Roddimus Prime

Hey guys, I'm a new P5 owner. I traded in my 03 MSP for a fully loaded P5 and I love it. I am looking at doing a turbo upgrade and I'm wanting to hear feedback from the actual users on this board about their indivdual systems. I know about the different kits available, but I want to hear about things like total cost to own, problems, reliability, noises, unexpected expenses...etc. Also, not to get off topic, but if you guys have some performance numbers (hp, torque, 1/4, 1/8, 0-60) I'd be interested in those also.

Let's hear it guys!!

I'll go first!

2003 Mazdaspeed Protege 3500miles
factory turbo & intercooler
custom made downpipe with no cats
stock boost (at time of dyno)
autozone generic paper cone filter attached to MAF

227hp (engine)
195torque (engine)

178whp (wheels)
178lb/ft (wheels)

not bad, but not the fastest. With the boost set around 9psi it ran 9.4's in the 1/8th.

markmurray77

www.essentialspeed.com kit. No problems in 40K +. Solid kit, 95hp gain on auto.

Roddimus Prime

I checked 'em out. Looks like they have the best pricing by far. I was showing only $2600 for the stage one kit?!?! That's great. Is your kit intercooled? How much boost does it run? I know you said yours was an auto, but how much power would the 5spd equivilant make? How much faster did it make your car? Have you had ANY problems with their kit either during the instal or during ownership? They are running a special right now, when you buy the turbo kit they will give you two free gauges also. Did you get these gauges? I'm thinking I will just get a boost gauge and an AF gauge. I will also opt for the powdercoated pieces. I'm hoping I can get laser blue to match my car. any ideas, comments, suggestions??

Roddimus Prime

Not that I have to defend my posts or anything, but.....Just because the question involves a turbocharger doesn't mean it belongs in the FI section. I'm asking about reliability, cost, performance, stuff that relates to the engine/drivetrain. But thanks for "contributing".

markmurray77

I generally run between 6-8 psi. I've gone as far as 13 with no problems it is intercooled, I opted for an upgraded intercooler over what they normally offer. I actually added 3 guages, AF boost and EGT. I would suggest the EGT and boost. Most AF guages tend to look for a NA ratio which means it will show rich most times and you could actually be running lean. As for the powder coating I'd suggest going with the ceramic coating it somes close to a chrome finish and offers the heat retention. I also went with the ceramic coating of everything. No real ideas about what colours are offered for the Powder coat though. The guys at ES really know what they are doing. I know they have fixed problems with other kits on proteges as well. Mostyly parts not lining up and a warped mani.

Roddimus Prime

Did you have any problems with the transmission slipping/coming out of gear? I've owned another automatic turbo and at 9psi it totally blew apart an otherwise bulletproof tranny. What relevent information would I get from an EGT? If the exhaust gets hot what am I supposed to do about it driving down the road? how does that help? Did you have any problems with fuel management? I'm wanting to know that the kit is complete and lacks nothing extra to run. I also want to know how it affects the rest of the drivetrain. How are the driving dynamics affected? Is it a streetable kit? this is very helpful.

markmurray77

No fuel problems, the kit comes with everything you need. When shifting under high boost I generally ease off a bit before it shifts to save the tranny. Add a cooler and check your fluid regularily and you will be fine. An EGT would be more useful in telling you your AF than a regular AF guage. If you are running extremely hot you are most likely running lean. This is my daily driver so I have no problems and during my daily comute nothig has changed but if I want the power it is there. Boost builds at 2200-2500 rpms for me and carries all the way up but with regular driving, city or highway I can stay out of boost no problem. Just drives the same untill you want the power.

Roddimus Prime

very nice, can you PM me some pics?

markmurray77

I really dont have any and no camera, sorry.

Roddimus Prime

how much was everything? This would include new plugs, labor, unexpected expenses...etc. I have a currency convertor so you can quote me in Canadian dollars.

markmurray77

Plugs are pretty cheap roughly $20 or so. I bought all new vaccuum lines forr $25 to replace almost all the lines in the engine bay. Depending on your local prices for labour which can cary here between $50 and $100+ it takes about 6-8 hrs maybe a bit more if they aren't familiar with the model of car. So figure about $400+ for install. I could do a stage one in a few hours probably. Stage 2 with the intercooler requires a bit more work and so do adding guages. In the end you could get everything you need and installed for $500 CAD which should put you at about $375-380 US. Install really makes or breaks a kit though. A poor install will have ou going back and tinkering with connections and tightening bolts for weeks. Make sure it is done right the first time. Then you should go back in a week and retighten everything and from there its ready to go.

markmurray77

Oh wait you also need an oil changenot sure what that costs but it costs me about $5 -7 for a filter and $25 or so for the oil, i use Mobil 1. Since you have to tap the pan anyways.

markmurray77

Heres some pics of the mazda speed kit but I dont have any for the regular proteges and 5s. It just shows there work

BOOSTD 7

Dude, stop being a dick. Do you post anything worthwhile here anymore? Or do you even know anything worthwhile?

That said, this probably should be in the FI section.

Roddimus Prime

hahaha! The FI section is very general and seems to be covered up with 1st gen turbos due to the large number of members with the earlier turbo 323's. I figured the engine/drivetrain section could use the post count!