is the msp lower than the mp3?

[bigbillsfan]

maybe someone has already asked this, but is the msp lower than the mp3? from looking at all of the msp pictures it looks as if it is lower i thought that the suspension was basically the same on both cars, only minor changes.

[MaZdaP3]

i'm not too sure whether the mazdaspeed is lower but i know for sure that the gap between the wheels for the mazdaspeed is smaller than the mp3

[rowan]

The tires about 1/2" bigger than the MP3.
From the mazdausa site it sounds like they may have used the actual RacingBeat designed springs this time instead of ones Mazda sourced in Japan.. which would make it maybe another 1/2" lower still.

[Stou]

I have a MP3 and I saw a MSP at my dealer yesterday and it is a little bit lower. The tires are 215/45ZR17 instead of 205/45ZR17 of the MP3. So the tires are probably a little bit higher than the MP3 tires.

[AutoXer]

According to Edmunds.com, the MP3 is .2" lower than the MSP.
MSP is 55.5", MP3 is 55.3"

http://www.edmunds.com/used/2001/mazda/protege/4drmp3sedan/specs.html?id=lin0066

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/mazda/mazdaspeedprotege/4drsedan20l4cylturbo5m/specs.html?id=lin0018

Not sure if those links'll work, but the info is easy enough to find. Edmunds is the best car information source I know of.

[StuttersC]

Originally posted by rowan
The tires about 1/2" bigger than the MP3.
From the mazdausa site it sounds like they may have used the actual RacingBeat designed springs this time instead of ones Mazda sourced in Japan.. which would make it maybe another 1/2" lower still.


What do you mean by the springs actually designed by Racing Beat? This is confusing.

The MP3 has Racing Beat springs. The springs they sell now are basically the same rate spring, only slightly lower, and the springs in the MSP are slightly stiffer than both.

I'm willing to bet that Mazda used their OEM supplier to make the springs for the MSP, just like they did for the MP3.

All the springs mentioned are designed by Racing Beat. I'm not sure who makes Racing Beat's springs for them, but there are only a few spring makers in the whole world.

I believe Eibach is Mazda's OEM supplier.

[rowan]

From RacingBeat's Project MP3 page:
Some of Racing Beat's settings and specifications were amended to meet governmental and Mazda Corporation's requirements. Such factors as; safety, cost, reliability and warranty issues played key factors in deciding the outcome of the Protege MP3's specifications.


I thought I remembered reading that the springs were one component that Mazda changed from the original RB specs which is part of the reason they are producing them on their own. RB's site says their springs are produced in Japan.

If the MP3 does have the RB original spec springs then buying the RB springs shouldn't change the height or stiffness ... has anyone with an MP3 tried putting on the RB springs?

[StuttersC]

Originally posted by rowan


I thought I remembered reading that the springs were one component that Mazda changed from the original RB specs which is part of the reason they are producing them on their own. RB's site says their springs are produced in Japan.

If the MP3 does have the RB original spec springs then buying the RB springs shouldn't change the height or stiffness ... has anyone with an MP3 tried putting on the RB springs?

Has I just said, the spring's ride height in the MP3 was changed (making them slightly taller, maybe), however the rate is basically equivalant to that of the springs that Racing Beat sells.

So, what I'm saying is, no one that I know have has bothered to put the Racing Beat (the ones they sell) springs into an MP3 because they are basically the same spring. I'm not going to spend a couple of hundred dollars just to get something I basically already own. Particualrly when it is only going to lower my car maybe another 1/2 inch.

Racing Beat hasn't bothered testing the spring rates nor the ride height as it isn't worht it. The reason Mazda used their OEM supplier to make the springs is purely a cost issue. Why on earth would they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce springs for a limited run production car?

Were the stats changed from what Racing Beat originally gave Mazda? Maybe, no one really knows for sure, however it is suspected that the only real change was the ride height.

The MSP is supposed to have completely different springs. Slightly stiffer than those in the MP3, and slightly stiffer than those that Racing Beat sells.