Location: 2nd Ave Midtown Manhattan (NY)
Time: Between 9 and 10 PM
Mouse: Latest gen Porsche 911 Carrera
Cat: Latest gen Mazda Protege ES 2L

Description:
Navy blue Carrera was darting between lanes trying to beat the traffic but causing more problems than beating it. A balding middle aged man who looked ill-tempered and egotistical was in the Carrera alone. It was in the middle of the night, but he had shades on. I pulled up beside him doing about 30mph. Manhattan's average speed without traffic is about 35mph. 45mph is actually quite fast in the city streets. This is where the power band of the Protege feels confident. Doing 30, I shifted to second and peeled out right next to him. I weaved through the traffic and made it to the next traffic light while he got stuck on the traffic light 3 blocks back. He was probably agitated by now. I drove easy letting him catch up. He was clearly agitated cuz he rips past me but gets stuck 2 car lengths ahead because he didn't see the car about to make a turn on the lane he chose to dart to. He didn't have much situational awareness, which is what you need to successfully negotiate congested traffic patterns. I leisurely pulled up next to him and peeled out again.
He then catches up and takes the lead again. I chase him for about 20 blocks not permitting more than 2 car lengths between our bumpers. He stepped on the brakes a couple of times to scare me off, but the Pro ES's ABS all discs is quite nice. When he had enough of harrassment by a car 1/7 of its price, he broke off of 2nd Ave and disappeared at a 25mph pace. He was able to cool off and be humbled and I had a lot of fun.

Protege's usable power band, handling refinement, and nice brakes all came through.

PS: Pro owners, don't try this on the expressway. You'll be spanked real hard.

 

how true. Yesterday on my way back from DC Grand Prix, I was on the highway driving smoothly at 75, when all of a sudden this Red Civic hatchback (EK I believe)came out of nowhere on my right side and tried to cut in front of me (the car in front of him was slower). I thought, 'hells no you're not gonna cut me off' so I floored it and closed the gap before he can move over. Obviously pissed, he moved to the further right lane to pass the car in front of him.

Now we're side to side with a car between us driving at 80, and we both floored it. And sad to say, my all stock FP motor got walked by whatever he has under his hood (I'm thinking engine swap) and he crossed TWO lanes to the left to get in front of me and darted away amongst the traffic

I learned my lesson. Next time I'll pick a fight that I have a chance to win

 

I'll cry with you too till we can add turbos on our machines.

 

Ha ha I did the same thing to a 911 turbo in heavy traffic on the strip.We got to the south end of the strip where there was no traffic and he the fu*k off. I wasn't even able to catch up to him three red lights down.

 

Yeah, those 911's have stunning acceleration.

I may be wrong but I heard the upcoming factory-tuned Dodge Neon is supposed to accelerate as fast.

 

man I am from new york also , and when I am in manhattan , I never try that crap ,,lol ,,, my rims would be finished, I usually book on the westside highway and the FDR ,,,,
are you familiar with the FDR , after the QB bridge there is like a little lump and throws your car off lol ... and when you get up to the top to the 3rd ave bridge , you know that turn , (right) to go over the bridge , then you make that right go down around the corner and come out over by the Bruckner parkway , zoom up the upramp and accelerate as hard as you can all the way to the bruckner parkway ,,,
man it is so cool to see someone else from new york ,, holla at me and one day I will take you to where some another pro guy and me hang out ... up on central ave. there is a parts shop there...
I am from the Bronx
Bruce

 

shift down
Bruce

 

we can get turbo kit they cost about $2,500 and the only thing that you need is a down pipe. email me if you want more info

 

I only know of two full turbo kits (Tripoint and BEGI) and one partial turbo kit (Spool Turbo) for the Protege. I also know there are a few customs out there.

Can you please show more info on the $2500 turbo kit that you're talking about, Bankrup3000GT? Thanks much.

 

Unfortunately, your right. I read the same thing in a Sport Compact Car Magazine and/or Car and Driver. It has about 230hp or something like that. I don't think even the new MazdaSpeed Protege could even handle it.

 

Unconfirmed reports have it that Callaway tried to raise the boost to more than 200HP on the MS Pro and the stock engine ran perfectly fine, but the tranny kept getting toasted under simulated harsh drive testing. From the reports, it seems that the tranny in the Pro is the weakest link.

Although the MS Pro is going to be in the vicinity of 170HP (adequate, IMO), I feel more than confident that the MS Pro will outlast the 200+HP Dodge in a durability contest. Those MOPAR engines are reputed to fail more often than you have the patience for. It's been rumored that the cost of owning a budget Neon costs almost twice more than a hi-quality midsized car, say, Camry for the lives of the cars.

 

Does beating a car while stuck in traffic really qualify as a kill story? Just curious...

 

Locally there is a guy that owns a 911 convertible and since we both live on a mountain that has lots of curves and has an incline like San Francisco (I think) and I turn off my radio and put my windows down just to hear him going thru the gears going up the hill. When he's going downhill I watch and even if there are hairpin curves or another car he doesn't touch his brakes more than twice in a 3-4 minute drive at 40 going downhill with narrow roads and sharp curves. Grr...

 

95LSTypeII,
It's hardly a kill story, but it is sorta a race story cuz we were trying to beat each other although without any specified goal.

Also, I happen to think traffic weaving is a good balance of skill and luck. I'm not talking about dangerous cutting in and out without taking into account respective distances and relative speed. This is what most amateurish drivers do at the peril of others. If you force another person's car to brake unnecessarily because of your maneuver, then you've blown skillful traffic weaving. It takes a great deal of situational awareness, peripheral vision, and understanding the traffic as an aggregate organism. The Porsche driver ran into a lane with a turning car which he could have seen and avoided.

Pollito14,
Yeah, those 911's are tight.

 

LoL. You're right.