So I currently have a 2001 gs-r in great condition with 112k miles on the clock and no major problems to speak of. It's been modded relatively lightly to accommodate my spirited daily-driving habits. Recently, my step-mom approached me with an offer to help her sell her car, which is a 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege. If I sell her car, I stand to make a decent cut of the final price. However, if I sell my integra, she has offered to sell me her protege for $3,500. I love my integra, but the offer is tempting as it would put me in a newer, low-mileage car for a great price. Now I realize that you all will probably be a little biased since this is an integra forum, but I respect the opinion of alot of you guys and I feel that this is a more helpful crowd than the protege guys. Here's a little info on each car to make the opinions more informed...

My teggy:
Clean title
112k miles
2nd owner
stock b18c1 block with b18c5 head
CTR intake cam
Skunk2 IM
ARP headbolts
Chipped p28
Recent timing belt/waterpump replacement
New radiator

Mazdaspeed Protege:
Clean title
1 owner
80k miles
All stock
Never raced or abused
Has all records
Interior/exterior are 10 out of 10
Completely mint condition

I believe that my integra might be a little bit faster than her stock MSP, but I'm sure it's not by much. I like being able to take my revs to around 8k rpms and make power all the way, so I'm not sure if I will like the switch to low-end torque and red-lining at 6k. It sounds like city driving will be more fun, but that's about it.
I'm sure this is alot for any casual lurker to read, so hopefully I'll get good, educated answers on the two cars and the situation.
I'm looking for opinions on the overall better car.
Thanks.

 

I'm basically trying to decide if I want to keep my integra and modify the suspension a little and finish my minor engine upgrades, or buy the protege and up the boost slightly and give it some supporting mods. The boost on the MSP would never be set beyond 10psi. The only things that I would do to my integra from here are I/E/H, shocks/springs, larger diameter rear sway bar, asr subframe brace and various exterior mods. Which sounds like the funner DD?

 

well, as much as its worth;
i drove an MSP for close to a year while a family member was deployed.
out of the box they handle like whoa, no joke. i took it to a few auto-x events and noticed how neutral the car was under load. only once did i have an understeer issue, and that was after i kissed the dirt with the outside wheel. and that was on the OEM potenzas that i cannot normally stand. with better tires there is no telling what is attainable.

the motor isnt as lustful as the suspension tho. the 6k redline is a bit nasty, and its easy to want to throw it into the fuel cutoff just cause youre so used to 8k pulls
if youre going to be moseying around town like a civil minded citizen, then go with the MSP, but if you have ANY inclination to drop that right foot into the floorboard, hondas seem to have that push down-pat.

aesthetically i prefer the agressive looks of the MSP to most all hondas (with the exception of the non USDM ITR, NSX and s2k) its got a certain menacing grin to it. and with the (some would say silly wing that they offered, i actually think it is one of the better looking FWD econosportsters on the market.

just another thought for your daily usage: its turbo, and when you stick your foot into its stomach, itll eat fuel like pornstars in a jizzguzzling contest.

 

HAHA!

That's the kind of honest response I'm looking for. I like the style of my stock-bodied teggy, but the MSP has grown on me too.

I do have a tendency to drive quickly around town, but not like an idiot. I thought that the MSP would be more fun for city-driving, but I haven't actually driven it yet so I don't know. I may just stick with my teggy and pocket the cash. I'd like it to be a bit more responsive in the lower rpms, though. That's what I thought the MSP would deliver, but it sounds like I may have just been too excited about the boost.

 

bottom end? nothing a little jrsc wont solve

 

keep the Integra. If not then sell me the ITR head. aaha