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Comments
Meade
Mazda has really improved the car.
The dx has 195/55/15 poortenzas but the car is quiter than my '99 ES with BFG tires on the same patch of rough roads. Also the suspension is also more capable of soaking up road cracks than my '99 ES. And the beige interior with bronze center stack looks nice.
Those Poortenzas are brand-spankin' NEW.
Any brand-new tire, I'd hope, is going to be nice and quiet and smooth. It's probably hard to remember how smooth and quiet your '99 ES was on day one, but I'll betcha it was nice enough to make you want the car real bad!
Just think about how noisy, rough and bald those Poortenzas will get after, oh, 15,000 miles, making the car's ultimate owner swear at them, join the Town Hall, learn from us, and go out and buy a set of BFGs!!!
LOL!!!
Meade
We already know your 99 ES has the best-ever engine, the best-ever rear drum brakes, and now the best ever quiet tires - leave a couple of accoldaes available for the newer version of what is a great car, eh?
But the darn automatic is more like a corolla automatic. Shifts automatically with no shift feel. Unlike my 99 ES where it shifts only when I ease my foot of the gas pedal and you FEEL the shift.
Kee.......... heh.
But I still maintain that ANY new car -- even a freakin' Kia Rio, if you'll forgive me -- is going to feel and ride tight and smooth. New, unworn tires; new suspension; no wear on anything.
And just like all the tires I've ever owned (er, probably nearly 20 sets), those brand-new Potenzas start out nice and smooth, and then get noisy, harsh and slick as they wear.
I will say this -- my 2000 ES, with 56,900 miles on it, just got a new synthetic oil change, new tires, and new brakes. And it's just as tight and smooth -- if not smoother with these BFGs -- than day one.
As far as actual changes to suspension components, we'd have to differ to maltb to answer this one. But since the 2000 and the 2003 are in the same generation, one which is scheduled for termination after this model year, I doubt very highly that Mazda made a whole bunch of changes to the platform mid-generation.
Maltb?
Meade
the stiffer body structure (extra weight is a result of it) also reduces NVH.
yes, the basic structure has not changed, but the newer ones do feel more substantial than our little 'early series' 3rd gens...
but alas, they are all still Proteges :-)
Also I figured the 2003 DX had softer springs which translates to less vibration transfer to the body in general.
The problem: Engine jolts/jerks when A/C compressor is engaged.
The cause: Leaky intake manifold gasket
Solution: Replaced Gasket.
It took 4 years for Mazda to figure out this!!!!!
Jerry Standefer, u listening? Get your car checked.
Meade
Required content: I took my old Protege to Edison Field once.
... It's a love song and this guy and gal are cruising through the countryside, then laying on the hood watching a sunset, then unloading the car to romp out into a field for a picnic, etc. ... the whole video revolves around this car ...
... A MIATA ...
And they make no bones about it! They show the winged Mazda emblem, and at one point there's a great closeup of the trunk lid with the Mazda name and "Miata."
Didn't care for the song too much, but boy what a nice car!
Meade
yeeehawwwww
I'm into just about everything but heavy metal and rap.
And yes, my latest CD purchase was country. Alison Krauss to be precise. She's a babe with one hell of a voice.
Unfortunately there are no Mazdas in her videos.
Meade
What CDs are in your glovebox/center console right now?
In other words, what's your favorite music to zoom to?
(Let's remember our ages and not criticize each other -- I'm thinking this could be a great guide to go by for people who find they have similar musical tastes. So list your age if you don't have a problem with that.)
I'll start: I'm 38, and here's my list.
(1) Bob Seger's Greatest Hits (No. 1 driving music!)
(2) The Who - My Generation
(3) Alison Krauss & Union Station - New Favorite
(4) Nickel Creek - This Side
(5) Spiro Gyra - Incognito
(6) Alan Jackson - Drive (how aptly named)
Who's next?
Meade
1. Bob Seger Greatest Hits
2. Alan Jackson Drive
3. Toby Keith Unleashed
4. Counting Crows August and Everything After
5. Matchbox 20 (new one, can't think of the name)
6. Bruce Springsteen Live in New York, Disc 1
7. David Grey White Ladder.
BTW, I still owe you all pictures of my new tinted Protege. Looks real sharp. Waiting for a nice day to take pictures (tough to find lately) and also when it is clean. My 01 ES now has 26,000 miles on it, which I know is not that much, and runs great. I've had no problems with the tires, have rotated them every 5k miles or so, and have probably another 10,000 miles left on them. I'll probably replace them in the fall anyway in advance of the snow since by then they will be pretty worn, but no abnormal wear or any other problems that others have experienced.
I have about 14 cd's in the car most being compilations I've created. They include 80's, Metal, Pop, and Jazz. And since they were just on DircTv I must say that The heavy metal rock band entitled Motley Crue is quite first-rate.
But of the cd's that I did not create I have:
1. Moby - Play
2. Cruel Intentions Soundtrack
3. Keller Williams - Laugh
4. Nora Jones - Come Away With Me
Disc currently in the player: WYEP Got Me!
Garrison Starr - Big Sky
Indigo Girls - Shame On You
Coldplay - Clocks
Josh Joplin Group - I Am Not The Only Cowboy
Ryan Adams - Nuclear
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - Sister Surround
Luce - Good Day
The Clarks - Maybe
Keller Williams - Freeker By The Speaker
Old 97s - Designs On You
Roomful of Blues -Turn It On, Turn It Up!
David Gray - Real Love
Indigo Girls - Moment Of Forgiveness
Joan Osborne - Only You Know And I Know
Keller Williams - Kidney In A Cooler
The Clarks - On Saturday
Kim Richey -This Love
Garrison Starr - 5 Minutes
Norah Jones - Don't Know Why
they were:
1. Engine jerks due to momentary stall at idle when load is increased such as A/C compressor engaging + both cooling fans running.
2. Automatic transmission giving a distinct clunk sound when shifting to 1st gear, coming to a stop.
3. Transmission unable to engage cleanly when doing a running STOP viz. slow down to about 3mph at a stop sign and step on the gas pedal would give me a lag and then "WHAM" the gear would engage
4. Erratic idle, flutters when Headlights are switched on.
Whew!!!!
This morning, I witnessed my ES's rebirth....with renewed ZOOM.....what a blast....
How do you like that new video with Willie Nelson? Didn't care for the song much at first, but now that it's been force-fed to me with that great video, I'm rather liking it now!
Other country likings: Montgomery Gentry, Brooks & Dunn, Dixie Chicks, Phil Vassar (hey, he's from Virginia too), Kenny Chesney, and a few others.
Got a few Springsteen CDs too.
Meade
At 56,900 miles, I have renewed STOP!!!
Meade
Happy for you, Nikhil! My car does the rolling stop, sudden restart - transmission jerks occasionally when reengaging thing as well. I attribute it to the age and mileage (almost 92K now!)
CDs - I won't go there. Haven't used my changer in days, again - XM does the trick for me
U2 (Rattle & Hum mainly, but I basically have 'em all ready to go)
Live X 8 - accoustic cuts from a local station with Coldplay, Hoobastank and others
Evanescence - Fallen
Phenomenon soundtrack (saw the movie again and had to listen)
Jack Johnson -Brushfire Fairytales
REM- Automatic for the People
Coldplay
I am still thinking about doing the battery disconnect thing and experimenting. I remember when I picked my car up after my accident two year ago how peppy it felt. I thought it was just because I had been driving the van around for two months!
Big day today. Thirteen year old daughter gets her braces off. Yeah!
These are all self-made CDs with songs from:
Joee
Groove Coverage
Solid Base
Stevie B.
And some new good songs IMO:
DJ Lhasa - Giulia
Jazmine - Makes me go mmm
Cheers from cloudy TO!
Dinu (22)
gotta love summer afternoon thunderstorms :-)
BTW, this is the greatest link on the web. Check it out. Once you get to the radar for your neck of the woods, click on one of the loops for an animation of the last hour. Beats the heck out of Intellicast, your local TV station, or any of those other weather radar sites we self-proclaimed weather junkies (I'm one) use:
http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/national.html
This is on-topic to the extent that I like to check out this site for drivetime safety as I zoom home!
Meade
P.S. Yes, I've seen the Brad Paisley video (funny as heck), I'm a Phenomenon fan (got the DVD -- great soundtrack), and I'm also a U2 fan -- I still think Joshua Tree is one of the greatest albums of all time, bar none.
1. Kenny Chesney Greatest Hits
2. Telepop Music (includes the Just Breathe song from the Mitsu videos
3. Brian Mcknight
4. Eminem
5. Dido
6. Jagged Edge
Purple Rain - Prince
A Hard Rains Gonna Fall - Edie Brickell
The Jayhawks - Save It For A Rainy Day
and my favorite "rain" line from Travis:
"Why does it always rain on me? Is it because I lied when I was seventeen?"
XM - I usually hang around the 20s (pop, top40) & 40s (particularly 44 & 47 - rock classics and rock hits, new and old).
The techno/rave/dance channels and the Disco channel (!) are 80, 81, 82, 83 - I love those & the variety of music they play.
100 (World), 101 (Reggae), 113-114 (Classical, POPS) are alright as well.
Of course - there's CNN, Fox News, ESPN, ESPNews. (120s through 140s)
And I can't forget the two R-rated talk channels - 150 and 152! They have some amazing stand-up comics with absolutely hilarious routines!
Occasionally I'll listen to the decades (2-9 for 20s through 90s, primarily the great oldies of the 50s & 60s, and the pop era through the late 80s and 90s)
(And the Miata was light blue.)
Meade
Evanessence - Fallen
311 - Transistor
Linkin Park - Meteora
Audioslave
At home: James Taylor's Greatest Hits - gotta unwind from the noise in the car.
-"Meade the Word Man"
Alison Krauss & Union Station are considered top-box Blue Grass artist's.
Love Train
AKA "The Music Man"
Everytime I hear 'Bring Me To Life', the radio gets cranked and the rpm's go up!
So how hard is it to check the air filter? Last time I took it in for service I asked them to check it, but they didn't replace it. Given that it's been a year since the last new one, and given the amount of driving I do in the city, through construction every day, I find it hard to believe I don't need a new one.
Where would you recommend I get a replacement filter?
P.S. You and Raymond get bonus points for spelling "Evanescence" correctly.
The CD in my player is a Roomful Of Blues compilation that I made up from several ROB CD's (5 or 6 different ones) and I also have ROB's Dance All Night and the newest one just out, That's Right)
Also have a compilation of my Stevie Ray Vaughn favorites, an Alligator Records Blues compilation, Bruce Spingstein's The Wild, The Innocent, and the East Street Shuffle, and finally, Carol King's Tapestry.
Joe
How I how the coolant was replaced?