Mazda Protege5

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  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    protegetech.com has a story about a launching of the MazdaSpeed in Houston. Also, they are about to offer a turbo kit.

    Personally, I don't believe Mazda will offer a hook-on-and-drive kit which will not void the warranty. There are too much modifications and/or risks involve.

    Bruno
  • subyaudidudesubyaudidude Member Posts: 136
    Well, my salesman has confirmed that there will NOT be a bolt-on turbo kit offered after all. Bah! He also noted that while Mazda is bringing the Mazda6 sedan next month, there are no immediate plans to bring either the hatchback or wagon version anytime soon. Finally, he did say that Mazda plans to have a MazdaSpeed version of EVERY vehicle in its lineup eventually. The next will most likely be a MazdaSpeed Miata, followed by a MazdaSpeed Mazda6. Eventually, however, there will be a MazdaSpeed P5, and even a MazdaSpeed MPV!
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    thanks subyaudidude for the info. It makes perfect sense to me. The MazdaSpeed version of all vehicules will beef up the zoom-zoom image that Mazda is looking for, and I'm not surprise they will invest on this direction. However, a turbo-kit, what's for? to make a Mazda looks like all those modified Civics that my neighbor kids drive? No thanks, and I don't see Mazda will gain anything from that.

    All the side note, I just received my french magazine where they reviewed the Mazda6 Hachback with a 2.0l diesel engine. Overall, no surprise, they like the car very much on the handling, steering, chassis, interior, build quality, ... The diesel engine has 136hp and an amazing max torque (don't recall the number). The only critic is that they found the car a tad noisy. The Mazda2 will be available soon in europe: it's typically in the europeen trend there: small but high hachback to maximize the interior room. This Mazda2 shares few components with ... Ford's. bouuuhhhh.

    Bruno
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    Starting with end of November production (jan-feb cars) the P5 with have a built in Subwoofer and the roof rack will be an option...details as I get them.

    Also...All mazdaSpeed accessories will be available without warranty issues..except the Turbo. sorry guys.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Depending on where they put it, I'd be disinclined to get one. I personally don't feel a need for deep thumpin' bass, especially if it compromises the practicality of the cargo area, like most subwoofers do.
  • subyaudidudesubyaudidude Member Posts: 136
    Bruno wrote:
    "However, a turbo-kit, what's for? to make a Mazda looks like all those modified Civics that my neighbor kids drive? No thanks, and I don't see Mazda will gain anything from that."

    Bruno,
    I don't think adding a turbo will make the P5 look like a modded civic. That would take lots of kewl stickers, dude! ;) Seriously, though - I'd just like the extra oomph a turbo would give the car. The car is somewhat underpowered, IMHO, and a turbo-boosted 40 extra HP is just the thing it could use.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    haha... I was kidding when talking about Kid's civic...

    seriously too, IIRC MazdaSpeed Protege (MSP) must reinforce the tranny in order to take the extra power from a turbo, I double it's easy to adapt this modification on our stock car after mounting the turbo. According to what I read, the turbo lag of the MSP is minimal, whereas it seems not to be the case with the kit offered by ProtegeTech (c.f. the dyno curve in they website). In other words, the MSP design is a job well done and I bet it requires a lot of trouble for us to modify correctly our car. If it's easy, I don't think Mazda needs to subcontract MazdaSpeed for the job and refuse to offer the turbo without voiding the warranty. Sure, it's nice to have 40hp, but I don't think I need that badly for commit to buy a kit with all the risks that involve.

    Bruno
  • subyaudidudesubyaudidude Member Posts: 136
    I completely agree. I'm not going to add a turbo that will, essentially, void my warranty. That's one risk I'm not going to take. I was simply hoping that MazdaSpeed would offer a turbo kit that would bolt onto the current setup without voiding anything. Perhaps it would have to include some tranny upgrades as well, but I'd be willing to accept that in exchange for the security of knowing that it's a Mazda-backed product.
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    I second that. The whole attraction of using MS turbo kit would be that you could install it, be sure that it has been designed to work properly with our cars, and know that Mazda would back it. I would even except having to upgrade other parts to have this.
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    is that Mazda would have to not only warranty it against defects, it would also have to be meet all emission compliance issues, including Federally mandated performance warranties. By making this "Off road usage" only with no warranty they do not have to meet these very extensive and expensive requirements for what will be an item with limited sales.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    does the turbo release significantly more toxic compounds? What exactly is "Federally mandated performance warranties"?
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    Well, yes, but they've already met emissions compliance for the MS Pro, so the equipment is already all there.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Yeah, but is the MS Pro ULEV compliant like all of the other Proteges?
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    I'm pretty sure it is merely LEV compliant. What ever it is, the government is letting them make it, which should be good enough for retrofitting an older car like my 02 here in Colorado.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    Chuck (tincup) talk about the emission requirements for the equipment (turbo kit), not the entire car mentioned by Dareen and Tood. I assume this two are different. Are they? The MS Pro must have different ECU, exhaust, etc... than the regular Pro.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    If the MSPro is only LEV compliant, that's where the problem is. I'm sure the government wouldn't like Mazda modifing ULEV Proteges and turning them into LEV Proteges.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    even if the government wouldn't *like* it, can they do anything to prevent the commercialization? LEV is still an acceptable compliance norm, isn't it?

    Talking about paradox, what about all those truck that pollutes like hell and it doesn't require to comply any emission requirement.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I think automakers get a break on taxes for ULEV vehicles sold.
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    When an auto manufacturer (not an aftermarket supplier) produces any accessory that can affect the Emissions of a vehicle and offers a warranty on it, they have to certify to the Gov't. that this component will perform for the number of years/miles that the gov't requires for those pieces. This can be as long as 8yrs/80,000 miles. Unless the parts in the kit are totally identical to the factory installation (as in the MSPro) they have to recertify it. As any kit installed after the fact can have unforseen issues due to improper installations, this can lead to more potential cost than can ever be realized from the profit on the sales of these parts. To price an item like this competitively with aftermarket kits is impractical if these conditions have to be met, hence the lack of warranty.
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    If I buy a ULEV car and modify it such that it is still emissions compliant, but is no longer ULEV, the auto manufacturer still sold a ULEV car. What I do to it after that is not their problem.

    AFAIK, the plan was to sell the parts right off the MS Pro, so no re-certification probs there. Actually, I think that still is the plan - with the exception of the best parts: the turbo kit.
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    you are right, you can, but if the automobile manufacturer warrants this part it cannot change the emission standard of the vehicle it is intended for. The automobile manufacturer is held to a higher standard than the individual or aftermarket companies. The complexity of the turbo kit installation, along with the low volume of sales is the big reason you wont see this warranteed.
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    It's all becoming clear now ....

    Except when that darned MS P5 is due out. I'm sticking to the story my local MazdaSpeed dealer let slip.

    Ah, its irrelevant if he is going to gouge me on the price anyway.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Tincup explained what I was talking about.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    you wrote:

    >>> If the MSPro is only LEV compliant, that's where the problem is. <<<

    >>>Tincup explained what I was talking about.<<<

    Huh, still something struggles me. If I understand correctly Tincup, even if the MSP is ULEV, the warranty problem still exists because the turbo is actually intended for the MSP, and not a regular Pro. Thus, Mazda must go over the entire bureaucratic craps again making sure that the government will approve that the turbo will not change the emission of the REGULAR Pro. That costs them money and they are no longer competitive by doing so. Am I get it right this time?

    That's interesting guys.

    Bruno
  • tincup47tincup47 Member Posts: 1,508
    This only applies if they warranty the part. if this is sold as having no manufacturers warranty then performance does not become an issue, it is treated as a regular aftermarket part. You are correct about the certification process affecting the price.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    What I am saying is that Mazda would get into trouble if they offered a warranted product that changed the emissions classification of the Protege. They got their break from the government for selling the ULEV Proteges.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    tincup: yes I understood (finally), that's why I wrote [... the warranty problem still exists...]

    newcar: yes I understood also your point, but it seems that what you said is still less pessimistic than what tincup said.
  • hardoohardoo Member Posts: 31
    One of the most appealing features of the P5 -- outside of its good looks, handling, versatility, and reliability -- is that it comes pretty well outfitted with features that would be optional on other vehicles (eg. alloys, CD, power package, etc.). That said, there are still a host of options available to improve appearance (polished alloys), safety (ABS, side air bags), enjoyment (moonroof, CD changer), materials (leather, upgraded mirror), and security (alarm). As someone who might buy a P5 in the next few months, I was wondering: which options do you think are worth the expense? If you had it to do over again, which options could you have done without, and which ones do you wish that you had insisted upon having?

    P.J.Heff
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    One reason the mazdaSpeed Protege is such limited numbers is to avoid gov. recertification.....I'm not sure of the exact number but somewhere less than 3000-3500 units avoids the re-certification requirements.

    Rich
  • subyaudidudesubyaudidude Member Posts: 136
    Personally, I don't think any of the options are worth the extra price. I'm really not a fan of the polished alloys. I can stop on my own without ABS. Etc. etc. etc. I got a base P-5 with just the floormats as an option (from 2002, they're standard for 2003) and I'm quite happy with my choice.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    that's a weird question!
    as subyaudidude, I'm not big fan of shinny part, so the polished rim is out for me. I was so lucky in shopping my P5: the one in the show room at the dealer was exactly the way I wanted: yellow, manual transmission, with aftermarkett rims, moonroof, tinted windows, no ABS. The only thing I put afterward in a zoom-zoom sticker! I would like to have a side airbags alone (no ABS combo), but that's impossible.

    Bruno
  • SporinSporin Member Posts: 1,066
    I purposely got mine with no extra options.

    I am anti-ABS on small, FWD cars. But that's a can of worms I refuse to re-open. :-P
  • hardoohardoo Member Posts: 31
    You wrote, "that's a weird question!"

    I don't know. I figured that somebody might have paid for the moonroof but found it noisy and unusable. Somebody might have resisted the ABS only to find that it would have been cost-effective in terms of insurance over the life of the car. Somebody might have turned a nose up at the leather only to find that the fabric gets dingy and shows dirt. Somebody might have decided against a stereo upgrade only to find that the stock system is lacking. I was just hoping to draw upon the expertise of others before making a decision of my own.

    P.J.Heff
  • thelthel Member Posts: 767
    CD-changer: worth it, normal base system is weak.

    Moonroof: worth it

    ABS brakes: I like 'em, but wouldn't kill for 'em.

    Cassete player: worthless

    Polished rims: worthless

    Bumper guard: useful in hind sight, this was the first place mine got scratched.

    Leather: not worth it in a P5, but I've got it in my MX-5!

    Armrest extension: would be worth it if it was offered!

    Fancy rear-view mirror: worthless, but kinda neat none the less.

    AWD: I wish...

    Can't think of any other options for this car off the top of my head, but they're probably worhtless to me to. A power seat would be nice though.
  • nickg4bruinsnickg4bruins Member Posts: 12
    I am a future P5 owner and a long time reader of this board. From what I understand the stock audio system is somewhat lacking. I was wondering if P5 owners here have upgraded the cd player and speakers only to find that the speaker wire needs to be replaced? If so, has anybody done this or had it done? Was it a difficult process?
    Thanks
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    Normal people chose few potential options in his/her interest and then lay the question, you do other way around! This question makes more sense if it comes from a Mazda marketing guy trying to to a secret survey. ;-)

    Actually your comments remind me something important: the moonroof wind reflector is a must if you get a moonroof. Well, ABS, better think more in term of safety than money issue IMHO. Also I usually don't like to admit what I bought as options are useless even if it's true. But I can swear to you that I was not lying in my previous post. ;-)

    Bruno
  • meinradmeinrad Member Posts: 820
    I think the sunroof is well worth the money. It really gives the interior an open feeling. I don't like the look of the wind deflector, so I took off my crossbars and I don't have any problem with noise from the sunroof. With the cross bars on, the whistle was pretty bad on the highway and the sound with the roof open was terrible. So if you want sunroof and crossbars, then you probably need to use the wind deflector.

    I've got ABS/side airbags, but only because at the time it was what I could get. I really have no opinion yet to if they are a good/bad option. Maybe if I'm in a side crash I'll be glad to have had the side airbags.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    MazdaSpeed Protege: Overall Steering Ratio 15.4, Turns-to-Lock 2.7, Curb-to-Curb (feet) 34.1 ft

    Protege/Progete5: Overall Steering Ratio 15.0, Turns-to-Lock 2.7, Curb-to-Curb (feet) 34.1 ft

    One of the two must be wrong. Also all the dyno test showed that the maxpower of the 2.0l engine is achieved around 5500 rpm, not 6000 as Mazda has claimed.

    Bruno
  • shriqueshrique Member Posts: 338
    Actually the one thing that I would try to have done is to tint the moonroof. I've found that with the crossbars on I tend not to open the moonroof, it's just too noisy. I've also found that because it has no tint at all I tend to leave the shade closed most of the time because of the sun going over my sunglasses. Of course during the winter in MN I leave the shade open as much as possible. Gotta catch whatever warmth you can. (GRIN)
  • pciskowskipciskowski Member Posts: 155
    I really don't mind mine that much now that I have tinkered with the controls quite a bit. It would take too much money in my opinion to better it. It comes with the bass, treble, and midrange in the flat position, and if you turn the midrange down to 1/4 and the bass and treble to 3/4 it is much better. Also, adjusting the fader so there is more sound coming out of the back speakers helps the bass too. It's not going to win any contests, but it is really not that bad for a stock stereo.

    Another good thing-a normal head unit will fit if you do decide to change it, unlike some new cars where the stereo is built into the dash! (Accord, Camry)
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Especially if they're more sensitive (look for a really low minimum power rating, like 2-4 watts and a high signal-to-noise ratio).

    I think the 99-00 head units have a little more power than the current ones, but there was quite a difference after I replaced the stock speakers with multi-cone ones with more powerful magnets (more volume at the same power input).
  • lzrblup5lzrblup5 Member Posts: 1
    I just purchased a 2003 lazer blue P5 with the sports shift and I love it. I had been looking at the yellow ones for a while but could not afford it as they always mark up the yellow ones out of my price range, but last weekend when I drove past the dealership and saw the lazer blue I knew I had found my car. I also lucked out as it was recently traded from another dealership and not been marked up so high with the alarm, etc. I did get it with some options but the alarm and tint are 2 options that they charge way too much for. They charge about $400 for a $100 tint job and $600 for a $60 alarm. No thank you! So I got it for about $20,000 out the door. I don't think that was bad?
  • thelthel Member Posts: 767
    I assume you had nearly every option available (cd-changer, moonroof, etc), you're talking Canadian dollars or you live in the People's Republic of Santa Monica CA with insane tax rates. I hate it when dealers stick on a bunch of aftermarket crap to pack in extra profit.

    Even my local Honda dealer (which I have always found to be pretty straight up) does this occasionally with cars like the Pilot. They don't put ADM stickers on 'em, they just add on spoilers, running boards, roof racks, and other things that could be had MUCH cheaper elsewhere.

    When I was Miata shopping several weeks ago, I saw a base Miata with the nastiest "carbon fiber" dash kit installed for a mere $500!!! :0 I'd a bought it if it didn't have all that crap on it, but I doesn't come off. Go figure.
  • revkarevka Member Posts: 1,750
    and thanks for sharing the details. We look forward to hearing more about your ownership experience. Happy motoring!
     

    Revka

    Host

    Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards
  • bartolomeo2bartolomeo2 Member Posts: 4
    hello
    could anyone just tell me how fast (protege5) really is? 0-60? I could not find any info about it.
  • hardoohardoo Member Posts: 31
    The only thing that I have read on 0-60 mph times in a Protege is Consumer Guide's review in which the Protege LX, featuring that same 130 hp 2.0 L 4 cylinder engine as the P5, posted "a disappointing 9.8 sec with manual shift." But if it makes you feel any better, Car and Driver said that "Some engines make you feel right, even though they don't deliver special numbers" when ranking the P5 first in a comparison with the PT Cruiser, Matrix, Vibe, Focus, and Aerio.

    P.J.Heff
  • iamziamz Member Posts: 542
    Motor Trend reports 8.8 with the manual 5.
  • bartolomeo2bartolomeo2 Member Posts: 4
    8.8 would not be bad at all:) can it be true, though (8.8 sec)?? The P5 is 200 lb heavier than Protege LX and still is faster?
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    is 9.3 s. Most of the articles I read state the acceleration a tad slower than 9s.

    Bruno
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