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Just a lil read up to familiarize with the car in question, unfortunately no pics of the project car right now will post them later.




2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege to Hit Dealerships in April
March 7, 2003

Motor Trend

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has released product information and pricing for the new-and-improved 2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege. Updated exterior and interior components highlight the new model, giving it an edgier look to go with its 170-horsepower turbocharged engine. The hi-po Protege is priced at $20,480 and will begin arriving in Mazda dealerships in early April.

"MazdaSpeed vehicles are the ultimate expression of Mazda performance," said Robert Davis, MNAO vice president of product strategy and development. "This car takes factory-tuned sport-compact performance to the extreme. We've covered all the tuners' bases with a turbocharged engine, big wheels, and low-profile tires, a taut suspension, aggressive styling and a great sound system. And unlike any aftermarket company, we gave it a full factory warranty, too." Because of consumer enthusiasm for the 2003 model, production of the 2003.5 will increase from 1750 to 2750. The first 1750 will be available in Titanium Grey Metallic or Blazing Yellow Mica and the remaining 1000 will be available in Laser Blue Mica or Sunlight Silver Metallic. Other exterior upgrades include a racing-inspired front air dam, new rear skirt, larger and lighter rear spoiler, new Dark Hyper Silver wheel finish and an oval exhaust tip branded with the MazdaSpeed logo.

Technically patterned cloth seat inserts improve lateral support while yellow stitching snakes around the seats and three-spoke, leather-wrapped, two-tone steering wheel. A black leather shift boot, also stitched in yellow, and an aluminum and leather shift knob bearing the MazdaSpeed logo complement the interior. Also stamped with the MazdaSpeed moniker are the aluminum foot pedals and black cloth floor mats.



The 2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege is powered by a force-fed 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine delivering 170 horsepower and 160 lb-ft of torque to 17-inch Custom Racing Hart wheels via a five-speed manual transmission with the help of a Tochigi Fuji limited slip differential.



The popular 450-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 Kenwood Audio System with a liquid gel 3-D screen, glass-mounted antenna, wireless remote control, and self-hiding/removable faceplate also remains standard on the new model. Its seven-speaker system powers four mid-bass, two tweeters and one 250-watt subwoofer housed in the rear package tray.



The 2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege is covered by a comprehensive four-year/50,000-mile warranty that covers every part on the vehicle except those subject to normal wear. In addition, the 2003.5 MazdaSpeed Protege with comes with a four-year roadside assistance program and is covered by a five-year/unlimited-mileage corrosion warranty.

After careful analysis, I can only say that this car is a fun car to drive, damn!!! (That is my humble opinion). \

THe engine a Mazda FS with a T25R Ball bearing turbo
17" Racingharts
LSD
Sweet sound system
Tokico shocks
Drop springs (H&R I believe maybe put on by the previous owner)
Strut tower bars
Front and Rear Sway Bars (aftermarket stabilizers)
Mazdaspeed Cat-back exhaust 2.25 or 2.5"
Comfy bucket type seats
Short throw shifter (atleast on this msp)
Real nice tires
Aggressive front bumper (with fins/diffusers)
And last but not least it has the previously mentioned rear bumper and air dam.

The car was purchased by the owner at Mazda with 44000miles and the owner before him did a very good job of destroying the stock engine mounts. First mod was the replacing of the factory mounts with some poly ones, suggest that to anyone with an MSP the stock mounts can't cut the bread.

Took it out for some punishment, car handles like a charm however powering out in corners, you'll feel the torque steer and the vibration from the FS with the solid mounts. Boost was at 7psi "was"

We umped to 10psi for a lil more rush..................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously you should have heard the owner scream from the back seat, lol

Also Installed a K&N Air filter stock air box ommited.

There are two cats which make breathing a lil difficult for the lil T25R, so they were "replaced" Upon doing so we immediately hit fuel cut, so now the car does 12 psi without the aid of any boost controller under a 4th gear pull. This too also suggests that the stock bov is faulty leaking vaccum.

Next mod will be installation of a huge front mount intercooler with hard pipes and aftermarket BOv, fuel pump, fpr and downpipe.
pics coming soon!

After careful analysis, I can only say that this car is a fun car to drive, damn!!! (That is my humble opinion). \

THe engine a Mazda FS with a T25R Ball bearing turbo
17" Racingharts
LSD
Sweet sound system
Tokico shocks
Drop springs (H&R I believe maybe put on by the previous owner)
Strut tower bars
Front and Rear Sway Bars (aftermarket stabilizers)
Mazdaspeed Cat-back exhaust 2.25 or 2.5"
Comfy bucket type seats
Short throw shifter (atleast on this msp)
Real nice tires
Aggressive front bumper (with fins/diffusers)
And last but not least it has the previously mentioned rear bumper and air dam.

The car was purchased by the owner at Mazda with 44000miles and the owner before him did a very good job of destroying the stock engine mounts. First mod was the replacing of the factory mounts with some poly ones, suggest that to anyone with an MSP the stock mounts can't cut the bread.

Took it out for some punishment, car handles like a charm however powering out in corners, you'll feel the torque steer and the vibration from the FS with the solid mounts. Boost was at 7psi "was"

We umped to 10psi for a lil more rush..................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously you should have heard the owner scream from the back seat, lol

Also Installed a K&N Air filter stock air box ommited.

There are two cats which make breathing a lil difficult for the lil T25R, so they were "replaced" Upon doing so we immediately hit fuel cut, so now the car does 12 psi without the aid of any boost controller under a 4th gear pull. This too also suggests that the stock bov is faulty leaking vaccum.

Next mod will be installation of a huge front mount intercooler with hard pipes and aftermarket BOv, fuel pump, fpr and downpipe.

We have made considerable progress on the MSP from the last discussion. Recent mods include, Huge Front mount intercooler, with 3"intercooler Pipes (aluminum w/ Tbolt clamps),Greddy Type S bov, home-made boost controller (not seen in the pics) and now and Evo 8 Catback Exhaust System from Megan Racing (oops).Despite these mild mods we are still running too rich, however I am am keeping the boost stock till we get rest of the mods,(cams,emanage, fuel pump,custom downpipe).Pics

why you say oops for the megan racing exhaust?

Megan has improved considerably in terms of quality over the years

The oops is because the catback is of an EVO 8

This morning the mid section of the cat in heat wrap as a pre-cautionary measure since it passes a about an ince below the tank (which itself is protected by a heat shield) The heat measured by infrared thermometer after a hard run is 148* F, without heat wrap with heat wrap heat has gone down drastically to about 81*F which is the heat out side so we cool. Going to fabricate a 3" Stainless steel down pipe which will use a single high flow cat (maybe on the cat* lol) also making a test pipe for track days, just waiting for the Mig welder to arrive. New pics

Notice it also has a racing beat anti-roll bar....interesting

Trust me it handles, it handles really really well. This was pre-owned upon purchase and I've noticed that it seats a lil low compared to the others. I've seen tokico blues under there combined with Springs. Comfy yet effective. It definitely compares to that of the Evo 8. Well balanced noting should be changed!!!!!!

this is why i love technical projects.....Never knew an evo 8 exhaust would fit so nicely on a protege