Happy Protege Moment!

[Foolish]

Some people like to talk crap on here about how slow our cars are. Lots of posts on here consist of complaint after complaint, many valid, about our cars.

I could complain about the swaybar clunk that was thoughtfully included with my MSP rear sway, but I won't, just now.

No, I'm posting to share my thoughts on one of the great things about this car.

Third gear.

Driving tonight down the road into town, I found myself again behind someone inexplicably doing 40MPH in a 50 zone. Fortunately, this road has passing zones, and as I approached one, I dropped the Pro into 3rd, where it hummed along happily until just the right moment, when I floored it, the CAI whooshed it's happy song, and the car just flew past that old Pontiac. As I got back over to the right, I threw the Kartboy SS into 4th, dropped the pedal again, and found myself doing 70 already, much to my suprise! Clear now, and not looking for a ticket, I slipped back down to 50, and continued on my way, with a huge smile on my face!
(drive)
So, while we're not the fastest cars on the road, and probably not even the fastest for the money, I've got to say I am wildly satisfied with my car tonight.

(first)

[03.5MSP]

So true, I agree. The MSP might not be the fastest, but I love it, it knows how to put a smile on my face.

[chris]

So true, I agree. The MSP might not be the fastest, but I love it, it knows how to put a smile on my face.

We have great gearing:)

[Matthew]

i read your story twice...youre happy because your car is able to pass cars doing less than the speed limit?

[chris]

i read your story twice...youre happy because your car is able to pass cars doing less than the speed limit?
no, he is just happy because he didnt think he was gonna accelarate as quik as he did, or end up goin as fast as he did. he underestimated his car. get it?

[Foolish]

Don't be a dick, Matthew. I'm happy because 40-70 comes quite quickly for an inexpensive econo-box. If you can't be happy along with me, you can go away. This is a Protege forum, ostensibly for people who like Proteges. I like mine, and tonight it made me happy.

Really, don't be a troll.

[chris]

Don't be a dick, Matthew. I'm happy because 40-70 comes quite quickly for an inexpensive econo-box. If you can't be happy along with me, you can go away. This is a Protege forum, ostensibly for people who like Proteges. I like mine, and tonight it made me happy.

Really, don't be a troll.
yeah for prote-ga!

[justanotheradikt]

the gearing is very good in our cars....i love it....2nd 3rd and 4th are all VERY nice!

[chris]

the gearing is very good in our cars....i love it....2nd 3rd and 4th are all VERY nice!
yeah, if only 1st wasnt soo short and 5th soo long.....

[Protege2K]

Are you kidding me, the gearing is terrible in these cars. Nothing like driving on the highway at 4k rpm's when you are only going 80mph.

[Foolish]

the gearing is very good in our cars....i love it....2nd 3rd and 4th are all VERY nice!

Agreed! I almost wish 5th were a bit higher, so the car would cruise the highway at a lower RPM, and get a bit better mileage, but otherwise they got it just right. It does do highways much better than my Miata did, though.

Edit: Wow, Chris and P2K both beat me to it!

[BradC]

Are you kidding me, the gearing is terrible in these cars. Nothing like driving on the highway at 4k rpm's when you are only going 80mph.
(mswerd)
It blows...first sucks, then second sucks, third is ok, 4th is ok, then 5th blows...give me a complete dog box w.custom ratios (if you are payin) and i will live this car!

[chris]

Are you kidding me, the gearing is terrible in these cars. Nothing like driving on the highway at 4k rpm's when you are only going 80mph.

dood! ur goin 80mph! of coarse its gonna be a 4000. what cars dont?

[Matthew]

Are you kidding me, the gearing is terrible in these cars. Nothing like driving on the highway at 4k rpm's when you are only going 80mph.my car used to give me headaches for this very reason.

[proman]

Sometimes I wish the pro was faster but the gearing does make up for it for the "fun" factor. I love this car also.

[Matthew]

dood! ur goin 80mph! of coarse its gonna be a 4000. what cars dont?my WRX

[chris]

my car used to give me headaches for this very reason.

my car does it too but when in 5th it doesnt want to climb , thus explainin the "5th is too long" speech.

[Protege2K]

dood! ur goin 80mph! of coarse its gonna be a 4000. what cars dont?
Every other car I have ever driven.

[chris]

my WRX

my dream car!, but no $$$ right now.:'(

[chris]

Every other car I have ever driven.

what cars are these because every N/A "econobox" i had did this at 80mph.

[Protege2K]

Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Solara, Dodge Stratus, Nissan Maxima, and those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Forgot to add Pontiac Grand Am.

If the Grand Am and Stratus don't scream 4cyl econobox I don't know what car will.

[Foolish]

My '87 RX-7 settled into a nice, easy, low RPM, lope on the highway. The 2nd gens weren't super fast by any means, but would get up to 100mph pretty quickly if caned, and would just cruise along at 80+ all day long without screaming. It fits the term Grand Touring car quite well. I'd love to drive one cross country, if someone else were paying for the gas!

Edit: the gas and the tickets!

[chris]

Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Solara, Dodge Stratus, Nissan Maxima, and those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

hmmm? mabey I just had shitty geard cars?(honda civic in 98,dodge ram,02 eclipse,nissan sentra,1st gen se-r.

[Foolish]

Bump to share the love with the morning crowd.

[boostdprotegelx]

i swear to god, some people on the forums are ridiculous..just constantly bitching or finding something BAD about the whole thing..I believe all the Pesemists and w/e need to leave..they are so fucking annoying..Yea i agree wholeheartedly.i love my protege, I would love 1st to be longer, and i would love for 5th to have lower rpms at higher speeds, but for now, it doesnt..Im satisfied with my car. It was the first car i have had, and i got it myself, at 18.Granted, its not the MSP but still a protege, and i love it.now its kinda a msp..but w/e.

[Katya4me]

It's fun embarassing Corvettes at autoxes. :D ' "Doesn't that have AWD?" "Nope, FWD" ' And yes, 3rd & 4th are great gears for the car.

[Foolish]

You know, I kind of wish I had an MSP. At the time that I bought my LX, it was to be the kid hauler, and I was going to keep the Miata as the racer, but we ended up selling the Miata, and modding the Pro into a suprisingly decent autocrosser. If I'd known at the time that I'd only have the Pro, I'd have sold the Miata and thrown that money into the budget so I could afford the MSP, but it didn't work out that way.

As it is, my only complaints about the LX are the front seats, and the fact that I've got drum brakes in the rear. I hate working on drum brakes! Also, I hope to start doing track events, and I'm worried about heat and brake fade with the drums. I do like that my old Miata wheels fit the 4-lug LX, and I do like that by not having an MSP, I can run regular gas instead of premium.

Last night, it occurred to me that what I should really do is buy an ES, swap my suspension, intake, header, stereo and SS over to it, put the stock ES parts on my LX, and sell it. The money difference between buying the ES and selling the LX would certainly be less than the price of upgrading my seats and brakes, and I'd still get to use regular gas! I'd have to sell the Miata wheels and buy new track wheels, but over all, I think I'd have more of what I wanted if I made the swap. We'll see if I can pull that off....

But overall, yeah, I love my car. It can't compete with a WRX, or an Evo, but it's much more fun to drive than a civic, which is really more in it's league.

[Qui Gon Zel]

Hmmmm, all this topic does is add fuel to the fire inside of me to go out and get that MSP that I've had my eye on.

[boostdprotegelx]

Hmmmm, all this topic does is add fuel to the fire inside of me to go out and get that MSP that I've had my eye on.
do it..go get that thing..im positive you will be happy with that.

[Qui Gon Zel]

Gah! You tempt me!

Shit, what to do...?

[Foolish]

Go drive it. You'll know what to do then. :D

[Qui Gon Zel]

That sounds like a plan! (thumb)

[boostdprotegelx]

That sounds like a plan! (thumb)
now follow through with it..its a blast to drive on stock boost. I myself dont have the MSP, but i did test drive it ...once..or twice......or 5 times...

[Qui Gon Zel]

(boom07) Are you trying to live vicariously through my MSP test drive experiences?

[ZoomZoomH]

can i throw in a happy RX-8 moment?? :D

[boostdprotegelx]

(boom07) Are you trying to live vicariously through my MSP test drive experiences?
not really..i drove it quite a few times,(it kept me coming back) i just bought a motor for my lx..with built short block, and turbo..much bigger then that of the msp..but you would like it depending on what it is you drive now.

[Qui Gon Zel]

What I drive now isn't by choice... at all... It was presented to me as a gift a couple years ago and i've been itching to get rid of it ever since.

A '94 Ford Mustang. Over the past couple years i've been slowly saving up and looking around for a new car. About a year or so ago, I started looking at Mazdas and then the Protoge.

Now it's come down to this, eh...

[boostdprotegelx]

im pretty sure that the msp will blow the mustang away..but hell a gift is great man. I had to get my own car first, so i just got what i could. And i was very happy with it.

What I drive now isn't by choice... at all... It was presented to me as a gift a couple years ago and i've been itching to get rid of it ever since.

A '94 Ford Mustang. Over the past couple years i've been slowly saving up and looking around for a new car. About a year or so ago, I started looking at Mazdas and then the Protoge.

Now it's come down to this, eh...

[chris]

can i throw in a happy RX-8 moment?? :Dplease do.

[Protege2K]

i swear to god, some people on the forums are ridiculous..just constantly bitching or finding something BAD about the whole thing.
God forbid someone doesn't share your point of view.

[boostdprotegelx]

God forbid someone doesn't share your point of view.
no, its not that. its just that with no matter what the thread is about, there is always someone there bitching about how gay, how dumb, how shitty, w/e the case may be..its just rediculous..like its one thing to say, like about 90% of the thread about what do you think about my new mod, or my look of my car..and people FLAME the shit out of people. its stupid. god, give your point of view, but you dont have to be such an ass about things..gimme a break.(and no, its not directed towards you) but too many people are like that.

[Qui Gon Zel]

...that's how it is on any forum, regardless of what the chosen subject is.

There's always someone hating on someone. It sucks, but meh...