it's not often you see that posted here on edmunds...people seem just don't want to accept the fact that the dealer makes the four-squares balance. Sure, you can make a square look good at anothers expense. Just find a dealer that's stable and honest and stick with them.
"A car is only worth what it's worth and not a penny more....If you got more than the car was worth the extra money came from somewhere other than your trade...which means it came out of the profit on the new jetta or a dealer incentive. Hiding the trade dosnt get anyone extra money.... Doing your homework and having the patience to work out a favorable deal is what gets the highest trade values. plain and simple. -Audia8
This is great! The Mazda Protege Smart Shopper Topic Our own Inconsiderate Buyer Discussion
I'm a new owner of a silver P5 (my first new car). I am wanting to wax my car before the Oklahoma winter sets in (wind, ice and occasional snow with salt used on the roads). Unfortunately, I live in an apartment without covered parking, so the car will be exposed.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a good wax that I can use?? Also, what are folks using to keep the dash, panels, etc. clean?? How about washing the car?? I know not to go to a car wash that uses brushes, but are the detergents used in "brushless/spray" car washes harmful??
I use Bullet Wax, by Prestone (?). I also have used Nu Finish. Both work fine, but they're not really waxes, more like acrylic polymers in a suspension. Both these types and waxes will form a protective layer over your paint.
When looking for wax, look for a high carnauba wax content. This is the hardest commercially available naturally-occuring wax.
Take care to get one that doesn't polish. You only need polish to take out small scratches in your paint or clear coat. Polish contains small abrasive particles.
As with any detergent, thorough rinsing is critical. As the detergent dries, it can harm the paint. Never use dishwashing detergent. I prefer to go through one of those DIY spray wash places. I never use the brush attachment. I spend more time rinsing than spraying detergent, to make sure I get it all off (including under the car and in the wheel wells).
protegextwo, please read the website carefully before saying that i'm trying to spam anyone. What's there to spam? It's not my website and I don't even know who creates the page. Just wanted to share some info that I found useful.
There is really some useful info there for car buyers. Maybe this link is better:
Hi. I haven't posted here in a while, so let me introduce myself. (You'll know me -- probably a little TOO much -- if you ever visit the Mazda Protege topic.) I own a 2000 Protege ES 5-speed. It's my third Protege, so you might call me a Protege expert. (I'm the guy who has organized two Mid-Atlantic Protege Picnics in the past two years.)
OK, so we have established that I'm an expert on Protege sedans. Now for my question.
My wife's 1995 Crapalier (uh, Cavalier) has 53,000 miles on it, and by the way Chevy builds cars, it's ready for the junkyard. (Hey -- it's on its FOURTH head gasket. Need I say more?) We are VERY close (three weeks or less) to purchasing a new Protege5 for her.
My wife has a way of pulling up to a curb until her front wheels bounce off it. Looking at the P5, I'm a little scared. Just how low is that front air dam? It LOOKS low, but maybe it's just an illusion. Do you guys have to be extra careful when pulling up to those little concrete stops at parking lot spaces? Curbs? Etc.? Also, if there are any women out there who own P5s (sorry, I didn't check before posting this), do you have any ingress/egress trouble caused by the side aero effects on the car? Like when you're wearing business attire?
I just want to be aware of some of this stuff before purchasing. Thanks in advance!
You'll DEFINATELY scrape on curbs and concrete risers. It's not ridiculously low, but it is THAT low to be sure.
You just have to be careful, that's all. The car has very short overhangs and is actually a few inches shorter overall then the sedan so it is VERY easy to park.
The specifications from www.mazdausa.com states that the ground clearance of both Protege sedans and P5 are identical at 140mm. The MP3 is lower: 135mm. If their front bumper clearance differ (of sedans and P5), it should be a matter of milimeters, so always be careful.
I got an idea: why don't you trade cars with your dear spouse? :-)
Meade, I owned a 97 protege prior to my 02 P5. The 97's lower bumper cowling would slightly drag on my car ramps before climbing to the top. I checked the P5 the other day and it appears they will clear them completly. So visually the P5 bumper only looks lower. In reality, their higher than the 97.
The front air dam on the P5 is definitely low. For most people, all it takes is a single instance of hearing the bottom of your air dam grind away on concrete to teach you not to pull up so far next time. I have also very rarely had the air dam scrape on the roadway (yikes!) when entering or exiting a parking lot that happens to have a very steep pitch to it (up or down).
I had a recent opportunity to ride in a 4 door Cavalier sedan for about 6 hours and the Pro5 compares pretty favorably. The Cavalier has a less stiff suspension which makes it wallow a bit but also makes it ride a bit like a larger car. I thought the Cavalier's interior seemed cheap even compared to the Pro5. The Cavalier had ample power, at least as good as the Pro. The interior in my Pro5 SEEMS bigger than the Cavalier but this could just be an optical illusion. The only places the Cavalier clearly wins are in cupholders and the sound quality of the stereo (though it's typical Delco with tiny buttons and green on black display). If you can keep the wife from bashing the Pro5's front end into every bit of concrete she encounters, I think she'll love it.
Heck, I'm a college student and I love mine, mainly because it's fun to drive, looks good, and is practical (four doors, a roof rack, and cargo space DO tend to come in handy from time to time)
I have had no scraps with my p5... and I traded my truck in for the p5. So, if I could get use to a lower vehicle without any mishaps, maybe this will give you hope for your wife. I am careful moving around in parking lots... not just because of barriers to avoid, but because people drive like crazy sometimes... Anyway, enjoy the ride. I have put over 4000 miles on mine and just now crossed town zooming my way through traffic and enjoying it all the while. It is a fun car.
Had my 5 for over 3 months now and i never once scraped the parking stop (little curb). Maybe its because i never pull in so far in. Why would you. The car is small and even fits into the sub-compact spaces where i park. I know exactly when to stop in the space and my front wheels don't even reach the curb. Its not exactly rocket science.
I like low-slung, sporty cars, but perhaps something with a little more clearance would be better for your wife, to be honest. A Subaru Outback Sport would give you an extra inch of clearance and an even higher front bumper.
From experience, my wife has scraped the bottom of the oil pan on our 626 many times, so our Forester is a bit more fault tolerant with her behind the wheel, if you know what I mean.
Ok, I want a P5, but have to wait 4 more months till my current lease is up. But now all the P5 owners are taunting me, lol. Last night on the way to lamaze, I drove by 2, then parked 3 spaces away from one when we got to the hospital. I hoped I'd be the first in my town to own one, but someone is now driving a silver one, and he seems to always be going where I'm going just to mock me. So I'd appreciate it if all you P5 owners could just park your cars in the garage for about 4 months.... I punish myself reading this board, but it's the closest I'm gonna get for now. My wife will be so happy when I finally get one so I can quit yapping about it.
meinrad "My wife will be so happy when I finally get one so I can quit yapping about it"
That's so funny considering that my wife WAS happy when I bought my Silver P5. Now she's about to kill me because I keep saying that my new P5 reminds me of my beloved 89 Civic Hatchback.
The rear overhang's so short and the bumper's bottom edge is much higher than that of the front bumper.
She'll have to adjust her habits, but it makes pulling out of a space much easier (especially since you can keep an eye out for parking-lot racers more fully).
Unfortunately, this is much more difficult to pull off in a herringbone-patterned lot.
Just picked up a Silver P5 last night ... only option was floor mats ... I'm too tall for the moonroof anyway ... sweet!
Oh, my wife likes it and she likes stick shift ... I'm blessed. Loaded up the 3 kids in the back and went for a ride.
I was concerned about pulling into my uphill driveway (which used to cause the front of my '85 Mustang GT to scrape) but, the P5 was no problem at all ... relax and enjoy.
1) you can park in a narrow spot (the front car is wandering in a larger place). Once I reversely parked in a spot so narrow that I couldn't exit by any door, and I found the moonroof extremely useful. Friends of mine were amazed thus they took a picture of me escaping from the roof. :-)
2) You can see better the traffic when you pull out of the place.
3) Most maneuvers are performed when the engine is already warm and not cold.
The disadvantage is:
1) Follower cars can hardly guess your intention before parking (they follow you too close, etc...), and even some jerk might even steel your free parking spot if he can.
Meade--the parking lot I park in has those little concrete things in the spaces and I've been careless enough to pull forward over them several times. Fortunately for me and my P5, there's still enough clearance and no damage whatsoever. YMMV, of course.
Now that was a nice little car. Plenty good handling and I think it skewed me towards hatchbacks forever. (chuckle) I'm just so happy that hatches are coming back into style. Too bad my little Honda HB was sliced and diced by a K5 Blazer. (sigh)
I once removed a shopping cart from a space my wife was waiting to get into. She signaled etc. Well, some j**k in a BMW pulled into it right after I'd removed the cart, in front of my wife's car's nose! I had to restrain myself from shoving the cart back into the space.
Not to say all BMW drivers behave like that, but that breed seems attracted to BMWs more than other marques.
I'm a new Protege5 owner (I guess there really aren't any *old* ones!) and just wanted to share this...
I was in the parking lot of a local grocery store, looking for a spot, when I came upon a yellow P5. This was the first yellow one I've seen outside a dealer lot (mine is blue), and it was parked waaay out in the boonies, no doubt in an attempt to avoid errant shopping carts, etc. I parked right along side... to the dismay of my wife who now had a bit of a trek to the store. I told her I was just doing my part to help keep a fellow owner's car pristine, safe and sound.
BTW there was also a Jag S-type nearby, but nothing else within 20 metres...
It's funny when I owned a Saturn SC2 in good condition I never bothered to park out in the boonies. Now I find myself drawn to the spot in teh middle of nowhere, prefereably underneath a big parking lot light during evening hours.
Waiting might be a blessing in disguise. The '5' is supposed to get a larger engine in the near future I read somewhere. Might quiet all the low power gripes on the web.
the souped up P5 will probably have the new Mazda designed Ford manufactured 4 cylinder that will probably replace the current engines. I know the new 626 will have the 2.3 liter 160hp 4 that would probably just barely shoehorn into the P5. Personally I'm just going to wait until my warranty runs out and then get an exhaust from racing beat. (GRIN) The factory one seems to be steel not stainless.
The Thursday, November 29 link refers specifically to turbocharged Protege sedans (here's hoping the mp5 gets it too, as I think a "GT"-ish sport wagon would be most distinctive & early Mazda many sales). They would be out next spring!
The November 30 link also talks about new engine design at Mazda (and for Ford).
I know everyone is hopeful, but I am of the opinion that we won't see a more powerful Protegé5 until the new one comes along.
Remember the new platform will be jointly designed with Ford, with engines designed by Mazda. (Ford has put Mazda in charge of "small engine development" for the entire company)
That platform, the new Focus platform, will carry the new Protege, the new Focus, the new 40-series Volvos, and a few other cars as well.
I just don't see any great incentive for Mazda to give us a more powerful engine in a car that is selling like crazy and only going to be around for a year anyway.
That is all just my opinion biased on everything I have read. I could be completely wrong. :-)
Once my warranty is up, I'm going for intake, headers and exhaust mods. That should net another 10RWHP easy. Besides, I'm pretty happy with the current power as is.
That muffler is available from http://www.mazdastuff.com for like $180 or something. Since you would purchase it from a Mazda dealer, it would be considered an accessory and you can bolt it on without voiding the warranty. The whole exhaust system is a different story though...
If you're going to do it, do it right. You should definitely increase the diameter of the piping to get maximum performance increase. Just changing the muffler alone probably won't do much except make it sound better.
I'd like more power in my Pro5 but not at the expense of having a Ford engine. I thought about all the normal ricing tricks like cold air, headers, and exhaust but I'll have to wait a while until I can afford something like that. I also don't want a giant coffee can exhaust that sounds like excessive flatulence. I thought about a turbo kit but those are expensive and not really a safe option yet. I thought about a J-spec engine, that's probably the best choice but definitely a pain and not real cheap.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Mazda want to add more power to the Pro5, especially in turbo form BUT...I think once the RX-8 arrives, they're going to sell that as their performance platform and sort of leave the rest of the line as-is. I'd like more power, but on the other hand, gas mileage is good now and in spite of the Pro5 being a fun car to drive, your insurance company can never screw you on rates for it - all you have to tell 'em is "Come on! It's a 4 door station wagon with a 130 horsepower 4 cylinder engine for the love of god!" In the meantime, I'm trying to decide whether my next vehicle will be a Porsche Boxster S or Subaru WRX. Or maybe I'll just get a motorcycle for my inner thrill seeker and continue to use the Pro5 as a grocery getter
I think Mazda needs to spruce up their line now, not later. They can't sit and wait on the new Mazda/Ford products, and we know (is it 9 recalls on the 2000 Focus so far?) about Ford production quality.
Mazda had good success with the MP3, despite the narrow focus of that car (think of the big subwoofer), and we know the Protege and mp5 are fundamentally sound and well-engineered. I think it makes sense for them to come out with a MPS version (not a fundamentally new car) of the Pr/Pr5 until the next generation of cars (and later - similar to the Ford SVO unit). Look at the attention the MP3 got them (#1 in a Car and Driver comparo).
I'm betting the 2.3L engine won't make it into the Protege until later, perhaps the ford/mazda/volvo car. Until then, Mazda needs market share.
Mazda insists the RX-8 is NOT the successor to the RX-7. Seeing as the rotary in the RX-8 is naturally aspirated, they're probably going to put a turbo on the Renesis engine for the REAL successor to the RX-7. Just my read into it.
The Daily Auto News brief on Nov. 29 says Mazda will put a turbo in a Protege-based vehicle next spring (2002). The real MPS? It's probably the turbo engine they have available for the Sport 20 in Japan (which the P5 is based on).
the diameter do if you don't open up the way the rest of the engine breathes?
I'm not sure I'd want a larger diameter pipe unless I was going to open the intake manifold, head, exhaust header and cat. All of those parts were designed with the stock size pipe in mind.
Yeah, look at headers and even a hi-flo cat. Usually it's the cat that is most restrictive, so changing that will remove the weakest link, if you will.
Check out miata.net for a bunch of Mazda vendors, as well as aftermarket folks that specialize in Mazdas.
this accesories list that shrique mentioned... 1)is it just a sporty muffler and tailpipe? 2)the sport springs shown are developed in conjunction with Eibach. are these different from the eibach pro springs available from their website for the pro5? 3)do the rest of the stuff fit the pro5 (stabilizers, struts)
the muffler from mazdastuff is noted as not being able to fit pro5
the racingbeat exhaust systems if a full catback system and is not yet available, only pre-orders.
I have a silver P5 and notice a squeaking sound coming from the sunroof or front passenger door. This happens only when going over bumpy or rough road\highway. Has anyone experienced this? If so, did the dealer fix it right the first time and with minimal hassle? Thanks.
I've also had this problem a couple of times. I found by looking into the glovebox, trunk (or is it called a hatch) or in all of the door pockets I usually find something that is making a noise (usually cds?). Once I could hear the weirdest noise coming from somewhere in the back of the car but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. When I got home I looked on the floor and saw video two tapes, they were probably rubbing together when I went over a bump. Also when its cold outside and the car hasn't warmed up yet I think I can hear noises but I figure that this is just normal as it goes away after the car has been running for a while. Sorry I can't be much more help than that. Now I'm waiting to get my snow tires (looking for a good deal) because I have a feeling that I'm running out of time as the weather is getting back to normal. I personally don't need snow and loved the temps of the last week. Nothing like being able to drive around with the sunroof open at night in December.
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Comments
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/
Doing your homework and having the patience to work out a favorable deal is what gets the highest trade values. plain and simple.
-Audia8
This is great! The Mazda Protege Smart Shopper Topic Our own Inconsiderate Buyer Discussion
;-}
-Larry
Check this out:
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/
-douglam
And thanks for the kind words on the car. I bet our cars would look killer parked next to each other in a lot somewhere...
Does anyone have any suggestions for a good wax that I can use?? Also, what are folks using to keep the dash, panels, etc. clean?? How about washing the car?? I know not to go to a car wash that uses brushes, but are the detergents used in "brushless/spray" car washes harmful??
Your thoughts and opinion are appreciated.
When looking for wax, look for a high carnauba wax content. This is the hardest commercially available naturally-occuring wax.
Take care to get one that doesn't polish. You only need polish to take out small scratches in your paint or clear coat. Polish contains small abrasive particles.
As with any detergent, thorough rinsing is critical. As the detergent dries, it can harm the paint. Never use dishwashing detergent. I prefer to go through one of those DIY spray wash places. I never use the brush attachment. I spend more time rinsing than spraying detergent, to make sure I get it all off (including under the car and in the wheel wells).
There is really some useful info there for car buyers. Maybe this link is better:
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/carintro.html
Again, I have no affiliation whatsoever with the website.
OK, so we have established that I'm an expert on Protege sedans. Now for my question.
My wife's 1995 Crapalier (uh, Cavalier) has 53,000 miles on it, and by the way Chevy builds cars, it's ready for the junkyard. (Hey -- it's on its FOURTH head gasket. Need I say more?) We are VERY close (three weeks or less) to purchasing a new Protege5 for her.
My wife has a way of pulling up to a curb until her front wheels bounce off it. Looking at the P5, I'm a little scared. Just how low is that front air dam? It LOOKS low, but maybe it's just an illusion. Do you guys have to be extra careful when pulling up to those little concrete stops at parking lot spaces? Curbs? Etc.? Also, if there are any women out there who own P5s (sorry, I didn't check before posting this), do you have any ingress/egress trouble caused by the side aero effects on the car? Like when you're wearing business attire?
I just want to be aware of some of this stuff before purchasing. Thanks in advance!
Meade
You'll DEFINATELY scrape on curbs and concrete risers. It's not ridiculously low, but it is THAT low to be sure.
You just have to be careful, that's all. The car has very short overhangs and is actually a few inches shorter overall then the sedan so it is VERY easy to park.
I got an idea: why don't you trade cars with your dear spouse? :-)
Bruno
I owned a 97 protege prior to my 02 P5. The 97's lower bumper cowling would slightly drag on my car ramps before climbing to the top. I checked the P5 the other day and it appears they will clear them completly. So visually the P5 bumper only looks lower. In reality, their higher than the 97.
I had a recent opportunity to ride in a 4 door Cavalier sedan for about 6 hours and the Pro5 compares pretty favorably. The Cavalier has a less stiff suspension which makes it wallow a bit but also makes it ride a bit like a larger car. I thought the Cavalier's interior seemed cheap even compared to the Pro5. The Cavalier had ample power, at least as good as the Pro. The interior in my Pro5 SEEMS bigger than the Cavalier but this could just be an optical illusion. The only places the Cavalier clearly wins are in cupholders and the sound quality of the stereo (though it's typical Delco with tiny buttons and green on black display). If you can keep the wife from bashing the Pro5's front end into every bit of concrete she encounters, I think she'll love it.
Heck, I'm a college student and I love mine, mainly because it's fun to drive, looks good, and is practical (four doors, a roof rack, and cargo space DO tend to come in handy from time to time)
From experience, my wife has scraped the bottom of the oil pan on our 626 many times, so our Forester is a bit more fault tolerant with her behind the wheel, if you know what I mean.
-juice
I punish myself reading this board, but it's the closest I'm gonna get for now. My wife will be so happy when I finally get one so I can quit yapping about it.
Bruno
"My wife will be so happy when I finally get one so I can quit yapping about it"
That's so funny considering that my wife WAS happy when I bought my Silver P5. Now she's about to kill me because I keep saying that my new P5 reminds me of my beloved 89 Civic Hatchback.
She'll have to adjust her habits, but it makes pulling out of a space much easier (especially since you can keep an eye out for parking-lot racers more fully).
Unfortunately, this is much more difficult to pull off in a herringbone-patterned lot.
Oh, my wife likes it and she likes stick shift ... I'm blessed. Loaded up the 3 kids in the back and went for a ride.
I was concerned about pulling into my uphill driveway (which used to cause the front of my '85 Mustang GT to scrape) but, the P5 was no problem at all ... relax and enjoy.
Zoom-zoom!
1) you can park in a narrow spot (the front car is wandering in a larger place). Once I reversely parked in a spot so narrow that I couldn't exit by any door, and I found the moonroof extremely useful. Friends of mine were amazed thus they took a picture of me escaping from the roof. :-)
2) You can see better the traffic when you pull out of the place.
3) Most maneuvers are performed when the engine is already warm and not cold.
The disadvantage is:
1) Follower cars can hardly guess your intention before parking (they follow you too close, etc...), and even some jerk might even steel your free parking spot if he can.
Bruno
Bruno, funny story--I'd love to see that picture!
Not to say all BMW drivers behave like that, but that breed seems attracted to BMWs more than other marques.
Meade
I was in the parking lot of a local grocery store, looking for a spot, when I came upon a yellow P5. This was the first yellow one I've seen outside a dealer lot (mine is blue), and it was parked waaay out in the boonies, no doubt in an attempt to avoid errant shopping carts, etc. I parked right along side... to the dismay of my wife who now had a bit of a trek to the store. I told her I was just doing my part to help keep a fellow owner's car pristine, safe and sound.
BTW there was also a Jag S-type nearby, but nothing else within 20 metres...
-- George
Murphy's law: even if you park 100 yards away, someone will park right next to you!
-juice
http://www.veh-tech.net/pages/DailyNews/LatestStories.html
The Thursday, November 29 link refers specifically to turbocharged Protege sedans (here's hoping the mp5 gets it too, as I think a "GT"-ish sport wagon would be most distinctive & early Mazda many sales). They would be out next spring!
The November 30 link also talks about new engine design at Mazda (and for Ford).
Brian
Remember the new platform will be jointly designed with Ford, with engines designed by Mazda. (Ford has put Mazda in charge of "small engine development" for the entire company)
That platform, the new Focus platform, will carry the new Protege, the new Focus, the new 40-series Volvos, and a few other cars as well.
I just don't see any great incentive for Mazda to give us a more powerful engine in a car that is selling like crazy and only going to be around for a year anyway.
That is all just my opinion biased on everything I have read. I could be completely wrong. :-)
Once my warranty is up, I'm going for intake, headers and exhaust mods. That should net another 10RWHP easy. Besides, I'm pretty happy with the current power as is.
http://www.mazdausa.com/downloads/protege_performance.pdf
For the P5 the part number is 0000-8M-C10 about $220 from the dealer.
Being that Racing Beat doesn't make their own exhaust systems, I wouldn't doubt that it's the same part.
http://www.racingbeat.com/FRprotege.htm
Thanks for the link It's cheaper than the one that Racing Beat is offering i will definetly look into that one!
I wouldn't be surprised to see Mazda want to add more power to the Pro5, especially in turbo form BUT...I think once the RX-8 arrives, they're going to sell that as their performance platform and sort of leave the rest of the line as-is. I'd like more power, but on the other hand, gas mileage is good now and in spite of the Pro5 being a fun car to drive, your insurance company can never screw you on rates for it - all you have to tell 'em is "Come on! It's a 4 door station wagon with a 130 horsepower 4 cylinder engine for the love of god!"
Mazda had good success with the MP3, despite the narrow focus of that car (think of the big subwoofer), and we know the Protege and mp5 are fundamentally sound and well-engineered. I think it makes sense for them to come out with a MPS version (not a fundamentally new car) of the Pr/Pr5 until the next generation of cars (and later - similar to the Ford SVO unit). Look at the attention the MP3 got them (#1 in a Car and Driver comparo).
I'm betting the 2.3L engine won't make it into the Protege until later, perhaps the ford/mazda/volvo car. Until then, Mazda needs market share.
The Daily Auto News brief on Nov. 29 says Mazda will put a turbo in a Protege-based vehicle next spring (2002). The real MPS? It's probably the turbo engine they have available for the Sport 20 in Japan (which the P5 is based on).
I'm not sure I'd want a larger diameter pipe unless I was going to open the intake manifold, head, exhaust header and cat. All of those parts were designed with the stock size pipe in mind.
Check out miata.net for a bunch of Mazda vendors, as well as aftermarket folks that specialize in Mazdas.
-juice
1)is it just a sporty muffler and tailpipe?
2)the sport springs shown are developed in conjunction with Eibach. are these different from the eibach pro springs available from their website for the pro5?
3)do the rest of the stuff fit the pro5 (stabilizers, struts)
the muffler from mazdastuff is noted as not being able to fit pro5
the racingbeat exhaust systems if a full catback system and is not yet available, only pre-orders.