On the sedan Pro, either 5x7 or 6x8 speakers will fit in place of the factory speaker. I upgraded mine to 6x8 Pioneers w/o any modifications. I figure the P5's front doors are identical to those of the sedan.
Can you offer any more detailed help on removing the door handle/armrest? I've detached all the other various buttons and fasteners but the armrest has only gotten somewhat loose as a result of lots of pulling and prying. Like you were, I'm afraid I might bust this thing, especially since I can see what appears to be a screw attached to the armrest and something else within the door straining as I pull on the armrest. Do you really just have to go all out at removing it? Also, does the door go back together nicely? Thanks for the help so far.
Does anyone know if anyone makes winter tires that fit the protege5...I called all the tire shops in my area and all of them said that they don;t have any winter tires in that size.
The armrests do have to be removed if your trying to get to the speakers. The door panel is attached with screws which are hidden under the armrest. Without removing them, you will most likely destroy the door panel as it tends to be quite rigid.
Is the screw your looking at in the same location as the clip you had to release with the screwdriver? If so, it holds the clip to the armrest. Try this: With one hand grab the center of the armrest and pry it back and forth or up and down, depending on how you look at it. With the other hand, pull out the side with the clip.
It took more force than I would have ever given it without the dealers direction. However, there is no other trick to getting the armrest off that I know of. It's held together with pressure from all sides except the end with the clip.
The side opposite the clip is going to be the most solid point of the armrest as it contains the largest contact area. Don't pull on that spot (the narrow end). When you put the handle back on, this end goes in first and consequently is the last one out.
The doors go back together nicely and remain as tight as before removing them.
Just another note! The power door lock and wire connectors are pretty tight too... but at least you can see what you're doing when pulling them apart.
Ok, thanks...I'll have to give it another shot tomorrow. I gave up after a couple hours today. I had the clip end of the handle fairly loosened but just couldn't detach it. The screw I'm seeing is pretty small and is definitely in the same area as the metal clip but may be closer to the pronged connector part. When I pull enough to get a gap between the handle and the door I see (on the clip side) a black fairly fat cylinder, what looks like it might be the pronged PVC thing holding the handle in place, that little screw, and the metal clip. Also there seemed to be some adhesive all around the handle to make it fit tight - I'll probably have to epoxy it back into place when I'm done so it's snug, door handles tend to take some abuse. This is really frustrating so far and it's all because the wires for the power windows/locks and rear speakers are all in the same (fairly accessible) wiring harness and are not labelled or color coded at all.
PS. to all thinking about replacing the speakers in your P5 yourself - don't. Go to Best Buy or some place that has free installation with purchase and make them do it
The adhesive you see, plays no part in the attachment or removal of the armrest/door handle. It attaches the pad to the rigid under structure. You won't have to apply any epoxy or be concerned about it's functionality after re-assembly. In reality, you don't even need the armrest pad on the door except for aesthetics. The molded door panel is plenty strong enough to pull against while closing door.
You're making too much of this! Just give it a bigger tug!!! The genius in the design of the rear armrest/door handle is nothing more than pressure!
I've finally learned that US style roof racks, though they are 100% compatible with Canadian P5's, are just way to much of a pain in the [non-permissible content removed] to bother trying to install. (It seems you have to remove some of the roof). No aftermarket rack dealer had anything that would fit, so I called Thule HQ and they were surprised to learn that Canada spec P5's don't come with a rack and thus they hadn't fit the car for one. They apparently ran out and found a P5 and determined that fit kit #2069 was appropriate. So, anyway, canadian's who want a thule rack need 400 aero feet, 50inch bars, and fit kit 2069. Also, butler11, I do live in ontario. Currently working up north of Parry Sound, where are you? As of 7 days ago Barrie Mazda still had a yellow p5 on the stand in their lot. My blue P5 now has 2300km on it, plus a scratch on the hood of undetermined origin which drives me crazy every time i see it. The suspension seems to have loosened up a bit after 1000k of pretty hard driving. The only problem is that the engine sometimes makes a rattling noise when cold. Does anyone else have this?
Try not to feel to bad about the scratch, I just yesterday got my first door ding. I always park my cars way out at the back of lots where their are no other cars around to ding my car. Unfortunately their was only a few parking spots to pick from at the car dealer (stopped in to get my license plates). Came back out to find a late 70's Volvo parked next to me and a brand new door ding (from the Volvo). Why are people idiots?
As for your engine rattle when cold, I have heard no such noise from mine.
With the right hand tools and proper directions, you can easily replace the door speakers yourself. However, you will have to spend a few hours to do it right.
While you have to exert some muscle to remove the door handles, if it FEELS like you're trying too hard, then there is still something holding it down. Likely, it's a screw. If you see any, remove them.
I posted detailed directions for the front door panels on the sedan in the modifications chat board. I forget the number; it was a few months ago. On the front doors, there were 2 screws that had to be removed from the handles before you could remove the panel.
So, I'm still waiting for my Silver 5-spd with ABS. The dealer says maybe this week.
In the interim, I was in Virginia and West Virginia this last week and I dropped by the Mazda dealer in Winchester, VA to see if I could take another test drive, just for grins. Wow, was that a great idea. The salesman just gave me the keys and said "Have fun"--he didn't come with me! That's the first time I'd ever seen that in a test drive.
Winchester isn't far from West VA and is hilly, and WOW are there some nice twisties on the hills just outside of town. I live in Houston which is pretty flat and most of the roads are straight and I couldn't really push a Pro5 on a test drive here like I could on this one. It was always clear to me that the Pro5 is a good handler, but this drive really brought it home. It really does handle noticeably better than my wife's 99 LX. Very sure-footed though the up-and-down turns. With a 5-speed to downshift at the appropriate points, this would have been a fantastic drive.
You would be best off to do a "Minus 1 Size" for winter tires. For winter tires, you want a taller sidewall, and a narrower footprint.
If you call TireRack, they will probably recommend 195/60/15's on 15" steel wheels. This size would keep your speedometer at less then a 1% difference from stock.
There are lots of winter tires in that size, priced reasonably. The cost of the second set of wheels would be low and you wouldn't risk dinging up your nice 16" alloys.
So, my local dealer called me today to tell me that getting a 5-speed with ABS will be virtually impossible for a while because Mazda is having trouble getting ABS parts. Not only will it not be this week but he said it would be at least a month before the one they have on order will come in because of this. Apparently there are still automatics with ABS floating around because they were produced before this shortage hit and just haven't sold yet.
This is mainly directed towards phoenixmp5 (thanks for the help, I really do appreciate it) but anyone else who knows is welcome to answer. I finally got my sub put in and am putting my doors back together but at the bottom of the door there are 3 white buttons that seem to clip into the plastic door panel. Unfortunately they all clip in at different angles or in different directions and I can't quite figure out how to reattach them all. I simply pulled to remove them in the first place. Everything else is either simply push/pull or a removable screw or rivet. Any suggestions for getting the door panel back onto those?
Once my project is totally done (I'm at about 85% now) I'll post a long and detailed howto on here for removing/replacing the rear speakers in a P5
Make sure they're installed properly into the door trim panel. The fit into "C"-shaped slots in the panel. When they're fully in, they should line up properly if the fasteners are OK. Pulling out the panel may have slightly unseated them.
Does anyone find the insurance on their Protege5 to be very expensive? I'm pricing out a bunch of cars and the MP5 was $45 more per month than almost every other car I'm looking at...Any strategies at bringing that down? State Farm gave me the quote...
I just got offered a Protege5 for $1,500 off of MSRP (I guess it ain't selling so well in the Dallas-Fort Worth area). I am seriously tempted to take it, but I have 2 questions:
1. Do any of you Protege5 owners out there find yourself thinking "I should have waited for the Sentra SE-R, or bought the Impreza Wagon or Sedan?" When you have passengers, are you disappointed with the 130-hp? The 165-hp base model SE-R and Impreza intrigue me, but their price tags (about $3k-$4k more than my offer) do not.
2. Anyone locked-up the non-ABS brakes? Was it bad? I hate the fact that you have to get a moonroof to get ABS-- moonroofs are useless in Texas 10 months out of the year, and it makes it hotter April to October.
and one more...
Anyone buy any cool aftermarket stuff they'd like to talk about?
I am wondering what has been the average cost of a new Pro5. I am located in the Atlanta area and today I drove a Pro5 for the first time. I loved it. If anyone does not mind sharing their approx. cost and where I would greatly appreciate your help.
It is true that Sentra SE-R will have more power than Pro5 but: 1. It is a compact sedan and not so versatile as Pro5. I love that hatch! 2. Sentra SE-R will be built in Mexico!!! Think twice about cars from Mexico and keep in mind that Pro5 is coming from Japan.
On the other hand, I do not have concerns about quality of the new Impreza. It is really powerful but it is has less room, for me it is a little bit ugly, and it has all wheel drive system that you do not need in Texas.
2.0L and 130hp engine makes Pro5 runs nicely, but do not expect a rocket. You want be disappointed, but if power is all that matters to you, I think that you should go for Impreza.
Can someone here enlighten me what the current real world prices are for a 2002 Pro5? I want it pretty much stock, with 5 speed. Are the dealers willing to negotiate at or around invoice? I'm in the Washington DC area but am willing to travel a bit for a good deal. Thanks.
Shop around different insurers. Even different agents representing the same insurance company will give you different rates. You may find a difference as much as 100% from one to another. I use Allstate, and I have gotten different rates from different agents (I assume my current agent is willing to take less commission since he's been in the business for a while). Check out Progressive's rates too. I am tempted to switch to them, especially since I had a good experience working with a claims adjuster after one of their clients caused a multiple-rear-end accident by plowing into a line of cars waiting at a red light (a little too enthusiastic with that 2.8L A4 she was borrowing...that's a solidly-built car BTW).
So far as with the same insurer/agent, try increasing your deductibles, ask for good-driver discounts, ask where age breaks are and if you've been credited for being married. Alarm systems, whether the car is garaged, where you work, where you live all affect your rate.
So far as I could tell, the big age breaks for me were at 21, 25 and 30. I got a huge one (about 40%) after getting married.
As my alias suggests, I live in phoenix and I bought my pro5 without ABS! I have been in a couple of breaking situations which I found most impressive. I personally haven't found the need for ABS in this climate and this particular vehicle. I was dead-set on having them until I drove the car and gave the breaks a real workout.
Both systems have their pluses and minuses. For instance, if you are in a panic stop and accidently cancel your ABS by pumping the breaks, breaking is actually less efficient than cars without ABS.
If you live in wet or cold weather, I wouldn't consider the vehicle without them. If the car were much larger or heavier, this could also be a determining factor.
The Pro5's weight distribution is and handling are so good that I don't think you'd miss them. This is definitely not true with every vehicle.
So far as the power is concerned, I drove up 6% grades on my trip to San Diego with my wife, tw big dogs and a trunk full of luggage. The car maintained 75 mph with ease and got 32 mpg's. I wouldn't consider it a street rod by any means, but the engine is smooth and the power and torque are in usable range.
What dealer offered you the great rate on a P5 in DFW. I live in Irving and am currently in the market for a new car. Like you I am seriously considering the Impreza RS and a P5. I emailed 3 Mazda dealers a few weeks ago on the P5 and the best offer was around 700 off of sticker. I have not test driven one yet and I prefer 5 speeds which in Texas are often hard to find. I did test drive an Impreza about 3 weeks ago and it handled like a dream. What a great car. If only it was a few thousand dollars less. I'm also considering a ZX3 since they are such a great deal but I don't know if I want to live with all of the quality issues and rear drum brakes. I have an Integra that is coming off of lease in 15 days so I have to do something soon. I have had no luck even getting a test drive in a RSX so I guess that's off my list. My darkhorse candidate is a V6 Firebird just because GM is giving the car away right now.
Freeman Mazda is offering $1,500 off sticker, or $500 over invoice, which ever is better. Obviously in the case of the Protege5, $1,500 off sticker is the better deal.
Yeah, I called Mazda this morning, and told them the VIN number of the car I ordered which was originally scheduled for delivery next week. The girl said that the car was already in production but that there was a shortage of ABS modules and that the car would pbobably complete production and be shipped within 2 weeks. She said that end of august is the earliest I could expect to get my car.
tcda: I also live in Texas and I'm getting ABS. It's not so much that I want ABS, but I do really want the side airbags, and ABS is the only way to get them. Though the ABS may come in handy from time to time--we get a lot more rain in Houston than you get in Dallas (or than phoenixmp5 gets).
I'd like to suggest that the moonroof is not useless in Texas, too. Not that I'll drive with it open a lot, but you can crack it when the car is parked and it functions like an attic vent (you know, hot air rising and all). Mazda has designed thiers well; the interior lining has vents in it so that you can keep the lining closed and still get this attic effect. Is that worth $700? Probably not, but it's something.
Signed papers on mine last night and will be picking it up tonight. I got to drive a loaner today (with automatic, though) and it was sweet on the commute in to work...
Called my local dealer today. I never expected such an annoying buying experience as this... I ordered the car on July 2. It seems that every time I call, I get a different answer re. delivery time. This time, I was told that they DONT know when to expect delivery because the car is still in production... Last time I was told that the cars were being shipped... I am now told that I can expect the car in a min of 4 weeks... September... Nice... I find it ridiculous that a Mazda dealer is so out of the loop that even they don't know where the cars that they sell are... If you are ordering any 5sp moonroof model, welcome to the waiting bandwagon... Its a slow ride for most colours... especially silver and yellow... I would not have as much an issue if I weren't w/out my old car come this weekend... This sucks! At least I get to plan the new stereo system layout.
We are thinking of organizing a Protege get-together for our west coast organizers. Anyone interested? Let me know and tell me where you are from, so we can start planning a date and location.
BTW, the mid-atlantic owners are also organizing a Mid Atlantic Protege Picnic (MAPP). See the Protege sedan room for details...
Does Anyone in the AL area now of average Pro5 cost??? I am even willing to travel to pick on up if the price is right. PLEASE if any one does not mind giving some advice.......
We sedan owners LOVE the PRO-5's!!! Please, all Protege owners are invited. We had a picnic last year and it was a really good time! Please consider attending, this is an invitation to the 2nd Annual "Mid-Atlantic Protege Picnic" (MAPP#2). Visit the sedan discussion for details. BTW, we talk about all aspects of Protege ownership, the ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM life style and what ever else is on our minds at the sedan topic, PRO-5 folks are more than welcome. Please, PRO-5 owners or soon to be's, feel free to join us. Also, we chat tonight. Please, we need some Pro-5 peeps at the chats!!!
yeah, so after i found out my silver p5 was still in production after having the VIN for 2-3 weeks, i decided to go with the blue 5sp w/moonroof and ABS on the lot. after looking at both the silver(AT, stock) and the blue side by side, i like the blue more anyway....it definitely looks tougher. picking it up this weekend. can't wait.
has anyone successfully installed 6x8 speakers in the front doors? i've heard good things about the infinti reference speakers, but does anyone have any other recomendations? want to get the stereo squared away almost as soon as i pick up the car...i can't stand the sound quality as is...but after reading about the hassle of taking the door panels off and putting them back on, i'm paranoid i'll break something...
Don't feel bad. I ordered mine at the end of May, still not in. And, my salesman called me the day I left on vacaion (7/20) to tell me the car was there. So the whole week passes, I talk to him 2 more times, then I call the Monday I get back (7/30)(he's on vacation now),and the delivery guy says it's not there. He doesn't know what the salesman was thinking! Turns out he saw a black one come in, must have thought it was mine. Grrrrr!
It's supposed to be in this week now. Supposed to be. It's Thursday. I hate waiting. Sigh.....
Front door panels, which look like the ones used in the sedan, are not too much of a problem to take off and replace. The first one took me an hour to figure out w/o any instruction. The second one took me less than fifteen minutes being careful to avoid damaging anything. Don't be scared off by it!
BTW, lowering the windows makes it much easier to both remove and replace the trim panels!
Msg # 263 on the Protege Accessories and Modifications board describes how I removed the front door panels on a 99LX. Most, if not all, of it should apply to the P5 front doors as well.
smostorm, I just installed a pair 5x7 speaker to my front door last night. It fit nicely without any modification at all. I had a friend helping me and so he held the driver's side trim panel while I was replacing the speaker, this way I didn't have to disconnect all the cable harness for the power windows (I'm just lazy). The passenger side is less complicated. I believe mazdafun had a very good and detailed instruction on door panel removal a while back in the sedan forum (don't remember the #, sorry).
As far as the speaker brand/model concern, it's very subjective. The best thing is to listen and compare for yourself. I don't know what's your master plan for the whole system setup (are you adding an amp, sub, etc), but I'll share my experience for you:
I used Infinity Kappa for my previous car and it was a great speaker. Reference is the entry level in Infinity line. It's a good replacement speaker and a good choice if you don't plan to add an amp and just running it off the P5's factory head unit. It requires less amp. power input than Kappa does.
So I went to a local store, wanting to get Infinity Reference in mind... only to go home with another brand I didn't even consider: Boston Acoustics. I bought the FX8 model for $115 (15 more than the Reference). To my ear, it has the best balance of high and low frequency for the class, much much better compared to Reference, even Kappa, and other brands. It also sounds good already even just by running it off the factory head unit, without additional amplifier. (The spec says it accepts amp power input of :15-160 watt).
Again this is a subjective opinion. But the bottom line is just take your time and test as many brand & model as your time allows... and let your ear be the judge.
Last year, some of us Mazda Protege enthisiasts from Edmund's Town Hall got together in a nice, scenic park in Front Royal, Va. for a cookout and to make a big Protege bash. Looks like we are going to do it again this year, on October 6. If anyone would be interested from the Maryland/VA/Pennsylvania area or any area, please e-mail me (e-mail in profile under username) and express your interest. i will forward you to the right source, and/or give you the info you need to participate. Also, there are several recent posts about it on the Mazda Protege chat thread in the Sedans forum.
...yet .. hehe.. Hi Larry! I was told by my dealer they have a VIN number and their sheets tell them its ETA is 1st week in August.. but from what I've read on here with the ABS shortage problems, etc.. I don't expect to get it before September.
I've been patiently waiting since May 23rd.. Since I can get my deposit back in a couple more days and I am carless since July 31st, I'm trying to fight temptation to move to the dark side and buy a honda.
thanks for the good insight. right on, i've always had boston acoustics in my cars, but i have heard good things about infiniti so i figured i'd check 'em out....yet i love boston speakers and will most likely stick with them. i have a sony es cd deck, but i think i am just going to stick with the factory deck for fear of my car getting broken into. car stereo theives are ruthless where i live, they don't even need a faceplate - they'll steal it anyway. i also have an amp, but i wouldn't be able to hook that up to the factory deck, would i? did you replace the back speakers? since i am not getting a sub or anything, i will def. need to replace those too.
I drove home my silver Pro5 (5-spd, ABS) last night. Yay! It was fun for the commute, and I took an extra long lunch today to get in more "car time". For those wondering about pricing, I paid MSRP less $750 because the dealer was running a $750 rebate, and I got 4.9% financing for 60 months as well. Oh, and my sales guy threw in floor mats for free, too.
Some quick thoughts on it:
* The more I drive it, the more I like the way it handles. It's very stiff--I'm sure people who like really cushy cars will hate it, but this is just what I like. *Great* road feel. I'm sure the low-profile tires help this.
* The newness of this car shows. I've been getting a lot of second looks and have already had one person ask me what it is. The front light assembly/air dam seems to draw the most comments, all positive.
* I've test-driven several, but this one was the first one with moonroof I've driven. The roof rack noise is definitely louder with the moonroof, even when the moonroof is closed. I keep thinking a window in the back seat is open. Now, the dealer didn't get to install my wind deflector, which they'll do when I bring it in for a window tinting, but I doubt that will quell all of it.
* As other folks have said, it needs new speakers. In particular, I find the rear speakers to be pretty weak--it barely sounds like there are rear speakers at all. I also find the display on the stereo difficult to read in bright light.
Those are pretty minor complaints, though--overall I'm very happy with the car so far, even if it has only been a day. Also, I found another review, to supplement the big list I posted a while back: CarTrackers
To answer tcda's question: No, I don't wish I had waited for a Sentra SE-R or bought an Impreza. I have an infant in a rear-facing child seat and those cars have back seats that are too small, meaning you have to force the front seat all the way forward, so carrying the baby and another adult is difficult. The interior size of the Protege is a key point for me. I'll admit I'd love to have the WRX's 227 ponies, but I'm not willing to spend $4k more and get dinky rear seats. Besides, if I had that 100 extra hp, that'd pretty much be a guarantee that I'd get a ticket pretty soon... :-) Oh, and one more thing: Hey, how about a Texas Protege Picnic? My wife and I now both drive Proteges...
Technically, I don't see any reason why you can't hook up your amp to the factory HU. That's what I'm planning to do in the future.
I didn't change the rear speaker... yet. For now, I fade 80% of the sound to the front. And because I don't want to add a sub either, eventually I want to only add a midrange speaker for the rear door, just to serve as a "rear-fill." Hopefully by doing this I could get just a little bit more bass presence to the whole soundstage.
I barely have back passengers anyway, so I'd like to optimize the soundstage for myself--the driver--and the front passenger only.
But... that's down the road. For now, I have enough to zoom zoom.
my friends call my x-girlfriend "the dark side." so i can tell you i've been to the dark side, and it's no picnic. don't go to the dark side, 'tis not good.
My Silver P5 should be arriving in about 2 weeks and I was wondering if anyone could tell me how terrible the stock sound is. I was thinking about putting in one the two 12" soundstream USA's I currently have in my beretta As it stands now I only have room for a set of golf clubs in the trunk of my beretta, so I was thinking only 1 sub would do the trick.
Do you think this would be enough of an upgrade with possibly a new head unit. Or are the stock speakers just crap?????
I have a 2001 ES Protege, and I think the stock speakers stink. I frequently turn the radio 3/4 of the way up, traveling on the highway at 70mph with the sunroof and windows open. They suck! I am going to get new speakers installed soon.
the stock speakers are not very good in my humble opinion.. I plan on replacing both front and back speakers as soon as i get my p5.. after a few days of ZOOMING of course ..
About a week and a half ago I picked up my new silver P5 (5spd, ABS, moonroof), and I love it... it's got over 1000 miles already! Bob Tolkan Mazda in Milwaukee, WI has done a great job getting me the car I wanted and exceeded my expectations. They told me when I ordered it they'd have it in 1-2 weeks... I was quite skeptical. Through a dealer trade (which I expected), they got me the exact car I wanted (sans floor mats and moonroof deflector, which are on order) in 8 days. Yes, a little over a week!
So far, two random people (whom I do not know) have said "nice car!" to me as I drove by in the last week, in addition to the double takes I get at stop lights. I still have yet to see another one on the road (am I blind?).
My only wish for improvement is the sound system (something I knew about before I bought it), so that shall be my next project in the next month or two. I'll definitely pay attention to how you all are coming with amp / speaker upgrades!
I'm looking to buy a vehicle with the specs of a P5, but it needs to be able to tow a light trailer of 1100 lbs. Does anyone know if the P5 is up to this? What the manual says?
Did they change the speakers for 2001? Or did they change the head unit? The 1999 and 2000 Protege sedans had pretty good sound. They're not top quality by any means, but I recall almost every owner praising the stock sound system. It really isn't bad for a car in this price range.
I test drove a 2001 ES sedan and a Pro5, and the sound system is terrible on these! I can understand the Pro5 because of it's rear speaker placement down low in the rear doors, plus the fact that these speakers are smaller than the sedan's. However, the sedan has no excuse since those rear speakers are still up on the rear deck and they are still the 6x9's. The new ones are so flat. No highs. No lows. I wish they would make their Bose systems optional like they use on the 626, Millenia, and Miata.
Comments
The armrests do have to be removed if your trying to get to the speakers. The door panel is attached with screws which are hidden under the armrest. Without removing them, you will most likely destroy the door panel as it tends to be quite rigid.
Is the screw your looking at in the same location as the clip you had to release with the screwdriver? If so, it holds the clip to the armrest. Try this: With one hand grab the center of the armrest and pry it back and forth or up and down, depending on how you look at it. With the other hand, pull out the side with the clip.
It took more force than I would have ever given it without the dealers direction. However, there is no other trick to getting the armrest off that I know of. It's held together with pressure from all sides except the end with the clip.
The side opposite the clip is going to be the most solid point of the armrest as it contains the largest contact area. Don't pull on that spot (the narrow end). When you put the handle back on, this end goes in first and consequently is the last one out.
The doors go back together nicely and remain as tight as before removing them.
Just another note! The power door lock and wire connectors are pretty tight too... but at least you can see what you're doing when pulling them apart.
PS. to all thinking about replacing the speakers in your P5 yourself - don't. Go to Best Buy or some place that has free installation with purchase and make them do it
The adhesive you see, plays no part in the attachment or removal of the armrest/door handle. It attaches the pad to the rigid under structure. You won't have to apply any epoxy or be concerned about it's functionality after re-assembly. In reality, you don't even need the armrest pad on the door except for aesthetics. The molded door panel is plenty strong enough to pull against while closing door.
You're making too much of this! Just give it a bigger tug!!! The genius in the design of the rear armrest/door handle is nothing more than pressure!
Also, butler11, I do live in ontario. Currently working up north of Parry Sound, where are you?
As of 7 days ago Barrie Mazda still had a yellow p5 on the stand in their lot.
My blue P5 now has 2300km on it, plus a scratch on the hood of undetermined origin which drives me crazy every time i see it. The suspension seems to have loosened up a bit after 1000k of pretty hard driving. The only problem is that the engine sometimes makes a rattling noise when cold. Does anyone else have this?
As for your engine rattle when cold, I have heard no such noise from mine.
While you have to exert some muscle to remove the door handles, if it FEELS like you're trying too hard, then there is still something holding it down. Likely, it's a screw. If you see any, remove them.
I posted detailed directions for the front door panels on the sedan in the modifications chat board. I forget the number; it was a few months ago. On the front doors, there were 2 screws that had to be removed from the handles before you could remove the panel.
In the interim, I was in Virginia and West Virginia this last week and I dropped by the Mazda dealer in Winchester, VA to see if I could take another test drive, just for grins. Wow, was that a great idea. The salesman just gave me the keys and said "Have fun"--he didn't come with me! That's the first time I'd ever seen that in a test drive.
Winchester isn't far from West VA and is hilly, and WOW are there some nice twisties on the hills just outside of town. I live in Houston which is pretty flat and most of the roads are straight and I couldn't really push a Pro5 on a test drive here like I could on this one. It was always clear to me that the Pro5 is a good handler, but this drive really brought it home. It really does handle noticeably better than my wife's 99 LX. Very sure-footed though the up-and-down turns. With a 5-speed to downshift at the appropriate points, this would have been a fantastic drive.
Man, I wish mine would arrive...
If you call TireRack, they will probably recommend 195/60/15's on 15" steel wheels. This size would keep your speedometer at less then a 1% difference from stock.
There are lots of winter tires in that size, priced reasonably. The cost of the second set of wheels would be low and you wouldn't risk dinging up your nice 16" alloys.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirebran.htm
Anyone know anything about this?
Once my project is totally done (I'm at about 85% now) I'll post a long and detailed howto on here for removing/replacing the rear speakers in a P5
1. Do any of you Protege5 owners out there find yourself thinking "I should have waited for the Sentra SE-R, or bought the Impreza Wagon or Sedan?" When you have passengers, are you disappointed with the 130-hp? The 165-hp base model SE-R and Impreza intrigue me, but their price tags (about $3k-$4k more than my offer) do not.
2. Anyone locked-up the non-ABS brakes? Was it bad? I hate the fact that you have to get a moonroof to get ABS-- moonroofs are useless in Texas 10 months out of the year, and it makes it hotter April to October.
and one more...
Anyone buy any cool aftermarket stuff they'd like to talk about?
Thanks soooo much in advance.
than Pro5 but:
1. It is a compact sedan and not so versatile as
Pro5. I love that hatch!
2. Sentra SE-R will be built in Mexico!!!
Think twice about cars from Mexico and keep in mind that Pro5 is coming from Japan.
On the other hand, I do not have concerns about quality of the new Impreza. It is really powerful
but it is has less room, for me it is a little bit ugly, and it has all wheel drive system that you
do not need in Texas.
2.0L and 130hp engine makes Pro5 runs nicely, but do not expect a rocket. You want be disappointed, but if power is all that matters to you, I think that you should go for Impreza.
So far as with the same insurer/agent, try increasing your deductibles, ask for good-driver discounts, ask where age breaks are and if you've been credited for being married. Alarm systems, whether the car is garaged, where you work, where you live all affect your rate.
So far as I could tell, the big age breaks for me were at 21, 25 and 30. I got a huge one (about 40%) after getting married.
Both systems have their pluses and minuses. For instance, if you are in a panic stop and accidently cancel your ABS by pumping the breaks, breaking is actually less efficient than cars without ABS.
If you live in wet or cold weather, I wouldn't consider the vehicle without them. If the car were much larger or heavier, this could also be a determining factor.
The Pro5's weight distribution is and handling are so good that I don't think you'd miss them. This is definitely not true with every vehicle.
So far as the power is concerned, I drove up 6% grades on my trip to San Diego with my wife, tw big dogs and a trunk full of luggage. The car maintained 75 mph with ease and got 32 mpg's. I wouldn't consider it a street rod by any means, but the engine is smooth and the power and torque are in usable range.
Can't knock the Subaru's... they are great cars.
I'd like to suggest that the moonroof is not useless in Texas, too. Not that I'll drive with it open a lot, but you can crack it when the car is parked and it functions like an attic vent (you know, hot air rising and all). Mazda has designed thiers well; the interior lining has vents in it so that you can keep the lining closed and still get this attic effect. Is that worth $700? Probably not, but it's something.
Signed papers on mine last night and will be picking it up tonight. I got to drive a loaner today (with automatic, though) and it was sweet on the commute in to work...
Called my local dealer today. I never expected such an annoying buying experience as this... I ordered the car on July 2. It seems that every time I call, I get a different answer re. delivery time. This time, I was told that they DONT know when to expect delivery because the car is still in production... Last time I was told that the cars were being shipped... I am now told that I can expect the car in a min of 4 weeks... September... Nice... I find it ridiculous that a Mazda dealer is so out of the loop that even they don't know where the cars that they sell are... If you are ordering any 5sp moonroof model, welcome to the waiting bandwagon... Its a slow ride for most colours... especially silver and yellow... I would not have as much an issue if I weren't w/out my old car come this weekend... This sucks! At least I get to plan the new stereo system layout.
DJ
BTW, the mid-atlantic owners are also organizing a Mid Atlantic Protege Picnic (MAPP). See the Protege sedan room for details...
Respectfully,
Larry (Pro2)
has anyone successfully installed 6x8 speakers in the front doors? i've heard good things about the infinti reference speakers, but does anyone have any other recomendations? want to get the stereo squared away almost as soon as i pick up the car...i can't stand the sound quality as is...but after reading about the hassle of taking the door panels off and putting them back on, i'm paranoid i'll break something...
It's supposed to be in this week now. Supposed to be. It's Thursday. I hate waiting. Sigh.....
BTW, lowering the windows makes it much easier to both remove and replace the trim panels!
-Larry
I just installed a pair 5x7 speaker to my front door last night. It fit nicely without any modification at all. I had a friend helping me and so he held the driver's side trim panel while I was replacing the speaker, this way I didn't have to disconnect all the cable harness for the power windows (I'm just lazy). The passenger side is less complicated. I believe mazdafun had a very good and detailed instruction on door panel removal a while back in the sedan forum (don't remember the #, sorry).
As far as the speaker brand/model concern, it's very subjective. The best thing is to listen and compare for yourself. I don't know what's your master plan for the whole system setup (are you adding an amp, sub, etc), but I'll share my experience for you:
I used Infinity Kappa for my previous car and it was a great speaker. Reference is the entry level in Infinity line. It's a good replacement speaker and a good choice if you don't plan to add an amp and just running it off the P5's factory head unit. It requires less amp. power input than Kappa does.
So I went to a local store, wanting to get Infinity Reference in mind... only to go home with another brand I didn't even consider: Boston Acoustics. I bought the FX8 model for $115 (15 more than the Reference). To my ear, it has the best balance of high and low frequency for the class, much much better compared to Reference, even Kappa, and other brands. It also sounds good already even just by running it off the factory head unit, without additional amplifier. (The spec says it accepts amp power input of :15-160 watt).
Again this is a subjective opinion. But the bottom line is just take your time and test as many brand & model as your time allows... and let your ear be the judge.
Hope this helps & good luck.
I've been patiently waiting since May 23rd.. Since I can get my deposit back in a couple more days and I am carless since July 31st, I'm trying to fight temptation to move to the dark side and buy a honda.
Regards, Mark
Some quick thoughts on it:
* The more I drive it, the more I like the way it handles. It's very stiff--I'm sure people who like really cushy cars will hate it, but this is just what I like. *Great* road feel. I'm sure the low-profile tires help this.
* The newness of this car shows. I've been getting a lot of second looks and have already had one person ask me what it is. The front light assembly/air dam seems to draw the most comments, all positive.
* I've test-driven several, but this one was the first one with moonroof I've driven. The roof rack noise is definitely louder with the moonroof, even when the moonroof is closed. I keep thinking a window in the back seat is open. Now, the dealer didn't get to install my wind deflector, which they'll do when I bring it in for a window tinting, but I doubt that will quell all of it.
* As other folks have said, it needs new speakers. In particular, I find the rear speakers to be pretty weak--it barely sounds like there are rear speakers at all. I also find the display on the stereo difficult to read in bright light.
Those are pretty minor complaints, though--overall I'm very happy with the car so far, even if it has only been a day.
Also, I found another review, to supplement the big list I posted a while back:
CarTrackers
To answer tcda's question: No, I don't wish I had waited for a Sentra SE-R or bought an Impreza. I have an infant in a rear-facing child seat and those cars have back seats that are too small, meaning you have to force the front seat all the way forward, so carrying the baby and another adult is difficult. The interior size of the Protege is a key point for me. I'll admit I'd love to have the WRX's 227 ponies, but I'm not willing to spend $4k more and get dinky rear seats. Besides, if I had that 100 extra hp, that'd pretty much be a guarantee that I'd get a ticket pretty soon... :-)
Oh, and one more thing: Hey, how about a Texas Protege Picnic? My wife and I now both drive Proteges...
I didn't change the rear speaker... yet. For now, I fade 80% of the sound to the front. And because I don't want to add a sub either, eventually I want to only add a midrange speaker for the rear door, just to serve as a "rear-fill." Hopefully by doing this I could get just a little bit more bass presence to the whole soundstage.
I barely have back passengers anyway, so I'd like to optimize the soundstage for myself--the driver--and the front passenger only.
But... that's down the road. For now, I have enough to zoom zoom.
Do you think this would be enough of an upgrade with possibly a new head unit. Or are the stock speakers just crap?????
-Larry
-mark
So far, two random people (whom I do not know) have said "nice car!" to me as I drove by in the last week, in addition to the double takes I get at stop lights. I still have yet to see another one on the road (am I blind?).
My only wish for improvement is the sound system (something I knew about before I bought it), so that shall be my next project in the next month or two. I'll definitely pay attention to how you all are coming with amp / speaker upgrades!
Drive safe, and enjoy the summer weather!
I test drove a 2001 ES sedan and a Pro5, and the sound system is terrible on these! I can understand the Pro5 because of it's rear speaker placement down low in the rear doors, plus the fact that these speakers are smaller than the sedan's. However, the sedan has no excuse since those rear speakers are still up on the rear deck and they are still the 6x9's. The new ones are so flat. No highs. No lows. I wish they would make their Bose systems optional like they use on the 626, Millenia, and Miata.