you dudes are funny..

the MSP is a stock protege w/ a Callaway cars turbo kit... its a full T25, not a DSM style.. the 2G DSM has a T25 compresssor side and CHRA but a DSM exhaust housing... just like the FP30 is a Garrett GT30, only w/ a proprietary-cast exhaust housing especially for the DSM manifolds...

but the GT25 that Callaway used for the MSP is actually a full Garrett turbo, and has a T2 exhaust housing, and its bottom mounted on a slight angle... its twisted a little; the exhaust side is farther away from the block than the compressor is. so the MSP has a Protege DX/LX/ES motor w/ the stock NA pistons and spindly rods. and it has the stock Tranny.. which means the tranny has narrow, weenie gears that will strip if you have too much torque... and synchros that will grind into powder if you shift too hard/fast. the car can make more power, but is limited to protect the dealer from excessive warranty work on the tranny. Just like the Duramax Diesels that GM has... they are capable of WAY more power than they are rated at... but dont have an auto-tranny taht is economically viable to handle the torque the motor is capable of... so they keep the power low to avoid breakage.

the down side of the MSP is that it would need a full rebuild and tranny rebuild, clutch and turbo to hang w/ a "normal" turbo car. it cant handle the extra air flow. those pistons wont last for long under high boost either... they will end up w/ cracked ring lands and what not... and excessive detonation will also cause the rod bearings to get hammered away too.

anyhow... the MSP is a great car for what it is... and its great looking. its a well balanced, all around great car... it doesnt do one thing particularly great... but it does everything pretty well. thats just what Mazda does... the FD didnt have gobs of power, but it made great use out of the 255HP that it did have... and the MX5 Miata doenst have as much power as a B16 but its ultra light and handles like a dream... Mazda just builds well balanced cars and doenst focus on one aspect.

id keep the MSP relatively stock, and BPU it at the most... and then buy a DSM or something to make crazy power with. or, if youre a mazda-only guy, get an FC. you can make 350 HP easily w/ a rotary... but its gona cost you about half as much as your MSP retailed for. but, 350HP in a 2600 lb car, will fly. in fact, i think ill build me one.