Look, I know the Mazda Protege's are supposed to be blindingly fast or anything. Last Friday I was at Bradenton Motorsports Park where there's club 1320 one friday a month and its only street legal cars allowed to run on the 1/4 mile track. I was on car-stats.com that day and found a 1999 Protege ES that was stick (mine's auto) that ran a 16.5. So I figured about a 17 or 17.3 would be me. Boy was I wrong. I went up against another 2000 Protege ES fully stock and got my butt spanked. SHE ran a 16.7 with auto. I ran an 18.1 (granted I did have a friend with me). Same engines and everything and I have a "sport cat." with a new muffler. Is there something wrong with my car and if you think so, what could it be?

 

There are all sorts of things that could have happened... Like maybe you need a tuneup? Obviously the weight from your friend didn't help, maybe she brake torqued to get a better launch, maybe she took some stuff out of her car, had less gas, engine was cooler. There is a lot of stuff that could have been different, don't sweat it. If you haven't yet, change your plugs and your fuel filter, it couldn't hurt.

 

what was your reaction time? no offense.. but it could just be driver error. my 1.6 ran an 18.4 with intake/exhaust in Colorado. and my reaction times were crap half the runs.

 

you suck jesse.. it could still just be the driver. and i know i'm slow.. i drive a 1.6, ya ***.

 

hehe thanks guys. well I do know since i live about 60 miles away I filled up tank before i went so i had at least 3/4 of a tank of gas. And since this girl's plate said Manatee which is where the track is located, she could have been runnin on E and still made it home. But yea it could just be me, or it could be my car.. who knows.. thanks for the reply's though I just might to look into a turbo.. anyone know where I can pick one up for a decent price?