wings and rear wings all for downforce. For instance, my Mom's Audi S4, which has a very similar shape to the Protege and hits only shightly higher speeds, has a small rear wing/lip as well as a front wing under the nose. Audi put them there for purpose and not for show as most of you will agree that the S4 is not a very show-y car. As I said before, I'll be happy to try to figure some of the math out, but I'll have to pull out my AP Physics notes from last year. BTW, the reason a 5.0 Mustang, with crappy aerodynamics, can top 140 is all power to weight... "With enough force you can make a rock fly..."