Mazda Protegé

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Comments

  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    Sears have them, I got a Craftsman beam-type torque wrench for $25. Max torque rating on that one is 175ft.lb., more than enough for the strut bar application. I got it just in case one day if I decide to rotate/change tires myself I'll have it handy to torque down the lug nuts correctly.

    As for sockets to be used with the wrench, it depends on the size of the adapter. Most common household ratchet/socket sets uses 1/4" adapters for the sockets, the wrench mentioned above uses 1/2" adapters, so I had also buy a new socket for it, $4. They also sell an adapter 'adapter' which allows you to use the regular 1/4" household sockets, take a look and see what you like.

    I was going to be really cheap and try to return it after I installed my strut bar, but decided to keep it because it is very handy and I don't have to kill a cow to bolt down a nut anymore :O
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    The beam type torque wrenches work OK. I have the clicker style. It was $90 from Sears and it is an excellent torque wrench. I used the beam type at work before and they work good until you bend it.
  • SporinSporin Member Posts: 1,066
    I got a very nice Craftsman one for Christmas last year but it only goes up to75#. It was around $60 according ot the catalog.

    So I picked up a cheapie from Harbor Bay Tools for only $20 including shipping. It's a Pittsburg Tools brand I think and goes up to 175#. Pretty high quality despite the price.

    Now I have a lower one for finer stuff and a big one for my wheels.
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    you mean until the main beam gets permanently bent out of shape, newcar? How the heck did you do that?
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    It's not as hard as it sounds. Most beam types can't handle their rating.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    From dropping it and using it as a breaker bar, two things you should not do. I don't think you have to worry about it, it should work fine for what you are using it for.

    I think mazdastuff.com sent me another cruise control bracket for the strut tower bar. I'll check and make sure. If anyone needs one, I'll send it to them.
  • yooper53yooper53 Member Posts: 286
    Good tech argument for factory strut brace. Using factory is basically retrofitting a Pro to P5 standard while after-market would be more of a mod. big h, thanks for the torque. Where did you get it? Neither the dealer nor mazda usa could or would get it for me. Called mazda usa two days ago. They will get back to me. Yeah right!

    I bought a cheapo torque wrench when I bought snow tires and wheels from Tirerack. No more paying for swap out, spring and fall.
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Since I missed it earlier...I'll be 33 this October. I actually drive more aggressively now than when I was 17-25. Go figure.

    I asked my daughter who is the more fun driver (between my wife and myself). She said me, unless she's got a stomachache, in which case she'd rather ride with mom. Said I like to drive on twisty roads. Heh, heh. :)
  • pjd58pjd58 Member Posts: 366
    will turn 43 in July!
  • laurakatlaurakat Member Posts: 69
    35 on Friday! Fowler's favorate age.
    Mike
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    Here is the torque rating post

    all thanks to maltb, always come through for everyone!
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    you young folks, enjoy your youth while you can, time REALLY flies, believe me. I don't know why, but it does the older you get.

    Example: My little dog, Tippy, still looks like a puppy to me, can't believe she will be 5 in April. It seems like it should be another two years or so. On the otherhand, neither of us have the energy we had five years ago. She tires much sooner now when we play ball. But both of us love zooming in the Protegé -- going "By-by" is a treat.

    fowler3
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    on Edmunds front page? It reminds me of an old musical instrument from the 1940's called a "Sweet Potato" because of its shape, which had holes in it and was played like a flute. LOL

    Wonder if Toyota has an orange one?

    fowler3
  • sunbyrnesunbyrne Member Posts: 210
    There seems to be a lot of these around. My wife is March 25th! What's with all these? Too hot to sleep in the midsummer, I guess... ;-)
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    Same birthday as Ella Fitzgerald, Al Pacino and Renne Zellwiger (Renne is same year, too).

    Re the Chicago Auto Show: I have to work on Saturday, so I'm probably going next Wednesday, my day off (and it will be much less crowded, hopefully). I don't own a Protege any more, mine (a '90 blue LX 5-speed) was stolen a couple years ago. I got it back (sans wheels) the day after I bought another car.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    It's those end-of-summer vacations that got our parents in trouble!!!

    Hee hee hee ...

    Meade

    P.S. I bet Pat_Host is facing quite a conundrum, what with all of these off-topic posts!!!

    So ... to make mine on-topic, I'll inject a new birthday thread ... My Emerald Mica 2000 Protege ES 5-speed will be two years old on May 24!!!

    ;-)
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    After looking at the Prius review here on Edmunds that you mentioned, I have to ask -- what is the deal with Toyota's fetish with centering the instrument cluster on the dashboard? Why would you want to have to glance down and to the right to view your speed, tach, gauges, etc.?

    I don't know about the rest of you, but I just sat here for a few moments and moved my eyes quickly downward and to the right, and then back to straight ahead. After performing this little action several times in rapid succession -- as you would while driving the car -- I got dizzy!

    This wouldn't be a good car for us zoom-zoomers, since it would make our speed MUCH too noticeable to our wives while riding shotgun!

    The only thing I can think of is, maybe Toyota's trying to make the car-piloting thing a "group experience" for everyone in the vehicle. That said, why don't they mount the steering wheel in the center so everyone can steer too?

    Meade
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I am not part of the group anymore (the inner circle, anyway), but I figure I would answer anyway. :) I will be 24 on 6/26. :)
  • krotinekrotine Member Posts: 93
    Ok, I guess I'll jump on the off-topic bandwagon too... I'll be 30 on Feb 16th

    krotine
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    "The only thing I can think of is, maybe Toyota's trying to make the car-piloting thing a "group experience" for everyone in the vehicle. That said, why don't they mount the steering wheel in the center so everyone can steer too?" < That was funny! Same with the Echo. And since we're on this topic, what's up with car companies using 13" wheels? Are they nuts? What type of handling do you get out of this?

    BTW, I'll be 22 on Aug 28
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    My 2001 Protege turns 1 on February 28th. Hopefully, I'll have all the parts for my strut tower bar by then. It will get a strut tower bar, car wash, and a tank of gas for it's birthday. Later on, it will get to wear it's summer shoes.
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    at the introduction of the Prius, having the instrument cluster upper center on the dash a driver's line of sight checking the guages is
    shorter than looking down and through the steering wheel. It keeps the road ahead in the driver's peripheral vision.

    Othe car companies have tried the centered idea before and it didn't go over with buyers. Other approaches placed the speedometer on top of the steering wheel so it moves with when tilting the wheel. And there was a Cadillac idea that projected the instruments on the base of the windshield in a ghostly green.

    That said, most people still prefer the standard set up.

    Question: Which side of the speedometer would you prefer having the tachometer on -- the left side or the right side?

    Or should car instrument guages be similar to those in small aircraft with flight-related instruments in front of the pilot and engine instruments to the right?

    In a car the speedometer would be in front of the driver and the tach, turbo boost, temp, fuel guages clustered together.

    For a really bad idea check out the instrument cluster on the new Lexus IS-300 SportCross.

    fowler3
  • sandman46sandman46 Member Posts: 1,798
    I'm 47 now, the old man around here, second only to Fowler.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Some cars, like the Protege, have the speedometer in the middle of the two gauges (tach. & aux. gauges). My Jetta has the speedo on the right, and I find it easier to check than if it were on the left. Plus, the passenger has to move forward out of position to check my speed. (evil grin)
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    speedo on the right...I am a sane driver most of the time.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I love the way RX7s instrument panels are layed out----Big huge tach right in the middle of the cluster. That's the way it should be.
  • yooper53yooper53 Member Posts: 286
    Guess again!
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Speedo on the right, tach on the left.

    Meade
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    tach left, speedo rite
  • narenjinarenji Member Posts: 161
    I like the speedo to the left, and the tach to the right. I'm 24, will turn 25 in July btw.
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    anyone even gonna bother to login tonight? Or are we still on plan to crash Subaru Crew's party tomorrow???

    don't forget we have our own Yahoo chat tomorrow as well...
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Hadn't considered it...is there a specific topic?

    RE: Subaru chat--I've never even been in a Subaru..wouldn't really know what to say to those folks :) (Although I'm sure they're all very nice people, even if they don't own Proteges.)
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Where is this Yahoo chat? I know Meade has a site, but I don't know where it is.
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mazdaprotege/


    Be warned: kind of a lengthy registration process, although nothing too impossible.

  • sfratsfrat Member Posts: 208
    24, will turn 25 in June. Can't wait for insurance to go down.

    Also recently passed a milestone with my Protege, turned 10k miles on my way back from a friends superbowl party. Sadly, I don't have a pic, but since I was on the highway, its probably a good thing I didn't attempt one. I will have had my Protege for 1 year in about two weeks also. Its hard to believe its been that long already. Only 36 more months of payments!

    Steve
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    You weren't kidding. I finally finished registering. I like the pictures on that site.
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    pic posting is much easier on yahoo, since you can upload directly to their server, and they organize the pics into thumbnails automatically.

    If only Edmunds can provide that kind of service...
  • patrickmilwpatrickmilw Member Posts: 5
    I've decided on the 2002 Protege LX but don't know what a good price is. I plan to go for the LX, silver, automatic, ABS, side air bags, and floormats. I'll also add in the moonroof/alloy wheels package currently offered at $300. Including destination charges, TMV lists invoice at $16,289, MSRP at $17,405, and a target price of $16,728. The dealer says Mazda is offering zero percent financing for 48 months and the moonroof/alloy wheels package lists at $1,100 but they are "giving it away" for $300 so "of course" everyone wants it! If anyone has recently purchased a Pro and can help me understand a fair price, I would greatly appreciate it. And if it matters I am in Milwaukee. Thanks!
  • speedyptspeedypt Member Posts: 200
    Another March baby here.. 3/5/68 and 34 in less than a month. My car turns 2 on March 1st...I bought on 2/29/00 so since this isn't a leap year....do I get to celebrate on both days?

    Note to Vocus...one of my best friends is flying out from Phoenix just to attend the Auto Show with me. What does he drive? 2000 Jetta GLX with the VR6 motor, 5 speed and 17" optional wheels...in Silver naturally!

    Dale...I will email you my cell phone number and a photo tomorrow or Friday. Meet you by the Mazda display at 11:00am sharp. Maybe I should wear a particular color so you can pick me out easily?

    newcar31...I hope I didn't offend you....was NOT my intention. I just wanted to illustrate that the hassle was worth it for me to do the install of the strut bar. Best benefit was the "locked down" feeling when driving at highway speeds and on grooved roads after the install. I'll take the extra cruise control bracket too...I'll even pay for shipping! Let me know and ... no hard feelings??? :-)

    Regards,

    Pete
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Your car and a couple of us share a birthday. How cool!

    Meade
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I am going to wait until I put the bar on before I get rid of that extra bracket. I'm kinda confused because the Mazda guy says that the bracket that I have two of is the wrong one, but everybody here says it's the right one (BN5W-66-3AY). I'll find out for sure when I put it on. I just had to chuckle when you said that maybe customizing cars isn't my thing....you never saw my Mustang. No hard feelings....
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Make sure you email me before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, when I'll still have access to my computer at work.

    My machine at home is half-dead, and the display is all wonky. If I get your picture at home, I'll be walking around the auto show looking for the blurry guy with green spots all over his face (...um...no offense if that's what you really look like, 'k?)

    --Dale
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I can't believe you just turned 10,000 miles in only one year. I have almost that amount (8100 exactly) on my Jetta already, and got it on 11/3! My Protege had 19,821 when I traded it in on 11/3. I need to drive less I guess! :)
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    don't listen to the parts guy, that guy's a dope, BN5W-66-3AY IS the right one. Just try to slip the cruise bracket right onto the bar bracket, you'll see that it fits perfectly.
  • rbrooks3rbrooks3 Member Posts: 174
    If this helps, I got my ES only days ago and it was 16,666. 5 spd, 1ES package, wheel locks, cargo net and the factory alarm. I'm in NY.

    ROn B.
  • rbrooks3rbrooks3 Member Posts: 174
    I never thought I'd be saying that, but the weather might be a bit ugly here today in NY. Some slushy snow and rain. On days like this with my old Porsche I'd have my heart in my throat. Now, with the new Pro, I'm looking forward to it. I've driven it on a few rainy days so far and the handling in the wet is well above the Porsche. Dry, quite some distance behind, but everything is a trade off. So, now I'm hoping to see how it does in the messy stuff.

    Ron B.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    It rained and rained and rained this morning. My 32,000-mile 2000 ES, shod with Bridgestone Poortenzas, hydroplaned almost all the way to work. I'm only a couple of weeks from my Yokohama AVID T4s. So if you don't mind, keep that weather up in NY for another month or so!

    Meade
  • rbrooks3rbrooks3 Member Posts: 174
    I never thought I'd be saying that, but the weather might be a bit ugly here today in NY. Some slushy snow and rain. On days like this with my old Porsche I'd have my heart in my throat. Now, with the new Pro, I'm looking forward to it. I've driven it on a few rainy days so far and the handling in the wet is well above the Porsche. Dry, quite some distance behind, but everything is a trade off. So, now I'm hoping to see how it does in the messy stuff.

    Ron B.
  • rbrooks3rbrooks3 Member Posts: 174
    Man, have I got to stop hitting the refresh button!
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Do you realize you just re-posted message 7763?

    Meade
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