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Comments
Actually, I agree with you about the Pro's pedals being small.
And my cousin told me he takes off his shoes when he drives his Protege so that he can find the pedals.
I could have traded my current car in a couple weeks ago for $21K, I was told. At that price, I would have lost only 12% or so in 5 months. Based on MSRP, it would have been 18% or so.
the steering (too light and rubbery)
not designed with enthusiastic driver in mind.
MP3:
The suspensions setup is not very stiff, allowing a smooth ride without ruining body control
This makes sense.
A person who think the MP3 is not STIFF, is certainly going to think the PRO ES has soft suspension...LOL
I wasn't trying to be a jerk ;-)"
by seminole_kev
I hear ya, I hope my response to your question didn't come off as flippant. I understand you were just trying to clarify the term for "value". :-)
-Larry
There's a reason why I didn't tell you who won
Oh, I kill myself sometimes.....
by protege_fan
I hear ya Michael, prolly the most supprising is the Saturn SL2 ranking in the top third.
-Larry
-Larry
Implicit-I think you got a decent price on your car considering the options you chose. How do you like the Sport Automatic?
(And I'm on my second 626.)
Dinu
BTW: Happy Tuesday everyone!
I have placed my Protege for sale on EBAY. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions concerning the listing. Thanks!!
Here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1824066855
But then you also said, "May I suggest that you buy a two-year-old Protege--they are out there for less than you think and it may acutally cost less than a fully-loaded Rio."
Someone telling someone else to buy a 2-year-old Pro while dumping his own. Sounds like a Merrill Lynch stock analyst.
I meant to say, I test drove five Proteges and decided it was the BEST car for the money, by far.
That said, here's my two cents worth:
About Hertz cars: When I was first looking for a used car, I re-read Edmunds' article on that. I thought Edmunds had suggested that buyers try a rental because Hertz keeps their cars up and offers a warrenty or good return policy. On reading it again I was surprised that Edmunds did not say that at all. Quite the contrary.
Some buyers may do very well buying rentals, but generally, many do not. The car may have been a lemon when the rental agency bought it.
On cleaning dash crevaces and ducts: What bugs me are little white things stuck in the spaces between parts, such as the moveable ducts and the dash. I bought a nylon brush at AutoZone that does a great job of getting rid of that. It folds up for storage.
Manual vs AT: I've been driving for 56 years, both manual and in cars with Auto trannies. If you own a small car, and are young enough to enjoy it, by all means buy manual trannies. You get the best use out of the available powerband. It's great fun to shift and be in total control. The best drivers can shift just as smoothly as any auto-transmission and not make the ride uncomfortable for passengers. It takes practice! It takes a certain combination of hand and foot working together -- not popping the clutch.
A good driver can take passengers from point A to point B without them noticing whether the car is manual or AT and without having to brace themselves for curves and stops. Play at being at La Mans when alone in the car.
From 1973 to 1997, I bought small cars with manual trannies. And owned many in prior years in addition to (two cars) AT-equiped American cars. Both have their advantages.
About depreciation: I find it very interesting that the Audi dealer, in Greensboro, places Kelly Blue Book print-outs on the windows of traded-in Audis showing their market value. Yet, if you go in to trade they quote the NADA book for your car. KBB is well-known for overrating car values while the NADA book underrates them.
I have often found that dealers of competitive models will offer the same price for a trade as the dealer you bought the car from -- especially Honda dealers. So, if Hondas hold their value more than other cars why is the Honda dealer's offer the same as the others?
I have bought and traded many cars, one time being only $7.00 apart, and walked out. It's the principal.
For the person buying a Protege, don't buy a manual because most of the others did. Buy what is going to be most serviceable and easy for you to drive, depending on your circumstances getting to work and shopping. If you are going to spend a lot of time in first and second gear everyday, buy an AT. Cars are suppose to be fun, not labor-intensive. You will wear out the clutch very quickly at traffic lights.
fowler3
Head Southwest away from Northern Va into the countryside. Look for less-traveled roads.
Don't slip the clutch!
fowler3
although I am planning to get a 2nd car as my competition car (eg RWD, manual). Nissan 240SX is what I've searching for lately :-)
;-)
Meade
You'll be finding a surprise in your mailbox when your policy renews!
Meade
28 people
18 Proteges
1 whitewater-bound Jetta
Meade
(Snicker, snicker.)
Meade
About State Farm, my policy just renewed for May 2002 until November, and my rates did not go up. I have the house insurance with them as well, so maybe that helps some. But thanks for the warning.
;-)
Meade
http://www.forbes.com/home/2002/03/25/0325flint.html
Just for that, I'm coming to MAPP, but not in the Pro - I'm taking the wife's Grand Prix GTP so Paul and I can do smoky burn-outs around your Pros until our "poorly built, unreliable" cars fall apart. With any luck, mine will die right behind Meade's car, trapping it on the lot. ;-)
fowler3
Pontiac? Hmmm. We had one. A 1980 Grand Le Mans. The only four-door sedan I've ever encountered whose rear windows were fixed -- i.e. no cranks, didn't roll down. By the time we got rid of that heap at the ripe "old" age of 66,000 miles, it was burning/leaking/eating about three quarts of 20W50 motor oil every 1,000 miles. We used to joke about taking it to the gas station to "fill up the oil, and -- uh -- check the gas while you're at it." In fact, that thing caused my dad to have to resurface our driveway from all the oil/coolant/tranny fluid leaks it had. And to think that was my mom's car and she babied it. Oh well, I will admit that cars weren't built as well in the '80s as they are today.
OK, now I've got to go back into Photoshop and add a Pontiac to the river ... gee you guys keep me busy!!!
Meade
BTW, her old 96 was bought 1 year old (former Hertz rental!) for $10,800 with 14,000 miles, and other than replacing spark plug wires twice, the car was faultless...well...a little underpowered..heheh
By the way, the GTP was my car, until I passed it off on to the wife so I could have my Pro (with a stop in her chevy in between until the funds were in place). Even with the difference in low end torque, the Pro is still easily a better car, even before the $10,000 difference in cost.
Now, my only concern is how to award the door prize for real ... do we count AIR MILES, or just those who sweated out the trip in their cars?
(I'm waiting, Dale ....)
;-)
Meade
(optimism in quotes because I'm not sure optimism would be appropriate with respect to a more Ford-like Pro, but we shall see - I'll try to keep an open mind).
FWD burnouts are weak by the way.