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PF Flyer
Host
News & Views, Wagons, & Hybrid Vehicles
The Mazda Mania Chat is on tonight. The chat room opens at 8:45PM ET Hope to see YOU there! Check out the schedule
I tried out eight different FM modulators of the type that transmits an FM signal through the air to be received by your car radio. I was very disappointed with the results. Not a one of them was in any way usable at all. The signal went up and down, the background noise was unacceptable. They were all a disaster, and some cost up to $80 (luckily I bought them all with a return privlege).
Then I came across an FM modulator that plugs into your cigarette lighter and into which you attach a MP3 player (CD player or other audio output unit) via an audio cable (supplied). Or, as an option, you can also insert a USB flash drive directly into a USB port on the modulator. This product is called the "VR3 MP3 FM Modulator", made by Virtual Reality Sound Labs, and can be seen at
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3579125
I have been very satisfied with both voice and music played through this device via the audio cable. Music played from USB flash drives however seems to lack adequate bass. This device does stick out somewhat from the dash so you must make sure it will not interfere with your dash controls.
I bought this modulator at Costco for $26, including sales tax.
I had my 2000 ES up to about 110 once.
I haven't tried top-speeding in my 2005 3S hatch yet, but I have gotten it just over 90 (in fourth) while pulling a fast merge to avoid a truck in the right lane. It had plenty more to offer!
Meade
(BTW, why would you need to go faster?)
Meade
http://www.mazda.com/product/mazda3/4a/2w/story1_1.html
... you'll note that, after spending some time on the autobahn studying the way German cars handled fast speeds, they deliberately designed the 3 to be more stable at high speeds. And I agree. At 90 in the Proteges I was starting to get white-knuckled. At 90 in the 3 I'm very relaxed and the car is well-composed and solid; not at all twitchy like the Proteges were.
To quote from the above link (which is full of great info on the 3's development):
On the flight back to Japan from Europe, Tanioka spent his time alone and deep in thought. He had driven some of the competitive European C-segment cars from VW, BMW, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo on Germany's autobahns and he was thinking that when driving fast, even at around 200km/h, his confidence in these cars was largely sustained even as the field of vision became narrower at speed.
But traveling at even 160km/h in a Japanese car of the same class somehow resulted in a loss of driving confidence. Reflecting on how he had felt while driving, Tanioka was aware that he had been sensing various "danger signs" in the Japanese cars as speed increased, including the sound of the engine, wind noise and vibration of the steering wheel. Such sounds and movement communicate an impression of impending danger to the driver, giving rise to a feeling of uneasiness.
In contrast, he had felt no such feeling when driving the competitive European models. All that he had been aware of with increasing speed was the narrowing visual field and a feeling of confidence that grew with it. And suddenly, Tanioka realized one of the keys to Mazda3's development: they would raise the speed at which confidence could still be felt.
To attest for my experience: I owned my first '92 LX until it was totaled (hydroplaning) at 28,000 miles. I bought the second one and drove it 83,000 miles. I had the '00 ES for 91,100 miles and traded it April 7 for the 2005 3 hatch, which I now have about 3,800 miles on.
Meade
Meade
Also I presume that the '99-'03 Protege generation rides and handles better than the slow-selling '95-'98 generation.
Your question was very appropriate, and I hope someone can give you the information you are seeking.
BTW, I drove in heavy rain this afternoon and tested the Kumhos for hydroplaning, they are great! Hard stops from speed they had full contact and stopped like the road was dry. Highly recommend them. I have a 2001 Pro LX 2.0 and replaced the lousy Bridgestone Portenzas after 22K miles. The Kumhos are 205/50/15HR ECSTA 711 touring tires. Very quiet and smooth riding.
fowler3
I'd definitely go with the Protege. Like autonomous says, the last-generation 626 was "long in the tooth" -- I'll go farther; it was a dud. I got to drive one a few times as a loaner car. B-O-R-I-N-G!!!
My last Protege was a 2000 ES 5-speed, purchased new in May 2000 (and replaced with a Mazda3S wagon back in April). I had 91,100 miles of trouble-free service. Nice, zippy, well-handling, smile-inducing car.
Meade
P.S. Thanks for the compliment Pat ... or at least I think it was a compliment!
:P
Meade
thanks,
h.
As I think back to when this happened to me I remember there being a thin slot on the buckle; slide a dime into the slot to release the buckle.
Meade
h.
When you suddenly become a family (instead of just a couple), you learn interesting things about many things in life -- and your car is a small part of that!
Meade
I still have the Protege. Many many more mods done to it as well. Zoom zoom.
Pictures: http://www.panhandlegearheads.com/gallery.php?member=45
Specs: http://forum.panhandlegearheads.com/viewtopic.php?p=47148#47148
Did you ever get the battery to stop sliding around? :P
Meade
I now have a 2002 FS-DE 2.0 manual in place of the rather anemic, but reliable 1.6 ZM-DE automatic. It's fun!
I haven't seen anything on the market that would get me out of my Pro. I'm just too happy with it.
And my wife is glad she got her P5. Nothing that has come on the market since appeals to her (except the 5-dr Prius, but she likes how her P5 handles, and the Prius doesn't come close...of course, that's not its intent).
And it's good to see a lot of the old gang is still hanging out, even though we don't post with nearly the frequency we once did. Glad to hear you're all alright.
Thanks.
It seems the '98 may have been more reliable,
http://www.autooninfo.net/RelPerMazdaCharts.htm
but my '99 es has been quite good. The '99 has more interior room, handles better, and, IMHO, looks a lot better.
Meade
I think the '99 and later handles better too.
fowler3
Over 46K on the Protege!
But when I see wheels with black brake disc dust I change my mind.
fowler3
1. What version of Protege is it: DX, LX, ES ... ?
2. Where is it in terms of mileage?
3. Have you done any major repairs?
4. Have you replaced your tires and if so how often?
5. Would you recommend the Pro as a used vehicle to a friend?
1. 2002 LX w/ATX
2. 43,000 + miles
3. nothing but routine maintenance
4. put a set of BFG Touring TA's (205/55/15) at 30k
5. absolutely.
PF Flyer
Host
News & Views, Wagons, & Hybrid Vehicles
The Mazda Mania Chat is on tonight. The chat room opens at 8:45PM ET Hope to see YOU there! Check out the schedule
Since I do my own maintenance work I had never been back to my dealer for service, so did not know about the TSB on 2002 wheel covers until after I had the problem. I'm happy to say that my dealer went to bat for me, and I received four new wheel covers last week.
Kudos to your dealer!
Meade