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Mazda Protege Owners: Meet the Members

Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
edited April 2014 in Mazda
Please take a moment to introduce yourself and share with others about your Protege.

My name is KarenS and I will be your Owner's Club host. If there is any particular discussion you would like to see added to the Mazda Protege Owners folder, please let me know. I will create it asap! You might want to look at some of the other Owner's Clubs for discussion ideas.

Also, if you are interested in an Owner's chat here at Edmunds.com, I can get the ball rolling in setting one up! Club chats can be arranged for

Tuesdays: 5-6pmPT/8-9pmET, 7-8pmPT/10-11pmET

-or-

Thursdays: 5-6pmPT/8-9pmET, 6-7pmPT/9-10ET, 7-8pmPT/10-11pmET (The last time may be too late for East coasters, but is available.)

Let me know what time works for you.

KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs
«134567

Comments

  • conheadyconheady Member Posts: 77
    My name is Matthew Conheady. 23 year old Production Manager at a Translation company in Rochester, NY.

    I own a 99 ES Mica Green with Viper Alarm and Remote start/lights/doors. Just added the clear corners. Plate holders are chrome.

    I'm interested in customizing my Protege so it doesn't look like everyone else's green one!
  • speedyptspeedypt Member Posts: 200
    Pete from Phoenix, but moving to the Windy City of Chicago very soon. My Protege is a 2000 ES with all the options except the spoiler. I have even done some moderate customization. My other two Pro's were both '92 LX's (one manual, one automatic...his and hers). The Protege is the best small car and has been for some time. It's time to recognize it for what it is, a Great Little Car!!!

    Regards,

    Pete
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    Alrightyy.. Victor in Tampa, FL

    2000ES bought Dec.12/00.

    No problems other than it was out of balance when we got it on a saturday... Green.

    Hey Karen, i thought we had to have 2 members as "spokespeople" before we got the club.

    as for a chat, no time really, but of those options Tuesday is the best.
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    Re: Spokespersons or Community Leaders - This really isn't mandatory. Some of the other clubs do have them, and if anyone wants the honor, let me know!

    Now...what other discussions do you want in your Club folder?

    KarenS
    Host
    Owner's Clubs
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    maybe a Modifications. for folks wanting questions on adding extra aftermarket parts.. it will probably be slow at first, but more than likely build once the MP3 comes out.

    also, a cleaning/washing or something like that. best ways to wash it, etc...

    just suggestions of course.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Hey everybody! I'm on my third Protege too, although not really by choice -- my first one, a 1992 LX, died at 28,000 miles when its crappy Bridgestone POORtenza tires hydroplaned and caused it to rear-end a mid-80s Volvo station wagon (aka "brick wall") at a traffic light. He was going 0; I was going 45. That Protege totaled itself so I could WALK AWAY from the accident.

    The second Protege was also a 1992 LX -- and I drove it 83,000 miles without one problem. (I DID swap out those awful Potenza tires at 25,000 miles -- they were bald by then anyway -- and got some decent Yokohamas.)

    Trading that car on a pickup truck was the worst thing I ever did. I traded that Protege on a 1994 Mazda B2300SE pickup -- a rebadged Ford Ranger -- and had engine problems nearly from the very beginning. But since I was upside down from getting rid of the Protege before I was at a break-even point, I had to suffer through with the truck until it was paid off. And boy did I suffer.

    The truck was paid off last March, and in May 2000 I picked up my 2000 Protege ES 5-speed. Wow, what a car! I now have a little over 14,000 miles on the car and I love it more each day! Zoom zoom!!!!

    Meade
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    hi, my name is Hank. I'm from Falls Church, VA, and I have a 2000 ES in midnight blue mica (rare color I tell you, have only seen 2 other Pros running around in that color since I got the car in July). A good discussion I would be interested in is a modification board (maybe even divide that up into performance & appearance mods). Another good group might be maintenance tips & tricks.

    I just took some pics of my Pro with my digital camera yesterday, I'll post it up later today in the Gallery.

    laters

    H
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    My name is Paul and I am a 22-year old Data Specialist (for a computer software company) that resides in Baltimore, Md. I have a 1999 Mazda Protege DX sedan (probably the only DX in the room) with 37,119 on it as of right now. Daily commuter beat to hell on the Capital Beltway in Southern Md./DC everyday. Looking about grabbing one of the last 2000 ES models out there, but we shall see. ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM! :)
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    they are out htere.. I saw at the dealer our same green ES Auto only with Fogs. they also had 2 others. a white and I forget the other.
  • ashutoshsmashutoshsm Member Posts: 1,007
    Hey all!

    I'm ashu, and I have a white 95 DX with about 65K on it now. I've owned it for the last year (makes me one of the few used-Protege owners that frequents the Town Hall)

    Its in great condition, especially after the elaborate 60K service I had done recently.
    Oh, and except for a parking lot mishap when the front bumper had a minor disagreement with another car's front bumper :-) (but that'll be taken care of as soon as I can afford it!)

    I'll post some (per-bumper-incident) pictures soon.

    -ashu
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Thank you very much KarenS for starting this owner's topic for the Mazda Protege "Posse". The regulars that have contributed to the Mazda PRO Topics over the last year and half, are awesome folks! I have been blessed with the opportuntie to meet several of the owners who post here at Edmunds Town Hall! To a person they have all been super nice and generous people, willing to share their knowledge and experiences with anyone interested. Further IMHO, we are all blessed to own, the very best econo-sports sedan available. The essence of our group? The passion we share for our Mazda Protege's and the ZOOM,ZOOM driving experience!
    That said, my name is Larry Kline, and I am a General Manager for TGI Friday's. My family lives in Lancaster, PA. and both my grandfather's can speak Penna. Dutch German, but I am not Amish, lol. My wife and I each purchased our own 2000 Mazda PRO-ES's back in March of last year. We ironically own identical loaded Emerald Mica PRO's, his and her cars, lol! The only way to tell them apart is the license plates. Also, I wash mine a little more often then she does, hehe!! Thats why my Edmunds user name is protegextwo; (Protege times two). I started to follow and post here at Edmunds Town Hall back in Mazda Protege 2. Being lucky enough to learn from the different Mazda Pro topics has greatly enhanced my ownership experience. With all the new 2001 Mazda Protege owners posting in the main topic, it bodes well for the Protege Owner's Club! The really neat thing about the "Protege Posse"; we can and do talk about all kinds of stuff, not just our cars. I have enjoyed talking about expectant babys, owner's picnics, job changes, people re-locating to new towns, weather, trips to Disney World, etc. We can even share the loss of a family member with each other. My 2 cents, the Mazda Owners Club can and will be one of the best owner's clubs here at Town Hall!

    Respectfully;
    Larry
  • orinocofloworinocoflow Member Posts: 11
    Thanks for starting this topic.

    My name is Gene and I currently drive a 2000 ES 5-speed. Only about 2500 miles but trouble-free so far. It's a great little (well, not that little) car and I really enjoy driving it, although I am currently burdened with a snow tire/wheel package to get through these winter months. Can't wait for spring.

    I am a hydrogeologist currently working in the municipal and residual waste management field. I have been living in the Harrisburg, PA area since 1979 and have a wife and two children (the later really like driving in the Protege). I have also had the pleasure of meeting a fellow topic member from the Protege forum (Larry Kline, posting right above me, who is a great asset to the forum).

    I have learned a great deal through these forums and look forward to participating in the future as well. Thanks.

    Gene
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    excellent post..
  • pcalvinpcalvin Member Posts: 44
    The protege and potege vs. civic vs... were the first town-hall-style pages I had ever visited. I just happened to click on the link when I was searching for info on the new 01 Protege. Am I glad I did! The topics and discussions are great. And knowing that there are people at my fingertips who can help and give advice (besides the parents back in Wisconsin ;) is very reassuring!
    Ok... I am 25 and live in San Diego. I just moved here from Wisconsin, so to anyone in the midwest-I feel your pain! (and frost bite) I work for a medical device R&D co. However we may have lost some funding so..........but that's how the biotech field is so I'm not too worried. I am from a family that has known, for some time, how great Mazda cars are. We have owned a 323, 626, 626 touring, RX-7('88) and now for MY first car an Emerald Green (I wish they made it in blue) '01 ES. (I still get a stupid grin on my face whenever I think about it) I love it! My parents have always taken me with them to test drive and purchase cars. We would drive all the competing brands, and for all but full size models , the Mazda would come out as the best bang for the buck. I did the same and guess what; Mazda won! I hope this forum goes well, because this is my first car and I'll need some good advice! Thanks for all the help at the Protege page, and I'll talk to you all soon.
    Paul
  • rnd2rnd2 Member Posts: 31
    my name is richard i live outside of kansas city missouri , im a pressman at a printing company ,ive only had my 00 protege es about 3 weeks, its a black 5-speed with a spoiler , its also my first new car, thank you to everyone at edmunds who got me to take a look at the protege es, i was ready to buy a civic ex but so many good posts about the protege i had to drive one glad i did , economy-room-performance-style, every thing i wanted in a car
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    Wow! What an enthusiastic group! I think I'm going to really, really like you. :-)

    I've added a couple of discussions. Take a look and let me know what you think. Since some of you have met in person, how about a discussion for you to plan future gatherings/events?

    Protege Posse? Hmmm...would this be a good discussion title for a place for you to just visit and maybe not necessarily discuss your Protege?

    Let me know what more I can do to build your club.

    KarenS
    Host
    Owner's Clubs
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    Oops...I goofed and posted the wrong times for Club chats. Sorry!

    Here is the correct time schedule:

    Tuesdays: 4-5pmPT/7-8pmET

    -or-

    Thursdays: 5-6pmPT/8-9pmET, 6-7pmPT/9-10ET, 7-8pmPT/10-11pmET

    Let me know what time works for you!

    KarenS
    Host
    Owner's Clubs
  • speedyptspeedypt Member Posts: 200
    I'm okay with any day, but I prefer the later times.

    Regards,

    Pete
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    Protege Posse sounds kinda cool.

    Thursday 9-10ET best for me. snuggled between ER and Survivor!!! :) Tuesday that time is my gym time so that's out.

    and yes, we are the coolest group of Protege owners in Edmunds!!!!
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    yup

    H
  • theparallaxtheparallax Member Posts: 361
    My name is Clint and I'm from Panama City, FL. I've had my 1999 Mazda Protege LX for over a year now...it's 1st birthday was Sept. 10, 2000. I'm very pleased with the car...excellent in every aspect! I've put almost 15,000 on it so far, and I hope to put 100,000 on it before I sell it!
  • billd7billd7 Member Posts: 3
    Hello.I'm Bill from Charlotte..currently own a '98 PRO ES AT (my 4th Mazda in 18 years). This group looks like it is going to be active and informative--So I have a question--went to test drive the new '01 Pro Es today..very nice..however maybe a little too "youthful" for me..looks like LX 2.0 might be a better "fit" the only important difference all disc brakes and 16 inch tires.Any input from you 01 owners would be appreciated.Looking foward to my continued membership in the Protege community.
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Welcome aboard!

    -Larry
  • jk111jk111 Member Posts: 125
    Hi, I am Mike from Nj. Got my 99 protege es for about 1 1/2 years, and put down 30k miles already.
    btw, 01 owners are getting all the good stuff.. haha
  • gamejunkigamejunki Member Posts: 16
    Just checking if there are any Texas Protege owners in the forum. I am not an owner yet but I will be tomarrow (hopefully). I am getting a Silver 2001 Mazda Protege ES with standard options. I had to have the dealer transport the car from another dealer...but it looks like my car will be coming in from the factory.
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    I've put in a request for your chat. Thursday, March 15, is the earliest that they can get it going for you. The time will be 6-7pmPT/9-10ET. Will this work for everyone?

    KarenS
    Host
    Owner's Clubs
  • speedyptspeedypt Member Posts: 200
    Thanks for setting that up!

    Regards,

    Pete
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    sounds cool
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    I take an Excel spread sheet class from 7pm until 9pm EST on Thursday nights. I will tell the instructor; I gotta go at 8:45pm, hehe! He will never miss me, lol! When ya gotta chat, ya gotta chat! I will get my wife to warm up the Gateway, set up my scoobie snacks, and beverage of choice......well I am getting waaaaay to excited! Thanks, KarenS you are "off the hook, dog!"

    -Larry
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I have four Zoom-Zoom stickers that I am willing to part with. The white graphic measures 180mm long by 20mm high. They would make a nice add on to the top center of your rear window. Send me your VIN, and I'll see that you get one. The first four e-mails to maltbarley@yahoo.com takes 'em.
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    ummmmm why send a VIN to get a sticker?
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies.

    Actually that tells me that you have a 2001 ES.
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    on 2001 Pros are worth of Zooming?
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I only have 4...I had to figure out some way to offer them. If I get no takers, then it goes to the Tribute board, then MPV...I think you get the picture.

    :)
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    just sounded like with the VIN, then the 2nd post to make sure you had 2001, you were limiting it to only 2001 owners.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    This is what they look like:
    image
  • rnd2rnd2 Member Posts: 31
    i tried to send you a e-mail to get a sticker it wouldnt send ?
  • borgf15borgf15 Member Posts: 29
    Hello,
    We are from texas, and just bought a 2001 Pro ES 2.0 w/ prem pkg. (sand mica)
    Gamejunki: I saw your earlier post and I think we bought from the same dealership....in Irving, TX?
    Borg
  • inkmanmacinkmanmac Member Posts: 4
    hello all
    my name I gerard, I live in north west jersey. I own a 97 LX protege stick shift. it has 93500 miles on it and still going strong. I want to start doing most of maintance and would like to spruce it up . I may have some questions or would like to hear some suggestions. I am looking forward to particapiting in this forum.
  • conheadyconheady Member Posts: 77
    I live in Rochester... any other pro enthusiasts in my area?
  • scudleyscudley Member Posts: 10
    I currently live in Syracuse, but I lived in Rochester for a year up until Feb. '00. I had an apartment at Rustic Village across from MCC. I also went to Alfred University which is an hour south of you(graduated in '99) but my twin brother went to RIT so I spent a lot of time in "Soccer-town USA"...GO Rhinos!!

    -Michael/Scudley
  • sfratsfrat Member Posts: 208
    Hey all,

    I've been posting here for about the last three weeks, and have meaning to do the introduction thing for some time now, so here it goes.

    I just graduated from Gettysburg College, PA this past May (2000) with a degree in History. Since September, I've been working for NARA as a writer editor in Washington, DC while living in Ellicott City, MD with my folks. Soon I hope to be getting an apartment with friends in Bethesda, MD. My 2001 PRO ES 5spd with Prem. Pkg is my very first car, purchased with my own money. It replaced my parents "hand down" 84 Audi 5000S (great car), which will now go to my sister. Well, that's about it. Look forward to getting to know everyone better.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    You didn't tell your age or your name! :)
  • sfratsfrat Member Posts: 208
    Name: Steve
    Age: 23

    BTW, how'd the window tinting work out?
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I haven't had a chance to go to see about getting the windows tinted yet. A friend of mine's sister got her windows done, and I asked where she did but he forgot to ask her. I am also going to get in touch with the place I heard on the radio about the tinting too. But have other things to do before worrying about getting the windows tinted, like paying the payment on the thing. :)
  • sfratsfrat Member Posts: 208
    I was just curious about the tinting because a friend of mine thinks I should get it done. I agree it would look nice. I'm going to call Russell and see if they have someone they recommend. I also need to speak with them because I bought my car exactly one month ago, Feb 12, and have yet to receive a payment book or the like. The first payment is due on the 29th, which is only two weeks away. Is something amiss? I am going to call the end of the week if I still haven't gotten anything.

    Steve
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    When you bought the car, did you get the $400 recent college graduate rebate? Just curious.
  • sfratsfrat Member Posts: 208
    Yes I did, they included it in as part of my downpayment. Just gave them a copy of my diploma, no hassle. I thought I was going to have to deal with the evil registrar at school (lots of bad class registration memories) and get a certified copy of the transcript. I was lucky.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    If you did get the college graduate rebate, then you also qualified for no payments for 180 days from the date of purchase of your car. That means you get to enjoy your new Protege for 6 months before making your first payment. Boy, am I jealous of you! :)
  • sfratsfrat Member Posts: 208
    True, I didn't think of that. I remember reading about the 180 days deferred payment, but the finance guy said that the first payment would be March 28th, but maybe he goofed, it was a half hour after closing when I was in the finance room. So he might have forgotten about it, but Mazda Credit didn't, so there is no hurry for them to send me the stuff. Thanks for reminding me about that, I think I might give Russell a call just to double check on that....no need for unecessary late payments, but I think what you said is exactly what happened. I'll let you know what happens.

    Steve
This discussion has been closed.