If you read this blog you know I prefer at least 8 cylinders*, perhaps 10, and I rue the 12 cylinder I passed on. What you don’t know is I have an affection for hot hatchbacks after owning not one but two 70’s era Ford Fiestas (the German ones, not Korean) before the first gen VW GTI made it to our shores. Since then I’ve tracked hot hatches, but I have to admit I missed this one. Stumbled on this 263hp 4 cylinder beast, with 280 ft-lbs of torque, and a 6 speed manual transmission. Embarrassed I thought “Mazdaspeed” was just a marketing thing. But with a sub-six second 0-60 I guess it’s the real deal. It’s a WRX and Golf R challenger for half the price. Usually my targets are all about leveraging the MaxCare warranty, but I’m not sure that’s even needed for this street racer. Find this one in Houston here. If the link is dead, the car is sold, on hold or being transferred. BTW….over to you engine experts….does this 2.3l turbo have any ancestral relationship to the 2.3l turbo Pinto motor that was in my 1986 Merkur Xr4tii?
Blogging my nationwide hunt for affordable CarMax enthusiast cars. Automotive Unicorns.