Ok, seriously. It's a great car and everything, but why oh why does Mazda insist on limiting the boost at such a low setting? You could make an FS-DE with pistons and cams push 170HP. Nevermind a crappy turbo. Sure, you get a special paint color and a factory sub, but if you've got a car that handles so well, why not make it fast too? Mazda claims they kept the power low to "be able to provide full powertrain warranty," or some crap like that. So, what's the point?

You're paying so much more for a car that handles well. I can make my P5 handle just as well if not better for less money. A full TIEN suspension is only about $3,000 and for the extra few grand left over, I could get the pistons and cams. Now I have a car that handles just as good, and is just as fast, while leaving my wallet a little heavier.

Sorry for my ranting here, but I just fail to see the point of the Mazdaspeed, other than it already having the piping (and a wimpy intercooler) should you choose to upgrade the turbo in the future.

It's very late, and I'm probably not making sense, but does anyone else out there see where I'm coming from? I'm not trying to hate or anything, but I just fail to see the point. They spent all that money on a turbo, when they could have slapped the pistons and cams in from the factory even. (They do in Europe!)

This is going to be a controversial thread, I'm sure. I hope at least one persone sees where I'm coming from...

 

I read somewhere that the whole point of the Mazdaspeed was to give a more powerful MP3. Every review of the MP3 said it was incredible except the lack of power. They made an extremely good car out of the protege with the Mazdaspeed. The point was'nt to make it straight line fast in the first place, although it is more than acceptable in the sport compact segment.

True you could get a better suspension and have a better handling car than the MS, but you could never buy a turbo kit, LSD, 17in. wheels/tires, suspension, +P5 or ES and save money over just going with the Mazdaspeed.(although some of these dealer markups might make it close) With pistons and cams you will never touch a Mazdaspeed without some kind of hefty ECU upgrade, I don't think the pistons even give **** without ECU work. If you paid around $17,000 for your p5 plus 3k for the supsension, you have barely enough for the cams. after the pistons and new ECU or whatever you will have paid more. Remember you won't have the swaybars, wheels/tires, interior upgrades, or LSD yet. Plus anybody with a Mazdaspeed could make it stupid fast farely cheaply, having the turbo already.

Personally I think the whole thing is a great idea. The exclusiveness it one of the best parts. Not everyone can have one. Lots of people have the money but can't get one, and to someone that owns one that will be great.

Also where did you get that it is not fast? It is faster than every sport compact minus the SRT-4. If they wanted to make it just fast in a straight line they would of put all the development into the engine, similar to dodge with the new neon.

 

I totally understand where you are coming from. I mean come on the new neon has what, 210 - 220hp. That is just sickening.

 

on paper, many cars look like a better deal than the mazdaspeed protege. the SE-R Spec V comes to mind for me.

but i think the mazdaspeed has to be driven to understand just how good it is.

 

The boost is relatively-limited because the tranny is the weakpoint. The j-spec cams and pistons will give you similar ammounts of power, but it won't be as fast because of the torque advantage of the turboed engine. But in the end, I agree with you. I think it should have more power.

The one magazine that did a review on the original MP3 (maybe C&D?) said it needed another 30-40 hp, they got it. The same magazine reviewed the MSP, loved it... But said it needed another 30-40 hp Can't please everyone! haha

 

I remember reading in R&T the first drive of MSP, and they were very pleased with the car. They mentioned that the car's tranny had a heavy-duty clutch and preassure plate, 24mm driveshafts, and a Tochigi Fuji Sangyo KK SLD, to better use all the available power. Their opinion of power was very good they did not complain there, though they though as though the car lost handling properties that MP3 had. I guess that could be explained by addition torque, thus more torque steer.

 

Someone needs to tell Volvo that. The S60 T5 is pushing 260HP. And it drives beautifully. Plus that new SRT-4 is looking REALLY good on paper.

 

Why would they want to make it better this late in the ages of the third gen. Remember that the new 3 is coming out. Obviously all of the research and development is going into this car. So being as previously stated that is a whole lot easier to slap on a turbo, not a lot of time and money had to go into it and taking away from the Mazda 3.

 

a) It comes down to the all mighty dollar! For some reason, the designers felt that it wasn't financially feasable or that the decision makers wouldn't buy it...then where would the MSP be?

d) Very importatnt point reguarding drivability! Unfortunatly a FWD car can separate the drivers from the riders much like the Porsche 911 (the love of my dreams )is known for. A FWD goes from very tossable to vicious without warning when too much power is involved.

IMHO- Yes the MSP would be nice if it had more power but more power would upset the balance of the car. Equal amounts applied to all aspects will create a car that is fun to drive...Power, Handling, Braking and Ergonomics. Mercedes and BMW are known for building a balanced car.

 

I think the S60 T5 is AWD.

 

What most inexperienced car people don't understand is that "peak HP" doesn't dictate performance. Its all about the torque curve. The Mazdaspeed makes 90% of its maximum torque at only 1800 RPM and holds right through to 5500 before it starts to tail off.

I have seen tests as fast as 14.9 in the 1/4 for the Mazdaspeed, that is right there with the RSX type S, considerably faster than the 15.7 times from the SPEC V and plenty fast for a car in this class. I know some tests have been as slow as 15.5, but it takes alot of skill to get good times in a FWD car. The car will run high 14's with the right driver.

The next mazdaspeed will be over 200 HP, not bad for a little rally car!!

The Mazdaspeed is not intended to out drag 600 HP Mustangs. Two entirely different markets there.

My main point is don't let the 170 HP rating fool you, this car is fast. Much faster than the SPEC V, no matter what the Nissan salesman tells you

 

No one has yet mentioned the conspiracy theory..
HP(Mazdaspeed Protege) == HP(SVT Focus)



Not to mention that the FS-ZE will not pass emissions standards in North America .. going turbo means they can get more power without significantly increased emissions. Right? hehe

 

No, you can't get the full boost T5 with AWD right now, only the light boost version. The S60 type R will have it with a tuned T5.

Last I heard output on the SRT-4 is only 215 but it 0-60's in sub 6. So I think a Mazdaspeed would have a bitch of a time keeping up with it in a turn, handling package or no. But I would rather have RWD. Too bad nobody really offers it on a decent car around the magic 25k.

 

Someone earlier mentioned the Acura Integra Type R as Mazda's target for performance of the Mazdaspeed. This target, I think, offers a fair point of comparison for the value of the MSP. And Sport Compact Car magazine agrees, stating that the MSP has taken the place of the Type R as their benchmark car for measuring factory FWD performance. They cited real world power in the MSP vs. the Type R's "on paper" power advantage. The MSP was also noted as outperforming the Type R around a racetrack or around your favorite mountain road. Another thing to consider: even with the dealer markup, the MSP comes out less than or equal to the Type R in initial cost. I don't think I've ever heard anyone (except myself) complain that the Type R was not worth the money. Comparing the sticker price, the MSP comes out with about a $4000 advantage over the Type R.

Bottom line. Be realistic. To look at the MSP and rag on it in and of itself is unfair. Compare the car to its competition in a total comparison--even the SRT-4--and suddenly this car shines like a star.

 

Just my $0.02 on this issue...

Knocking the MSP because its specs aren't quite as impressive as its competition is unfair and misses the point. Personally, I like driving a CAR, not a spec sheet; if myself and everyone else on this board was only after impressive test numbers, let's face it, we would all be driving LS1 Camaros. The MSP is built to be a well-balanced package; like most other Mazda performance cars, Mazda sweated the details and made a car in which everything works together, rather than just taking the "make it bigger" approach and building a really fast but crude and annoying rattletrap... like an LS1 Camaro... or a Neon SRT-4.

Also, please keep in mind that the current Protege bodystyle is being axed at the end of this model year, and its engine and tranny are being completely phased out to make way for the MZR. Upgrading the tranny and engine to RELIABLY withstand higher boost would require an investment that just doesn't make sense in a car that will be going away in a year. I'm sure that Mazda is probably losing a large sum of money on every single MSP it sells, but they have to draw the line somewhere. In fact, it's pretty remarkable that the car exists AT ALL.