Anyone else received their issue of Car and Driver September 2002? Anyhow it has an article on Mazdaspeed Protege at page 67.

If not here's a quick preview:

Highs: Econohunk hustle, gratifying grip, cheetah reflexes.

Lows: Torque steer, skateboard ride quality, and has a doctor examined the guy in charge of paint?

The Verdict: More is better. Mostly.

What do you guys think? Do you agree with the lows? How's a 'skateboard ride quality' a low? Isn't suppose to be Zooming if ya know what I mean? Well I'm partial with the color but I think it's unique and eye catchy, and it's also available in black so what I think the writer is being biased on the orange-ish color.

 

hard to say, no one has ever test driven yet.

 

Yep, just received my Sept issue of Car and Driver and they tested the Mazdaspeed Protege!

They said that the only bad thing was the increased torque steer from the increased hp and that the ride was "skateboard like".

And that it'll be like the MP3, only limited production of 2000 units! I'd better place an order soon... hmmm so should i get "spicy orange mica" (that's what they call it) or black?

 

Did they get any performance #'s yet? 0-60? 1/4?

 

It does 60 in 6.9 seconds and the quarter in 15 and some change.

 

0-60 in 6.9 sec!!! Wow, not bad at all considering the small turbo and only what, 6psi boost? Things are looking up for Mazda.

 

I dunno how anyone can get confused as to what color to get... its obvious the your should get BLACK! Unless your in Canada, then your stuck to that orange...

 

Those aren't negatives, they are positives. Except the torque steer. which every front wheel drive car suffers from in one way or another, but then again the dumbass driving should be HOLDING THE WHEEL anyway.

 

I'd take the orange over the black...I'll never own a black car again! always dirty, shows scratches and requires flawless bodywork! My dark blue is bad enough! I like the orange, maybe it's me or maybe I AM CANADIAN!

 

i think Black pros are beautiful cars, but i'm a real bright "stand out in a crowd" kinda guy, so i'd get an orange 1. ..hey i got a red P5

-Jason

 

Nicely put, couldn't have said it any better.

 

black definanlty sp? The black mica is a nice color. I have the same cd player that'll be in it and i love it. ZOOM ZOOM

 

get the orange and slap on a full body design of blue paint/latex scheme and it would rock.

 

Orange might look nice with a carbon fiber hood.

Nice contrast of ORANGE AND BLACK like halloween.

Good job by mazda on the acceleration FINALLY.

 

Actually, those Potenzas, especially in that size are MUCH better than the SP9000 Dunlops, or so I've been told by someone who tests cars for a living. Those Potenzas are one of the tires that they put on the IS300, and those are the ones to get for handling. There is a big difference between all the tires that Lexus fits (perhaps 0.08g in skidpad grip), and a big reason that Mazda chose those tires in that size.