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Mazda Protege5
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Comments
If you just remove the cross bars, then there are pieces included with the rack to fill those holes, but you are still left with the side rails.
One guy who removed his side rails has a website about how to do it and says it can be done in 2 hours or so.
2003 P5's now come without siderails while Canadian P5's have always been that way. I don't now the reason why dealers won't remove the now optional racks for people, but it would seem that they don't want to mess with it since they could easily ruin something.
Mine comes with those plastic strips (I just repeat myself here). You must ask dealer if yours don't.
Bruno
The rest of us just got strips that fill the voids left by removing the cross bars.
Either way, you should be able to find a 2003 P5 without a roof rack. My dealer lot is full of them.
The pieces that replace the side rails would be no more than an 1" wide and fit into the groove in the roof.
Here is a pic from the guy who removed his side rails. On the left is the rail with the side bars removed. It has the spaces where the included plastic pieces go.
On the right is total side rail removal.
http://www.geocities.com/shareafile/projectremoverails/MVC-147F.J- - PG
I haven't seen any P5's with out the rails. If the roof rack is an option, do they leave the rails off completely?
I have to say I like the look with and without the rack. They offer different uses for the car.
Without = very sporty and fun
With = very functional and outdoors (bikes/kayaks)
Either way its a great looking car.
I took off the cross bars, it was much to noisy with the bars and the sunroof opened.
Do you have the wind reflector?
However, I would still highly recommend the P5. The roads here in SE Michigan are worse than many Third World countries, but the P5's ride has been much better than the Volvo S40 I had previously.
Bruno
if you want to email me or post the options and color you want... I can look at the dealer real time locater for your area and give you some dealership suggestions, don't forget to tell me what state your in...
I won't be able to vouch for the dealer, since I don't know them all but hopefully you will be able to find the car you want..
Rich
I bought my 2003 P5 two months ago and it came with the filler trim. I removed the cross bars and snapped it in.
I bought my 2003 P5 two months ago and it came with the filler trim. I removed the cross bars and snapped it in.
I think he is referring to the covers for the holes in the roof when the roof rack is removed in entirety.
This question is somehow a little confusing because I don't know if you want to compare between *with wind deflector + sunroof popped up + no cross bar* with
1) no wind deflector + sunroof popped up + no cross bar
or with
2) no wind deflector + sunroof popped up + with cross bar
The answer for 2) is yes at all speed (same with sunroof slid back). I don't know for 1).
Bruno
I ran into the same situation as you about two months ago, it's almost the same specs as yours (mn blue) except I got the roof rack and some other small things too. Apparently, the fully loaded models aren't in great supply.
Call the number on the mazda homepage (www.mazdausa.com), 800-222-5500. Tell them you need help locating a car you want. They will connect you to "customer fulfillment." Their list is more up-to date than the web-page inventory and can help locate a dealer for you.
None of the dealers in my area had the car in the specs I wanted. If that's the case, call them back, tell them you're getting depressed :-(. They located a car for me that was "in port" but was still "unassigned." If they do find one, you can tell them who your favorite dealer is so they can have it assigned and delivered there. The dealer can also check "in port" cars but they only see those already assigned to them so Mazda HQ would be a better bet.
I talked to the dynamic duo Michelle and Michelle K and they were super helping me. They even put a priority on the car so it was put on the next truck out of port.
And oh, I paid 200 over invoice for mine but it came with cargo tray, wheel nuts, protector and the dealer ate up the cost.
Good luck.
Actually, I was talking about the cover plates for when only the crossbars are removed and the rails are left in place. The P5 I purchased in March didn't come with these. The dealer told me that Mazda was no longer shipping them with the cover plates (they used to, but stopped late last year) ...... whatever. I'm going to keep bugging the dealer about it until they find me some. I've got to believe that they have some sitting around in a box somewhere.
Picked up a nail in the sidewall that can't be repaired so it's time for 4 new tires.
I knew it was coming, but was hoping to wait till fall. Oh well.
Of course the 3 suppliers he called to try and find me tires gave him a total of 2 choices. Eagle Rs-A's for $125 and Dunlop 901's for $102. No way on the RS-A's too much money and never seen a good review. No way on the 901's since they are summer and I want all-season.
I'm really thinking hard of going with the Falken's in 205/50-16. I mentioned this to the guy and he said he wouldn't mount them since they were a different size.
Is this really a problem? I read all over of people plus sizing like this. Will I run into this problem at Costco, which is where I'd mount my tires if I buy them online?
I had hoped to wait this thing out, but it's time to move.......
Installation may happen this weekend.
I'm blaming Ashu if I don't like them.
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-7gHorVOSNcR/ProdView.asp?s=0- - &c=3&g=200&I=257KWXC777&o=p&a=1&cc=01&- ;amp- ;avf=Y
I've seen an Aiwa even cheaper.
Sanyo does a tourdeForce of sorts with single
DIN models which have both tape and CD.
http://www.sanyo.com/entertainment/mobile/
Anybody else replace the front speakers? Thanks for the advice.
i found a 02' p5 for $8k with 95k miles!
i was looking for the opinions of others as to wether or not it seems like a good buy or a bad buy, considering i have seen some p5s for around $10-12k with less than 10k miles
does the protege seem to maintain its pep with age?
would a 98 honda accord with 95k miles be a better choice for around the same price?
given a constant price range, and a constant depretiation in value...what is a better deal,
a new car with high miles?
or an old car with low miles?
this is an example...
94 accord coupe, loaded, 50k miles, $7200
98 accord coupe, loaded, 130k miles, $7700
both cars are similar engines(2.2L VTEC) and are priced based on accurate NADA values...i mean edmunds value
keep in mind i am interested in a p5, although im not about to find a 94' p5...so i used the accord as an example
any and all opinions are appreciated
thanks
screeli
Long Version:
It will improve bass response and overall sound. Not having the tweeters means they should sound even better in your car than in mine since the Kenwoods will have a little more power to work with.
Is it as good as having these speakers with a nice aftermarket system? No, but you don't have to spend an extra couple hundred dollars either.
You don't even have to buy the Mazda accessory speakers if you want to save a little more money. I used Kenwood KFC-1688C in my 2001 ES (same stereo), and they sounded great. I think their replacement is the KFC-6889ie. The reason I went with the Mazda speakers this time is that they are $150 speakers for $104, plus they are pre-wired for the Mazda wiring harness.
I don't know that anyone else on this board has gotten the Mazda speakers, but several have upgraded their speakers. I don't recall hearing any complaints.
1. Keep stock HU and add ability to play MP3s through cassette adapter.
2. Replace HU with one that will play MP3s natively or through a composite input.
Since my goal is to play MP3s, I don't see that it makes sense to buy a aftermaket unit that can't do this natively unless I could find one I liked that had the AUX input. That may be the cheapest option, but not by much.