Rep Power: 0

Just wanted to get some people's comments on this new model coming up in the fall of 2002, which will clearly be competing with the US Civic Si and Canadian Si-R.

http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/53156/page016.html

My first impression is that Mazda is doing their homework with regards to handling by taking care of the suspension. But adding a Garrett T24 turbocharger to the existing 2.0L 130 bhp engine is weak, especially considering an output of 170 horse. This number could be unofficial, but it also maybe simply a low pressure turbo that you'd find in current Saab's. During the time of my purchase of the 2K2 Civic Si (CDN ver), I was also looking at the Mazda MP3, but realized that they stopped production for the Canadian market for 2002 MY.

Although I haven't driven the up-coming Si-R, I still think that maitaining stock 15-inch Si rims was a mistake. Sure, it saved money, but for people who simply don't bother to switch to monstrous 18-inchers, mimicking the RSX's 16's would have been a better reprentation for the base car. My guess also on the 15-inch rim issue, is that when the Civic Type-R comes out in a few (years?), that 16-inch wheels will be standard, as seen previously on the ITR.

Cheers,

PiCASSO

 
Rep Power: 0

i was at the show this past weekend and saw that thing [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] omg its soooooo HOT! i wannait!

 
Rep Power: 0

the people who are going to get into building their si-r will swap out whatever honda put's on as rollers......it's about being different so stock ain't good....(that ain't my opinion, that's just what i see, and what iam sure honda knows)....the 16's on the rsx's won't stay there long, even though their as sweet as hell, especially in gunmetal, they'll be swapped out by a lotta people because of the aformentioned trend....it just makes more sense to offer them anyway on the rsx because it's a car that is to appeal not just to the younger gens like the si-r but to every gen as an affortable and viable sports car, so alot of people, the one's who aren't enthusiast's, and bought the rsx because it was a the right car for the right $$ will keep the stockers.......

 
Rep Power: 0

<< My first impression is that Mazda is doing their homework with regards to handling by taking care of the suspension. But adding a Garrett T24 turbocharger to the existing 2.0L 130 bhp engine is weak, especially considering an output of 170 horse. This number could be unofficial, but it also maybe simply a low pressure turbo that you'd find in current Saab's. >>



A lot of manufactures are starting to put low power turbos in cars so they can run smaller more fuel ecconomic engien and still have some power.

 
Rep Power: 0

it's alway's easy to bump up the factory boost.......these car's are not better platforms to start building from, they are for the most part finished products, it defeats the purpose of the whole reason why civics are so popular, and will be the main reason these cars will not sell very well.........

 
Rep Power: 0

i was gonna get the 2001 mazda mp3 protege. looks was cool and all. but didn't had cash back then. wish i had it now. itz a 1 year production and only about 2000ever left the line. so itz very rare....

 
Rep Power: 0

<< i was gonna get the 2001 mazda mp3 protege. looks was cool and all. but didn't had cash back then. wish i had it now. itz a 1 year production and only about 2000ever left the line. so itz very rare.... >>



That was part of my reasoning to dish out another few grand for the MP3 vs the Si coupe... exclusivity. Especially here in the Windsor/Detroit area, where you are surrounded by Mustangs/Camaro's along with all type of large and small SUVs. When I had my 2000 Prelude in Detroit, I saw only 3 of them through out the year. People always would ask me what kind of car I was driving, since the 'Lude was also a large rarity in this neighbourhood. Things, did change, if you moved to the Toronto region. Seeing a Civic, Prelude, or any other sup'ed import was a regular sight. My insurance is also probably a few hundred dollar/annum cheaper because of the region I live in.

In anycase, I'm starting to see more and more of my 7th gen Civic coupe in this area... especially in Silver. It was all nice a dandy last year, but I guess everyone is getting on the boat. My only issue is that all my friends continue to push me to buy larger rims... along with a drop. But there's other places I want to place my hard-earned money... a house or a condo... and a little for the ladies. I'd rather have cash left over and spent it on my friends, then having a sweet ride who ordering only glasses of water at the bar.

Cheers,

PiCASSO

 
Rep Power: 0

Here in Puerto Rico we got the Protege M Sport. It looks awfully cool with body kit and hood vents, but it has 130hp in the DOHC 2.0.

See it at www.mazdapr.com

And yes, those are Si wheels.

 
Rep Power: 316

Linkage

Thats sweet...looks identical to the MP3 that came out last year, but the word TURBO changes everything. Not a bad car. I'd like to see the same engine in the Protege5, though.

 
Rep Power: 0

<< Here in Puerto Rico we got the Protege M Sport. It looks awfully cool with body kit and hood vents, but it has 130hp in the DOHC 2.0.

See it at www.mazdapr.com

And yes, those are Si wheels. >>



Well, quite honestly, I think that the body kit looks a bit tacky:




I've always hated body kits, which include front, rear, and side skirts, that wrap around the exisiting bumpers and sills. Look at the gaps between the aftermarket kits. If they had complete original front and rear bumpers, along with side skirts, which were flush to the body, then that would be a different story.

I have recently saw the same with the Canadian version of an upgraded Civic Si Coupe... the Si Veloz, which provides the OEM skirts for both front, rear, and side. On silver, it looks just as tacky as the Mazda above:



But in black, the illusion of flushness comes through and the gap between those two plastic panels isn't as evident. Again, I'm going to use the 'cost reduction' as an excuse, which is true for the most part: it's cheaper to create small add-on plastic parts (ie, like the ones used on the Mazda and Honda, above) than it is to create a completely new large plastic part.

Cheers,

PiCASSO

 
Rep Power: 0

I don't think 170HP from a 2.0L Turbo is that bad. Remember that a year ago, VW was still maing 150HP 1.8Ts.... which were the actual engines used in Audi A4s. I know more power can be extracted (ie - 210HP 2.0L Turbo Eagle Talon TSi), but it is just a Protege. By having 170HP, they are hoping it will steal the Civic Si/SiR customers. I'm sure when things really heat up as the 200HP Ciivc Type-R makes its way to North America, they will offer a more powerful variant. All automobile companies do this.

As far as aftermarket upgrades go, there is nothing better than a factory Turbo car to soup up. I'm sure 250HP can be exacted quite easily on the Protege. And to my knowledge, Mazda has made excellent Turbo cars in the past, including the MX-6 Turbo, 626 Turbo, 323 GTX & of course, the RX-7.

 
Rep Power: 0

<< I don't think 170HP from a 2.0L Turbo is that bad. Remember that a year ago, VW was still maing 150HP 1.8Ts.... which were the actual engines used in Audi A4s. I know more power can be extracted (ie - 210HP 2.0L Turbo Eagle Talon TSi), but it is just a Protege. By having 170HP, they are hoping it will steal the Civic Si/SiR customers. I'm sure when things really heat up as the 200HP Ciivc Tpe-R makes its way to North America, they will offer a more powerful variant. All automobile companies do this. >>



Good point, fellow Canadian. I'm sure that when (not if) the CTR comes into the North American market, you'll see Mazda increase their Protege output to match the 200 ponies made by the Civic. Although I haven't spent enough time with turbo based cars, I still think that naturally aspirated engines make the whole experience much more enjoyable (sans turbo-lag) and long lasting (no need to remember to cool off the turbos by keeping the engine running a few minutes).



<< As far as aftermarket upgrades go, there is nothing better than a factory Turbo car to soup up. I'm sure 250HP can be exacted quite easily on the Protege. And to my knowledge, Mazda has made excellent Turbo cars in the past, including the MX-6 Turbo, 626 Turbo, 323 GTX & of course, the RX-7. >>



With regards to aftermarket upgrades, I only question factory warranty. If anyone takes their old 1.8L 150-hp VW Golf and boost the pressure gauge by a few psi... how does this affect OEM warranty? I'm sure that aftermarket chip suppliers won't honour Mazda's or any other manufactures warranties. Higher horsepower is due to higher pressures. Higher pressure cause heat dissipation issues and stress on all moving and stationary engine components. You can probably crank out 400hp out of that 2.0L DOHC Mazda engine. Lasting more than a few hours is another question.

Cheers,

PiCASSO