I'll probably make some of you mad...
April-2nd-2003, 06:46 PM
#1
Protege Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 53
I'll probably make some of you mad...
Ok, now before I say anything, just keep in mind what I'm going to say is my opinion!!
I love mazda to death, and that is why I chose the Protege as a daily driver over an FD rx7 which probably would have given me too many headaches for a DD. The protege came highly rated from C&D and RT...and I agree with them, it is a very well rounded car, and I have no complaints about that...HOWEVER, I do have a problem with the car's straightline performance. I know they aren't race cars, and that's fine, but with a little "zoom/zoom in every car" I'd expect more. I have had run ins w/ new cavaliers and nonvtec civics which the protege handles..but barely. The redline at under 6K is an embarrasment, and the overall HP levels are low in my opinion. The factory rated 130hp dropping to under 100whp is just flat out sad, a FWD should not loose 30hp in the driveline! With this being said, I feel the proteges make a far better show car then race car, and putting money into "performance" in these cars is a wasted effort. Also, I am talking about the NA pro's ...i test drove a MSP and was very impressed and feel they will have a strong healthy upbringing in the import racing world!
BTW...yes, the proteges do handle very well for a sedan
I for one have just done a simple intake for MPG reasons, and will probably run headers and axle back for the same reasons...but no cams, pistons,etc...i know one guy here has all that and is only pushing 120whp?? WTF...thats worse then hondas i've seen, and I hate hondas!!
Hope i didn't offend anybody too badly, but i wanted to voice my opinion.
I love mazda to death, and that is why I chose the Protege as a daily driver over an FD rx7 which probably would have given me too many headaches for a DD. The protege came highly rated from C&D and RT...and I agree with them, it is a very well rounded car, and I have no complaints about that...HOWEVER, I do have a problem with the car's straightline performance. I know they aren't race cars, and that's fine, but with a little "zoom/zoom in every car" I'd expect more. I have had run ins w/ new cavaliers and nonvtec civics which the protege handles..but barely. The redline at under 6K is an embarrasment, and the overall HP levels are low in my opinion. The factory rated 130hp dropping to under 100whp is just flat out sad, a FWD should not loose 30hp in the driveline! With this being said, I feel the proteges make a far better show car then race car, and putting money into "performance" in these cars is a wasted effort. Also, I am talking about the NA pro's ...i test drove a MSP and was very impressed and feel they will have a strong healthy upbringing in the import racing world!
BTW...yes, the proteges do handle very well for a sedan
I for one have just done a simple intake for MPG reasons, and will probably run headers and axle back for the same reasons...but no cams, pistons,etc...i know one guy here has all that and is only pushing 120whp?? WTF...thats worse then hondas i've seen, and I hate hondas!! Hope i didn't offend anybody too badly, but i wanted to voice my opinion.
April-2nd-2003, 07:17 PM
#2
Promazda Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Charlotte,NC/Miami,FL
Posts: 417
i actually agree and thats why im all show no go ... once im done with looks COMPLETELY then i guess ill start off by buying a jspec engine but im not wasting my time or money on trying to make a car with 104 HP fast ... not even bothering with an intake right now, i only got an exhaust for the hell of it cuz i cant stand seeing the stock one on there but i keep my hood closed at all times lol
Danny
Danny
April-2nd-2003, 07:35 PM
#3
Protege Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 53
I figured I wasn't the only one who felt this...I just didn't want to offend those of you who want to build a fast car from one.
MSP owners..go nuts though, they're awesome. Very much like an NA rx7 to a Turbo rx7...but i'd still take the turbo rx7
MSP owners..go nuts though, they're awesome. Very much like an NA rx7 to a Turbo rx7...but i'd still take the turbo rx7
April-2nd-2003, 08:19 PM
#4
Protege Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Wherever I can find shelter, CA
Posts: 14
Re: I'll probably make some of you mad...
Originally posted by RotaryMan88
Ok, now before I say anything, just keep in mind what I'm going to say is my opinion!!
I love mazda to death, and that is why I chose the Protege as a daily driver over an FD rx7 which probably would have given me too many headaches for a DD. The protege came highly rated from C&D and RT...and I agree with them, it is a very well rounded car, and I have no complaints about that...HOWEVER, I do have a problem with the car's straightline performance. I know they aren't race cars, and that's fine, but with a little "zoom/zoom in every car" I'd expect more. I have had run ins w/ new cavaliers and nonvtec civics which the protege handles..but barely. The redline at under 6K is an embarrasment, and the overall HP levels are low in my opinion. The factory rated 130hp dropping to under 100whp is just flat out sad, a FWD should not loose 30hp in the driveline! With this being said, I feel the proteges make a far better show car then race car, and putting money into "performance" in these cars is a wasted effort. Also, I am talking about the NA pro's ...i test drove a MSP and was very impressed and feel they will have a strong healthy upbringing in the import racing world!
BTW...yes, the proteges do handle very well for a sedan I for one have just done a simple intake for MPG reasons, and will probably run headers and axle back for the same reasons...but no cams, pistons,etc...i know one guy here has all that and is only pushing 120whp?? WTF...thats worse then hondas i've seen, and I hate hondas!!
Hope i didn't offend anybody too badly, but i wanted to voice my opinion.
Ok, now before I say anything, just keep in mind what I'm going to say is my opinion!!
I love mazda to death, and that is why I chose the Protege as a daily driver over an FD rx7 which probably would have given me too many headaches for a DD. The protege came highly rated from C&D and RT...and I agree with them, it is a very well rounded car, and I have no complaints about that...HOWEVER, I do have a problem with the car's straightline performance. I know they aren't race cars, and that's fine, but with a little "zoom/zoom in every car" I'd expect more. I have had run ins w/ new cavaliers and nonvtec civics which the protege handles..but barely. The redline at under 6K is an embarrasment, and the overall HP levels are low in my opinion. The factory rated 130hp dropping to under 100whp is just flat out sad, a FWD should not loose 30hp in the driveline! With this being said, I feel the proteges make a far better show car then race car, and putting money into "performance" in these cars is a wasted effort. Also, I am talking about the NA pro's ...i test drove a MSP and was very impressed and feel they will have a strong healthy upbringing in the import racing world!
BTW...yes, the proteges do handle very well for a sedan
I for one have just done a simple intake for MPG reasons, and will probably run headers and axle back for the same reasons...but no cams, pistons,etc...i know one guy here has all that and is only pushing 120whp?? WTF...thats worse then hondas i've seen, and I hate hondas!! Hope i didn't offend anybody too badly, but i wanted to voice my opinion.
April-2nd-2003, 08:19 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Virginia and Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 602
I agree with all of you'll on that. Once I did some research on the proteges I came to a conclusion it would be a serious waste of money to try n make my pro into a race car. So I decided I'll make my pro a nice lil show car and throw all the big bucks into my 240sx. That car with the right mods is a PURE-BEAST! 
April-2nd-2003, 08:47 PM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Posts: 264
Well....(about the 2.0L)
you may be wrong...., well yes its not a rotary, its an economy car. What can you expect in stock form???
There are a few tricks around that will make this car hit the 15 second barrier, which I think is a good start.
Its not a honda with lots of aftermarket support, but there are some aftermaket around
Simple:
Get exhaust and exhaust pipe
get rid of emision and put high flow ones
An intake
Jspec Cams
Header
Lighter wheels
Clutch
($1,500-2,000)
More you want...
Go turbo (like me) you will hit easy low 14s high 13s ($4000 aprox)
MORE?
Turbo, Forged pistons and rods, timing control you will be in the 12s ($6000 aprox)
you may be wrong...., well yes its not a rotary, its an economy car. What can you expect in stock form???
There are a few tricks around that will make this car hit the 15 second barrier, which I think is a good start.
Its not a honda with lots of aftermarket support, but there are some aftermaket around
Simple:
Get exhaust and exhaust pipe
get rid of emision and put high flow ones
An intake
Jspec Cams
Header
Lighter wheels
Clutch
($1,500-2,000)
More you want...
Go turbo (like me) you will hit easy low 14s high 13s ($4000 aprox)
MORE?
Turbo, Forged pistons and rods, timing control you will be in the 12s ($6000 aprox)
Last edited by igdrasil; April-2nd-2003 at 08:50 PM.
April-3rd-2003, 12:09 AM
#9
Use this to install stuff
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: State College, PA
Posts: 1,069
Re: I'll probably make some of you mad...
Originally posted by RotaryMan88
Ok, now before I say anything, just keep in mind what I'm going to say is my opinion!!
I love mazda to death, and that is why I chose the Protege as a daily driver over an FD rx7 which probably would have given me too many headaches for a DD. The protege came highly rated from C&D and RT...and I agree with them, it is a very well rounded car, and I have no complaints about that...HOWEVER, I do have a problem with the car's straightline performance. I know they aren't race cars, and that's fine, but with a little "zoom/zoom in every car" I'd expect more. I have had run ins w/ new cavaliers and nonvtec civics which the protege handles..but barely. The redline at under 6K is an embarrasment, and the overall HP levels are low in my opinion. The factory rated 130hp dropping to under 100whp is just flat out sad, a FWD should not loose 30hp in the driveline! With this being said, I feel the proteges make a far better show car then race car, and putting money into "performance" in these cars is a wasted effort. Also, I am talking about the NA pro's ...i test drove a MSP and was very impressed and feel they will have a strong healthy upbringing in the import racing world!
BTW...yes, the proteges do handle very well for a sedan I for one have just done a simple intake for MPG reasons, and will probably run headers and axle back for the same reasons...but no cams, pistons,etc...i know one guy here has all that and is only pushing 120whp?? WTF...thats worse then hondas i've seen, and I hate hondas!!
Hope i didn't offend anybody too badly, but i wanted to voice my opinion.
Ok, now before I say anything, just keep in mind what I'm going to say is my opinion!!
I love mazda to death, and that is why I chose the Protege as a daily driver over an FD rx7 which probably would have given me too many headaches for a DD. The protege came highly rated from C&D and RT...and I agree with them, it is a very well rounded car, and I have no complaints about that...HOWEVER, I do have a problem with the car's straightline performance. I know they aren't race cars, and that's fine, but with a little "zoom/zoom in every car" I'd expect more. I have had run ins w/ new cavaliers and nonvtec civics which the protege handles..but barely. The redline at under 6K is an embarrasment, and the overall HP levels are low in my opinion. The factory rated 130hp dropping to under 100whp is just flat out sad, a FWD should not loose 30hp in the driveline! With this being said, I feel the proteges make a far better show car then race car, and putting money into "performance" in these cars is a wasted effort. Also, I am talking about the NA pro's ...i test drove a MSP and was very impressed and feel they will have a strong healthy upbringing in the import racing world!
BTW...yes, the proteges do handle very well for a sedan
I for one have just done a simple intake for MPG reasons, and will probably run headers and axle back for the same reasons...but no cams, pistons,etc...i know one guy here has all that and is only pushing 120whp?? WTF...thats worse then hondas i've seen, and I hate hondas!! Hope i didn't offend anybody too badly, but i wanted to voice my opinion.
Personally, and I may get nailed for this too, I don't think the FS-DE is making 130hp at the crank. I think that could of been more of a marketing strategy when the 2.0L ES's were produced to give it more of an appeal over the 1.8L FP's...The engine has slightly more lowend torque, which is what I think Mazda thought potential buyers were looking for...Again I haven't seen stock dyno's for the 1.8FP's so if they are falling around 8whp less than the FS, it's the drivetrain...
Stock for Stock the Protege's straightline performance is right with all the competition in its class. We can't expect it to be fast, it was not intended to be...but no other cars in the class are fast either...
I think a lot of people on the forum get to wrapped up in how to make a Protege one of the fastest compacts in the world, which is unlikely...But a series of mods and proper tuning and the car could be more than competitve to other "sport compacts"...which is the next class in line...It all depends on what you want to do. Some people are just simply stuck with their Protege and want to tune it, and it is not the worst platform for straightline performance, just doesn't have a huge aftermarket...
The chassis is were Mazda's money went on developing the 3rd gen. and it definately shows over the competition...No other economy car comes close to a Protege's chassis dynamics...hell a lot of cars costing 3 times as much can't touch one in the turns...
The coolest part to me is that not everyone has one and that if I ever do make mine any faster, it will be a fairly rare car especially in my area...Anyone can take an Eclipse and make it fast, but at the same time you are still driving an Eclipse...
April-3rd-2003, 01:01 AM
#10
Protege Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 4
i agree with install shield on this one, p5's handle way better than any other car in its class that i've driven. a striaght line isnt the only way you drive a car, therefore a p5 wins in that aspect. as install shield put it so well "Anyone can take an Eclipse and make it fast, but at the same time you are still driving an Eclipse..." eclipses lose in that sense.... thank you installshield, for i have seen the light.
daniel l. poone
daniel l. poone
April-3rd-2003, 01:23 AM
#11
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Debt, Ca.
Posts: 283
Originally posted by PseudoRealityX
I guess the most successful Showroom Stock C race car of the mid 90s till now makes a CRAPPY racecar. For sho...because this guy said so.
I guess the most successful Showroom Stock C race car of the mid 90s till now makes a CRAPPY racecar. For sho...because this guy said so.
details details, details...
doesn't the Miata suck too?
April-3rd-2003, 02:32 AM
#12
Protege Progasm
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 2,456
Originally posted by igdrasil
Well....(about the 2.0L)
you may be wrong...., well yes its not a rotary, its an economy car. What can you expect in stock form???
There are a few tricks around that will make this car hit the 15 second barrier, which I think is a good start.
Its not a honda with lots of aftermarket support, but there are some aftermaket around
Simple:
Get exhaust and exhaust pipe
get rid of emision and put high flow ones
An intake
Jspec Cams
Header
Lighter wheels
Clutch
($1,500-2,000)
More you want...
Go turbo (like me) you will hit easy low 14s high 13s ($4000 aprox)
MORE?
Turbo, Forged pistons and rods, timing control you will be in the 12s ($6000 aprox)
Well....(about the 2.0L)
you may be wrong...., well yes its not a rotary, its an economy car. What can you expect in stock form???
There are a few tricks around that will make this car hit the 15 second barrier, which I think is a good start.
Its not a honda with lots of aftermarket support, but there are some aftermaket around
Simple:
Get exhaust and exhaust pipe
get rid of emision and put high flow ones
An intake
Jspec Cams
Header
Lighter wheels
Clutch
($1,500-2,000)
More you want...
Go turbo (like me) you will hit easy low 14s high 13s ($4000 aprox)
MORE?
Turbo, Forged pistons and rods, timing control you will be in the 12s ($6000 aprox)
You kinda missed the part when he said going NA is pointless. The NA mods that you named
"Get exhaust and exhaust pipe
get rid of emision and put high flow ones
An intake
Jspec Cams
Header
Lighter wheels
Clutch
($1,500-2,000)"
Will put you AT THE MOST to 150hp to the wheel and those mods are a lot more than just $2000 especially if you can't install them yourself.
But he said he was feeling the MSP which is FI.
April-3rd-2003, 02:36 AM
#14
Protege Progasm
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: MD
Posts: 2,456
Re: Re: I'll probably make some of you mad...
Originally posted by Installshield
Again I haven't seen stock dyno's for the 1.8FP's so if they are falling around 8whp less than the FS, it's the drivetrain...
Again I haven't seen stock dyno's for the 1.8FP's so if they are falling around 8whp less than the FS, it's the drivetrain...
April-3rd-2003, 08:58 AM
#15
Use this to install stuff
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: State College, PA
Posts: 1,069
if thats true then we do loose a good bit in the gearbox/drivetrain...
As far as going N/A, he overlooked the pistons too. If you can do things yourself you could build a 150whp FS for cheaper than getting a full turbo kit...
As far as going N/A, he overlooked the pistons too. If you can do things yourself you could build a 150whp FS for cheaper than getting a full turbo kit...