Mazda Protegé

maltb

I wasn't able to get a definitive answer today, but my gut feeling says it's a chamber type. A through pipe would probably be too noisy for a single silencer type system.

dinu01

These cars cannot be compared. The PRO is the ultimate driving machine of small cars while the Rio (Grande) is the ultimate river to cross for all Jettas from Mexico into the US

Dinu
Your not so mean PRO driver (I'm not the owner)

gwestley

I'm having automatic trans problems. Just turned 50K and shifting is loud and feels like its slipping some. Happens from 1st gear to 2nd, and 3rd to 4th, after car warms up. Had a trans fluid change 3 months ago. Any idea why? Acceleration has always stunk with this car. A/C isn't the greatest either. Any way to upgrade?

Greg

alternator

If outside temp is say 90F, a car sitting in the sun may be 120-150F inside (before start-up).

So, it makes sense, I believe, to bring in the cooler 90F air (do not recirculate inside air) for say 10 minutes after start-up, then switch to recirculated air.

Also, I start out with fan on "high", then later cut back on fan to allow slower moving air a chance to cool down passing through the coils.

A quick check on whether or not your air conditioner is working is to stick a thermometer in an air outlet to see if the air is being cooled at least 20 degrees below ambient air.

maltb

What would you like to upgrade?

The 98 ES was a poor automatic. The engine just wasn't desiged to be connected to a slush box.

gwestley

Well upgrade for performance, I've seen some funky new air intake contraption ($75). or those permanent foam air filters ($70). Anyway, the point I'm trying to make, the trans always was rough, most recently, it clunks louder than usual and you can feel it, shifting early on acceleration, doesn't feel right. I'll bring it to the trans guy for inspect. I was wondering is there a modulating system on the trans or is this the beginning of the end?

maltb

and you da MAN! or woman!

maltb

the same car with a manual will smoke a modded auto trans 98. If you are serious about upgrades, that motor is basically what the Miata uses and there should be lots of stuff out there. Your wallet is the limit.

the_big_h

i'll look deeper into this matter... i think i'll email MAZDA USA for a definitive answer

chikoo

try adding lubegard to your tranny.....will sertainly make a big difference in the shifting quality....

http://www.lubegard.com

dinu01

Would you recommend Lubeguard to use on an auto tranny that has 17.500 miles on it? When should I do the first tranny flush? I have a 2.0 2001 ES. The only thing I worry about with this car is the auto tranny. We will keep the car in the family for 10 years (I would keep it forever) for sure.

Dinu

chikoo

>>>sertainly<<<<
????
@ did i type that?
new fangled english, huh!

Anyway, if this is your first tranny fluid change, go for dropping the pan and cleaning the filter. I think 15,000 is what my service tech recommends(and he is more techie than mktg.) This might cost u abit like $70 (US).

For next fluid change, I go for simply opening the drain valve at the bottom of the pan. Pour in new fluid. Check the dipstick.
my service tech does this for me for only $15 + cost of fluid($10 or so). Not bad.

and yes. LUBEGARD has done wonders in shifting quality. Shifts like butter. No harsh jerks.

curt3

Stay as far away from the Kia as you can. Kias are neat looking but that's where the charm stops. I thought I could beat the system by buying a 1999 Sephia and found out very quickly that the car was a tool from Old Scratch (aka Satan) Himself. I had to replace the rotors twice in the 20,000 miles that I put on it and I was on my second exhaust system, second fuel pump, second headlight switch (it melted), second A/C expansion valve, and second set of tires in 10 months. To put the icing on the cake, an uninsured minister slammed into it while my wife was driving, and, as you all may know, there are more preachers in Alabama than there are liability insurance holders. Needless to say, the crash caused much more damgage to the car than expected. Fortunately my local Mazda dealer was kind enough to buy the Sephia and then sell a 2000 Protege LX to me at 0% apr. This no interest thing has been great! The Protege, on the other hand, has been very loyal---my only complaint is its tendency to ping on hot days with low octane fuel.

This aside, the Protege is THE perfect car. May I suggest that you buy a two-year-old Protege--they are out there for less than you think and it may acutally cost less than a fully-loaded Rio.

dinu01

Now that Chikoo has confirmed that Lubegard is good for the PRO, did anyone else had their auto tranny fluid changed lately?

Dinu
Your PRO dirver that wished he had the 5 spd (stop smiling Meade)

yooper53

dinu01

Quite dead

fowler3

Chikoo, I'll check it tomorrow and see if the AC shuts off when idling. I do know that no cold air comes out of the ducts, except for the ducts having a cooling effect, when I have to stop at a long light.

Is it REALLY 35 to 40 degrees? It sure feels cold enough, I usually have to dial in some heat or put on a jacket.

fowler3

frankpcb

CarsDirect.com is the only way to go, Chuch Yeh, found my protege es in two days, it is equipped as follows: 5 speed, (rare) sunlight silver metallic, premium package (moonroof, side airbags, abs with ebd, and carpets), security system with shock sensor, wheel locks, cargo net and automdimming mirror with compass and outside temp. all for $15,686. including the $1,500.00 rebate. The above amount also includes the $100.00 they paid out of their own pocket to have the car driven down to a dealer close to me and the $129.00 dealer document fee ( the dealer told me that is his profit on the car, but I know that he gets a cash holdback from Mazda), a great price and great service from Chuch at carsdirect- he spent many hours over two days to find this car for me, he called every dealer in Florida, Georgia and Alabama for me, before he found the car (it had just arrived from the port in Jacksonville, FL., he got it and then had carsdirect pay the dealer for it, so no one else could buy it. I pay carsdirect after I have inspected the car and approve it. I highly recommed them, and will use again to purchase my aunts infiniti g35. Their number is 1-800-431-2500 and Chuck's extension is 4019, you will not be disappointed.

Will pick up my car next week when it is ready.

frankpcb

Mazda is offering a sport shifting auto (check it out on the mazdausa website) on protege es manufactured after 2/28/02. It allows u to manually shift the car, or leave it in auto mode. This option costs $800.00 The other change on protege's manufactured after 2/28/02 is a six speaker sound system (two speakers in the back doors). I am going to buy an amp and add dash mounted tweeters to my car, to have a total of 8 speakers.

alternator

http://www.auto-asia.com/viewcontent.asp?pk=7088&full=yes&char=386

says that the basic 4cyl engine for all upcoming Mazda and Ford vehicles will be a Mazda 2.26 L MZR engine (just newly released in Japan in the MPV minivan).

th83

My local Mazda dealer told me that I've been a "challenge" to him after a few exchanged emails and has agreed to give me a deal. It sounds good but I don't like the time constraint. He said that he'd get me a Pro ES with any of the options that I want, for $100 over invoice and he will still give me the $1500 rebate. The only catch is I have to order the car by the end of this month. That's only 8 days! I think he set a time limit because the end of the month is his deadline for ordering the next shipment of Pros. My guess is that he needs me to choose my color and options before he turns in his order. This kind of sucks because I like the Pro and would like to "customize" my options but I still don't know what color I want and I am confused about which transmission to get. I like Pure White, but I also like the Sunlight Silver. I've been driving an automatic for 2.5 years(in my first car)but the 5-speed Pro I test-drove was very fun to drive. The manual in the Pro seems like something I could live with but I'm sure if I really want to. Where I live(Charlotte), traffic can be pretty bad and where I work(a mall), a manual seems like it would be a pain. I don't know and I only have 8 days to think about it. Man!

Frank-So your car is going to be one that has been made after 2/28/02? Cool, maybe that means mine will be, too since my dealer is just now ordering his next shipment. BTW-Thanks for the info!

Later,

Tom

chicagopro

Okay, last week when I posted this we actually got somebody from Cincinnati who was interested, so we must be doing something right. But I still think there must be other folks who live closer who might actually be interested in a meet.

What: Chicago-Area Protege Picnic

When: Saturday, April 27th, 1:00 p.m.

Where: Busse Woods near Schaumburg


More info and map at:

http://mazdaprotege.net/chicagomeetinfo.htm

If you plan to attend, please let us know!

--Dale

newcar31

This is from an Autoweek article on the new Mazda 6.

"Miata long has been the slam-dunk—even replaced RX7 in the role. Now the new Protegé is approaching slam-dunk-dom"

The link is posted in the 6 board.

newcar31

WAKE UP PEOPLE!! THIS IS THE PROTEGE BOARD!!

protege_fan

Huh? Yawn....sorry Todd. Interesting article you mentioned.

Pro-talk...hmmm...well, I had to touch-up many, many rock chips yesterday. Not a fun job let me tell you.

maltb

I hope you are only joking. If not, send me an e-mail.

maltb

I second that yawn at 10am here. I do have to wonder why there were so few posts this weekend.

Was everyone out Zooming this weekend?

I miss the old Love Train...where is he hiding?

the_big_h

I did e-mail MUSA, and they responded/confirmed that the Sports muffler is indeed a chambered design, not a straight-through.

what does that mean? it means the muffler will NOT provide additional exhaust flow compared to a straight-through muffler, just a louder/lower sound.

I guess I'll keep my stock muffler until someone else comes out with a GOOD LOOKING straight-through muffler...

newcar31

You want a straight through muffler? I can tell you from experience that the constant exhaust drone would get very annoying on the highway.

protege_fan

I generally don't post on weekends and this weekend I was busy playing hockey and spraining my ankle

chicagopro

Sorry to hear about your ankle, dude. I won't even make any sort of stupid, sixth-grade comment...having suffered through four broken bones and one sprain (is anybody here really surprised?), I know that they aren't any fun.

Feel better soon.

--Dale

maltb

I agree with Todd, a straight through will be noisy. Also it may not have enough back-pressure for a stock or nearly stock motor.

Unless you are willing to really sink some cash into your car, don't expect an exhaust system to do much more than give you better sound.

protege_fan

Thanks for the pity

maltb: a lot of performance shops and my service person at the dealership here say that an air intake and new exhaust can get you somewhere around 5-10 hp gain. That not true?

chicagopro

...and a poll question to wake up those of you ready to fall asleep at the wheel.

What made you consider the Protege in the first place? Was it those repetitive Zoom-Zoom commercials? An article in some gearhead mag?

For me, it was my aunt and her family in NJ. They're on their sixth Mazda, many of them Proteges. My uncle has a very long daily commute, and puts mondo mileage on all the vehicles. Never heard major complaints, so I figured I'd try my luck.

Anybody else?

Lurkers...jump right in!

protege_fan

What really caught my eye was the styling of the Pro. IMHO, much better looking than its competitors. Also, when I heard more and more about the great handling, I knew that it was the car for me.

Reliablity was a concern for me, and although Mazda doesn't have the reputation that others enjoy, I knew that this car would be excellent because of everything I'd read about it. Being the 3rd model year of the 3rd gen Pros, I knew that this was going to be a good car. Also, my dad's MPV has lasted 12 years, so I had good faith in Mazda (not blind faith, mind you).

maltb

An air intake and what exhaust system? A true 10hp will not come that easy. Maybe if you run headers, a performance cat, and a larger exhaust you can see that gain. To see some real gains though, you need to get the flow through the engine up. Think about porting the head and matching the intake to it. Of course that's a good time to add a turbo and bump up the fuel supply.

protege_fan

Yikes...that sounds like extensive (and expensive!!) work! Not really sure what exhaust system they were talking about, but they made it sound like a catback would work.
Sigh....I guess I'll just think about tint and tower strut brace for now. Maybe a K&N filter...
Ashu, how does your new filter sound?

newcar31

Uh, I don't think so. You might see those gains on a forced induction car, but I doubt you'd see that on the Protege.

Why did I buy the Protege? I read all of the major cars mags every month. I've been reading about the Pro since 98' right before the 99s came out. All of the mags like it. It must be special. C&D compared it to a BMW. It's built in Japan. 0% financing for 48 months! Good looks. Reliability. It's relatively unique. It's not a Civic. It has a REAL independent rear suspension. 16 inch wheels. 50 series rubber. Handling, handling, handling. $15K. Enough said.

pat

Where's Meade?

protege_fan

What do you mean "real" independent suspension? As opposed to what? Like I've said before, I'm a relative newb on the car scene.

protege_fan

Meade's home sick I think, and he doesn't have internet access at home.

maltb

Haven't handed enough TOU reminders lately? hehehe

newcar31

A REAL independent rear suspension. NOT a beam axle like the Sentra and Jetta (the other two rides I was considering).

protege_fan

Oops..had to edit my message and direct it towards you and not maltb. Anyway, ok, I understand the diff between a beam and an independent rear suspension. I thought there was a "fake" independent rear suspension that you were talking about.

I didn't know the Sentra had a beam axle. I actually didn't really consider the Sentra during my car search...I kinda forgot all about them after seeing the Pro. The Jetta was just way too pricey for me.

the_big_h

***big plug for Edmunds below(like they need more)***

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/comparison/articles/43900/page021.html

Thanks Edmunds!

now where's my check?

newcar31

I could have afforded the Jetta, but IMO, the Protege is a better car. Once you get past the fancy interior, funky blue lights, and 1.8T engine, the Jetta isn't so special. The Protege handles more "German" than the Jetta anyways. On top of that, VW has no reputation for reliability. At the time, VW knew that too, and offered a 2 year warranty.

dsm6

The little men told me I had to buy the pro, or they'd make me a slave to the Kertacks of Alpha Nomias.

protege_fan

The little men seem to have good taste in cars

dsm6

That, and the women just go crazy for a Protege. Woohoo!

Re little men: yes, they do have good taste in cars. Oh, and they want the people of Earth to know that they aren't green, they're Emerald Mica.

th83

and came across the part where they mention a one-touch moonroof. Is the Pro's optional moonroof one-touch? If it is the dealer never said a word about it.