Mazda Protege5

maltb

I have to wonder if your boyfriend is an engineer and has figured exactly how much space to insert to optimize your offset for your typical driving style or if he is a homey and wants to pimp out your Pro5.

(basically as Sporin stated: Why?)

silver_bullet

Let me guess - the wheel spacers go with the wide whitewalls and the tiny chrome wire wheels with the gold plated spinners, correct? ;-)

ashutoshsm

They would put your suspension out of whack, and cause rubbing and/or uneven wear on your tires, unless you also re-align and adjust your suspension (what exactly would be involved) to compensate.

vilainefemme

*laugh* don't worry, I didn't know what spacers were either. They just kinda bump your wheels out a bit to look better in the wheelwell. but now that you mention it, a set of gold curb-feelers does sound nice.

Ok, so tint seems to be going over better. Any pics of a silver P5 with tint?

Jessica

protege_fan

http://mysite.freeserve.com/spaceace

Check out the pics there....IIRC, he's got the silver tinted tint.

cbrf2_rider

Nice pics. Interested in details of the engine/exhaust mods you've made, how much your performance has improved and what kind of $$ it cost you (I know your figures will be in Candadian $$ - I'll figure the conversion unless you're particularly gifted at it). Thanks.

My wife is finally giving up on her '90 Miata (whew!) and ready to get something new. (Note-the Miata has been bulletproof, so we're Mazda loyalists.)

mazdafun

I wouldn't do it. Looks silly anyway.

protege_fan

Oops...Those pics aren't mine....Sorry. They are a guy's here in Calgary though.

I met the guy on www.protegeclub.com .

stropro5

Hello,

Mazda USA says that there are Bike Attachment Clips available for the Protege5 Factory Roof Rack, but all I have is a part number: 0000-8L-J0. I can't find any info about them on line and my dealer says, while they can orderthem, they have never seen them before.

Anybody have info on these, anybody already own them and wish to share how they perform?

Thanks,
Andy

meinrad

Didn't ever see that so I don't know abou them. Not that you asked this, but I figured I'd share anyway. I put the Hidden Hitch hitch on my P5 and bought a Yakima hitch rack. Works wonderfully. Much easier than lifting them on the roof to me. So just an idea idea I thought I'd throw at ya.

mazdafun

Hitch is easier and less likely to get bugs splattered all over your bikes. Just remember with either that you've got stuff hanging off your car, so watch the head or tail clearances.

ggilliom

That's hilarious. Drove by Grinder's on my way home from work last night, and asked the manager what was up. Apparently they picked my business card out of the bowl recently, and I've won dinner and a movie for two. Why they never called me, and I had to find out in an Edmunds forum, I'll never understand...

But thanks for the heads up!

sharonf

What do you all think is a fair price to ask for a 2 mo. old stock HU - am/fm w/6 cd? Someone I just replaced mine today and someone on another board is interested in the old one...

protege_fan

What does it say it costs as an option on the www.mazdausa.com website?

sharonf

is like $480 something. I can't find on the mazdausa site what the price is.

protege_fan

I found it on the mazdausa.com website...you have to configure a car.

Anyway, msrp for the 6-cd changer is $500 USD according to that website.

Actually...now that I think about it, you could have found the price here on Edmunds.com as well.

Anyway, I'd say, since it's used, you'd have to charge less than msrp.

Also, you have to consider that an aftermarket 6-cd changer can be found for much cheaper than the msrp of the Mazda unit.

Hope that helps.

subyaudidude

that you can add horsepower by putting the program from the MP3's ECU onto your P5's ECU. Has anyone else heard this? I guess what you have to do is find someone with an MP3 and both go to a dealership. The dealership then uploads the MP3's program into its computer and downloads it back down into the P5 ECU.

protege_fan

I've heard of it in another forum too. Not sure how well it would work though. Also, there's your warranty to consider. I would think that it would have to be an "off the record" kind of deal. If anything went wrong with emissions, etc, they could blame it on the ECU re-programming.

Here's a fairly informative post by Traveler on www.protegeclub.com
"Here's the deal. I checked with my dealer today and they said this:

The computers are different part numbers, but they can control the same things as they both have the same pin outs. The MP3 doesn't have VTCS, but if it did the ECU could be programmed to control it. It just doesn't use the function. The ES, LX, and P5 ECU's most definately CAN be reflashed to MP3 specs but the dealers can't do this because it is a modification to an emission control system. They have a laptop that is specifically for reprogramming and checking ECU's with a touch sensitive screen that links up to the main Mazda USA site. They can only reflash to the OEM specs however due to EPA regs.

But it's nice to know that our computers can be reflashed at any rate. Just need to find someone with the right software to do it. Maybe we need to look for an unscrupulous tech to do this after hours or take the computer home. Oh well, don't want to get anyone fired!

I've spoken with a couple places that have replaced an ES ECU with an MP3 ECU just to test it, and said that you definately can feel a difference. It's kind of an expensive upgrade though as it costs the better part of a stand alone. I'm curious to see what M2 performance does to reprogram the ECU. They say that they are going to offer both normally aspirated ECU calibrations as well as FI calibrations for ECU upgrades.

subyaudidude

When I had my Audi A4 1.8T several people had bought spare ECUs which they then chipped with an aftermarket chip (GIAC, Autothority, etc.). Then, when they went in for dealer service, they would put the old ECU back in w/ the standard chip. I wonder if that's an option here ... buy an MP3 ECU and swap it back and forth.

maltb

That's a $950 ECU/PCM (P/N FS9N-18-881C) from the dealer. A little expensive for the gains that you get.

protege_fan

Ouch....$950 for 10 HP? No thanks. You could almost get that much gains just by doing intake and exhaust and that would be about half the cost of the MP3 ECU.

bococartoons

Does anyone know if there is a mazdaspeed protege5 wagon coming out with the sedan. If so I would take one in a second.

medic_nys

Hi everyone, I've had my protege5 since May and I love it. I've been wanting to dress up the lights but the owners manual lists everything in watts and not by the common numbers you find auto supply stores. If anyone can let me know what the numbers they are it would be appreciated. I want to change my bulbs in the front and back. Thanks

protege_fan

IIRC, the official word is that there will be no Mazdaspeed Protege 5.

However, with the success of the P5, I would think that there is something in the works.

winlet28

My neighbor almost got a PR5 loaded with leather/moon but red for 15,900. (He ended up with a DX Proto. since his wife wanted to save $ and it is her car)

I do love the car and am wondering if that's a steal!! It sure sounds like it since ad one's without leather run
14, 998..but do include: moonroof, polished alloys, etc.

Not so sure about the red I love the yellow but that's a limited production color so it'll cost me more. White is the other color we are thinking about.

Help...what did everyone else pay? I am on the west coast and costs seem to be lower than some areas of the country. Looking to purchase this week with the 0% APR for 48 months and no payments until January that Mazda is offering.

Thanks!!

sharonf

Sounds like a good price to me...but hard to say not knowing what all the options on it are. Checking Edmunds pricing and CarsDirect pricing can usually show you if you've got a good price or not.
What part of the west coast are you in?
And by the way....I have the red and LOVE it! I'm sooo glad I didn't go with the silver I orignally wanted cuz I jus get a big grin on my face when I walk out in the morning and see that red....or walk out to it after a looong day at work.

winlet28

The car did NOT have:

ABS
Auto dimming mirror
tint
6 disk CD changer

but did include floor mats. whoo hoo. And I stand corrected on the price, they offered it to him for $15, 400. I was incorrect.

I am hoping that if they offer that price once, they'll do it again.

I live near Portland, OR.

Thanks for your thoughts. Greatly appreciated.

P.S. NO grey here as we already have a 2000 Proto
ES in the garage. :-)

mazdafun

Considering MSRP for a base unit (no options) is something like $16,975. Of course, they have a $750 rebate on them (at least in my area). They probably have a dealership discount (they weren't counting the $500 recent college grad discount, were they?).

Check out Edmunds' TMV too.

dagpotter

That sounds real good to me...I paid 15900 for my pre-refresh in May. I don't have sunroof, but do have six-cd changer. My dealer is now advertising $750 rebate + $700 in dealer cash. Should have waited.

oh well.

chocodog

hi all ...

I've had my Pro5 for 8 months and just hit the 7000 mile mark. It finally dawned on me that lately, I feel a small but noticeable improvement in engine performance, especially in the low end.

I don't remember this obvious of a difference with past cars, but it's been a long time since I've had a new car.

Reading through people's notes - those considering buying this car - I would suggest that the brand new cars on the lot do not really give the best account of the car's acceleration. I wrote a note a few months back commenting on how the ride improves upon break-in, and now I'll add performance to that observation.

Gas mileage hovers around 27-78 mpg (with K&M filter). This is with a standard shift -and I tend to drive aggressively and mostly back roads.

Only problem, so far, is with the clutch. It will judder in low gears (1st & reverse) when the car is cold. I haven't brought it to the dealer yet - it is a recent problem so I hope just an adjustment is needed.

So I would say, my only disappointment with this car is the shifting. I'm finding it hard to really shift quickly, and I've driven manual transmissions most of my life. I'd be curious to hear other's opinion on the subject.

silver_bullet

If the P5 uses hydraulics to operate the clutch (as opposed to a cable), there is no provision for adjustment. Clutch judder when cold can sometimes be caused by light corrosion forming on the flywheel overnight, especially in damp weather (much like the brake rotors). Usually a few shifts and a bit of driving clears this up.

bluong1

shifting: that's one of the things which also improves with the car, at least with my car. I used to find the second is hard to engage very quick and I posted this problem few months back. However, mine (~18k miles) now shift pretty quick, no more complain whatsoever.

Bruno

dsm6

I have a 02 5-speed Pro ES with 11,000 miles on it. The shift from 1st to 2nd seems slow to me. Trying to make a quick 1-2 shift makes it feel like the sychros for 2nd are too slow.

My clutch doesn't slip, but others have said that theirs do when it is cold. Some have suggested that this is typical for the car.

Sporin

I also noticed my engine and manual transmission smoothing out aroudn 6k or so.

winlet28

Nope, that was the dealers price. My neighbor went in to check out the ad PR5 with moonroof/no leather. And saw the red one same options but with leather and they said $15,400. No rebates or recent coll. grad.

Well wish me luck....we are going in tomorrow and going to try to get it. If we do then we'll have our two zoom zoom zoom cars!!

pciskowski

I also noticed an increase in power, around 6k miles as well. I thought it was my imagination or just getting used to the car. Especially since the CD player also sounds good to me now?!?!

maltb

that you feel break in around 6k. After driving 1 year leases for the last 5 years, it's a bit of a bummer that my break in doesn't usually happen until 10k or so...almost time for trade in.

mustang87

here we go again. the yellow on an mp5 is not a limited edition color. where did you hear that from? don't ever listen to a salesperson. the first dealer i went too lost a sale after they told me that yellow is a limited edition color.

shrique

That article on the P5 in WoW finally appeared on the web. They have some information about the P5 and at the bottom the update has information about what they saw as results when they added a CAI and CAT-B exhaust

  

http://www.wheels.ca/stories.cfm?storyID=5134

winlet28

A dealer told me that. Figures that they lie. I only talked to him on the phone and wasn't about to deal with him.

tetonman

I'm back to looking at the Protege5. Two questions:

1) What does the mid cycle refresh mean? It's listed in the dealers' specs for cars.

2) Where are the cars built? Japan or St. Louis?

Thanks for your help.

dsm6

1) Someone correct me if I miss something: It means the addition of side marker lights, leather shift knob (manual), sport shift (auto), component tweeters, new wheel design, and optional leather seats.

2) Japan

the_big_h

1) mid-cycle refresh are P5s built after 2/28 IIRC. Basically it's a mid-year trim/accessory upgrade, which includes different looking alloy wheels, side marker lights on the front fenders, a different shifter knob for manual transmission, and silver face gauges instead of white. If I missed anything please add on to the list.

2) ALL, and I mean EVERY SINGLE Protege/Protege5 in North America are built in Japan, around Hiroshima I believe

oops, I guess someone answered before I can hit the submit button

all the trim updates listed are in the mid-cycle refresh

tetonman

I don't know where I got the idea that they were build in St. Louis. Thought I read it here a couple of months ago.

I have asked several dealers to submit a quote for 5 speed with moonroof as only option. I know that this will be impossible to find, but I figure a few additional small options won't be a big deal. Funny thing is that I like the car in every color it comes in...

Had a '92 Protege LX sedan that I consider to be the best car I ever owned.

meinrad

I had wanted the same thing but found that it's pretty much, if not completely, impossible to find one that way. It seems that the moonroof cars also have abs/side airbags. Might be different now, but that was my experience a a few months ago.

bluong1

Mine is a yellow one with factory moonroof. That's exactly what I wanted: no ABS, manual, moonroof. When I shopped a year ago, some dealers didn't have the above option, so they proposed me to mount an aftermarket moonroof for the same price.

Bruno

jstandefer

Pics from the 1st California Mazda Protege Meet are finally up! It took forever... redesigning the site during brief quiet times in my amazingly hectic life, but they are finally up. The rest of the site is still a work in progress.

http://www.caliprotegemeet.1hwy.com

I'd like this site to be used by California Protege and 323 enthusiasts to check for meets and gatherings in their area. Check the events page. Planning a large San Diego meet? Send me an e-mail (online form coming soon) and I'll post it for everyone to see. A small gathering at your local Starbucks? A get-together at the Autocross? Any type of event or meeting can be placed on there. I'll also set up a free membership and an e-mail listing. When a new event comes up, a mass e-mailing will occur to let everyone know!

Let me know what you think of the site's new design and what else I should add!

-Jerry

vilainefemme

I'm with bluong, I got a silver P5, manual with just a sunroof. well, it did come with floormats, but I didn't mind that. Mine wasn't hard to find, but they might be more scarse now.

Jessica

maltb

Woo Hoo!
Malt avoids being caught on the web yet again. Thanks Jerry and swell job on the web site.

sharonf

Hey....great work on the website...and thanks for sharing the pics....looks like you guys had a beautiful day!
One lil typo I saw....next to the banner for the meet.....it says the meet was held 07/29/02.

Keep up the great work!