Remember these?

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
04/24/2017 at 11:26 • Filed to: Throwback, DOTS

Mazdaspeed Protoge´. Turbocharged. 5 speed manual. LSD. Sport suspension.

I totally forgot that these were out there, let alone still in great shape.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Enjoy a retro read for Monday

170 hp and 155 lbs-ft from a turbo 2.0 sure seems laughable now though doesn’t it

DISCUSSION (30)

Vicente Esteve > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:28

Was that spoiler stock?

HammerheadFistpunch > Vicente Esteve
04/24/2017 at 11:28

Welcome back to the 90's!

and 100 more > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:30

I test-drove a Protege5 once and I haven’t shut up about it since then.

I wish it would’ve worked out... such a nice drive.

awmaster10 > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:32

These things are great to drive. Id take an MS3 though because even though it doesnt feel nearly as light, its also twice as fast

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:32

These were very good at the time although the orange paint, big fog lights and wing gave it kind of a wannabe-Evo vibe.

I’d be surprised to find one without the usual Mazda rust issues of that era.

Takuro Spirit > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:33

Also had a killer Kenwood stereo and speakers, with an optional sub/amp rack under the back deck.

I appropriated one from an insurance job where they tried to rip out the rack, damaging it, but the amp and sub were still good. But since Mazda only sold them as an assembly, they had to replace the whole thing. I kept the broken one and made my own box for it and had it in a couple of my cars.

HammerheadFistpunch > and 100 more
04/24/2017 at 11:33

They weighed nothing. I drove a protege of this ilk when it was new in Texas. It had the smallest engine option. Wiki says it was a 1.8 in the US but I seem to remember it being a 1.6. Even in Texas that think WORKED to get up any “hill” at speed.

jariten1781 > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:33

Even more forgettable was the Protégé MP3 which was named so because it came with a CD player that could play burned MP3 CDs. Also had ‘factory’ performance enhancements which were just bolt-ons from Racing Beat.

yitznewton > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:33

I saw one a couple weeks back, to my surprise. Looked fairly unmolested IIRC.

EL_ULY > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:34

ah yes, the MP3. I knew a dude that did a couple little mods on his DD in that same odd color. It ran 14.5-14.7's on the 1/4 mile. That’s like stock 05 350Z territory-ish. Meh but fun I suppose

Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:34

Comes with free weight savings in rust too!

Takuro Spirit > Vicente Esteve
04/24/2017 at 11:35

It got better for the 2003.5 model

Kinja'd!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > EL_ULY
04/24/2017 at 11:35

This is one up from the MP3 though...mp4?

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
04/24/2017 at 11:35

especially in utah. Very shocked.

nerd_racing > Vicente Esteve
04/24/2017 at 11:37

It was in Japan. In the U.S. they had a much shorter setup.

Tripper > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:37

I wanted one soooo bad after my Mazda Protege5 was wrecked via head-on collision. Ended up with a Nissan Senter SE-R Spec-V. Longest badge extension I’ve ever owned. It was also a piece of poop.

Tripper > and 100 more
04/24/2017 at 11:38

My first “car” and first manual! I loved it, then totaled it:(

HammerheadFistpunch > Tripper
04/24/2017 at 11:39

But it was Spec-V?! Automatic mad JDM yo!

A friend of mine had one, he liked his, but does concede it was crap.

vicali > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:48

Used to be a grey one on my street.. I’m sure only the owner and I took any notice of it ever..

Tripper > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 11:51

I liked mine too, even though my father told me that it was a piece of shit with a “hot motor” when I bought it. He was right. He wanted me to buy the base cooper that I had test drove previously, but that was when Mini’s were brand new and going for silly money.

Around 50-60k miles it started bending the plug in cyl #3 shut! I had it in 3 times, and the dealer couldn’t tell my why it was happening. After the third time I traded it in. Apparently that is now a well known and fixable issue.

Vicente Esteve > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 12:07

damn.

Vicente Esteve > Takuro Spirit
04/24/2017 at 12:08

I could live with that.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 12:10

Yes, but I’m pretty sure they’ve all rusted away

Nibby > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 12:28

ooh yeah I member

Kinja'd!!!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Textured Soy Protein
04/24/2017 at 12:39

i remember several years ago when i was shopping to replace my dakota i looked at a mazdaspeed protege and had the famous mazda rust, still kinda think i should have gotten it for the fun factor but instead i ended up with my SC2

Textured Soy Protein > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
04/24/2017 at 12:45

Mazda rust is no fun. I had a 2006 Mazdaspeed 6 that I bought CPO in 2008. By 2010 it was rusting in the rear wheelwells. Even after I had it fixed the rust came back and it rusted in other places as well. Front strut towers, inside the door skins, around the windshield, probably other places too. Between that and endless interior rattles I just couldn’t take it anymore and got rid of it in 2013. It had a good run but ultimately was a very frustrating car for me.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Textured Soy Protein
04/24/2017 at 12:54

yeah if i can remember right the protege i looked at had it in the corners and trunk. i was so sad but thats chicago winters and mazda build quality

syaieya > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 13:27

Theres the remains of a protege5 near me. The front bumper was gone and someone neanderthalled the stereo out.

The steering wheel left with me though so im 10 bucks into a future mazda shaped project

Maxima Speed > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 14:32

My dad had a 2000 Protege Manual with the 1.6, and that thing was a riot. Sure it was slow as mud in a straight line but, on a back road or gravel road it handled like a champ. I never really drove it much, but riding with my dad, bombing down one lane pavement country roads was exhilarating. How he could carry so much speed through corners in hat thing I’ll never know. Wish I could be even close to as good a driver as he is.

wafflesnfalafel > HammerheadFistpunch
04/24/2017 at 18:55

(bring back the speed3 please, and offer that color...please...)