Looking at a 2003.5 with 80,000 miles. What say yee?
Looking at a 2003.5 with 80,000 miles. What say yee?
Transmission is made of glass. That's all I know.
EDIT: This thread has a list of common MSP maladies:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?50549-Owner-s-Guide-Mazdaspeed-Protege-Problems-amp-Solutions
The Callaway-developed Mazdaspeed Protege is the reason all subsequent Mazdaspeed products were done in-house 
cannot add more than a couple psi boost, trans is E36 M3, 03.5 is better than 03, great suspension, needs bpt or klze or disi swap=]
oh, and in japan, apparently, they were awd, which would be a hell of a lot better.
and they are approximately .20 faster in the 1/8 mile than a 2010 kia forte 2.0.
lol
If it is less than $5000 I say go for it. Otherwise, don't bother and get a Mazdaspeed3 instead.
KLG4 swap and Megan Racing suspension bits would be fun.
One of the best factory handling FWD cars i've driven. On par with my Cooper S, stock for stock. And yes, better than my Mazdaspeed 3. To echo previous comments, transmissions made of glass. G-series transmissions are an affront to society. Rods like to fold under more than about 10psi. Comfy and as practical as a normal Protege, but without that pesky reliability- figure on a rebuild or at least new rod bearings if you do anything more than stock to it. Great looking, I think the p5 bumper treatment was on point. I came close to owning one.
I see. So this is one of those "run, don't walk" situations. Is the answer turbo sc00bie somethingeruther? I've got an itch for a DD less boring than the DA Integra, with a back seat suitable for baby haulin, excellent reliability, ease of maintenance, and hwy mileage in the mid 20's for around $5k.
Car in question:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/2740462253.html
Option B: Boost integra. Problem: I've got enough unfinished projects already. I've figured out that I love driving, hate wrenching, but am too cheap and quality conscious to pay someone else to do it.
How about an end of run Integra GSR sedan? My 98 GSR usually got me 27 MPG, up to 30+ all highway. It checks all of your boxes, you just need to find one that hasn't been sEtuP yO!!1! and that is the hard part.
That would, indeed check the boxes. Not as "cool" as the msp, but I do knows me some hondas. Good call.
^ Better hope you have a good security system and a secure place to park it as well. At least around here, I'd give an Integra Type R or GSR less than one month before you find the burnt-out husk in the middle of the ghetto and some ricer-boi bragging about the new B18 he stuffed into his clapped-out Civic.
Keith wrote: The Callaway-developed Mazdaspeed Protege is the reason all subsequent Mazdaspeed products were done in-house
Callaway had a nice kit. Mazda jacked it up.
That's besides the point, the as this motor is ill-suited for boost anyways in stock form.
OP there's a reason you see more of these on craigslist with holes in to block than not. Great car, terrible drivetrain.
Look at integrated gsr or celica gts instead.
Sentra ser?
RexSeven wrote: ^ Better hope you have a good security system and a secure place to park it as well. At least around here, I'd give an Integra Type R or GSR less than one month before you find the burnt-out husk in the middle of the ghetto and some ricer-boi bragging about the new B18 he stuffed into his clapped-out Civic.
I'm guessing the "demographics" of north georgia differ significantly from where you live (no offense.) My DA w/blades has sat outside my house unlocked every night for 11 years, and sits running, doors unlocked, at least twice a week. Sometimes homogeny is a good thing.
Good luck contacting the seller. I've emailed him twice over the past 2 days and have gotten no response.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Keith wrote: The Callaway-developed Mazdaspeed Protege is the reason all subsequent Mazdaspeed products were done in-houseCallaway had a nice kit. Mazda jacked it up. That's besides the point, the as this motor is ill-suited for boost anyways in stock form. OP there's a reason you see more of these on craigslist with holes in to block than not. Great car, terrible drivetrain. Look at integrated gsr or celica gts instead.
Ben I am offended. You of ALL people should be trying to convince Mr. Shovel here- one of the LEGENDARY Hongs, to stuff something absolutely retarded in said MSP. I'm also a little surprised I didn't see one mention of a GC-chassis under entirely too much boost. You should be ashamed.
Also- to the aforementioned Mr. Shovel- (i'd call you Poopy, but I already have a friend nicknamed that and it would just get confusing) I'm thinking you want a 626GT. 4 doors, funner than a box of girlie mags, cheap as can be, and should be relatively rust free down south there. CHEEEEEEEAAAAAAP. Like you could buy 3-4 of em on a challenge budget if you did it right.
We were actually turbocharging the Protege at that time and the future existence of the Mazdaspeed Miata was known to us. I don't think the Callaway kit was anything fantastic and Mazda really did make an abrupt about face the future of the MSM. I seem to recall all the cars getting rods at the docks before delivery.
Very different demographic to Miata owners. Tell a Miata owner that their car will run for years at 10 psi, and that's where it will be run for a decade. Tell a Protege owner the same and the boost would then be at 10.5, then 11, then 12 , then boom.
An alternative to an MSP would be the Protege MP3. Same chassis from what I understand, but with a stock engine.
mndsm wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:Ben I am offended. You of ALL people should be trying to convince Mr. Shovel here- one of the LEGENDARY Hongs, to stuff something absolutely retarded in said MSP. I'm also a little surprised I didn't see one mention of a GC-chassis under entirely too much boost. You should be ashamed. Also- to the aforementioned Mr. Shovel- (i'd call you Poopy, but I already have a friend nicknamed that and it would just get confusing) I'm thinking you want a 626GT. 4 doors, funner than a box of girlie mags, cheap as can be, and should be relatively rust free down south there. CHEEEEEEEAAAAAAP. Like you could buy 3-4 of em on a challenge budget if you did it right.Keith wrote: The Callaway-developed Mazdaspeed Protege is the reason all subsequent Mazdaspeed products were done in-houseCallaway had a nice kit. Mazda jacked it up. That's besides the point, the as this motor is ill-suited for boost anyways in stock form. OP there's a reason you see more of these on craigslist with holes in to block than not. Great car, terrible drivetrain. Look at integrated gsr or celica gts instead.
Oh my bad!
Sir Hong: Please to be buying an MSP with a blown motor, then stuffing a junkyard KL in it with a snail if you get greedy. 300 reliable whp will be yours.
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