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What are glaze and seale for the dash? I'm not aware of this. What does everyone else do to take care of their dash?
In response to your question, the color is silver, though they have the exact configuration in black and blue. I should also say the car is a mid-year refresh, which I now will insist on having read this board. The price, though, is X-plan for employees or companies that do business with Ford/Mazda. I bet they would sell the non-refresh for around that price to a non-plan member, since they had at least 12 non-refresh and 12 more refresh (Arlington, VA).
thanks!
this board was how i fount out where and how to get s-plan. this board saved me at least $2 grand and even more in sanity. (the dealer i bought the car from was the only one that accepted s-plan on the 5 and the only one in south florida to have a yellow one). btw, when i first came to this same dealer to check out the car way before i bought it, i got into a fight with them b/c they would not let me test drive a car
mpg. i get about 26mpg this is mostly highway but going around 80 in an automatic halftime with a/c on. i did expect it to be better but i do drive the car hard. also, i kinda like the flat hard floor in the vibe and matrix but that floor will easily get scratched from everything including a 2liter of coke and boxes. after a while you'll be seek of looking at it.
did anybody see star wars? it was an excellent movie with a lot of cool elements, awesome graphic effects and cool music. i can't wait for episode 3 now.
http://www.caliprotegemeet.1hwy.com
-Jerry
You might try Browns in Alexandria/Fairfax. I bought mine last week at the Alexandria dealership. I paid about $300 under invoice, but they had $1350 in incentives on it, so it was 1650 under. They had a bunch of black, blue, white and silver in auto/manual. I don't know if you can negotiate a better price then S plan.
Most of the people I hear complaining about low MPG drive automatics. Perhaps the "Sport-Shifter" will alleviate this a bit?
I'm considering a P5 purchase, and when I asked about x-plan, the dealer said it was optional, but that they'd give it to me. He also said it simply reduces the price to invoice. Anyone have any different result?
Also, I posted an earlier plea for photos of the new leather interior -- don't have them here in Columbus, OH yet. Would love to see what they look like. I did read in another forum that they look somewhat like the leather in the Tributes --
I'll have to peek into a few Tributes to get a sense for it.
I don't expect the leather to be super high-end, but I would be pleased with a nice, tight fit, and maybe some "perforations" (or whatever you call those tiny holes you sometimes see in seating surfaces).
What I REALLY wish Mazda would do is use the slick, rip-stop-nylon-like fabric that's used in the Matrix and Vibe. I wasn't crazy about those cars when I test drove them, but the seats were very comfortable, looked very modern, were easy to get in and out of, and appear to be easier to clean.
I'm not crazy about the velour in the Mazdas and VWs. They feel a little "sticky" and don't look nearly as durable as the tweed-like cloth in my 93 MX-6.
Images of the new Mazda 6 appear to avoid the velour.
To take care of my dash, I simply dust it with a micro-fiber cloth. For more extreme cases, I would use just a bit of soap and water.
In some places that receive more UV rays I've seen products that protect your dash against the UV rays.
1. I have a black interior
2. I have a golden retriever
3. I REALLY like a clean interior
I traded in a black on black cloth '99 VW Passat for my P5. That VW interior showed lint and hair more then any car I have ever seen. Most dubbers call it a "linterior." It was like Velcro, hanging onto everything and it was a pain to clean.
The P5's interior is MUCH better. It doesn't hang onto hair and lint nearly as much and it cleans up REALLY well.
There is almost no comprairison... night and day.
It's simple really. Next time you fill up, reset your trip odometer to zero. Then drive to your heart's content.
Next time you fill up the car after that, make sure you get a receipt.
Write down the mileage from your trip odometer on the receipt. Now check the receipt to see how many gallons of gas it took to fill you car back up. Now you do the math.
Divide the number of miles you have driven by the number of gallons of gas you just put in your car. **viola** MPG!
For instance, lets say you drove 300 miles then filled up the car. Now let's say the car took exactly 10 gallons of gas. Divide 300 miles by 10 gallons to get 30 miles per gallon.
Some people like to do this math on their receipts and keep them to track the fuel economy they get over time. It's a geek thing, but kinda fun!
Does my description of how to do this make sense to you?
-jim
Enjoy!
-jim
Vocus -- great feedback, I'll see if I can get them under invoice.
If anyone else has an experience with x-plan, I hope you'll post it here.
When I asked my car insurer (State Farm) to estimate how much my payments would increase with the possible purchase of several new cars (P5, Jetta, used Volve S40, Accord, used Millenia), both Mazda estimates were about $200 more per year than all the others. CarPoint.com backs this up -- they say comparative insurance costs are "worse than average."
I asked the dealer why this is, and he had no answers. Does anyone in here feel they're paying more than normal to insure their P5?
Any reason why this is the case?
sharonf: did you get your car back yet? i used to live in the bay area, and that's about 3-4 hours from ventura? i am sure it's going to be a nice drive down...i am in s. cal now...
S-plan = a few hundred or more (depending on the vehicle) below dealer invoice. Roughly equivalent in discount to the X-plan. Applies to Mazdas.
Jaguar, Volvo and one or two other "premier" brands that belong to Ford use other discount plans or none at all (a little snooty, eh?).
Well, I get to see SoCal in Aug. Friend's wedding and daughter's the flower girl! I hope to go back north to see some friends and the old stomping grounds. Would like to take Hwy 1 or 5 again....
You're in Socal now? Are you coming to the California Mazda Protege Meet next month? Let me know... here's the website:
http://www.caliprotegemeet.1hwy.com
For only two days of the website being active with the official plans, we already have nine Protege's showing up including three Protege5's! We would love to see you there! Send me an e-mail via the California Protege Meet website and let me know! Bring your family and friends! Everyone's invited!!
-Jerry
As far as insurance goes I was misquoted tremendously by my insurance agent and have to pay $600 more per year than I was expecting if I want to keep full coverage. That was quite a mistake!
With all that said, I have to focus on the positives and be thankful that I have a new car that looks and runs good and shouldn't give me problems for a long time. Unless of course I smash it.
As far as hockey goes Sharon (who must be a hot babe or something), I'm hoping for a Red Wings/Maple Leafs matchup. I think the Red Wings are going to win it all this year, but think it would be neat to see the Maple Leafs win one for a change. Too bad San Jose didn't make it in, but it wasn't meant to be. By the way, San Jose to Ventura is a five hour drive. I know because I did it last month.
And lastly...I'm glad to see that I'm not the only hoser who owns a P5. SCTV is one of my all time favorite tv shows (The Twilight Zone is number one) and Strange Brew is my favorite comedy movie. I still quote it all the time and say, "Eh?" even though I'm not from Canada and don't normally wear a toque. And I like Rush. Particularly Neil Pert's drum solos. They rock!!!
Good day, eh!
Toyota Ted (who ironicly has never owned a Toyota)
How did you come up with $1,650 under invoice? First of all, I'll add the $263 processing fee and $520 freight to $15,400 to get the actual price of $16,183. If you buy from a MD dealer, for example, you'll not be charged a processing fee. Also if you use the S-Plan, you'll not be charge the processing fee even at a VA dealer.
The invoice price on a P5 with "regular" auto, a CD change, floor mats, alarm and wheel locks is $17,054. So you paid $871 under invoice. Since Mazda has a $750 rebate on it, you actually paid the dealer $121 under invoice. S-Plan price is about $60 less. Was the price you got after haggling?
After returning from a 400-mile trip, I finally got around to checking the tire pressure. All four corners had in excess of 52 psi !!!! Outrageous!! Dangerously high!
I shudder to think what could have happened had I been driving in hot weather. Not to mention I've been wondering why the ride was rougher than in the tester.
Another fine pre-inspection by Mazda...
So when you take delivery, take a tire gauge with you!
Toyota Ted- Thanks for making me laugh with your comment about me. Don't know where it came from...but it lifted my down spirits anyways! I think you're right about Detroit too. Maybe the Sharks will get there next year...depending on how things go w/the new owners, contracts etc. My bro works for them...so being that I get to go to the games...I'm pretty loyal! Now if he could just hook me up with one of the players =P
LImpyboy,
Yeah...my tires were overinflated too upon delivery....I didn't drive on them that way as long as you did though- Yikes!
Insurance- my agent is such a ditz...I dunno what's happening w/my premiums. She asked for the Vin # typed it in, and said, "a 2002 Saturn"...I was like...nooooooo.....she asked for it again...and the same thing. My old car was a Saturn. I got the paperwork the other day and now it says 2002 Mazda...and body type....2dr coupe(what the Saturn was). I swear I don't know how some people keep their jobs! Then she took the Saturn off the policy....which I didn't ask for....so it's all still kind fuzzy to me...but I think I'll be paying about 220 - 250 more per yr.
And lastly, San Jo to Ventura....
sorry Jerry....I've gotta agree w/the others. I went to school in Long Beach...and I don't think it even took me 7-8 hours to make that drive. I was guessing 4-5 to Ventura. It's been awhile since I've driven it...but I do remember it as pretty(obviously I took the 101 route). The P5 could you use a good long road trip test.....so I am seriously considering it.
I just use a Shop-Va and it cleans right up! I put on seat covers when I have the dog in the car and that helps a lot.
Insurance-
I pay about $600/year on my P5. I am 31, married, and the same insurance company covers my home as well. My Passat was $1100± a year so this was a nice savings.
Insurance varies WIDELY by geographical area, your age, record, etc.
S-Plan - Mazda - Preferential price noted on the dealer invoice.
You need to have the dealer show you the invoice. Do not accept the deal if the dealer does not show the invoice.
Anyway, I guess get MET. (no, I do not work for them)
Sharon, glad the Mazda reps are working for you now.
All prices include freight:
The invoice is $17,054 and you paid $15,920. That's $1,134 under invoice. How did you come up with $1,650 under?
Of course, even without a sport shift auto, many auto trannies allow you to do "approximately" the same thing by moving the shift lever through the gear selections. But hey, I guess this is easier. Did the old auto tranny on the Pro have 1,2,3,D as options, or some smaller subset?
so yes, you can change gears 'manually' in an auto by shifting from 1 to 2 to D with the O/D button off, and then turn on the O/D button.
but the shifts are definitely very slow
*Edit: Here are the provinces it is illegal in: "Illegal to take radar detectors into Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba or Yukon & Northwest Territories" (From http://www.thetravelsite.com/Dests/DGNoAm/Gcanada/main.html)
Actually, now that I think about it, my friend from Ontario was telling me that they are illegal in Ontario...so "yes" is your answer.
In Canada, radar detectors and laser detectors are illegal to use in Manitoba, New Brunswick; Newfoundland, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec.
From http://www.whistlergroup.com/faq-detectors-answers.asp
So apparently, they are illegal in PEI as well.
Wait a minute... how come so many people in here know from personal experience how long the drive takes and yet close to nobody is coming to the California meet? Hmph... LOL
-Jerry
http://www.stant.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=622&location_id=193
,I found on sale at Menard's today for $2.99!!
I had about given up on finding such an appropriate and inexpensive wrench. It looks to be very well-made as well.
Were you looking to get a radar detector?
As for the question about red-line question....per my manual..."Don't run the engine w/the tachometer needle in the RED ZONE. If the tach needle enters the RED ZONE, you may feel engine braking because the fuel delivery will be stopped to protect the engine. However, this does not indicate an abnormality".
As I personally have not tried pushing it.....guess that'll have to do for now!
Sharon
I guess I was hooked because I bought it. Silver, 5 spd, ABS, Moon-roof, side bags, floor mats, and bumper guard for S-plan price minus $750 cash incentive. 11 miles on ODO. Total was $16,200. D.C. taxes took a toll, though. Couldn't negotiate away the $250 proc. fee.
S-Plan is a set price off Invoice (about $40 less, so total was about $800 below invoice after cash back). So while I could have haggled to below $17,000, S-plan took away the B.S. with negotiating. Since the cars are hot, it made life easier.
I got the re-fresh model. Changes I noticed: leather-wrapped shifter instead of knob (actually, picture in Edmunds shows it). Side marker lights. No cup-holder cover. I didn't notice the extra speakers, but I haven't looked (are there any? where are they?)
Thanks. Oh, and has anyone purchased after-market wheel locks? Any advice?
thanks.
Per Mazda's rules for the S-plan, the dealer cannot charge you that processing or documentation fee. I would request that they return it to you or let them know that you'll have Mazda contact them.