DaveEstey wrote:
HiTempguy wrote:
DaveEstey wrote:
Mazda5 has 157hp... no thanks.
What is wrong with 150 odd hp in a car that weighs 3500 pounds or less? Especially with a 5 speed, that is MORE than adequate... this is like the equivalent of a 2000 pound car with 90hp...
I must be from another planet where 150hp in a 3,500lb vehicle is slow. That's 22.2 pounds per 1 hp.
A Miata for instance is 16.5 pounds per 1 hp, and it's not winning any drag races.
If you're going to start calling out Lbs per HP at least use the right #'s. My 06 M5 is 157HP and weighs 3333Lbs, which is 21.2Lb/HP. My 93 Miata was 116HP and 2293Lbs, which is 19.8Lbs/HP. That ain't much of a difference. Depending on options/gearing/tires they'd be dead even in a drag race. On 100% stock suspensions and tires the M5 would corner better, too.
My 944 is 158HP and 2790Lbs, which is 17.6Lbs/HP and I guarantee you it ain't gonna lose a drag race to any stock-engine Miata, so I don't know where you pulled 16.5 for a Miata from...
Dodge always teased with a fast Caravan that they never made, however, they did make the Caravan Sport.
Can't be too hard to combine it with this:
157hp in a 3500lb car is slow. I don't see how that could be up for debate.
Comparing it to a stock Miata isn't helping.
Javelin wrote:
*snip*
Was ready for a full blown rant, thinking you hadn't actually read my post. Continued reading as I always do. You pointed out who you were referring to. Situation diffused 
In reply to Javelin:
Some of us have 1.8 liter Miatas.
I'm not going to say the Mazda5 is fast but several friends with the larger, much more powerful vans have borrowed ours and commented on how quick it is. Now we're not talking gear heads here but it definitely doesn't feel underpowered in the way a 2.0 Jetta does. I think part of it is the gearing with the 5 speed auto and the 2.3s willingness to rev without drama.
ProDarwin wrote:
157hp in a 3500lb car is slow. I don't see how that could be up for debate.
Comparing it to a stock Miata isn't helping.
3300, not 3500. But hey, what's 200 Lbs amongst friends? 
Still slow!
Not sure why it applies to the thread anyways, as i thought it was pretty clear that an MS3 drivetrain would be used....
DaveEstey wrote:
In reply to Javelin:
Some of us have 1.8 liter Miatas.
And? It's still not that much power for the weight, and the Mazda5 stock isn't that far behind. Tain't no Miata at 16.5 stock unless is says "Mazdaspeed" in the name.
92CelicaHalfTrac wrote:
Still slow!
Not sure why it applies to the thread anyways, as i thought it was pretty clear that an MS3 drivetrain would be used....
I don't get it either. 263HP and 3400Lbs (assuming the turbo/intercooler/LSD/6th gear add 70Lbs) is 12.9Lbs/HP, which is mid-high 13's in the 1/4. 
Javelin wrote:
DaveEstey wrote:
In reply to Javelin:
Some of us have 1.8 liter Miatas.
And? It's still not that much power for the weight, and the Mazda5 stock isn't that far behind. Tain't no Miata at 16.5 stock unless is says "Mazdaspeed" in the name.
Well, normal NBs were actually faster than 16.5. 
But hey, that's just being pedantic. Half a second is a driver's race. 
Yeah, 1999 Miata, 1/4 mile is 15.9 seconds. But again, if you're talking about building up a car I'm not sure what the stock horsepower has to do with it. And a grocery getter that's fun to drive doesn't have to be a drag strip demon.
My grocery getter weighs a touch under 2500lbs and conservatively makes 300whp.
But it's not a van.
Vigo
Dork
7/8/11 6:10 p.m.
So what is the budget here? Because as far as i can tell you cant really do a nice mazda5 + any decent amount of mods for under $10k, and decent mods doesn't include an MS3 swap.. needless to say it could go up much more depending on the starting price, maybe up to a total $20k price tag if you start with a newer one and are serious about an ms3 swap.
Vigo wrote:
So what is the budget here? Because as far as i can tell you cant really do a nice mazda5 + any decent amount of mods for under $10k, and decent mods doesn't include an MS3 swap.. needless to say it could go up much more depending on the starting price, maybe up to a total $20k price tag if you start with a newer one and are serious about an ms3 swap.
Well my plan is odd, but I'll post it anyways. I bought my Mazda5 to be the DD/kid hauler for the next xx years. As it ages I will maintainify it (shocks go bad, replace with Koni's!) throughout. Once the kiblets hit regular seat age it should have around 150K on it and be worth pennies, so then I'll buy another DD and do the MS3(6AWD?) swap to it.
If I was to do it from scratch now... There's a lot of higher mileage (or if you're lucky, a busted motor or trans) 5's for less than mine, I've seen $6500 pretty regularly (normal people don't buy minivans with manuals). If you did your due diligence and own work, I can easily see a "nice" MS5 for $10K total. There's only 2 known ones out there (C/D's and Mazda's), so you'd certainly have a unique car.
ProDarwin wrote:
Honda Odessey + TL gearbox + go fast parts.
I'm pretty sure Honda's racing guys have built one of these. Along with the rwd Element.
2nd gen Caravan/Voyager with a Stage 3 SRT/4 2.4
Or if my sister ever replaces her van, I'm getting a $500 '01 Windstar. That's $1511 left for a challenge budget.
pinchvalve wrote:
Dodge always teased with a fast Caravan that they never made, however, they did make the Caravan Sport.
Can't be too hard to combine it with this:
They've got it now. Almost 300 hp and I think 260 torques.
Now, I had the awesomest minivan a few years back. Ralph Gilles built it. It was a 1999 SWB. He swapped in a warmed-over 3.8L, LSD, lowered 3" in back, 2" in front etc.
That thing would whoop a 4.6L Mustang GT and zinged to 7,000 rpm QUICK. When he had it (before I got it) it had Viper brakes, seats, wheels and tires too. I've tried to find it on the internet but I can't GRM had a little blurb about it in the mag as part of 1-Lap coverage and another mag did a whole article but I can't remember what mag it was.
Pat
Reader
7/8/11 9:34 p.m.
I think calling a Mazda 5 a minivan is a stretch...it's no more than a swollen 3.
I looked at one and if you're really looking for a minivan, this is not the car for you. If you're looking for something slightly bigger than a Caliper, then the Mazda may work out.
Chevy Venture with a dash of supercharged 3.8 out of the Gran Prix. Or even better yet, the 5.3 out of the SS. I guess it just depends on how much of the firewall you want to remove.
Vigo
Dork
7/9/11 1:52 a.m.
Now, I had the awesomest minivan a few years back. Ralph Gilles built it. It was a 1999 SWB. He swapped in a warmed-over 3.8L, LSD, lowered 3" in back, 2" in front etc. That thing would whoop a 4.6L Mustang GT and zinged to 7,000 rpm QUICK. When he had it (before I got it) it had Viper brakes, seats, wheels and tires too. I've tried to find it on the internet but I can't GRM had a little blurb about it in the mag as part of 1-Lap coverage and another mag did a whole article but I can't remember what mag it was.
You owned this thing?
I think calling a Mazda 5 a minivan is a stretch...it's no more than a swollen 3. I looked at one and if you're really looking for a minivan, this is not the car for you. If you're looking for something slightly bigger than a Caliper, then the Mazda may work out.
I tend to agree. An 84-95 swb caravan is about the same length and weight but has MUCH more room everywhere.
