Mazda Protegé

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Comments

  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    ...or that the Meineke guys are going to be full of crap?

    I would never accuse a reputable chain like that of any wrongdoing. :-)

    When I worked in a parts store some time ago, a local shop belonging to an unnamed national chain that has a "softer side" would use us for their out of stock purchases. Every month, we'd have a higher than normal demand for some specific item. Coils springs in March, Shocks/Struts in April, calipers in May, etc. Well one time they sent over an alternator to be tested and my co-worker called them back (we had a direct line) to let the service advisor know that the unit tested fine, no trouble. "Send us a new one anyway" was the response. Not understanding why, he queried the guy a little to find out that it was alternator month. That's right, go for a Die Hard and come home with a new alternator. A couple years later the govt. basically shut them down from doing little more than tires and batteries.

    There are plenty of reputable shops out there, but face it, selling $29.95 brake jobs will put a place in the red faster than Potenzas wear out.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Congrats, dinu, on finishing your exams!

    But, ummm, you were missing? Seems like only yesterday I just ran into you elsewhere!

    ;-)
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I thought so. That sounds a lot like the $19.99 early bird oil change special at my old employer. You go in there expecting to get a $19.99 oil change and you leave with a $19.99 oil change, a $59.99 coolant change, a $79.99 transmission flush, a $15.99 air filter, and maybe a $39.99 fuel injection/intake cleaning.....or at least that's what my old employer hoped.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    If you're that dumb to let them push all that crap on you, then you deserve what you get.

    The local oil change place here does the same thing (not JL, I would NEVER take my car there). I went for an oil change, and it's $25 I think. The guy said I had a milky substance in my oil cap and my engine needed cleaning inside. Also, he said my oil was black when he drained it. I went to the car (against his advice, he threw a fit actually) and opened the hood while it was in there, opened the cap, and sure enough he was lying. I told him how I felt about his business practices in the waiting room (among other customers), then took my car and left.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    The guy was partially telling you the truth. VWs often have a milky substance on the oil cap, but the "oil cleaning" that he wanted to do wouldn't solve that. I suspect the reason why you didn't see the milky substance on the cap is because it had already been wiped off----I always wiped that stuff off.

    It kind of goes both ways though. Sure, those places like to push that stuff, but most of the time they follow manufacturer's recommendations. If you don't believe what they tell you, take out the owner's manual and look. Better yet, look in the owner's manual BEFORE you go. Most of the time, customers really did need extra stuff done besides the oil change but wouldn't buy anything just because they thought we were full of crap. The truth is, most of the time the customers were full of crap. I don't know how many times I heard: "Oh, I had that done at the dealer last time I was there". Oh really? Is that why your automatic transmission fluid looks like coffee? I felt like saying "Either the dealer lied to you and didn't change it, or you are lying to me"
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Haha, that's funny about the tranny fluid. I know what you mean. I either do the maintenance stuff myself (like air filters and stuff like that) or do have it done. So I know they're full of crap when they say stuff like that.

    So what causes the milky substance on the oil cap?
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I think it's just condensation that builds up on the oil cap. Water and oil mixed together makes a milky looking substance. You'd have a problem if the whole engine was coated, but not if it's just the oil cap. I've seen it on VWs forever and it doesn't seem to be a problem.
  • nematodenematode Member Posts: 448
    I'm getting 28-30mpg for my mostly highway commute at 65-75mph in my 01 ES. I dont baby it either. Every chance I get I hammer the on-ramp seeing red line in at least 2 gears. In the winter the oxygenated fuel dropped it to 27mpg driving slower.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    As I noted previously, this is not the place to be talking about killing any animals.

    Leave it be.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    A couple weeks ago, I got 32 mpg going about 80 mph on a road trip to Chicagoc in my 2001 ES 5sp. This winter when it was really cold out and almost 100% short trips and city driving it got a 21 mpg tank. Big difference.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    >>>act like you know what you're talking about when you walk up to the counter.<<<
     is the key phrase.

    most people get ripped off when they leave the cr and tell the mechanic to "fix" whatever is wrong.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    But I wasn't going to use just that phrase since I was trying to give Malt the benefit of the doubt that he probably is smarter than your average teenager when it comes to cars, yet he's still getting sold the kitchen sink when he takes his car in for service.

    Meade
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    I'll see how it runs tomorow when the engine will be cold again.

    Pat: I just dropped by on that board. But I'm back to keep you busy :)

    Dinu
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    I thought that was MY job!!!
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    "Or maybe it just helps to be 6-1 and 250 pounds, a 38-year-old adult, and act like you know what you're talking about when you walk up to the counter."

    Lol. It doesn't matter what you look like or if it sounds like you know what you're talking about. If you would have brought your car into J-lube and it was due for a radiator flush, air filter, whatever, I would have tried to sell it to you.
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    like I do everytime I go in for an oil change.Whether it be Jiffy Lube, Pennzoil, Grease Monkey or whatever.

    No is an easy word to say.
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    You and a lot of other people.

    As far as people who decline those services, there are 3 kinds of people

    1. They don't trust a lube shop, they would prefer to go to the dealer.
    2. They do it themselves
    3. They don't do anything besides oil changes no matter what it says in the owner's manual. (there are A LOT of these people)

    The last group of people really used to piss me off when I worked there. They would lie about everything when it was perfectly clear that their vehicle had been neglected for a long period of time. When your air filter looks like it's growing moss, don't tell me that you just did it. Tell me that you didn't do it and you don't care.
  • tomcivilettitomciviletti Member Posts: 207
    anyone see the new issue?

    4 - sentra whatever
    3 - mazdaspeed pro
    2 - focus whatever
    1 - neon whatever

    1,2,3 were seperated by only 3 points. Based on their own numbers, it was hard to see why the ford beat the mazda. Given the close ratings, I would pick the pro for its ability to stay in one piece for extended periods.
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    They mentioned it somewhere. Apparently one of the hoses associated with the turbo system keeps coming off when they push the turbo. No big deal to put it back and fasten it, but it happened on a "production" unit, and it happened on the "pre-production" unit they tested a while back. Seems like the fitting needs some barbs on it and/or the hose needs a better clamp.

    But, I too think that the Pro is more likely to stay bolted together than the Focus SVT or Neon SRT-4. And they are really close in overall rating (don't try adding up the numbers, C&D admits the overall rating is not directly tied to the individual ratings...it's more of an overall impression).

    I do hate the control layout of the stereo (ick, lots of tiny buttons, an overly-distracting display and where are the knobs?), though I love the amp and speakers (though I probably wouldn't use it even close to its full potential). They did a much tidier job of packaging the amp and subwoofer than in the MP3, so you can still use the trunk.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I was reading the comparo last night a little bit. I can't believe they chose the SVT over the MSP either, but they did. Also, they said both of those cars were down on power.

    The hose: Since they have a production car, stuff like that shouldn't happen. It should have been caught by QA or something before the car was released.
  • cpaulyeecpaulyee Member Posts: 19
    Hi everyone, enjoying my 2001 LX 2.0 which has been flawless during my 13,000 miles accumulated so far, but I do notice that two of my wheel covers (LX uses plastic covers) have developed cracks and wanted to know if anyone else has seen this happen. It starts out like a hairline crack but has progressed as more driving is done so of course I will be bringing this up with the dealer. Have a great day everyone.
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    Yep!

    Tell your dealer they cracked while you tried to remove them to clean them. There's a TSB out for it. I got 4 new ones a few months ago and those haven't cracked.

    Dinu
  • cpaulyeecpaulyee Member Posts: 19
    Thanks Dinu, yes I will take it up with the dealer. Wish they would bring back steel covers.

    Thanks again

    Paul
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    But I wasn't going to use just that phrase since I was trying to give Malt the benefit of the doubt that he probably is smarter than your average teenager when it comes to cars, yet he's still getting sold the kitchen sink when he takes his car in for service.

    I've never been sold more than asked for, but then again I know the people personally at any place I take my car which is very, very rare. My posts are written from the perspective of the many people who have asked me for service advice over the years. I used to do a lot of service work for family and friends but had to cut that out for lack of time. After they'd come back with ridiculous quotes, I found them referring all of them to my buddy that has a shop. The work at his shop is nothing special, but they only sell you what they think you need.
  • tomcivilettitomciviletti Member Posts: 207
    You really need to be careful when dealing with service. Whether the dealer, a chain like sears [oh no!] or independent shops, there's plenty temptation to sell what's not needed. If you can develop a relationship witha small shop that provides good work and honesty over time, stick with them. Dealers have an advantage with certain quirky problems their cars suffer. My approach is to do it myself, if possible. so far, my pro has not broken, so maintainence has been pretty simple [accept for the ridiculous oil filter location, dag nab it!]
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    The Protege's oil filter isn't in a bad location. At least you don't have a Miata. The Protege's filter is EASY considering some of the other filter locations I have seen.
  • tomcivilettitomciviletti Member Posts: 207
    There may be worse, but the pro is the 1st car i've had that requires me to lie on my back to change a filter.

    a new tire to consider:

    Continental ContiExtremeContact

    - - Early results are in and there's a new leader in Ultra-High Performance All-Season.
    27 surveys submitted 78,272 miles reported

    Dry
    Traction Wet
    Traction Hydro
    Resistance Snow
    Traction Cornering
    Stability Steering
    Response Ride
    Comfort Noise
    Comfort Tread
    Wear
    8.7 9 9 8.8 8.6 8.8 8.7 8.4 9

    Would You Buy This Tire Again? Most said: Definitely (Average of 9.7 out of 10)

    Tire's Rank In Its Category? 1 out of 17 tires (Score of 8.7 vs best tire in category score of 8.7)
     
     
    sorry for the lousy paste job.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    For the DIYer, you have to lie on your back to change the oil filter on most cars. You're down there anyway draining the oil.
  • boggseboggse Member Posts: 1,048
    Doesn't seem to come in 195/50R16. Too bad.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Something I've learned from those TireRack reviews ...

    Most all of them are submitted within weeks of buying the tires. I learned this the hard way, trusting the multitude of reviews of the Dunlop SP Sport A2 in the first six months it was on the market. Nearly every one of the several dozen reviews said it was the most excellent, great-handling, quiet, rain-loving tire in the world. Now after less than a year of ownership, after experiencing a tire with a 50,000-mile warranty that's worn to the treadwear indicators after only 20,000 miles, that's noisy, slick and scary in the rain, I go back to read a few "new" reviews by people who've come back to swear at the tires after a similar length of ownership. Different story.

    From now on I'm basing my tire decisions on real-world reviews by people who've owned the tire for a year or more -- no more "gee, these tires are cool" reviews from TireRack.

    Meade
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    Good advice. As another example, read some of Vocus's posts in this forum...it's an interesting change from when he first got his (2nd) Protege to when he traded it in.

    BTW, not picking on you Paul! Just making an analogy!
  • kaiserheadkaiserhead Member Posts: 166
    According to the Mazda USA, that awful orange color for the MazdaSpeed Protégé is no longer available, there are four colors now, dark grey, silver, yellow and blue.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    has been fired!!!!
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    I enjoy the fact that it can rev upto the revlimiter/redline in all the gears 1~3 even in automatic mode. Really sounds beautiful while doing complete ~6500rpms in each gear.
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    The fact that it's not an automatic :P
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    Looked good in the driveway. Great handling. And the high seating position.
  • boggseboggse Member Posts: 1,048
    It is not a VW. No offense, but I will never own another one.

    Also, it is less common than the Civic and Corolla. Like having a premium car without paying for it.
  • kaiserheadkaiserhead Member Posts: 166
    ...is that it's paid for!!!

    (hahahahaha!!!)
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    1. It was built in Japan
    2. It looks nice
    3. It's roomy
    4. It handles very well
    5. It's not an automatic
    6. Black interior
    7. It has power where I need it and use it (low-midrange)
    8. It's not a Civic
    9. Standard good looking 16 inch wheels and nice tires
    10. 4 wheel disc brakes
    11. Sturdy "Holy Crap!!" handles
    12. The back windows roll almost all the way down
    11. 0% financing for 48 months
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I know they're expensive, but Michelin seems to put out a good tire. I had Michelins at first, then went to Goodyears. BIG difference. Back to Michelins now, and loving them again.

    You get what you pay for, keep that in mind...
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    I know that you all have been on pins and needles the last few weeks, wondering what in the world was causing the coolant to leak from Dale's car.

    Well, I finally took it in today (what else does one do while on vacation?) and got the answer:

    The radiator was leaking.

    I now have a new one (yes, everything covered under warranty, and replaced in one day), and the car and I are very happy.

    I asked the service advisor guy a couple of times why he thought the radiator had leaked, and he really didn't have a solid answer for me.

    "Well, it could have been a defective radiator...it could have been corrosion...there's no way we can know for sure."

    Oh, well.

    Thanks again to everyone for their comments and suggestions.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    You think that accident you had in the car had something to do with it? I would think you would have noticed before now though. Just a thought...
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    Glad it's fixed. Just some goofy thing I'm sure. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen to Dale.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Now you shouldn't have to worry about a radiator for as long as you keep the car. You also got a free coolant change too.
  • dinu01dinu01 Member Posts: 2,586
    I suspect there's something going on between Dale's car and liquids/fluids. First we had the "Spilled Coke Fiasco" which put Dale in a sticky situation, then the "Car Wash Affair" which left things floating (and perhaps hanging out to dry) for a while, the "Windshield Wipeout" which like the "Car Wash Affair" might have allowed undesirable water in the cabin if not fixed promptly, and now the "Missing Coolant Mystery" which as we all know is still unsolved. The only thing we all keep wondering is: what is next?

    Dinu
    PS: My PRO's doing great :)
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    I thought you bought those Goodyear tires just a few months ago. What are you doing with Michelins again? Are you now going through tires like you go through cars? What happened to the Goodyears you just bought???

    Meade

    P.S. Anyone else having Edmunds telling you "you must first log in" before posting at the bottom of EVERY FLIPPIN' PAGE YOU VISIT???
  • boggseboggse Member Posts: 1,048
    No.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    >>>In order to POST, go to the last page of the discussion.<<<
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Paul: I wondered about that, too, but that happened almost three years ago now.

    Raymond: yes, of course. :P

    Todd: Very true!

    Dinu: You're pretty funny...and you apparently have too much time on your hands. You taking classes this summer?

    Meade: I have no idea what you're talking about.
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