Mazda Protegé

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Comments

  • edmund2460edmund2460 Member Posts: 293
    I hate to say it but I agree with Pat, except for his spelling of resemblance. Oops forgot to say Protege!
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    A loaded one is $25K? The loaded one I confifured on Mazda's site (every option) was $27K. That is way too high for my tastes.

    I also don't like having to get the leather heated seats and heated mirrors in order to get the sunroof. Stupid packaging!
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    It's just $2K more than what you paid for your smaller Jetta. I'm sure you can get a pretty loaded model for $25K.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Still, that's $2K more than the sticker was on the VW for (about) the same amount of power, nearly equal handling (according to Edmunds' test results), but less interior room. The prices are about in line with the Altima though, so I guess it makes sense. And the interior looks to be 100x better than the Altima's is.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Protege, folks. Please.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    It's 40 hp more than the 1.8T and 20 more than the GLI. Either way, I'd take the 6 over any Jetta.

    Proteges are nice.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    so let's talk about those nice Proteges, eh? :)
  • boggseboggse Member Posts: 1,048
    I just checked my tread depth, and, after 2,000 miles, my Toyos are at just under 10/32. If this is an indicator, then they should last much longer than the SP Sport 5000s did. I just wish the Toyos didn't cost so much.

    Next time around, I may try the Kumhos just because they are so darn inexpensive.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I was thinking about getting Kumhos when I replace my tires. ~$100 for a 17" performance tire (each) sounds darn near irrestible! :) Also, the reviews on TireRack.com seem to be favorable as well.
  • ashutoshsmashutoshsm Member Posts: 1,007
    I'll check my Falken ZIEX'es (40-odd days and 3K+ miles) and post back - what's the best way to check tread-depth? Get one of the tire/oil-change places to do it?

    BTW - I push the car further and further everytime, and have yet to hear these tires squeal or lose any traction. Pretty darn neat for $50 each and 30K warranty, eh?

    Edward, how often do you plan to rotate? I'm thinking I'll do it every oil change if I'm late (4K miles or more) or every alternate if I'm anal (oil every 3K, so every 6K). Overkill?
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    You should rotate every 6K miles, that's usually the recommended cycle. I do it every oil change, because mine are at 5K.
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    I wanted to listen to a CD in the car one afternoon, while the music was playing I realized I had buckled up -- in the garage, engine off, just sitting there.

    fowler3
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    I've never done that.

    When I get that tune-up done in a mth (looks like the 2nd week of December judging bythe mileage) or so, should the fuel filter and PCV be changed? It's the 48.000kms/30.000miles one.

    Thanx!

    Dinu
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Yeah, change the PCV valve. I don't think you can change the fuel filter without tons of labor charges. It's in the fuel tank.
  • boggseboggse Member Posts: 1,048
    I have a tread depth ruler. It came with my Quest Digital Air Pressure gauge.
  • alternatoralternator Member Posts: 629
    Insert a wooden toothpick (or similar disposable object) into wherever the tread depth looks the least. Mark depth on toothpick, remove and measure.
  • ashutoshsmashutoshsm Member Posts: 1,007
    While I commend your brilliant insight, and intelligent suggestion, unfortunately I have nothing with which to measure the toothpick to the desired degree of accuracy :( Otherwise I'd love to do the measurement myself as well.

    Just the idea of doing it in so inaccurate a fashion and risking high errors relative to the unit - 32nds of an inch - is scary. Not to mention the terrible least count, and associated errors resulting from measuring anything that small with any degree of accuracy with a scale. I'd rather just use a gauge or measuring device meant for the purpose. Or have the oil-change people do it - they do have a device meant for this measurement!
  • alternatoralternator Member Posts: 629
    Use a wooden matchstick, mark with a fine-tip, fiber-tip pen. Average several measurements at different spots around the tire. You probably can't get any better accuracy than that.
  • jeffy729jeffy729 Member Posts: 45
    Hi there. When I had a failing MAF sensor on my '99 I thought it might be a clogged fuel filter (it had 25K miles at the time). The service writer said it's more a screen than a filter on Proteges and rarely needs changing. She said the earliest it would need it would be at 60K.
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    Oil and filter change -- US$19.95
    With tire rotation -- $58.50
    7500 check and tire rotation -- US$67.50
    15,000 check -- $187.50
    30,000 check -- $257.50

    Not bad compared to Honda and Toyota which are much higher. Some dealers double the amount if you bought the car from a competitor.

    fowler3
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    There is a way to measure tred depth with a penny, I forget what you look for on the coin. Maybe one of the other guys remembers.

    fowler3
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    "Some dealers double the amount if you bought the car from a competitor."

    Wow! That's a good way to reduce business. I know I wouldn't go there if they punished me for not buying my car there.
  • crkeehncrkeehn Member Posts: 513
    If the top of Lincolns head is showing, your tires are worn.
  • boggseboggse Member Posts: 1,048
    I was spectating at an autocross in Laurinburg, NC over the weekend. Someone had a stock blue P5 out there on street tires. It was getting pretty respectable times. I saw it get around 68 seconds at least twice. For comparison, modified Miatas on race tires were getting in the 62-63 second range. The best time I saw was an Opel Manta, which got about 60 seconds. I didn't stay for the whole event, so others may have bested that time. One day I plan to autocross my Protege. If I could just talk my wife into it...
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    My Protege spent last night, for the first night ever, sleeping with his tires parked on ASPHALT!!! YAYYYYY!!!!

    Got the new driveway installed Thursday; had to wait several days for things to "cure" before Zoomster could roll down 75 brand-spanking-new feet of smooooooooth asphalt. Now Zoomster and Zumnmom (my wife's P5) don't have to park on that damned weed-infested, railroad-bed-grade gravel anymore ... and I don't have to buy Roundup by the 55-gallon-drumload and trod out barefoot to get my newspaper anymore going, "Expletive! Cuss word! NC-17-rated utterance!"

    Meade
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Glad you got the new driveway put in. It will also make your oil changes and maintenance easier.
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    I finally did it.

    Actually, I should say WE finally did it.

    Me and Speedypt.

    Waxed my car.

    Dang, it looks good.

    And yes, Paul, I finally got the coke out of my floormat. Used some kind of upholstery cleaner I happened to have in my trunk...worked great, looks like new.

    Wish I had done this a long time ago...but next time, I think I'm leaving it to the professionals. I STILL hurt.

    --Dale
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Congrats on the driveway!
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    This from Edmunds' recent review of the Mazda6:

    "According to Ford, Mazda's parent company, the 6 will also be the basis of the new MPV minivan, a crossover SUV and a Ford sedan to replace the Taurus."

    So now we'll have the Focege (Proteus?), and then, the SiMPV, SixBute and Taurix!

    Joking aside, it looks like Ford's making the right moves to improve its crappy quality!

    Meade
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    "waxed my car", lol, never heard it put that way before..........
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    From under what rock did you crawl?

    Meade
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    He musta been under Plymouth Rock -- and come to think of it, I b'lieve it was waxed with the same wax that Dale or somebody used on their Protege.

    Yes?
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    That was the brand I used!

    Ye Olde Purely Puritan Pilgrim Protege Polish.

    The car has never looked more pure!
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    oh my, where ARE my hipboots?
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Meade
    (glub glub glub, I just drowned)
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    How much is too much stuff to keep in your trunk on a semi-permanent basis?

    I mean, I have quite a bit of junk in there, just because I don't have anywhere else to store it:

    snow shovel, crate of car care supplies, gifts for my nephew and godson, a couple of boxes of papers that I can't throw away yet, etc. etc.

    Am I doing serious damage to my rear suspension?
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    ;-)

    Dale, as long as you don't exceed the GVWR on your driver's side door label, you'll be fine. You can also think about the fact that your car is designed to hold "three" (er, OK) adults in the back seat, and you probably never have anyone other than yourself and maybe a front seat passenger, I'm assuming? (BTW, "three" Japanese dudes probably means more like one-and-a-half of me.)

    Most of what you've got sounds fine -- but boxes of papers can be heavy. Any way to estimate how much all this stuff weighs?

    I really don't think you'll need to worry much though. I've packed my Protege full of lumber, bags of grass seed and fertilizer, etc. from time to time, so much so that even I was scared to drive the car. But lo and behold, Zoomster did fine ...

    Meade

    P.S. Can you be a little more specific than "gifts"??? How the heck are we supposed to estimate your payload with such a uselessly generic comment??? "Gifts" -- are they stuffed animals or desks? Geesh!!!
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I'll bet you would get a little better MPG if you cleared your trunk out....
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Huh?

    Please explain. I don't spend a lot of time reading my door label.

    Not sure how much it all weighs...the thing I'm worried about is that fact that it sits in there ALL the time. Not like coming home from the store and then unloading a bunch of groceries.

    Guess I'll have to go check out that GVWR thingy.

    Thanks!

    --Dale

    P.S. Todd: You're right, I hadn't even considered the mileage issue. And one of these days, I'll actually have to compute my mileage. :)

    P.P.S. Meade: Hmm...well, usually the gifts aren't things like desks...more like books and small toys and such. Also wrapping paper, shoes...it's lots of stuff. Jeez. Maybe I should clean out the trunk.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    It's the combined weight of your car and all occupants, including any cargo. Subtract your vehicle's empty weight from that number (empty weight is usually located on the sticker too, I think) and what you have left is how much you can load into your car including yourself, any passengers and cargo.

    Meade

    P.S. I see you like to edit your posts after posting them too ... ;-)

    P.P.S. Books? Hmmm, more heavy stuff. I'd clean the trunk out if I were you. Then again, I'm not. But here's what I typically keep in my trunk, aside from the body ... an umbrella, a safety vest and folder of stuff for work, and sometimes a small box of car care stuff. In the winter I usually also have a container of washer fluid, jumper cables and a few other odds and ends in there. (I recognize the fact that you, being farther north than me, probably need to carry a larger winter survival kit in your car -- down here in Virginia we rarely need blankets, emergency food, propane lanterns, shotguns and moose repellent.)
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    one box of laminate flooring from last December when I put laminate in my room at the old house that I have to drop-off at Home Depot.

    I also have:

    * a blanket
    * snow brush and scraper
    * soccer ball and shin guards
    * 12pack Bud case where I have my car cleaning stuff
    * 100 clear plastic cups that I need to throw away or put them somewhere inside
    * a wrench and screwdriver set
    * jug of windshield washer

    The interior of the car is sparkling clean though. All wrappers, papers, etc are thrown out immediately after being used.

    Dinu
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    A 12pack Bud case and plastic cups, and you expect us to believe the Bud case is filled with car cleaning stuff? ;-)

    My box really does have car cleaning stuff in it, and tools - left over from when I drove a GM product that need road side repair from time to time. I guess I could get rid of the tools now. Then again, maybe I could use them to help out someone else.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    My trunk is about full of JUNK! I have:

    * bottle of coolant and windshield washer fluid
    * strut bar in its box (never installed it yet)
    * stock antenna (put another one on the car)
    * some lettering from when I changed my badge
    * jacket
    * package of shirts that came in the mail the other day
    * snow brush
    * clothes in a bag for working out (been in there for a month now!)
    * some junk and papers

    I plan to clean it out one day, whenever I get time to clean my car and wax it. We shall see when though... :)
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    OK, maybe not all junk:

    First-aid kit
    Jumper cables
    1/2-inch socket driver (for changing wheels)
    1/2-inch socket
    Spare bulbs
    Cotton cloths
    Brown cloth gloves
    Duct tape (can never have enough)
    3/8-inch socket set & driver
    Fire extinguisher (for the Focus fires out there)
    Air pump (manual)
    Wheel chocks
    Neck pillow
    Emergency blanket
    Snow/ice scraper (shortly)
    Collapsible snow shovel (shortly)
    Really big umbrella
    Two "standard" umbrellas (in cabin)
    Collapsible plastic crates (for groceries and small stuff)
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Who didn't say the Protege has a cavernous trunk!!!???
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Fifth of Jack Daniels (for when all else fails)

    ;-)
  • alternatoralternator Member Posts: 629
    that the Edmunds Overview Page on the 2003 Protege says "The LX trim receives 15-inch wheels as standard" since that was already the standard wheel on the 2002 LX trim.
  • jeffy729jeffy729 Member Posts: 45
    15" alloys instead of steel wheels maybe?
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    for those who turn their Protegés into Atticcars. LOL! Do they go zoom zoom when the trunk is loaded or chug chug? Now I know what MS really means - Mazda STUFF!

    In my trunk, a package of paper napkins I forgot to transfer to the kitchen. Otherwise, it's always empty and clean as new. Only thing in the glovebox is the manual. Cabin is also clean, no trash. Nothing in the coin box either. Driver's side door pocket has a cap in it. Oh yeah, I usually keep three "crash" pillows on the rear floor to protect Tippy in a sudden stop. Two are still in the bathtub from last night when I thought we would take cover there if a twister hit.

    fowler3
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