Mazda Protegé

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Comments

  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    :D
  • boggseboggse Member Posts: 1,048
    So, you really do want an unobtainable car then (assuming you want it to actually run). Is that the 2 door or 4 door? Interestingly, a 1979 Citation came in 65th out of 75 in the 2003 One Lap of America.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    All you had to do was slam on the brakes ...

    :D
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    The European filters are actually older than the Tennex filters. They must be clearing out some old stock.
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    1980 Chevy Citation! My first car.

    4 doors of heavenly beauty.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    1978 Pontiac Grand LeMans.

    Equally boring. And baby blue too. To think I washed, waxed & Armor-Alled that tank and tried to make it look impressive for my senior prom ...

    Lord, the memories.

    Meade
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    This isn't like this discussion to go entire 24-hour periods with no posts at all. I mean, we all know Paul doesn't have Internet access at his new job, but c'mon!

    Is it Spring Break or something? Or is the warm weather causing too much zooming and too little surfing?

    Meade
  • boggseboggse Member Posts: 1,048
    Everyone is waiting for the 3 to come out.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I'm waiting for the 3 to come out. I most likely won't be buying one though. The Protege is going to be around for a while. As soon as it's paid off, I want to get a Mustang again. Some people have boats, snowmobiles, motorcyles, etc. I want a 90-93' LX 5.0L that will eventually have 300-400 hp. I should be able to buy a mint example and mods for around $15,000. So, I'll still be around the Protege room, but a good amount of my auto enthusiasm will be focused on the Mustang. This is still about a year and a half away, but I have to start looking now.
  • pierreasdfpierreasdf Member Posts: 22
    my 2001 ES as long as it will be safe and reliable. I have had 3 new cars on the last 7 years, an Escort ZX2, a CRV and the Protege, and I have estimated that I have lost at least 6 000$ to have changed so often. So, I have chosen this Protege very carefully: comfortable for tall drivers (I'm 6'1"), fun to drive for the price and reliable (I expect it to last 150 000 miles, we'll see...). At first, I didn't like:

    - the accelerating power, but now I think that it has adequate 'passing' power, which is the most important for me
    - the cabin noise: so, instead of trading the car, I have spend a few hundred dollars on some sound-deadeding stuff and recently, I have put less sporty but more quiet tires

    To complete the changes, I have also put the the variable intermittent wipers. So, as it is now, it's almost the perfect car for me and customizing it instead of trading it has save me a lot of money. I'm cured now ;-)

    Meade, we'll miss you on this board; have a great ride with your new Jetta.

    Pierre
  • manavimanavi Member Posts: 150
    Bon jour Pierre.

    What did you use to sound deaden your Protege and how good is it working?

    Also, did you put intermittent wipers by changing the stalk with the MPV stalk? I think I read something about that somewhere, but I thought it was only for the P5.
  • klieuklieu Member Posts: 2
    To : pierreasdf

    How do you upgrade your "variable intermittent wipers" ? I would like to do it too. Where do you do it and how much is it ? Thanks
  • boggseboggse Member Posts: 1,048
    Instructions can be found here:

    http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1- 8335&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

    I did it on my P5 in no time. It comes in really handy although we haven't had much rain lately.
  • pierreasdfpierreasdf Member Posts: 22
    As mentionned in the link posted by Boggse, the part no for the sedan is GE6M-66-128 (European 626 control stalk). My local Mazda dealer has ordered it directly from Japan. It takes about 2 weeks for delivery and cost me about 100 USD, all fees included (piece, shipping, installation by the dealer which is just about 15 minutes). Works fine, no problem at all.

    For the P5, very easy: just get the MPV's stalk.
  • klieuklieu Member Posts: 2
    To: pierreasdf

    Where are you in Canada ? Can you give me the name of dealer you did. My dealer sucks

    Thanks
  • pierreasdfpierreasdf Member Posts: 22
    in my 2001 sedan I have used:

    1- for the rear wheels wells: Brownbread stuff. I have ordered it at www.b-quiet.com, a canadian company that can also ship in US via UPS (you will find other good stuff there). This stuff is supposed to be about the same quality than Dynamat but much cheaper. I have also put some on the inside doors (great for music, specially bass) but the greatest gain was with the rear wells (no tire noise now). This stuff is also great to fix rattles.

    2- For the trunk: I have just taped (with 3-M doubled-face tape) some standard house deadening stuff at the backside of the original carpet. I don't remember the name right now but it's the kind of stuff you put under wood floor. BTW, you should find it at Home Depot. I have also made new carpets with this stuff that I have put under the stock carpets in the cabin. You will find better stuffs for this at www.b-quiet.com (lcomp and vcomp) but it is somewhat expensive and I didn't want to add too much weigth to the car (Brownbread is somewhat heavy and I have already put about 25 pounds in my car).

    Hope this will help you. Sorry for the bad english.

    P.S. Still satisfied with your TPT?

    Pierre
  • pierreasdfpierreasdf Member Posts: 22
    I remember now the name of the stuff that I have used: QuietWalk. For description, you can take a look at: http://www.ouachitalumber.com/underlayment.html

    Again, this is not 'serious' stuff for car (like Lcomp and Vcomp) but it it cheap and light. I also know that others here have used some Masters-Carr with success (for instance, check post no 7182).
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    how did you apply the b-quiet stuff to the rear wheel well?
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    "Meade, we'll miss you on this board; have a great ride with your new Jetta."
    -Pierre


    Meade, is way to ugly to drive a V Dub Jet, LOL!!! Only beautiful young people own Volkswagen Jetta's. Furthermore, he cannot afford to sell his Mazda Protégé’s because of their poor resale value. OK, just kidding, Pierre. Meade, is very handsome and has lots of money.

    ;-)))

    -lovetrain
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    good reason to change your own oil on the Jetta problems thread......
  • pierreasdfpierreasdf Member Posts: 22
    Frankly, since you already have quiet tires (BFG), I don't think that it is worth the time and money to put sound deadening stuff in your rear wells. I have done it last summer because I was running very noisy ultra-performance summer tires and I must admit that I am very impatient about noises in the car (including rattles). But if you want to do it, you will have:

    1- to remove the rear deck panel (see post 274 in the Accessories board)
    2- go to the trunk and remove: first, the black plastic piece at the rear, then the two other pieces on each side (be careful to not break the little plastic pins)
    3- go to the rear side doors and remove the gray plactic pieces (on each side) recovering the rear wheel wells (go gently, inche by inche, they are just clipped there)
    4- apply your deadening stuff over the wells (now exposed); for myself, I have put two layers of Brownbread
    4- put back all the plastic pieces in place

    Et voilà! (Traduction: That's it!)

    Chikoo, about the BFG, I have noticed that stopping distances are longer and also the 'passing' time (the time it takes to double another car, going from 50 to 70 mph for instance, french word for this is 'reprise'). Have you noticed that on your car? Does it get better when the tires begin to wear (mines are brand new)?
    Thanks, Pierre
  • pierreasdfpierreasdf Member Posts: 22
    I'm in province of Quebec. My Mazda dealer is Levis Mazda (french dealer ...). You will find its phone number in canada411 but I think that you should be able to deal with another Mazda dealer in your neighbourhood; just ask them if they can order that part from Japan. Good luck.
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    peanutbutter would work? LOL!

    fowler3
  • explrsportexplrsport Member Posts: 34
    Protege LX, Red
    ABS/airbag
    Auto trans
    Moonroof/6 disc CD

    $15995 before rebate.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    No Pierre, since you're new to the discussion, I'll let you know I was kidding big-time. I would not, could not buy a Jetta, Meade-I-am!!!

    My '00 ES 5-speed, resplendent in Emerald Mica, which sits beside my wife's '02 Pure White Protege5 in our driveway, has 55,800 trouble-free miles on him. He's going to be staying around for a long, long time to come. Only got 24 more payments on him too. This is my third Protege, the last ones both being '92s. My next car probably will be a 3, but it'll be several years before I make that move -- as long as the current car holds up, and I have every expectation that it will. Even so, I have the warranty extended to 6 years/100K miles, so I'm good for at least another 2-1/2 years. The sweet aroma of no car payments is starting to waft through the air ...

    BTW, I have followed the masses here and now have a set of BFG Touring T/A VR4s on the car. After about three weeks with them, I can say that for ride quality and noise, they're wayyyy better than the Bridgestone Poortenzas that came on the car, and a good deal quieter than the last set of tires -- Dumflop SP Sport A2s -- were when they were new. And they don't "scrub" in corners like the Dunlops did, and even though they're a taller-sidewalled touring tire with a smoother ride, the V-rating helps them corner just as well as the Dumflops did and almost as well as the Poortenzas did.

    Not a bad deal for about $75 per tire, installed, with lifetime balance, rotation and road hazard, at my local Costco. And the car now rides (and the lack of interior noise makes it sound) like a much more expensive car.

    Now to get that windshield replaced ...

    Meade
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    My wife got hit by a deer last night. Coming home late last night the darn thing ran right into the passenger side rear door.

    I haven't seen it in daylight yet, but last night it appeared to be minor damage. Pretty much just 2 large, deep scratches in the middle of the door. Nothing looked out of line, and nothing looked smashed. So as deer accidents go, I think we got off pretty easy.

    Sometime next week when I'm back form Oakland I'll have to see how much this is going to cost me.
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Glad your wife is OK. Hope your car is too.

    Deer are very unpredictable, and they travel in small groups, so you might get hit or hit the next one. That always keeps me on edge when foliage comes right up to the road, even during daylight.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    As I said "over there," only you, man. ONLY you.

    Remember to deduct the price of all those free meals off whatever deductible you have to meet when computing total cost.

    Meade
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Seems like a lot of people in here have hit deer with their Proteges, including myself. Bummer.

    Like Meade, I'm looking forward to no car payments.....or at least no car payments on the Protege. Since I've been a freaking lunatic about maintenance, it only makes sense for me to keep the Protege for as long as it will go. That might be too long though because at the rate I'm going, it'll be 13 years before it even hits 200,000.
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    How ya doing good buddy. The last time we talked, I was working the first shift of 9 straight days at Cracker Barrel. Dude, I'm tired! Today is my first day of since the party. I gonna go out in the garage and light up one of those cigars you gave me, :-) !!!! It was great meeting everyone and I can't wait to do it again!

    Protege LX, Red
    ABS/airbag
    Auto trans
    Moonroof/6 disc CD

    $15995 before rebate.
    by explrsport


    Sounds like you should pull the trigger on that deal. Have you checked out the Edmunds TMV feature. You can link to that thru the Home | New Cars page. You will not regret purchasing a Protege!!!

    Raymond, deer accidents are handled by the Comprehensive coverage in PA. Your auto insurance policy. I have $100.00 deductible for my Comp endorsement. I smacked a deer going 60 mph a couple of years ago. $3650.00 worth of damage to my 2000 PRO-ES! Cost me $100. Cost the deer, everything. Comprehensive is considered a no liability claim for the insured, an act of God so to speak. However, in the current post 9/11 insurance real world, multiply claims of the At Fault or even No Fault type can lead to a negative underwriting status. In other words they can and will drop the unlucky "like a bad habit". If your dropped,... it's a real [non-permissible content removed] to get picked up at a plus rate level by another Insurance Company. I really glad to here your wife is ok. Cars can be fixed and the damage sounds minor.

    -old head
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    I smoked my last one from that purchase Monday evening. May have to stop by my cigar store today and restock the humidor.

    (Although it is supposed to rain tonight, and since my wife only lets me smoke 'em outside, they tend to be my dinner-grilling companions ... I might hold on that purchase a day or two.)

    Larry, let me know how you like them. I've tried a bunch of mid-priced cigars ($3 to $6) and these are the best in my opinion. I hope you'll agree.

    Don't smoke one in your Protege. You'll never get rid of the odor, and although they're wonderful to smoke, nothing much is worse in a car than old cigar smell!!!

    Meade
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Rest assured! ;-)
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Want make this topic, Mazda Protege (Sedans Board) #1 for the day?

    -larry
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Yes a deer hit is covered under Comprehensive. That is real good news for two reasons!

    1.)Your deductible for Comp is always lower than the dedutable for Collision.

    2.) In Pennsylvania and most states, Comprehensive claims are not subject to an "At Fault" surcharge, (accidents involving damage by contact with animals or fowl or involving physical damage by flying gravel, missiles or falling objects or covered by Comprehensive) per Pennsylvania Surcarge Disclosure Statement.

    Thats why Meade and my windshield replacements were considered "No Fault" claims.

    -old head
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    So how many of these were the Protege hitting the Deer and how many were like mine....Deer hitting the Protege.

    I have already had at least 5 birds smack the front. I think they like the extra large bird looking hood ornament they put on our cars. Now the deer. I better look out as there are cows in my neighborhood.
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Gonna hop in Trudy's 2000 PRO-ES and run by Pep Boys to look for some inexpensive clear plastic floor mats to cover the OEM Mazda plush mats on board my wife's beloved vehicle. Meade, I will smoke the cigar when I back and report my impreesions after lunch (12:30pm)

    -old head
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    I can't wait...
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Do you think Walmart or BJ's club might have better price and/or selection on floor mats for my Protege?

    -lovetrain
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    go to Wal-Mart for your clear plastic mats

    $9 gets you a set of 4, works great for me.
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    Haven't in Walmart forever, but Target had some nice mats last time I looked.
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    They crash well at least.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    I've got the same $9 set of clear mats from Wal-Mart. I usually keep them in the trunk under the floor, and use them only when I have to. They have nice "teeth" on the bottom that keep 'em in place.

    Meade
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Hey, I can speak to that remark.

    Except my '92 LX attempted a high-speed mating maneuver with a Volvo 245 DL ...

    Meade
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    Target used to carry Hello Kitty floor mats; if you're lucky, Larry, you might still find some in stock.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    A SIGHTING!!!
  • chicagoprochicagopro Member Posts: 1,009
    The Protege is still running fine. :)
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    No targets in Lancaster...
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    BTW, they closed all the Wal-Marts and K-Marts in Iraq last month.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Boycott Walmart. That place smells, Targets are much better. Besides, which local economy would you rather support, Arkansas or Minnesota?
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