![]() ![]() There is too much to keep an eye on without also needing to watch for oncoming traffic that is far ahead. I almost always stay strictly in my lane, except to pass. I often end up stuck behind a "road boulder" who seems to think that somehow "cutting" the turns is making his slow driving faster. Maybe the drivers of such cars are afraid of the dark, or hitting a cow, or hitting a pothole, or just don't have time to drive in the mountains? Maybe they are going the same speed as I drive, so we don't cross paths? I really doubt that a QV would improve my times over a 2.0T I'm not even sure it would improve the grin factor (too much worrying about how much throttle to apply). I have never seen a Porsche (any model) or BMW (any model) on these roads. Too much power on these roads could easily end in tragidy- 10 foot wide lanes, no K rails, no shoulders (usually), no cell phone service to call for help. Usually I just pass a vehicle and never see them again. I value my drivers license more than that. After a modest distance he turned off.Ī Mazda 3 once passed me in a long straight. ĥL Mustang would catch me in the straights but fall back in the turns.Ĭivic-R could almost keep up and seems to have been trolling for a race. It's not the best position in the event of a crash. I notice that most race cars are setup this way. I sit very close to the steering wheel so that I have only a small bend at the elbows, it provides much better control. Or I drive the same road over and over and have more clue than the other guys about what is ahead. So how will a Giulia Ti Q4 compare to my reference car? I presume that it will be much quieter, smoother and more powerful, but will it be anywhere near as nimble? Protege is FWD with an open differential the ride is a bit harsh and noisy. At high altitude the naturally aspirated engine of the Mazda is wheezing (2nd gear and floored just to maintain speed is a common situation). ![]() It has unquestioned best in class (economy compact sedan) handling. The Mazda has the optional low profile, 3 season tires and is a blast to drive on narrow, curvy roads. I believe that Mazda Protege is about the same size as Giulia, but 1000lbs lighter and (unfortunately) with 160 fewer HP. Drivers with much more powerful cars have tried. I don't have any performance driving training, but I don't get passed. I currently drive a well maintained 1999 Mazda Protege over narrow, steep, curvy mountain pass roads in California on a regular basis. Inside, Sparco aluminum pedals and shift knob, and a 450-watt Kenwood audio system highlight the interior.I know I am unlikely to get a chance to test drive a Giulia on my favorite roads (there is one daily rental available in Las Vegas), so I am asking Giulia owners: Custom-designed Racing Hart 17-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza RE040 tires accentuate the aggressive appearance. As in the MP3, Racing Beat of Anaheim, CA, worked on the suspension, which features specially engineered front MacPherson struts, higher-rate coil springs, Tokico dampers, and rear independent struts with twin trapezoidal links. Mated to the motor is a five-speed transaxle with a torque-biased Tochigi Fuji Sangyo KK Super limited-slip differential. Bolted on to the new Protegé's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is a Garrett T25 ball-bearing turbocharger with air-to-air intercooler that boosts power to around 170 horses and torque to 160 lb-ft. And that was with only 140 horsepower under the hood! We always welcome more power and Mazda has addressed the lack of ponies with a revised, renamed MP3-the 2003 Mazdaspeed Protegé. In our "Budget Banditos" comparison test (November 2001 issue), we ranked Mazda's sporty MP3 first against the likes of Dodge Neon R/T, Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, and Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T.
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