anyone else have a chance to drive one of these guys yet? I was pretty impressed. Mazda has done a good job teaming up with Calloway, Racing Beat, Kenwood, & Racing Hart to turn out a pretty nice little Sport Compact. For just under $20k it is a pretty darn good deal. I know the SRT-4 will out accelerate it, but I would give odds the the Protege would take it at the auto-x (can't say this for sure cause I haven't driven a SRT-4) - I think this Protege is probably the best handling fwd car I have ever driven... certainly up there with the Integra R... too bad the 2 color choices kinda suck - that is my biggest fault with the total package....

 

I have never driven one, but I will say that it looks a helluva lot better than the srt-4. but if you are putting the handling up there with the integra R, then I must test drive one for myself.

 

havent driven the mazdaspeed, but i've driven a turbo mp3 and that this is beautiful, im thinkin of selling my lancer and just purchasing it . . .

 

yeah I am... it dosen't have quite the knife edge quickness of the R, but it feels smoother, and faster... I have friends that drive both cars and I can't wait to see them at auto-x this summer. I got done driving the Protege and I thought it was underpowered, which is not usual for me with fwd cars, I usually think they need more chassis, not really the case here... Mazdas done a good job... problem is that the Proteges intercooler is tiny (its from the euro td protege) and I can't see where you could fit a bigger SMIC or FMIC - but I am sure someone will come up with something... now only if it was awd...

 

I am sick of people messing with my yellow oz like spitting on it , keying it,and what not. Also I wish it was faster, I almost got beat by a 98 explorer

 

That has absolutely nothing to do with the Mazdaspeed Protege.

 

This is wayyyy off topic. but since you went there, just where are you parking to get your car treated like that. Sounds like a pissed of ex to me. I have been there before.

[edit] just realized Hobie already said something about the off topic