At the Limit: Mazda Protege5

At the Limit Mazda Protege5

The Wanna Know

• 2003 Mazda Protege5

• 2.0L, 5-speed manual, hatchback

• 130 horsepower and 135 ft-lbs of torque

• Handles incredibly well

• Has room for more than just groceries!

• 195/50R16 300TW

AutoX Action!

https://youtu.be/wP5F_JG0cYE

Protege5 Video Review!

https://youtu.be/zamEts7DW78

At the Limit

Rockets have space. People have test. And tires have asphalt. What's connected to those tires can be the difference between making it to the moon or making that 99.9 percent a perfect score. The fiery crucible known as autocross would be the testing grounds to see what a 20 year Mazda hatchback could do when asked to dance around the cones.

Always do maintenaince before track events!

I've been driving my 2003 Mazda Protege5 at a few local autocross events which have worked as a great way to stay sharp and take skill from the simulator to real life. Granted the sensations differ greatly, I figured this would be a great opportunity to familiarize myself with the front wheel drive platform and see what I could do against the clock with other local drivers. Once I completed registration with Corner Exit and my maintenance list checked off, the day finally came to put the silver hatchback through time trials. After a quick air down, I strap on the helmet, and line up at the start to see what this sport wagon can do.

The Mazda powerplant delivers 130 hp and 135 ft-lbs of torque. By modern standards disappointing numbers. To add insult to injury, the FDSE engine doesn't even have variable valve timing. I’ve already lost a shot at any recorded breaking numbers by bringing a knife to a gunfight (other cars present include a F87 M2, FK8 Civic Type R, and the GR86 to name a few). Surprisingly, this engine finds itself revving to redline happily despite cam timing advancements, delivering all 130 horsepower as if its life depends on it. Thanks to the linear powerband and short geared transmission, power and torque feel like they’re always on tap or what little there is.

Brakes have a great bite but lack feel. There's a lot useless travel at the top of the pedal and I have street brake pads to thank for that. Great for parking lots but definitely takes some getting used to around the circuit. I will say though once I wrapped my brain on the perfect spot for trail braking, the handling transformed. The only downside is that this lack of feel creates inconsistency in the braking zone and you might find yourself braking harder than you actually need to. I found myself feeling like I could brake later and later throughout the day but it was clear I was reaching the limits of these brakes. 

With power being lackluster and the brakes not quite being what I want, I went out to see if the Front Wheel Drive wagon could deliver in the goods when it came to handling. I will say that the expectations were low but this wagon has no business handling this well. The Protege5 is stiffer than the sedan it's based on. The strut towers have thicker metal and the red strut bar under the hood is the highlight among other chassis improvements that improve what happens in the twisties.

The extra metal works its magic in hard cornering. Because of the hatchback construction this chassis has very little flex and feels composed in the corners. Soft suspension means heaps of laughable I-hope-I-signed-my-will body roll but really lets you use the tire providing grip at almost every moment. The moment you lift off the accelerator mid-corner the Mazda rotates with ease and confidence. Not having much experience in front wheel drive vehicles, I found it was pretty easy to snap repeatable and consistent rotations of the rear end. Every time the rear wheels slipped, my gluteus instantly communicated that grip has left the chat and transferred the rearward weight to the front tires digging into the ground and allowing for a swift exit. The front end is not as sharp despite a communicative and short steering rack. "But wait isn't that what you want in situations like this?"

Let me explain. Understeer plagues the front end if loaded too far past the limit. I could point the finger at a of lack of a limited slip disc unit and narrow width tires which had me turning the steering wheel too much to get the car to turn in on sharp left handers and overdriving the front tires.

This was a strange sensation because I found steering very sharp in the early slaloms (likely due to the lack of load). 195 width tires gave confidence of 235 as the car danced on the front end but quickly melted away when the tires were overloaded. It’s easy to approach this limit and get repeat results as well as make minor driving technique changes to get faster. Throughout the day I only improved by 1 second which is a lot to gain given the Mazda's ill gotten gains and lack of suspension adjustability.

I enjoyed leaning on this car. The smiles and laughs I had were those of immense joy. If there was one thing clear after a few laps, it is that the Protégé is heaps of fun. Its dynamics are the simple recipe of a light low power car. Makes sense from the creators of the Miata right? This chassis has mounds of potential and makes up for the lack of power by being the biggest highlight. I would recommend a set of sway bars and coilovers paired with a set of modest 200-300 treadwear tires. If the budget allows an LSD would take the Protégé a long way. Aftermarket support can help in the power department too. Available on the world wide web you can find everything from carbon intakes and ECUs to bolt on turbocharger kits and individual throttle bodies. Don't believe me? Just Google Protege5 ITB's.

The Protege5 is the kid at the back of the class. All it takes is one moment in the spotlight before the quiet kid becomes the cool kid on campus. The Protege5 is a car that easily passes the test and I encourage you to take what ever you own out for some serious, hard driving. Who knows, maybe you too could have a hidden gem of your own.