[Shotimes] New car in the stable OT

[Matt Mullis]

Hey guys, just wanted to let everyone know after the diff in my 1990 SHO blew
I saved a bit and bought a new car. I wanted something 4-door, sporty,
good-looking and cheap. Obviously BMW had only 3 of the 4 things I was looking
for. I looked and looked, spent countless hours researching and reading
reviews. Then I decided. I just bought a 2003.5 MAZDASPEED Protege. I know
many of you are thinking, "It's still a protege". I have been known to use the
saying, " You can polish a turd but it's still a turd." However this car is
amazing. Intercooled turbocharged Garret T-25 ballbearing rubo <7psi>, Tokico
Struts, Eibach springs, Racing Beat anti-roll bars, Mazdaspeed strut brace,
racing heart custom designed 17" alloy rims. <17X7front, 17X8rear> Tokigi Fuji
Super Limited slip differential, 24mm axles <as opposed to 22mm> Mazdaspeed
heavyduty racing clutch, SPARCO aluminum footpedals and shortthrow shifter,
suade wrapped sparco racing seats, 7speaker sound system custom built by
KENWOOD including 250W powred sub mounted upside down in the trunk and cd/mp3
player with liquid cyrstal video display.  This car came fully loaded. I'm so
impressed. Off the line, there's not a whole lot of  punch. However about
3500rpms the motor comes alive and will pull HARD. I've found this car is
better spent autocrossing than drag racing. Unfortunatly for me there are no
auto-x tracks near me. I know this is off topic, but I'm extremely proud right
now and just wanted to half-gloat half-get your input. The real kicker about
this car is there are only 2000 of them made. I'm hoping the import car scene
stays as big as it is so my car grows in value! Thanks for listening!

"Turbo" Matty P