Mazda Protegé

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Comments

  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    LOL!!
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    You paid $995 for a CAMERA? And Tammy didn't kill you yet? :)
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    when it's company money, go nuts!!
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    If you haven't already, check out Jerry's Injen CAI results over at the Yahoo site. He posted the Dyno results for the free CAI he received from Injen (in exchange for letting them test with his car). It shows an increase of around 5 hp and 6 lb-ft of torque. More is always better (!), but the bang for buck ratio seems border line for my tastes, unless you can get one for free as did he. (Hey, I'm a poet, and I didn't even think that I was one.)
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    I mean, Meade's new camera. Maybe Paul should throw it in the river after his Jetta, er, New Beetle.

    Oops, not on topic. Um, that should happen at the Protege picnic, where folks who own these awesome Proteges will gather. Them Proteges is great. Some people even buy two!
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I know that's right! I usually do go nuts when I am spending someone else's money myself. :)
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    No one is going to throw anything into the river. Meade loves the crab dip I am bringing, so he will be good. And Dale will be there to defend me as well. :)
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    ;-)
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Yeah, yeah, yeah. You are all talk. :)

    I have a disadvantage now, because I could have outrun you all in the Jetta 1.8T. The Beetle is a 2.slow, and can barely get out of its own way.

    You all talked before about the power dying with the AC on. I was driving last night going like 30mph with the pedal level on level ground. I switched on the AC, and I could feel the engine laboring, and that was going pretty slow on a flat surface! I need my 1.8T! :)
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    ... last four posts have been completely off-topic. (Yeah yeah yeah, I'm guilty as much as the rest of you.) Let's not incite a friendly reminder from management.

    Ooops, make that five posts.

    ;-)

    Meade
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    And I'm talking about a 737, not her Protege! Dale's airborne, wafting through the skies from O'Hare to Richmond! Lucky girl ... I'd be having me a Bloody Mary right about now ... I dunno, something about airplanes and Bloody Marys -- it's the only place I drink 'em, and boy do I drink 'em! (I've learned now to carry my own little flask of Vodka, since the V8s are free on the plane, ha ha!!!)

    Meade
  • emnightingaleemnightingale Member Posts: 2
    I need a car that will last me about three or four years, and I have a small budget (my parents are buying) of up to $3000. I will definitely get whatever I buy checked by a mechanic ahead of time. I've also considered a 91 toyota tercel.

    Em
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    are you trying to start a fight in here? A while back somebody mentioned some other Japanese brand and the room erupted into a brawl. The instigators haven't been heard from since. RIP, FX & ZZ.

    :)
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    LMAO!! I don't think it was a brawl...lol!

    I don't know anything about older Tercels though...engine, reliabilty...nothing.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Lol! I forgot about them.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Thanks to Ashu for getting this information and posting it on the Yahoo group:

    Travelling West on I-66:
    ---------------------------------
    exit 13 (Linden/Front Royal),
    US Rt 55 West into Front Royal,
    3rd traffic light inside town, left onto US Rt 340 South,
    State Park is ~ 8 miles south of town, on the right

    Travelling East on I-66:
    ---------------------------------
    Exit 6 to Front Royal,
    US Rt 340 South into Front Royal,
    Stay on same, through Front Royal (remember to wave at Protege people turning left onto Front Royal arriving from the East!)
    State Park is ~ 8 miles south of town, on the right

    Travelling North or South on I-81:
    ----------------------------------------------
    Take I-66 East and follow above directions

    Meade
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    "Lucky girl ... I'd be having me a Bloody Mary right about now ..."

    Yeah, but she would probably just spill it on the floor mat!
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Well everyone, Meadeball has left the building. Gotta go pick up ol' chicagopro/chiproes/Dale for a weekend of zooming! I look forward to meeting all of you who are coming. Pray the rain ends even earlier than they're saying (11 a.m.) and let's all have some fun!

    (Wouldn't ya know it, Yahoo just went down -- so I can't change the home page info for the weekend. Oh well!)

    See many of you tomorrow!

    Meade
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Look up the last auto issue of CR. They list reliable used cars in different price ranges. Granted, it's based upon statistical data collected from their readers, but it's better than nothing. It'll give you a good start, and some options.

    Also, if your parents are willing to kick in a certain amount, you could always attempt to augment it with your own funds.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Hopefully she didn't leave the window open on the plane, but I bet she did. :)
  • alternatoralternator Member Posts: 629
    On this board I have seen quoted what seem to me a lot of inflated maintenance service prices, and dealer recommended service intervals far more frequent than Mazda suggests.

    My Mazda dealer appears to recommend a reasonable maintenance schedule, and close to reasonable prices, see:


    http://www.indymall.com/business/roush/mz-maint-form.htm


    For "severe service" I suppose the oil/filter change interval should be changed to 3,000 miles.
    I am in doubt about his 15, 45 and 75,000 mile service called "Adjust thrust angle" (in regard to wheel alignment). Has anyone seen this service recommended before?

  • orlandoguy1orlandoguy1 Member Posts: 9
    Have a 99 DX-Its ok...probably wouldn't buy another one though. It may be me--but it never seems to idle smoothly. It only has 37000 on it. My dad has Carolla and there is no vibration or anything when it idles. Told dealer--changed plugs and a $100 for fuel injection service--which helped but I still seem to feel vibration in the seat.not a huge amount but-------is it me or the car?
  • alternatoralternator Member Posts: 629
    Has anyone here ever had an "Autobahn Mirror", please see:


    http://www.properautocare.com/autobahnmirror.html


    If it does what it claims to it would well be worth the cost, but does it work?

  • curt3curt3 Member Posts: 101
    The later the Protege, the better the car. The Proteges from the early 1990's are more prone to reliability problems than the 1995-1998 models. You may just find a high mileage older Protege with light options and an A/C for $ 3,000 at traderonline.com or even on eBay. Late-model Proteges, however, hold up well with the miles and are really quick to depreciate with high miles. This makes for a great used car. To get a decent Protege, however, you may want to invest $6000 if you can swing the price. Just to give you and idea, a local dealership offered me $ 6,700 for my 2000LX with 5-speed, A/C and disc changer and 63,000 miles on a trade for a 2000 ES with automatic. (I did not go through with the deal since the ES had paint work done--I am still in need of an automatic...)
    Another good choice might be the Mazda-designed Ford Festiva. I had a 1993 GL (same as an LX) model with A/C and 5 speed that ran like a gem. Every so often you can find one in reasonably good shape for under $ 3000. It is not uncommon to talk to a Festiva owner who has over 200,000 miles on the odometer...just a suggestion
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    I live 3 hours from MAAP #3 and I'm stuck in Nashville, TN at a Cracker Barrel training seminar DRATS!!!!

    -Larry
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Seems to have a lot of Mazda 323 in it. Last I checked, the steering wheel and some other interior bits looked identical to those in my '89 323! They were kind of like shortened 323 hatchbacks.

    Yeah, those could run forever (just like the 323), unlike that little Expire, I mean Aspire, that they replaced it with. :)
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Think I'll stick with what I'm doing. At least I don't have to make myself look presentable (although I did...stuck in a routine, I guess).

    Man, wish I could've made it to MAPP. I'm looking for some comp time after this week is over!
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    I wonder how long a drive that is from Calgary... :D

    How far is it to Toronto, dinu01 said it is a 15 hour drive to Front Royal. That's the long way of course. From Calgary you would drive to
    the mid-west US, say Chicago, and then across Ohio into West Virginia and east into northern Virginia.

    The easiest way to plan a long trip is to draw a straight line on a map from your starting point to your destination, then take the highways and other roads that are closest to the line.

    fowler3
  • curt3curt3 Member Posts: 101
    Mazdafun, The little Festiva I had cost under
    $ 7,800 new back in 1993--it was the top-of-the line model sans automatic--the manual was a lot peppier. This Festiva, replaced the 1986 Mazda GT that I had put 160,000 miles or so on. I bought a new Aspire in 1995 (I held on to the Festiva for another year) and felt that it was an okay car for $ 8000 but it had no Mazda parts. I sold the Aspire in 1999 and bought its evil cousin, the Kia Sephia. It was the Kia that turned me back on to Mazda. I went full circle and lost several thousand dollars along the way.

    The wife is at work so it's off to troll the Mazda lot...
  • curt3curt3 Member Posts: 101
    Fowler, driving in a straight line is a good idea. At least with the Protege, however, the long way never seems bad at all...
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Unfortunately, I think it may be raining on MAPP III. I remember Meade said there was plenty of shelter, but still ....

    :(
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Now, that was the trim level I wanted, but couldn't find. Oh well, I couldn't afford it at the time anyway. :) I don't see many of these anymore (well, I NEVER saw many of them). Apparently, they were sold in only a few markets in NA.

    Those Festivas were fun to drive because they were so light and small. I think there's still quite a following.

    The Sephia. Ugh. Funny thing is the Sephia is derived from an older 323 chassis (but their own engine and tranny, I think). Although good for its time, my 323 is definitely much cruder than modern platforms. More body flex and road noise. Still fun to thrash, although I baby it more now (it's my first car). :)
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    "Unfortunately, I think it may be raining on MAPP III. I remember Meade said there was plenty of shelter, but still ..."
    by Pat HOST


    Pat, I was lucky enuf to attend MAPP#1 and MAPP#2 and it rained each of those days! I thought without my presence this year, great weather would be a sure thing, lol!!!

    -Larry
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    it was cloudy and windy in the morning (but no rain, just like MAPP1 & 2!!), but by afternoon the sun finally broke through and all is well :-)

    after MAPP, Meade, Dale, Ashu, and myself went cruising down(and up) Skyline Drive in Shanondoah Nat'l Park. One word: AWESOME.

    a lot of people took a lot of pictures, somebody will eventually post them on the web, so be patient for the pics :-)
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    want to go camping in the summer? I've considered buying a tent, the kind that is easy to set up -- looks like half a bubble, and some other camping gear. All should fit in the Pro's trunk.

    I went camping that way when I had an Audi Fox, which had a smaller trunk than the Pro. I crammed in an inflatable rubber boat, life jacket and paddle, small tent, food, ice chest, stove, laterns, radio, and clothing. Nothing in the back seat area.

    Should be plenty of space in the Pro, you don't need a boat on the Skyline Drive.

    fowler3
  • curt3curt3 Member Posts: 101
    Mazdafun, I should have specified, the 1986 GT I had was actually a 626 GT and not the 323. It was truly a hot car in its time. Thanks for informing me about the existence of a 323 GT. I am 31 years old so I still have a clear memory of when the pre-pre Protege was actually a GLC. My oldest brother, now 41, had a 1979 GLC with 4-speed manual and an aftermarket A/C that took up a good third of the dash space on the passenger's side. He used a brick on the gas pedal for a cruise control.

    In the Panama Canal Zone, where my wife is from, the Protege is still sold as the 323. I will be going there in early July and plan on renting one just for kicks. I rented a Toyota Yaris (Echo) when I was there in 2001.

    You are all to correct about the engine in the Kia Sephia--it was all Kia and no Mazda...

    Jay Leno actually owns a silver Ford Festiva called a "SHOgun" since it uses a 3.8 L Yamaha Super High Output engine--apparently it is quick...
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    I hope you guys had fun at MAPP III... I'm jealous! But, at least I'm taking the lead on the first (and very late) California meet!


    The meet will be held in Ventura, CA, June 16 at 1:00pm. I have put together a website for everyone with directions, pics, and so forth...


    http://www.caliprotegemeet.1hwy.com


    I want this to be a huge success!! Malt, I absolutely expect you to be there!! Don't make me drag you other there!! j/k


    BTW, the Sephia's engine is built by Kia, but it is based heavily on the Mazda BP series engine found in the 1st and 2nd Gen Protege's as well as the Miata. The Sportage is in the same boat, except it's the old Mazda 2.2L from the B2200 pickups.


    -Jerry

  • boopoppaboopoppa Member Posts: 48
    damn...i was all set to go to MAPP, but got a bunch of work put on me and thus had to stay home. sorry guys i couldn't add to the zoom zoom flava.
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    I had a 1981 Mazda GLC hatchback, the special edition with silver paint and houndstooth tweed and black trim. And special wheel covers. It was 4-speed. Very practical little car. Toyota introduced almost an exact copy the following year.

    Today's Protegé is a much better car, though. It's almost the size of Honda's 1986 Accord, wider in the front, closer to the space in the 1997 Accord. Taller than any of them for more headroom.

    Those two Accords were good highway cruisers, but not as much fun to drive as the current Protegé. The 1986 bottomed-out over bumps. With the Pro you have the best of both -- fun to drive and fast highay speedster.

    fowler3
  • orlandoguy1orlandoguy1 Member Posts: 9
    I wish they still built that great little car! It was probably the best car I ever owned--new or used--had like no problems with it--put almost 100,000 miles on it--only bad decision was trading it in on a Neon--or Christine---the car from hell!!!
  • speedyptspeedypt Member Posts: 200
    Thank you Pat or whomever deleted the offensive posts from the person I'll abbreviate as NB.

    That was mindless trash that was posted. I had a reply to that person that I have since deleted since it was no longer necessary.

    Again thanks.

    Pete
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    I'm sitting in my office on Sunday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. Tammy and Sean are beside me, and DALE is sitting in a chair behind me! She'll be taking off for O'Hare in two hours. We had a great weekend, a great third MAPP, and I took 102 photos and 3 mpeg movies that I will enjoy sharing with you all -- TOMORROW!!!

    How's that for suspense?

    We had a great time! MAPP IV -- September!!!! (Or thereabouts -- stay tuned!)

    Meade
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    I received several emails about the problem, and I appreciate all of them.

    I also appreciate everyone's restraint here. In some discussions, he generated a number of responses. There are two problems here - one, responding encourages him to continue (which he did in those discussions) and two, it makes my job all the much more difficult (and slow) because I have that much more to delete. Make sense?

    Anyway, that's enough of this, I think I need a shower. ;->

    If anyone needs to say anything else about any of this, let's do it off line.

    Thanks.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Another great MAPP, definitely. I still have an inch of standing water in my car, and it took awhile to get it out of the river too. :( Beetles do not float anymore..

    Just kidding. It was a great time had by everyone. Looking forward to coming to MAPP IV. And I will have a different car the next time as well, but it will be my own this time! :)
  • kaiserheadkaiserhead Member Posts: 166
    Curt3, did your '86 626 GT have the auto adjusting suspension? I had an '87 626 with the AAS with the base 2.0L engine, that was a great car, more fun than the Protege. Too bad I had to put it down in 2000, the harsh Toronto winters took their toll!!!

    -Kaiserhead
  • alternatoralternator Member Posts: 629
    Waxing, etc. go to:


    http://www.autopia-carport.com/index.php?s=&action=home


    For free download of a "detailing" E-book, go to:


    http://www.properautocare.com/freguidtodet.html


    I am sure that everyone can get something of value from these two sources. I have no personal connection with either web site.

  • curt3curt3 Member Posts: 101
    Fowler, you must be referring to the Toyota Starlet.

    Kaiserhead--I noticed your post in the problem section. I too have had trouble with my 1.6L and engine noise--I would bet my left arm that it's nothing less than a ping--at least with my car.

    My 1986 626 GT had a suspension that could be adjusted with the touch of a button. It could be set in "Sport" or "Touring" mode. I had the original shocks when I sold it so I could not tell the difference between the two settings by the time I sold it.

    Orlandoguy--I believe that the Festiva has some kind of curse attached to it if you sell it. I traded mine back in 1996 for a new Nissan truck which eventually was bought back by my dealership under the Lemon Law. What are the odds of a Nissan truck being a lemon? I later saw the Festiva in Panama City, Florida and the owner totally destroyed it--man did I make a mistake selling it. To this day I look for a used Festiva for a project car but most have severe body damage...By the way, I was in your neck of the woods two weekends ago to see my brother-in-law graduate from UCF. The owner of the Orland Magic was the guest speaker.
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    This evening I saw a Toyota Matrix owner trying to back out of a parking space with room enough for a big car to manuver. She backed up three times before pulling away. Could it be the small rear windows do not provide enough visibility? In time, I'll bet we will see many Matrixes with scared rear bumpers, the owners back up by ear.

    With Protegés we have great visibility in all directions.

    fowler3
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Hey, you guys...

    Had a great time at MAPP, and it was awesome meeting y'all...wish more of you had been able to make it, though.

    No, I didn't spill drinks, I didn't leave the plane windows open, and I was able to keep Paul's car out of the river. Rough weekend...I'm all worn out.

    But to stay on-topic here, I will say that I couldn't believe how much quieter Meade's Dunlop A2's (hope I got that right; sure I'll hear about it if I didn't) were than my stock Potenzas. REALLY have to consider new tires now...dang.

    --Dale
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    It wasn't that the Dunlop SP Sport A2s were that much quieter ...

    It's that you had to stop talking in order to listen.

    ;-)

    Glad to see you got home safe. We had a great time with you!

    (Did you have enough gas after all?)

    Meade
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