Mazda Protegé

protege_fan

Get this...
Calgary and Southern Alberta: Heavy snowfall warning.
We've had over 30 cm (about 12 inches) of snow and are expecting 5-10 cm more. Temperature is sitting around -4 C (about 25 F).

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May snow storms bring???

chicagopro

Lots of angry Canucks?

More busted rims?

Reservations to Miami?

dsm6

and I bet they'll sell all 1500 or so they build. But still, even though it isn't meant to compete with models like the WRX, it will. Mazda doesn't care, because they'll sell the few they build. For folks like me, though, who aren't die-hard Mazda or smitten with the car, and who just want a good performance vehicle for a good price, it most definitely competes directly with the likes of the WRX, and will most likely lose out.

Again, it doesn't really matter to Mazda, because they'll sell 'em anyway, but it does matter to me, guy-in-the-market, with money to spend on one (and only one) of these cars.

Yeah, it will generate buzz in the press, but I bet they'll gripe about two things: 1) why only 170 hp. Yes, we all know why, but more is still in order to be competitive given: 2) why $22k - in light of what $22k can buy. That will taint otherwise glowing reviews, just as the complaints of too little power tainted glowing reviews of the MP3.

Oh, well. A small matter for such a good car. Hopefully it will accomplish its task of kicking off this round of Mazdaspeed street car mods.

protege_fan

LOL! I would make reservations to Miami, but I bought this awesome Mazda OEM steel rim for $200...What a deal! Not.

meinrad

Guess I'm not so mad now that the sun is not shining, at least it's 75 degrees and my car is clean!

I don't think we got 12" of snow all winter :--( It really stunk, I like snow for a short time, but this year was the worst for a long while.

mdaffron

Spent yesterday afternoon washing and waxing my 2000 ES. Man, I forgot how deep that Emerald Mica can look! Put some Eagle One tire shine on the Dunlops too. Ahh, life is good.

Next weekend -- the white P5 gets its wax job so we can both shine at MAPP III!!!

Meade

mdaffron

32 people
22 Proteges (including all generations, a buncha P5s and TWO MP3s!!!)
1 river-bound Jetta

12 days, everyone!

Meade

dsm6

Does that leave any white residue? I'm looking for a good wax; one that doesn't leave any white residue..

protege_fan

I think they'd all leave a white residue. That's a by-product when you buff the wax (ie. excess wax).

mdaffron

Compared to the Nu Finish I used to use, which left gobs of white residue that made your car look like someone had dumped baby powder on it, no, Meguiar's Gold Class leaves very, very little. Of course, it all depends on how heavily you apply it. Most people, I've read, use waaayy too much -- which makes it that much harder to remove.

But the Gold Class is some wonderful stuff, man. In fact, Jerry (jstandefer) polished his red Protege with it yesterday too, and posted some pics in the Photos section at the Yahoo! mazdaprotege group. Go take a look. Look how deep that shine is!

Meade

chikoo

please test this out and post your results:

get the speed of your car to 35-40 mph.
let go of the gas pedal.
apply the brakes progressively(not hard) the way you would when stopping at a stop sign.
When the car comes/coming to a stop, do you feel it shift into the first gear? Do you hear a clunk/thunk with it?

the_big_h

I know exactly what you're talking about, like when I slow down for a red light, I would feel this shift (wouldn't call it a 'clunk' though) as the car slowly rolls to a stop.

I think that's fine!

vocus

Wouldn't you all at MAPP III be surprised if I didn't bring the Jetta? I have a choice of the Jetta, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, or a Mercury Cougar for that weekend. Decisions, decisions...

That's if my car is out of the shop by then. It will be 2 weeks on Wednesday that it's been in there. I have a 2001 New Beetle now. I might still have that.

The regional coordinator at VW will not let my car go until it has this special "rubber treatment" package installed. It comes from Germany, and has been on order since last week sometime. Hopefully it will come in soon. I have a loaner now which they are paying to gas up, but still, I want my car back!

number42

Based on those choices, I am not sure it matters, as whatever you choose will be going into the river.

vocus

I could always rent a Protege from Hertz too...

number42

Well, the hertz answer would at least ensure a dry car...

vocus

If my mother were still alive, I would borrow her car. She had a Bonneville, but it had a nice little accessory "trap door" in the glovebox bottom. That trap door held a loaded .38. She used to work at night at a hair salon in a not so good neighborhood, so she carried it for safety. I bet THAT would assure me a dry car.

Just kidding.

fritz1224

Maybe your's is broke. Just kidding. It is strange that we are getting different results. I haven't tried it and probably won't. But at least we're getting some data to compare. This may turn into an enigma with no true answer.

vocus

I was thinking about doing it in the New Beetle I am driving now, but never did it. I might try it with my Jetta when I get it back too, just to see what happens.

mdaffron

Bring a New Beetle, a Jetta, a Bonneville ... heck, bring a Daewoo Leganza ... we don't care. Just as long as it has wheels and a transmission we can place in "neutral" ....

Meade

vocus

Ha, ha, ha. That's so funny.

You better be nice if you want crab dip.

mdaffron

Your seafood dip will be much fresher tasting if you kick it up a notch with some stuff right from the river. Getting there in the Jetta will be more comfortable than jumping in yourself, but if you'd rather, we'll happily just throw YOU in the river ...

Meade

norcan

To those who've managed to replace their front and rear speakers for Pro-sedan, can you give a quick answer (or post message numbers) with:
1. Part numbers
2. Price
3. Where'd you buy them from?
4. Difficulty level (scale of 1-10, 10 is most)
5. Aggravation level (1-10)
6. Satisfaction level

newcar31

Sounds like Paul may need to bring a hover-craft.

mdaffron

... just a full-Jetta condom.

Meade

dsm6

Paul's Jetta is having the "rubber treatment" package installed.

meinrad

least 2 advantages to Paul's Jetta getting the rubber treatment.

1. It should float better at MAPP.

2. It isn't getting so many miles put on like his Protege did, since the Jetta has been in the shop so much. Hey Paul, maybe you should start to write a car review magazine, you've driven so many different ones lately. LoL.

jbollt

Just tried the cruise control test in my 2001 Civic EX 5 spd. Set speed at 50, and pushed either clutch or brake, disengages. Move shift lever to neutral, touch resume....BAM! RPMs to 6,000. Guess this is common on stick shift cars, but I agree, why would someone do this?

Jeff

vocus

Cute. But this will be the last time I will have the car in the shop this long. My lawyer assured that with VWoA.

protege_fan

You had to get a lawyer involved?

vocus

I just had him call VWoA to get the car fixed, because I was getting tired of taking it back again and again. I just told him I was frustrated, and he told me not to worry about a thing. He called them, and then they called me. I don't know what he said to them, but they have been awfully nice to me since then.

They are going to "PDI" the car again before I get it, and they have paid for all my gas since I have been driving a loaner.

I didn't have to get a lawyer involved, but you always seem to get better results. It's a family friend anyway, so it's not like it cost me anything.

protege_fan

I see. Just curious...I've never had to deal with lawyers before, so for something like that, would the lawyer normally charge you a fee? Would be helpful info if somehthing like that jumped up in dealings with Mazda NA.

newcar31

"why would someone do this?"

Probably on accident. I've owned 6 different manual transmission cars in the last 9 years and I have never noticed this. I don't see it as a problem either.

mazdafun

1. Part numbers
Pioneer TS-A6865 (5x8) and TS-A6999 (6x9).
2. Price
I think $100/pr and $200/pr, respectively.
3. Where'd you buy them from?
Crutchfield.
4. Difficulty level (scale of 1-10, 10 is most)
Probably 3-4. You have to wiggle the front door panels out at an angle and put them back in that way. The rear deck panel involves your lying half in the trunk and half on the rear seatbacks (folded down).
5. Aggravation level (1-10)
1 for the front doors. 6 for the rear since you have to contort yourself a bit.
6. Satisfaction level
8-9. An amp probably would take it to a 10. The sound is MUCH improved, esp. in treble and overall volume. Bass is much more powerful as well.

sarahnbua

<<I've owned 6 different manual transmission cars in the last 9 years and I have never noticed this.>>

Wow, I'd say you're pretty close to my dad's list! He's had quite a number of different cars, just in the past what, 3 years? ::grins:: You should see my mom's face when my dad mentions a car he saw and liked . . .

fowler3

Tried it on my 5 speed '00 ES...got the car up to speed on the interstate, set the cruise control, touched the brake to disengage, took car out of gear and hit resume, and it did nothing. Hit set, and it did nothing.

I think the others did not - "touch the brake to disengage." They shifted to neutral and hit Set.

Kenwood speakers boggse used. Msg.#9415 and 9431.

I tried something somebody here suggested a while back: change the Fader control to bring in more of the 6X9 speakers in the back and less from the front speakers, then increase the volume. Much better sound.

fowler3

protegextwo

The story of vision, dedication and loyalty behind Mazda's svelte 2-seat sports car and its engine..."

Road and Track

http://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/roadtests/articledisplay.asp?articleid=172

the_big_h

good find Larry, that was one of the best articles I've read on Road & Track this year, kinda makes you want to get a rotary car doesn't it?

but wait! if you like the old Cosmo Sport, check out these NEW Cosmo Sport concepts Mazda unveiled at the 2002 Tokyo Auto Salon:

Pic 1

Pic 2

looks great doesn't it?

chicagopro

Hank beat me to the punch...good article!

--Dale

P.S. Hank: that first pic would look even better without that chick in the way.

the_big_h

oh, you meant that white thing behind that fine looking girl?

the_big_h

I was too lazy to scan the pics, that's why it took me so long to post them. Check out the Mini Cooper S that was running, NICE!!!

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291842993

pics from Sunday's even (5/5) are still in the camera, with about 23 more shots left. Most likely will finish it up at MAPP!!!

riopelle

Nice pics!

FYI: the picture labeled "red corvette grid" is an RX-7. Or were you being funny?

the_big_h

man I must be tired last night, what have I done????

but no worry, I just fixed it, now it says 'red_RX-7_grid' as it should be :-)

glad you thought it was funny :-D

number42

Heavens to Betsy. This thing seems easy to freep.

dsm6

"I think the others did not - "touch the brake to disengage." They shifted to neutral and hit Set"

Shouldn't matter. Shifting to neutral, as long as you disengage the clutch to do so, should disengage the cruise in the exact same way pressing the brake does.

For the record, I never set it before shifting to neutral. I got up to speed, shifted to neutral, then pressed set. That also shouldn't matter. The point is that you give it commands to operate (resume/accel or set - whatever) while in neutral. At that point does it, or does it not try to obey those commands thereby revving the engine to no avail

What may matter quite a bit is that mine is an '02 and yours is an '00.

maltb

Ok, I tried it in my B3000 last night on the way home from school with my wife.

I already knew the clutch or brake would cancel so I went right to setting it in neutral. Sho nuff, the RPMs went a climbing and my wife gave me a strange look and asked what I was doing...just playing dear.

jbollt

Anybody see the hilariuos article in the June Automobile Magazine titled "High Court Upholds Brown Sports Car Ban? It states the US Supreme Court upheld a Calif controversial ban on Brown sports cars and convertibles...declaring that names as "root-beer metallic" and "shoreline beige" are still brown, and are visually offensive. LOL

the_big_h

most recently seen on new Civics and new Acura CLs, YUCK!

mdaffron

So the B3000's engine revved without pinging, coming to a sudden stop, or blowing a head gasket?

(Sorry my friend, couldn't resist a little "jab from the past" at your Mazda-by-Ford pickup!)

Meade

mdaffron

... that milk-chocolate brown color they paint sheriff's cars! (At least here in VA)

http://vapdcars.freewebsites.com/fluvanna03.jpg

How come you never see THAT color on anything but a sheriff's car? Every time I see one, I immediately get this insane craving for a glass of chocolate milk ...

Meade