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Oh, and I'm confused about some of the comments re Olympics. How can you have USA vs Canada in the Olympics? Isn't Canada the 51st state of the US? ;-)
Paul: As the O/D light blinks? This is not the time for those comnments
Dale: As the PRO turns on an on-ramp marked 20mph at 35mph.
ZoomZoom79: Gotta love those "FUnKY" Neons! I would prefer the Matrix over the Corolla, even though you won't catch me in a Toyota any time soon (unless I can find a 93 Celica in May).
Gandalf17: The US did put on a great show, no question about it. I like this part: "China obviously didn't have enough drugs and masking agents for all of their athletes..."
TEE HEE
Dinu
In 2001 Mazda sold 60,000 Pro's if I am not mistaken. I'm sure I'll be corrected if I am though
Now this comment "How can you have USA vs Canada in the Olympics? Isn't Canada the 51st state of the US?" wasn't good, but since it's all about jokes today, it's all good.
Gandalf17: to the rescue
Ah, I gotta leave for work soon. if I have a little time I'll check with you all later on, otherwise tomorow.
Dinu
Yah, yah, yah, USA....USA....USA....hey, we won the war of 1812. If it wasn't for the fact that Canadians are so unquestioningly nice and gave you all of the occupied land back, all of you would be HOSERS now, eh!!!!
However, I can only be proud when the NHL still consists of roughly 53% Canadian players. Most of which are captains on each team. Since you Yanks have watered down the NHL league to 30 teams and only 5 of them are Canadian, the odds of a Canadian team holding the cup aren't as likely. This is much the same as the math used when a total population of 27 million Canadian's (not including polar bears and beavers) manages to win 17 medals, whilst a total USA population of over 250 million (not including firearms) manages to only win 34.....
Oh yah, and our beer is better. Really, does anything much else matter, eh???
> > >CANADIAN TEMPERATURE CONVERSION CHART
> > >
> > >> >70 above
> > >> >Texans turn on the heat and unpack the thermal underwear.
> > >> >People in Canada go swimming in the Lakes.
> > >> >
> > >> >60 above
> > >> >North Carolinians try to turn on the heat.
> > >> >People in Canada plant gardens.
> > >> >
> > >> >50 above
> > >> >Californians shiver uncontrollably.
> > >> >People in Canada sunbathe.
> > >> >
> > >> >40 above
> > >> >Italian & English cars won't start. (Either do Fords.)
> > >> >People in Canada drive with the windows down.
> > >> >
> > >> >32 above
> > >> >Distilled water freezes.
> > >> >Lake Superior's water gets thicker.
> > >> >
> > >> >20 above
> > >> >Floridians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, and woolly hats.
> > >> >People in Canada throw on a flannel shirt.
> > >> >
> > >> >15 above
> > >> >Philadelphia landlords finally turn up the heat.
> > >> >People in Canada have the last cookout before it gets cold.
> > >> >
> > >> >0 degrees
> > >> >People in Miami all die...
> > >> >Canadians lick the flagpole.
> > >> >
> > >> >20 below
> > >> >Californians fly away to Mexico.
> > >> >People in Canada get out their winter coats.
> > >> >
> > >> >40 below
> > >> >Hollywood disintegrates.
> > >> >The Girl Scouts in Canada are selling cookies door to door.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >60 below
> > >> >Polar bears begin to evacuate the Arctic.
> > >> >Canadian Boy Scouts postpone "Winter Survival" classes until it gets
> > cold
> > >
> > >> >enough.
> > >> >
> > >> >80 below
> > >> >Mt. St. Helens freezes.
> > >> >People in Canada rent some videos.
> > >> >
> > >> >100 below
> > >> >Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
> > >> >Canadians get frustrated because they can't thaw the keg.
> > >> >
> > >> >297 below
> > >> >Microbial life no longer survives on dairy products.
> > >> >Cows in Canada complain about farmers with cold hands.
> > >> >
> > >> >460 below
> > >> >ALL atomic motion stops (absolute zero in the Kelvin scale)
> > >> >People in Canada start saying, "Cold 'nuff for ya?"
> > >> >
> > >> >500 below
> > >> >Hell freezes over.
> > >> >The Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup and the USA wins at Olympic Hockey vs. Canada
Bruno
http://www.iam.ca
Go in and there is a game of "How far would you go for your beer" as well as some video clips of recent commercials poking fun of, well, ahem, Americans. There is also a commercial tribute to the Team Canada hockey teams. It's a fun site. Lot's of humour. Enjoy.
> > >> >500 below
> > >> >Hell freezes over.
> > >> >The Vikings win the Superbowl and get a new stadium
All that said, typically, there are fewer mechanical issues with a manual because the technology, for the most part, is simpler from a mechanical engineering perspective. It is one of many good reasons for people to learn how to drive stick. That and a manual is also more fun, provides better handling and road feel, is safer and also keeps the driver far more alert. oh yah, and they're cheaper to buy and also maintain.
Explain, please.
I'm not starting an argument, I'm genuinely pretty ignorant about manual.
It is a good skill to learn, because manuals are much more common in most other parts of the world. People who drive automatics may not be able to drive manuals, but people who drive manuals can always drive an automatic if necessary. I enjoy driving and I wouldn't enjoy as much if all cars were automatics...
zoomzoom79: It's -- Daze of Our Lives -- after reading all these posts.
grandalf17: Best beer, eh, is that Moose Spit? I've heard it's good.
dinu01: Keep'um coming! You are doing a good job!
And how did you learn to operate the camcoder so quickly, you said you needed it the next day? You rented the wrong camera, the JVC has digital stabalization, which doesn't work good. Should have gotten a Canon Elura with optical stabalization. And Canon's have 5 parking lights on the side. Did you forget the mudflaps? They keep the lens clean.
fowler3 ships a case of beans to Larry. The Tracker being half ragtop, he'll need something to keep warm in the winter.
Wonder what kind of speakers you put in the Tracker so you can hear TGI Friday radio commercials above the wind noise? (No pun intended.)
(For newbies, the beans joke went around today by e-mail to the Protegé Owners Club members.)
folwer3
Narenji, I know EXACTLY what you're talking about with the "phantom clutch" phenomenon. On the rare occasions that I drive an automatic, I invariably reach my left foot for the clutch a few times, and, if the shifter isn't mounted on the steering column, my hand is ALWAYS resting on it.
I can speak to what I consider an added safety measure with a manual transmission--the ability to control how fast your wheels are spinning when you're driving on snow. If I'm trying to drive up a hill from a stop, I know I can quickly shift up to a higher gear and allow the wheels to get a little traction. Granted, it's not a failsafe method, but it works a lot of the time.
I can't imagine ever buying an automatic...I just love the manual too much.
If hell has to freeze over for the US to win the gold over Canada then I bet 1960 was a pretty frigid year even by Canadian standards. And the US women defeated Canada in 1998. Considering that Ice Hockey isn't the biggest sport in the US and it IS the national past time in Canada I wouldn't consider the US performance too shabby. The US has been much more of a presence in baseball which is our national past time. Funny I didn't see Canada on the Gold medal list for baseball so I guess you could say that the US is always better at our own game and sometimes better at Canada's own game than they are.
To keep this on topic ... how many Olympians do you think drive Proteges?
To the Hockey thing...please do remember that Canada has about the same population as California. And like people said, the funding for athletes sucks here and we pay 15% sales tax and 40% income tax. Just be happy that we invented the sport of hockey and thank us for that.
Oh yeah, Protege's rock. I've known more than one person with Civic problems buy the way. My Cousin's 90 Civic with only 100 000 KM had the Tranny go. She also changed a drive axle (another civic weak point), fuel pump, and some other stuff. And here in Canada, they rust right out. I think someone mentioned that before. Sure the engine might last forever but it's no good to you when if falls through the engine bay and starts rolling down the highway behind you.
Like I said ... one gold medal in hockey in 50 years and we'll never hear the end of it. Justifying why the Canadians lack of funding and people caused them not to win as many medals is just like saying with more money a Rio would be as good as the Protege. Excuses. Excuses. You all are starting to sound like the Russians.
I TRULY believe that your tranny problems is a "one-off" and won't be repeated.
We all respect your opinion. I do think you might be going a bit over the top though. C'Mon...a Tracker????? Plus...beating Meade PRETTY???? You'd need more than a strut bar! I saw his pic....
Regards and Peace,
Pete
Regards,
Pete
Q: What's a Canadian?
A: An unarmed American with health care.
If only my body worked as perfectly as my Protege! (I'll be watching for snide remarks to that comment -- so don't even try. If you do, I'll respond back so abruptly that Pat will shut us down for good.)
Meade
(One attempt at saving face: I've been on a low-carb diet since January 5 and have trimmed off 16 of those pounds you saw in my pic.)
I just replaced the 195/55/15 tires on my 2000 ES with 205/50/15 Dunlop SP Sport A2s from TireRack (www.tirerack.com) about three weeks ago. Excellent tires. They're H-rated -- but actually rate better (much better) than the stock Bridgestones in traction, both wet and dry; snow handling; hydroplaning resistance; treadwear ... well, just about everything. Plus they cost less ... $87 apiece. I completely love these tires! Go to tirerack.com and check them out -- be sure to read the 70-some-odd reviews by people who have purchased them. (I'm one of 'em.) Then read TireRack's test of the tire and check out the specs ... I think you'll be impressed. After telling a guy with a Nissan 200SX on another topic about them, he's about to buy a set too. These things actually rate better than the Michelin Pilots that cost about $35 more each.
Oh -- and if you're worried about a different tire size, don't -- this is called "plus zero sizing" where nothing really changes all that much. You can check it yourself using this calculator:
http://www.paspeedo.com/calculator.htm
Good luck with whatever you decide!
Meade
(And Pat was so scared the Yahoo! group would somehow affect our love for talking about our cars here!!! -- Sorry Pat. Have a sense of humor!)
Meade
After 25 years of driving a stick, I never owned a slush box, I gave in getting an automatic in my 01 LX 2.0. My left knee is starting to get arthritis, and I'm only 43. My 10 year old son will be driving in 5 years and will learn to drive on my 6 year old auto Pro. I miss driving a 5 speed.
Currently, only 20 percent of drivers know how to drive a standard transmission, very sad. Many, many years ago everyone drove a standard tranny. Drivers seemed to be better and paid more attention to the road, less distractions..no cell phones, fast food etc. It's harder to put on your makeup or shave in the car, while your driving a stick.
Pjd58
http://www.auto.com/industry/iwird27_20020227.htm
Meade
Meade
The Astolfo site has great pictures but I wanted to read your text description of just how to get the door skin off. Astolfo's site does not address this. It goes from unscrewing supports to just having the door skin off. There must be either push in or lock down clips on the back of the door skin and these are what I really wanted to avoid damaging.
How can I locate your old post?
Ron B.
Town Hall: Owners Clubs: Mazda Owners Clubs: Mazda Protege Owners: Accessories & Modifications
Post #263 in that forum is relevant.
I learned to drive in a 1937 Chevy in a cow pasture - stick shift. With all that space to roam around I found roads to be confining. LOL
I didn't buy an AT car until 1954 and again in 1957, then went back to manual trannys with VW Beetles '60, '68; Audis '73, '76, '77; BMW '75; GLC '81; Accord '86; Civic '94. The rest have been AT cars and none driven more than 50K miles.
fowler3
Thanks for the info on Mazda's shake-up. Mazda seems to be changing their image....to a younger driving audience.
2.) If my 2000 PRO-ES's are trouble free over the next 8 months or so. I will hold on to them. Why? Because, I always have and always will; love those cars. The most fun cars, I have ever owned.
3.) The Chevy Tracker deal was a "just kidding" over at the Wahoo club. My salesman was not Dirk Digler, either!
-Larry
Oh yeah, the headliner was a bit worn from my hair rubbing against it (sunroof just takes away too much room).
I'd almost prefer the naturally aspirated new I4 engine that's going in the 6. I'd heard another rumor the 2.3L version would be an option on the P5 this summer.
My 1992 LX had those cool taillights that wrapped over the license plate lights. I really liked those. I also liked the covered storage compartment with the spring-loaded door.
We have a 1990 Protege down the street from us that still looks pretty good. It's an LX with the first-gen kinda flat-looking alloy wheels. It's slate blue. We have a lot of first-gens running around Richmond too. Not bad for a 10-year-old car!
By the way, the condition of a car as it ages has everything to do with the way the driver takes care of it. If the car has been handed down to a teenager, you can bet it looks like hell at 100,000 miles. My '92 Protege at 83,000 miles looked almost brand new inside when I traded it, just like the interior of my 2000 ES with 33,000 miles looks like the day I bought it.
Another BTW -- it hit 70 here yesterday and I went home and washed my Protege! Now -- would you believe it -- it's 42 outside and will be hitting the upper teens tonight.
Welcome to Richmond -- pneumonia capital of the South.
Meade
Weather will definitely get ya. Harmony was 62 on Monday, today we have snow and a high of 24.