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Comments
Meade
P.S. For the record you guys -- it ain't "green mica." It's "Emerald Mica."
Seapang is the name of a Formula-1 race track in Malasia that opened last year. That's why it has no meaning to us.
I've had green cars before, didn't keep them long, but it wasn't because of the color. A 1951 Morris Minor, a 1977 Audi Fox, and a 1972 Buick Riviera. Sold the first because I was returning home from 3 years in Germany. Sold the Audi because of alternater problems. Sold the Riv because of the 1973-74 Oil Embargo.
The Riv was definately Emerald Green, not almost black like the Pro. The brightest green I have ever seen on a car, with sandlewood (very light beige) vinyl seats and roof trim. It was the boat-tailed version. Also, after a bad ear infection I couldn't stand the wallowing Buick cars have over the smallest bumps.
A 1974 Audi Fox introduced me to firmer suspension - loved it. The first time I drove it over twisty mountain roads, I turned around and went back over the same mountain three times before continuing on my trip.
The scariest trip I have ever driven was in the Swis Alps in 1971. I had rented a Simca, about the size of our Pros. On coming down from the highest mountain pass in the Alps the brakes failed. That road had twists like Pike's Peak -- not curves -- switchbacks, no guard rails, and straight down drops.
fowler3
Sounds like you know how to live well.
Luckily for us, you lived through that Simca. Thank goodness for good brakes.
Meade
Here's one for ya. I'm still excited this morning after following a brand-new RX-8 out of my neighborhood! Gotta find out which neighbor has the new toy!
Meade
Protege news...
My 15 year old son appears to be getting the hang of driving a manual. After getting frustrated early, he has resolved himself to learning so he can take this car next year. Last night he was so cocky, he was deliberately stopping on uphills so he could practice his starts! It is interesting to watch though. While he is figuring out the clutch, he is very timid to give it much gas. It just takes practice I guess. Any tips by those who have taught others would be appreciated though as I might have missed some nugget of wisdom.
It's easy to learn on any Honda/Acura tranny - they're very forgiving.
Dinu
Buddy of mine in Cali went and test drove the 8. Probably would have bought one if they weren't jacking the price 2k over sticker. Liked driving it, was a bit disappointed in rear seat room.
I was hoping he'd have it by the time I head out there in November, but I doubt prices will change much by then.
Maybe he can come to Richmond and teach a thing or two to the lead-footed, coffee-can-exhaust-tip-equipped Integra-driving, 19-year-old @#$%^& across the street!
Meade
Oh well, just wondering. I guess there are enough Protege owners to keep this discussion out of the "archived discussions" closet for a couple of years -- at least until I buy my 3 in two years!
Meade
Make sure to teach him the steep-hill-handbrake-start trick, so he doesn't need a third leg (!) for the brake pedal. That was fun to use although a pain on gentler upslopes, until I re-mastered (I think) clutch feathering.
http://www.dealsgap.com/index2.php
Huh, in San Diego, the two dealerships I've been to lately sported RX-8s at sticker. Sticker to me means wiggle room.
As for learning to drive stick - I learned on an old Nissan when I was 10. Started driving around parking lots and on my bestfriend's grandparents' far. Nothing like learning about fishtailing and power slides on dirt roads with nothing around for miles. The most dangerous thing out there were cows - and they stayed away from the roads!
But that road sure looks good!!!
Dinu
"I thought you were a strong proponent of keeping a car until its paid off, except when the front end gets crash-tested!"
I say:
I will be keeping my Protege until it's paid off! (Actually it's paid off already -- part of my home equity loan and house refinance -- and I do hold the title -- but I'm gonna be good and PRETEND I still have 21 months to go.)
Nah, I'll be keeping my Protege until it's around 90,000 to 95,000 miles old. That's about two years for me, plus my 100K extended warranty will cover me out to that point. And I can trade the car before I have to replace the timing belt.
Actually this is great timing -- the 3 will be in its third model year (I'll probably be looking at the first of the '06s), so it'll have all of Ford's bugs worked out (just learned the 3 will offer only Blue Oval engines), plus it may even have a coupla rebates going on it. Hmmm, now that I think about it I may look at a late-year 2005 and scarf up a big rebate as the '06s come out. It's also good timing because that keeps Tammy and me about 2-1/2 to 3 years apart on needing new cars.
Gotta love it -- car-buying "logic." I know, I know, it's really all emotional! Might be in that showroom in January and start drooling a little too much, kinda like you did when you surprised us all about a month ago, Ashu!
Meade
P.S. Where's Larry? Is he laying low because he went out and traded his Protege for a minivan and is too scared to surface and admit it?
P.P.S. Wasn't that "Actually this is great timing" remark a GREAT segue from the preceding paragraph? Am I good or what!!! (I know, I know ... I'm "what".)
What? Use the hand brake on a hill? And lose that sometimes terrifying feeling of rolling backwards into the car behind you?
I love scaring the be-deity out of people who pull up a little too close for my liking behind me! There's something about the tail end of a car creeping BACKWARD toward you that wakes you up! If I REALLY get a good estimate of how close I can get, and creep slow enough (slight incline rather than big hill), I can get THEM to start reversing to avoid me! Chain reaction!
Hee hee ....
Meade
-Meadster
A long vacation in Ocean City, Maryland. Just got back! Lots of fishing, swimming and sleeping on the beach. My gosh the beach entire worn by the young ladies was....,my gosh!!! Fit my family of three and lots of stuff in my 2000 Protege ES and it handled the trip perfectly. With gas at $1.65 or more I'm glad I own the Protege.
-Larry
Well, using your, um, sense of humor today, didn't you just buy twice as many?
Meade
I'd rather have a car that's been out a few years, with Mazda's experience in full swing, as opposed to a new model with its first-year idiosyncracies/problems. For instance, I cite the first-year Mazda6 occurrences with Check Engine Lights. Now of course Mazda will stand behind and correct any first-year bugs for new buyers, but if you're like me and don't want the hassle of having to schedule dealer appointments for these kinds of things, play it safe and buy the proven car.
Or hold out a year like I plan to do and get the new one, hopefully consumer-proven and bug-free!
A word about the pricing question ... I really don't think there'll be that much difference in pricing between the current Protege and the Mazda3. In light of the fact that a loaded Protege is pushing into the lower-end Mazda6 range, I think Mazda will be setting itself up for disaster with the 3 if it prices it any/much higher than the current Protege.
Then again, they ARE owned by Ford ...
Meade
~kizer
Similarly, my wife's 2002 Protege5 is at about 21,000 miles, a year and a half old, and has never been back to the dealership. I only wish she'd let me drive it ...
My former Protege, a 1992 LX I purchased new in August 1992, went 83,000 hard miles in only 28 months delivering pizzas and transporting me all over the state as a newspaper reporter. It too never visited the shop for anything other than scheduled maintenance.
Tough cars to beat, eh? That's why I'm a several-time repeat customer!
Meade
Where did you learn that? My understanding was it would have the 2.3L block co-developed my Ford/Mazda/Volvo with Mazda developed internals just like the 2.3L in the 6. It will be a "Duratec" block, but it isn't a 100% Ford design.
I think the Mazda3 is wider and taller and will offer a larger tire upgrade (I fit fine the the Protege or P5 and I'm 6' and tall in the torso). If price is important, you'll likely decline the NAV, HID and tire-pressure monitor systems that the Mazda3 will offer in the USA, so those features won't make a dint in your decision.
Early indications from the UK press is the Mazda3 has a more comfortable ride than the Protege, which some folks complain is too stiff (I like it, and how flatly it corners, especially my wife's P5...heh, heh, she lets me borrow it on occasion).
Looks like the Mazda3 stock audio system won't easily accomodate aftermarket units. Bummer for me as I like plugging in my iPod on longer trips. Guess I'd have to get the cassette player or figure out how to run an AUX input jack to the stock head unit (hopefully some nice pioneer will figure this out before my next car purchase...over which I'm torn [RX-8, Mazda6 wagon/hatch or Mazda3 wagon?].
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?previews/previews_story.php?id=3931- - 8
"That's because, along with the Focus C-MAX and forthcoming Volvo S40, the Mazda uses the same platform. It also borrows engines from the blue oval - 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol powerplants are confirmed, as are two TDCi diesels. We drove the 150bhp 2.0 petrol car."
Granted this is the UK version ... but it's the only independent review of an actual production model I've seen yet. And isn't the base Mazda3 gonna have a 2-liter engine, possibly the "Blue Oval" one referenced above?
Meade
Maybe even the future Mazdaspeed version ...
Meade
P.S. I'm like you ... there's getting a decked-out Mazda3 for around $20K, but then there's that nice blue RX-8 on my dealer's lot right now with a sticker of only $27,300 ... what price happiness, I ask?
Seriously now, the 3 is likely to be the most miserly on fuel, so if everything else works out (fit, feel, cost, reliability etc.), it'll likely be my next car (whether this first incarnation or the next refresh), unless I totally lose my head and heart and get an RX-8. It is one sweet-looking and sweet-sounding machine. That's why I'm almost afraid to test-drive one. I'd likely be thinking about it all the time (like that one VW Beetle commercial, where the guy had it on his mind all the time, and the little Beetle stuck to his forehead kept growing and growing...).
Friend of a co-worker picked one up last night.
Friend of mine might if he gets the color and the deal he wants.
It'll probably be another 4-5 years til we get another vehicle to replace our Grand Voyager. By then we'll be down to 2 kids (hopefully) and can get something smaller (sportier!) for the wife to drive.
Dan
Please go there and read it, the Mazda3 gasoline engine situation is much more complicated than simply being "borrowed from the blue oval".
Hmm. Wife's got the wagon, I've already got a 4-dr sedan that's good on fuel......and I'd like to get a sports car before my reflexes and such are shot.
"U.S. engine choices will be a 150-hp 2.0 liter and the 2.3 4-cylinder from the Mazda6 upgraded to 170 horsepower."
Zoom, ZOOM!
Meade
The Mazda3's 2.3l isn't going to have more than 160hp. Go to MazdaUSA->Upcoming vehicles->Mazda3 and check out the flash presentation to see for yourself.
Why bother with it if it's only 10 hp more than the 2.0? It'd be typical of a company like Mazda to do this but still...
Although the two engines will only have about 12-15hp difference, the 2.3l has: almost 20lb/ft more torque and variable-valve timing.
It has been a while since I wrote but I always follow the conversations so I am current. My 2001 LX 2.0 is at 15,300 miles and doing well despite a on-going transit strike that has snarled traffic to near gridlock and has driven up the gas prices, already at $2.07 for regular! The only item of concern is that I replaced 3 cracked plastic wheel covers that were standard for the LX back in 01, and they have cracked again? Why? Has anyone else had this problem? I know Ashu mentioned to me that it is a known problem, but here we go again. The local Mazda dealer I notice is not as fast to offer to replace them as they did last time. Maybe the alloy wheels are in my future. Enjoy the Labor Day weekend!