Mazda Protegé

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Comments

  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Wanted to let you know my bud and I had a great time hanging out with you in Chicago on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon. The tour was great, and your driving did not scare me or my friend either. I drive much faster, believe me. :)
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Paul: Glad you guys had a good time. I did, too. Hmmmm....so you're saying I need to drive even faster??? Dang, I'm trying to avoid getting more tickets!! :)

    ssoto: I'm sure somebody here knows the answers to your questions...keep checking back!

    --Dale
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Try mazdastuff.com---they have OEM parts and are usually cheaper than your local dealer.
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    Check this out:


    http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=02975761


    An excerpt:


    "Speaking to industry analysts and journalists here last week, Mazda

                        President Mark Fields said 70 percent of the automaker's future vehicles

                        will ride on Ford architecture while only 30 percent will be unique to

                        Mazda. "


    Oh well. I guess we knew this was coming.

  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Just be glad that we have the real deal.
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    well, just hope/pray that these future Mazdas will have qualities of Ford of Europe and not Ford USA...
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    this memorial day weekend.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    I'll just make sure I get the 100,000-mile extended warranty on my 6 in 2005.

    (BTW, that article says the new Protege and the Focus will SHARE platforms -- but it doesn't say which way the pendulum will swing. It may be that the Focus will have more Mazda parts in it than the Protege has Ford parts.)

    We can only hope for the best. We can't do anything about it, so why worry?

    Meade
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    it is the implementation that is bad.

    So if the car is made in Japan, I would not expect any problems. The design is good in USA, Europe and Japan. But USA lacks in implementing the way the design engineers would have liked it(same for the consumers)
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Last Friday my Protege turned 24 months old -- with 37,000 miles on it. Get that thing on the road!

    Meade
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    but obviously I am not.

    Actually I put up 20,000 miles in my first 12 months due to a long commute. Then I moved to a place closer to work and school(both) so the mileage went down.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    dsm6 - and anyone else interested - check out four posts starting here for some tips & tricks on posting long links.

    Hope it's helpful - if you have any questions, feel free to post them in that discussion.

    Pat
    Sedans Host
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Meade
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    ...<<<Hello there>>>.......
    ...<<<Hello there>>>.......
    ...<<<Hello there>>>.......
    ...<<<Hello there>>>.......
    ...<<<Hello there>>>.......
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    I guess that was an Echo ;)
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    Gee, doesn't everybody run at 1600x1200 res?
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    That really cracked me up when you said about the "fun turn of the day". It surely was pretty fun. :) I did have fun driving, just keep that speed down so you are not funding the city of Chicago with speeding ticket payments. :)
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Meade
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Yes and no. They did not fix the molding on the dash correctly AGAIN, and also the lights behind the climate controls went out last night when I was driving. It's going back to the shop in about 2 hours from now. It's pretty much been established that either they fix it correctly this time, or I get another car from VW.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Paul, I think you said your car was getting close to 15,000 miles. You'd better hurry if you plan to press the issue. Here's a quote from a page on Maryland's Lemon Law (http://www.somd.com/misc/lemon-law.htm):

    "The benefits of the Lemon Law are available not only if the vehicle that was purchased from a dealer was new, but also if it was transferred to another person during the vehicle's warranty period. That warranty period is 15 months after the car was originally delivered by the dealer or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first.

    "Under the law, a car is considered a lemon if, during the 15-month/15,000 mile warranty period, a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use and market value of the car cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. A 'reasonable number of attempts' means once, in the case of the braking or steering system, and four times in the case of other defects."

    Paul, while you may not have a lemon based on the above requirements, you should be VERY interested in the next line:

    "Alternatively, the 'reasonable number of attempts' requirement is satisfied if the car is out of service for repair of defects for a total of 30 or more days during the warranty period."

    Go get 'em, Vocus!

    Meade
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    "Alternatively, the 'reasonable number of attempts' requirement is satisfied if the car is out of service for repair of defects for a total of 30 or more days during the warranty period."


    According to that, the dealer just shot himself in the foot for keeping the Jetta for 5 weeks.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    What a moron!

    However, let's remember that Paul asked his dealer to keep it for part of that time so he could use the loaner car to drive all over the eastern half of this grand country of ours. So it may be hard to prove that the Jetta was in the shop "for repair or defects" all that time.

    Time for that lawyer friend to get involved, Paul!

    Meade
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    in how many months?
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    Even if it's in the shop for 20 weeks, it won't meet lemon law. Right from your post Meade " a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use and market value of the car cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts". I don't think a squeak falls into that category. The 30 days just takes out the amount of times they get to fix the defect.
    If this car falls under lemon law, I'd find that more reprehensible than the lady who spilled coffee on herself.
  • theparallaxtheparallax Member Posts: 361
    ...like they did with the Tribute, then this will be the LAST Mazda I will own. I'm not having 50 recalls in the first month of ownership. The 6/Atenza looks promising, so we will have to see what is yet to come.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Meinrad: Someone on the Jetta board said they got their car replaced because the door rattles could not be fixed. I think it's possible.

    Meade: The car was ready one week before I picked it up from the dealer. They called me the morning that I left for Chicago, and I okayed it with them to take my loaner to Chicago, so that's not a problem. The car was still in the shop for 4 weeks THIS TIME. It's been a total of about 35 days since new, 7 months (on the 3rd). It's eligible, and the squeak impairs use of the car if it sits in the shop all the time, right? We shall see what happens. And, I turned 14,000 miles last night when I drove it.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I put 3950 miles on the loaner in 5 weeks. I checked before I dropped it off yesterday. It was 5 weeks to the day, and exactly 3950 miles. They hate me, I bet. :)
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    what else can I say?
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    To preserve the strength of the Mazda breed, I guess I'll have to skip the Mazda 3 (new name for the next Protege - see, I'm on topic) or 6 next time and go for an RX-8 instead. Shucks.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    How what was the 323 became the Protege, now it's going to be called the 3 ...

    What was the 626 will be called the 6 ...

    I'll betcha the Millenia, which replaced the 929, will be the 9 next year!

    Meade
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    That is funny. Never thought of it that way.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    The Millenia is in the history books. The Mazda6 replaces both the 626 and Millenia.
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    Replaced (along with the 626) by the 6.

    I think the Pro stayed the 323 for the European market - not sure though. There is also a 2 in the Mazda line-up (not sold in US).

    2-3-6-8. Whom do we appreciate? Mazda, Mazda, Yeah!

    edit: oops, sorry for the double post with maltb - he types faster, I guess.
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Glad you like my favorite turn of the day...I've scared many people on that one.

    Although I have to tell you, I'm a little embarrassed by the way I took it on Sunday...that was kind of ugly. The car does handle a little differently with three adults on board.
  • kaiserheadkaiserhead Member Posts: 166
    If the next Protege is going to be known as the "3", the next Focus should be renamed the "13".
  • rae52rae52 Member Posts: 102
    Vocus, get yourself a 2002 cavalier. IT can't be as bad as the VW you're DEMANDING to be perfect! A perfect VW--give me a break!

    You might even be able to REALLY afford it; a 3,000 rebate is great, isn't it?
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Funny, I had a 1996 Cavalier. It was way worse than the Jetta is. And the customer service SUCKED. No thanks, I will stick with my Jetta.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I will definitely win the "dummy of the decade" for this happening. Listen.

    I was going to a friend's house earlier tonight, and I cut through this parking lot to miss a red light. Well, I had to turn right from the lot, and decided to squeeze past this van that was making a left from the same place. I thought I had enough room. Boy, was I surprised when I heard a POP! from the right side of my car. A hole big enough for TWO FINGERS to go into! DAMN IT! 14,000 miles on the tire, and $180 for its replacement.

    I am very sad right now. Got the car out of the shop after 5 weeks, and now this. I am doomed I guess. :(
  • gladicheckedgladichecked Member Posts: 93
    Sorry this is so long:

    I don't know if any of you old timers remember me, but I have an Emerald Mica 2000 Protege ES (automatic). I have had the car for almost 2 years now and it has been flawless...nothing but oil changes until now. I took a trip to Nashville, TN (from Raleigh, NC) and on the way back it was raining hard for about 2 hours straight. The rain let up and shortly after I had the cruise control, AC, rear defogger, radio, and headlights on. Occasionally my headlights got brighter for a second and then back to normal. At the same time there was a slight surge (or hesitation?) in engine power. As I was almost back to Raleigh my battery light starting coming on, then going back off (and I felt the hesitation). I noticed this as I exited off of the highway onto the exit ramp. It was 3AM when I got in so I didn't do anything about it at the time. The next day I checked the belts and battery connections and everything looked fine. During the next week I made several short trips (non highway) and the problem did not re-occur.

    Since I am moving to Nashville next week I took the car in to get this checked out before I make the 8+ hour drive. When I explained the symptoms over the phone to the service department they suspected the alternator. I brought the car in to the dealership today (wed) and the battery light came on as I was exiting the highway to go to the dealership (again with hesitation). This is the first time I had the car up to highway speed since my trip last week. They checked the car and said the alternator was fine. He also said he didn't have authorization to replace parts unless he could diagnois what the problem was (still under warranty). He said to pick up the car and if it happened again to bring it back in immediately. I told him this was not acceptable since I am moving and making the long drive to TN next week, and I want the problem solved. He agreed to have a mechanic take it on the road tomorrow to try and replicate the problem.

    Does anyone have a clue as to what could be causing this? Any help would be greatly appreciated. BTW, the car starts fine, so I don't think the battery is losing its charge.
  • frankpcbfrankpcb Member Posts: 27
    Your tire on the Jetta does not cost $180.00. You are getting ripped. Have you ever heard of Tire Rack? Go to their web site for your tire, www.tirerack.com. Don't be a dumb [non-permissible content removed] and pay $180.00 for a tire on a car you are getting rid of.
  • gladicheckedgladichecked Member Posts: 93
    When the problem occured today, it was dry as a bone, and has been for several days.
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    I am not sure what it is. It does sound like the alternator, but if it checked out fine I guess that's not it. I believe there is a regulator that tells the alternator how much charge to generate. When the regulator suddenly tells the alternator to charge more, you will notice an increase in your lights' brightness as well as a loss of engine power as the alternator puts more load on the engine.

    Don't quote me on that... I've been out of the biz too long now... But, that would be my guess... a faulty regulator.

    Hope this helps!

    -Jerry
  • gladicheckedgladichecked Member Posts: 93
    I don't know much about cars, but that was my gut instinct...it seems like there is too much of a charge. I just read an article and apparently the Protege has a "unique" voltage regulator. Part of it is in the alternator and part of it is in the "vehicle" according to the article. I wonder if the prolonged hard rain I drove through at 70mph (I know, I was flying for the conditions) may have some how caused the problem? Anyway, thanks for the input, and I hope to hear from some others that may confirm this or have "alternate" ideas (pun intended).
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    TireRack.com lists the Michelin Pilot Sport at $187 actually. And I am not getting rid of the car anytime soon, unless they can't fix the problem I have with it.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Bryan: I answered your duplicate post about your electrical problem in the Problems discussion. Check there.

    Paul: Sorry to hear about your tire. Yep, those Z-rated (on a JETTA???) tires are as expensive as you say. Maybe you could go to Pep Boys and buy a set of four Cooper radials for less than one Pilot Sport, LOL!!! What do you care; your car will soon be history. You can tout that it has four brand-new tires on it ...

    dsm: Ooops, brain fart. Forgot about the Millenia going bye-bye. But hey -- you guys missed one. Mazda has the 121 in other countries too; it's a "mini." So they have a "1" too.

    Hope everybody has a good morning. I had a wonderful evening, stepping out onto my brand-new, 225-square-foot deck and grilling a juicy bunch of baby back ribs on my brand-new Weber grill. Life is good. A little debt-intensive right now, but good. And now it's time to buy patio furniture. Off to do some surfing ...

    ;-)

    Meade
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    I didn't wait for the next gen Protege, I mean 3, I mean Focus.
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    aka Demio, is the vehicle to which I was referring that will become the 2.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    where did u read this "article"?
    any links would be appreciated.
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