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Mazda Protegé

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  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    Where did u get the info for the 2002 models?
  • twistinmelontwistinmelon Member Posts: 90
    and newcar, hey, not trying to give you a hard time. ;-) BTW, I have inlaws that live in Paris...Illinois, and a great uncle lives in Peoria...Arizona, which will probably soon surpass Peoria, IL in population.

    twist
  • vtcoachvtcoach Member Posts: 7
    My local dealer faxed me the spec sheet, "2002 Protege Product Information Bulletin" to be exact. Unfortunately the base prices went up also, pretty much the same as the individual option prices.
  • laurakatlaurakat Member Posts: 69
    newcar31: Wow, they still have alot of '01 ESs on the lot? Did you say you saw two red ones? I think those were the ones I test drove about three weeks ago. One had some strange grinding noise coming from the back end. I'm assuming they fixed that by now! The other one I almost bought. They just couldn't come up enough on my trade. When I bought my Emerald mica LX2.0 from Walser in Burnsville the next day, they had a ton of LX2.0 5spds w/ alloys/sunroof package, but no ESs. I was just there last Saturday and didn't see any ES models. They have a few P5s though.
  • laurakatlaurakat Member Posts: 69
    Was at my parents house for dinner last night w/ my brother and his family. Out of nowhere a thunderstorm rolls through. I was downstairs playing pool w/ my dad and brother, when my wife shouts "it's hailing outside!!". I don't think she's ever seen me move upstairs that fast before. I run upstairs to yell at my mom to open the garage door to the third stall. I run out to the garage and realize my brother's '90 Tauras was blocking it!! I finally got him to move his car so I can pull mine in. I was horrified watching the hail pound my new car as I was waiting! Luckily, it was just pea sized hail, so it didn't do any damage. I was in that garage for at least a half hour going over every square inch of my car to make sure my new baby was o.k. If there's one thing I miss about my Intrepid (other than not making car payments on it) was that I didn't have to worry about stuff like this!
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Yeah, they have some 01 ES 5sp at Morries. I was just there yesterday to see if they had any 2002s. I didn't see any 2002s. They have 1 red ES 2.0L 5sp. Where were you when it hailed? It didn't hail in Eden Prairie, but it rained real hard.
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    After a week up in northern California, I have returned for LOTS of reading to catch up on posts. I have to say that my '99 ES was absolutely flawless for the entire trip and achieved 31.5mpg averaging 85mph with the AC on, including the climb up and down the Grapevine. Unfortunately, I managed to snag a plastic bag underneath the engine which has partly melted onto the catalytic converter heat shield. Smelly driving!

    On my way back, I got my first ticket in over 5 years! And boy, this is a big one! "Speeding in excess of 100mph" and "Unsafe turning maneuvers." I will have to go back up there to fight the ticket. I never once got close to 100mph. I typically had the cruise set at 85mph and would pass at 90mph sometimes, but I never had it up near 100mph!! The CHP officer pulled over myself and another vehicle at the same time. This other vehicle was playing the "buddy system" method of driving, where he decided I was his "buddy" and would stick to me. This had been going on for a couple of hours and I gave him plenty of opportunities to pass, but he would just jump behind me. Even once, I was in the right lane stuck behind an 18-wheeler and couldn't jump into the left lane until a few other cars went by. He jumped into the left lane, slowed down, and flashed his lights for me to get in. How nice... Unfortunately, the CHP officer thought I was jumping into the lane, causing the other driver to brake and then flash his lights. There were several other times where I managed to pass an 18-wheeler while he got stuck behind slower traffic. I would get about a half-mile lead, but he would catch up pretty quick. I am positive the officer clocked his speed and not mine!! Anyways, I will take a speeding ticket, but not a 103mph one!!!

    Other than that, the trip was rather uneventful. My Protege has about another 1,000 miles left under warranty and I am buying new tires in the next few days. The Nitto NT450's on the car now are showing their colored tread lines now. I almost bought a set of Dunlop SP Sport 5000 tires up in northern Cali, but I didn't want to pay $627. I also ran into a set of Micheline Pilot XGT 205/50R15's at the local Costco up there that someone had special ordered but never picked up. They were giving me a good deal at $650 out-the-door (those tires are $155 each!) and it was tempting... However, I think I will go with the TireRack.com and possibly order the Nitto NT450's again (about $55 each) which I was extremely happy with, or get the Pirelli P7000's which are something like $72 each. Any suggestions?
  • SporinSporin Member Posts: 1,066
    I've heard good things about the Kumho ECSTA Supra 712's. Might be worth a look.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    Man, they're gonna bury you UNDER the jail! What was the posted speed limit? How you gonna fight it? Isn't 90 still bad enough? Here in Virginia, anything above 15 over the limit is considered reckless driving and carries some bad news. I can't imagine going in for 100+. Lessee here, that'd be 35 over. Wowzers.

    Meade
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I was going 30 over, and the cop let me go with only a 2-point speeding ticket for $70. He said it was because when he asked me why he pulled me over, I said "because I was speeding". DUH! What was I suppose to say, "No, I thought you were selling Mary Kay car to car". God, I hate stupid people sometimes.
  • krotinekrotine Member Posts: 93
    I'll be bringing my digital camera and/or video camera to MAPP II.

    jason
  • krotinekrotine Member Posts: 93
    What is the food situation so far for MAPP II? (who is bringing what?) I'll bring the lasagna (sp?) if it hasn't been taken.

    jason
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    We had someone with a digital camera come to last year's MAPP, and we got some really good pics. I am looking forward to the festivities. Hope the weather is as nice as it was last year for the event.

    Just out of curiousity, how many people/Proteges are we up to now (about)?
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    I sometime read that the computer chips which control the fuel injection and ignition can learn and automatically adapt to the driving style of the driver and others factors. I have some double about it, at least not on the car of Mister AverageConsumer. If someone can point out me an article or such which states this affirmation, I would really appreciate. In my opinion, the firmware in the chips are most likely a 100% deterministic algorithm which use parametrizing the output (fuel/air ratio, timing,...) with respect to the input parameters (engine rpm, temperature,...), and not a fancy neurone network type of thing.

    Another small note: using a premium gas will not hurt the performance of the car. We have a big discussion about it on P5 Forum few weeks ago. In short, the octance index rates uniquely how easy the fuel molecules can break (-> release energy and ignite in a uncontroled manner) when subject to high pressure and temperature due to the compression. It's not a measure of how fast the fuel is burn after ignition by the spark. The compression ratio of the 2.0L engine of the Protege is 9.1:1, a pretty low number, therefore one can use regular fuel. A "better" fuel wouldn't hurt in any case the performance, unless if one is talking about money spending unnescessary.

    Bruno
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    >>>>The compression ratio of the 2.0L engine of the Protege is 9.1:1, a pretty low number, therefore one can use regular fuel. A "better" fuel wouldn't hurt in any case the performance, unless if one is talking about money spending unnescessary....Bruno<<<<<

    To burn higher octane fuel efficiently, you need an engine with a higher compression ratio...else you will have a lot of carbon soot in your cylinder head and piston heads.
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
    Again,

    With all due respect, what you are saying is not right. Well, if you care to flip your statement, it becomes right: the high compression ratio engine REQUIRES to have a higer Octance index gasoline, otherwise the gas will burn in a uncontrolled manner, i.e., gas in the compression chamber explodes violently under the effect of pressure while the piston is still going up, and that's bad. The advantage of a higer compression ratio engine is it can bring the gas-air mixture to higher temperature before ignition, and makes the burning process more efficient (2-4%). All gasoline, regarless to its octance index, have about the same amount of energy by volume, and will burn with the same propagation speed. That's the fact, and that makes them identical in all engine, assuming that knocking effect does not exist.

    Bruno
  • laurakatlaurakat Member Posts: 69
    I was in Burnsville when it hailed. It rained really hard as well. This happened about 6 or 7 pm last night. It came out of no-where. Was sunny and nice one minute, then all hell breaks loose. Good thing I didn't have my windows or sunroof open. Saw that happen to a guy in his new vette convertable a couple years ago. I went to lunch on a beautifull sunny day and saw him pull into the parking lot, looking smug and cool in his fancy car. While eating lunch, I noticed a major down pour. Not sure where that came from. When I left, I saw him out there furiously drying off the inside of his vette!

    Mike.
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    Well, the posted limit was 70mph. There was no way I was doing 103mph like he said I was. I was barely touching 90mph with the cruise control. Like I said, he pulled over two vehicles, mine and a Camry. I was the lead vehicle, meaning he clocked the Camry and assumed I was going that fast. I usually cruise about 85mph and pass at 90mph and slow back down to 85mph in the right lane. This Camry was keeping up with me, but would not pass me. There were a few times when he got caught in some slower traffic while I was passing a truck and by the time he got out of that traffic, I was already a good 1/2 mile ahead (the trucks were moving about 60mph). He would speed way up and catch me in about a minute, meaning he was easily breaking 100mph. But, since the officer saw us "together", he just assumed I was also driving those speeds. I think I can, at least, get the judge to drop it down to speeding at 90mph, or somewhere under 100mph. That would be a huge drop in the fine and points, and I should be able to take traffic school for that. Of course, maybe I'll be lucky and the officer won't show up... then the whole thing is dropped...
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    bluong1 is right. Higher octane fuel will not hinder or increase your engine's performance. The only thing it will hurt is your wallet. The spark from the spark plug is sufficient enough to completely burn the higher octane fuel.


    A performance computer chip usually adds power to a vehicle by remapping its fuel, air, and ignition timing to take full advantage of high octane fuel. Of course, you must put high octane fuel into your vehicle once equipped with a performance chip or you may experience some predetonation. CorkSport sells a high compression piston set for the 1.8L and 2.0L engines. This addition will require higher octane fuel. Adding those pistons, the MazdaSpeed exhaust header, cam kits, and chromoly flywheel can turn the Protege into quite the little beast...

  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    Ahhhhhhh!!!! I hate shopping for tires.

    Here's what I came up with so far as viable choices:

    Kumho ECSTA Supra 712 (Performance)
    205/50R15
    $60 TireRack/ $59 Discount Tire
    Minus: Soft sidewall, slow response
    Minus: Squeals easily, average dry traction
    Plus: Tread wears very slowly
    Plus: Excellent wet traction

    Pirelli P7000 (Performance)
    205/50R15
    $72 TireRack
    Minus: Noisy
    Minus: Tread wears quickly
    Plus: Excellent dry and wet traction

    Dunlop SP Sport 5000 (All-Season)
    205/50R15
    $95 TireRack/ $105 Discount Tire
    Minus: Slower response than performance tire
    Minus: Tread wears quickly
    Plus: Quiet
    Plus: Great wet and dry traction

    Dunlop SP Sport 8000 (Performance)
    205/50R15
    $95 TireRack/ $105 Discount Tire
    Plus: Quiet
    Plus: Great wet and dry traction
    -+-+: Treadwear is average

    Yokohama YK420 (Performance version of AVID)
    205/50R15
    $84 Discount Tire (exclusive to Discount Tire)
    Plus: Tread wears extremely slow
    Plus: Quiet
    -+-+: Good wet and dry traction

    I'm going to Discount Tire to look at these new Yokohama's. They are pushing them, so the manager said he would give me a good deal on them. I'll take a look and decide...
  • yooper53yooper53 Member Posts: 286
    Are there any published numbers for hp increases (in total)for all the performance goodies you mentioned? It sounds good but I probably wouldn't want to know the cost of labor. Any wag on the cost for parts and labor? Do you think the stock bottom end would be up to the added power?
  • edmund2460edmund2460 Member Posts: 293
    So after all that you guys said about compression ratio and the fact that the Pro is now considered a high compression engine - then why does the owners manual say that premium fuel is recommended for better performance? Does this have any basis in fact>
  • edmund2460edmund2460 Member Posts: 293
    I've always used Castrol. I don't have any scientific data to recommend it. Sold a Taurus at 150K, have a Sable with 102K and a Jetta with 235K all reared on Castrol. Yeah the last two have lost some zip (the Jetta is a diesel so it never had much to start ). I used 20W50 in that all year round for 19 years now and we have had some 5 degree F days in winter when I had to crank it up.
  • theparallaxtheparallax Member Posts: 361
    Today marks the second birthday for my 99 LX. It was the 10th of September in 1999 when I bought my car. I gave it a well deserved wash inside and out, but to my luck the weather turned nasty and now it's raining outside! Oh well :(
  • krotinekrotine Member Posts: 93
  • norcannorcan Member Posts: 72
    Don't strain yourself re. your car's birthday! I mean, come on, washing it every couple of years!! I wonder if there's a name for such an obsessive/compulsive activity? See, you shouldn't go doing that. Some folks are gonna blame you for the hailstorm.
  • bondobobbondobob Member Posts: 34
    I noticed the sticker on the inside of my MP3's gas door today that reads "premium recommended". Never noticed it before. Is this an MP3 thing or do other Pro models have the same thing?

    Bob

    P.S. 117MPH equals 5200RPM.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    I have e-mailed an urgent message to everyone who's expressed an interest in attending MAPP II. We may have to change the date in order to get a picnic shelter. The possible new date is Saturday, September 29. Please read your e-mail ASAP and get back to me via e-mail -- mdaffron@the-rma.org -- I need to reserve a shelter!

    So ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM!!!

    Meade
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    This message is posted in memory of those who are affected and have been ravaged by the trageties in New York City this morning, with the collapsing of the World Trade Center Towers and the crash of the planes. Let us pray for the victims and their families in their time of need.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I work very close to the Nation's Capitol (DC), and live in Baltimore. All roads into DC have been closed, and roads to Baltimore have been as well. I am pretty much stranded at work for the rest of the day, until everything clears up. All phones are down here, cell phones don't work. Voicemail on them is too busy to accept calls. Md. is not closing their office buildings yet, but DC is at a complete standstill. I am still waiting to hear about a friend who works in the World Trade Center building, and fearing the worst.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    this actually happened right before this morning's events turned life to hell:

    I have a shelter for MAPP II on the original date, Saturday, October 6. The picnic is a go. More details later.

    I need to get home now; I'm an amateur radio operator and the cell network -- along with most of the landline phone network -- for the east coast is jammed. Once again, ham radio to the rescue.

    Y'all keep one thing in mind -- we're going to retaliate, and just like in Desert Storm, this country's going to put aside its piddly crap and focus on its national pride. I for one think it's been a long time since we felt proud to be Americans -- 12 years to be exact. Let's give 'em hell!

    As I write this (high noon EDT), we're in the process of placing American flags on every toll plaza in Richmond.

    Gotta go -- we may even evacuate this building before I can get out of here. We're next door to the 25-story Federal Reserve Bank.

    God Bless, everyone. More on MAPP II at a more fitting time.

    Meade
  • duh_sterduh_ster Member Posts: 102
    yea...i came to work this morning and the tv we have here was on CNN, showing what went down in New York (and everywhere else in America). the entire floor stopped working to watch the newscast for about 1.5 hours. my heart goes out to the victims of this tragedy...today is a sad day...

    i do hope that the Americans find who is responsible and makes them pay dearly...

    'duh'
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I was on the way to work, and heard the beginning of the drama unfolding. When I got here, everyone was in the lounge area watching the big-screen with MSNBC on. I saw the second plane crash right into the building with my own eyes. I still cannot believe the World Trade Towers are no more. It's like some sort of nightmare or something.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I can't believe it either. I was just there a couple months ago on the WTC observation deck. This is really scary. They closed the IDS center in Minneapolis, all government buildings, and the Mall of America. God bless the victims and their families. Let's pray that this is all over.
  • mdaffronmdaffron Member Posts: 4,421
    He got through to me -- yeah, I'm still here at work! Such is PR life. Anyway, he said the sky around his house (Herndon, VA) is buzzing with military aircraft and Apache helicopters decked out to the nines with their full complement of weaponry. He said it looked like a war zone up there.

    Me, I was just noting the beauty of a crystal-blue sky from my 11th-story window here in downtown Richmond -- no clouds, no contrails, nothing but blue sky. The only thing I've seen in the sky this afternoon was a great blue heron over the James River about an hour ago. Eerie.

    I'm about three blocks from the state capitol and next door to the 25-story Federal Reserve Bank. The police have the whole area closed down. It's like a ghost town down there -- I hope I can get my car out of the deck and get out of here later!

    Meade
  • twistinmelontwistinmelon Member Posts: 90
    My office window looks out on the Sears Tower. We were all sent home before 9:30 central time.

    Trying to explain this to my 5 yr old, who is confused and upset.

    God bless America.

    twist
  • dbroccardodbroccardo Member Posts: 12
    My 2001 Pro LX 2.0 has Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), but the owner's manual only mentions it in passing. Just exactly what does this do, and how is it different from ABS?
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I cam kinda sympathize with that. My best friend has a 2- and 3-year old. Thank God they are too young to understand all the stuff and ask questions yet.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    It works with ABS. It distributes the braking power among the rear wheels with the most grab to stop you quicker.
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    I know this is off topic, but I know that you guys will respond to this. My co-worker is buying a car. Now, she has her offer in and the dealer accepter her offer. Also, they have approved her for her loan, BUT because she is getting it together with her boyfriend who has poor credit, they have told her that they want $2000 up front (i.e. down payment). Is this typical or is the dealer trying to get their money?
    Thanks in advance.
    PF
  • protege_fanprotege_fan Member Posts: 2,405
    With today's events, please know that all of us Canadians are truly upset over this tragedy. Our prayers and thoughts are with our American Friends and are 100% by your side.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Someone with poor credit is going to require more of a down payment than someone with good credit. So it's legit.

    Thanks for your prayers. I am going to start praying now, because I am leaving work. I expect to be home around 8pm tonight, and it's 4:30 now. It usually takes 45 minutes. We shall see.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    To show our condolences for the people lost in the malicious acts of today, I say we should drive for the rest of the week with our headlamps on. I know I will in memory of those loved ones lost in the tragedies today.
  • speedyptspeedypt Member Posts: 200
    I work very close to O'Hare and it was very eerie to see planes stacked up to land but NOTHING taking off. We closed down for the day as well, even though my company is probably low-risk. There were reports of them landing commercial aircraft at a community airport near my home (Palwaukee Municipal) but they were false. Now I look up and see nothing in the sky...it's really wierd. You NEVER see an empty sky near O'Hare.

    My 3yr old daughter asked me "Why did the bad men crash the airplanes into the building? Didn't they know all the people would get dead?" I didn't know what to say except we sometimes won't understand why some things happen.

    May God comfort all those in need at this time and bring his Almighty Judgement down upon those who planned and executed this atrocity.

    I agree with Meade...something better be flat and glowing real soon.

    Good plan VOCUS...I'll have my headlights on too.

    With a heavy heart,

    Pete
  • duh_sterduh_ster Member Posts: 102
    discomfort i witnessed today's events from CNN this morning. i could not believe that people would be capable of doing this to other people. despite being of different colors, religions, and nationalities, we are all still the same...human. it is because of this that i am so horrified by this act...

    pro-fan was right...canadian prayers to all those affected by this...

    'duh'
  • sfratsfrat Member Posts: 208
    This was a terrible act, and should not go unpunished. Found out because on of my coworkers called in to tell us what happened. Others must have been hearing the news at the same time, because everyone in my office wsa headed to the conference room where the tv is located. Watched TV for 20 minutes, went to my desk to call home, all lines were busy calling out, and my cell phone was a useless piece of junk. Then I found out the Pentagon had been hit as well, only this time I didn't need to go to the TV, just went to the window and looked out to see the smoke. Fortunately, was able to get a ride home with a co-worker, the metro was shut down. The streets looked like a scene out of the movie "Independence Day", people and cars lining the streets and sidewalks. I was very happy to get out of the city, took about two hours to get home.

    I doubt I'll be going to work tomorrow.
  • norcannorcan Member Posts: 72
    for Americans affected directly and indirectly today. It is hard to believe so many innocent lives have been changed forever. Everyone here in Toronto are shocked at the events and would like to express their sympathy and support.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Just happend to think you work right near DC and the Pentagon. I thought I had it bad in Lanham, where our phones (and my cell) died as well. My company's fate might be changed as well, as Morgan Stanley (the largest lessee at the World Trade Towers) is one of our biggest clients. We also had two other clients in that building too. And one of our marketing reps. was in NY today to meet one of the clients. The meeting was stalled until 12pm, thank God. She is fine, but shaken.

    I heard something on the radio about donations to the Red Cross through a local station. I am going to get the address and try to get everyone at work, as well as my company, to contribute something to the fund. God bless everyone in this time of tragedy and need. And to our Canadian patrons, thanks for your support. You have ours as well.
  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    I read a report on CNN.com bulletin board,not proven yet, that the NYC police arrested two men in a truck loaded with explosives headed towards the George Washington Bridge. I hope it is true, maybe they will be made to reveal who is behind this. But we know, don't we.

    I was in Munich, in 1972, at the Olympics when the German Army was trying to rescue the Iraeli hostages. That was when the world first learned about terrorists. Today, I had that same knot in my stomach I had back then. This was MUCH worse and there may be more attacks. A one-two-three punch isn't out of the question. Three crashed in Pennsylvania. Maybe they had backups. Maybe they knew what our reaction would be and are going all out!

    Something happened last week that made me suspicious. Lybia announced that they wanted closer ties to the USA and Europe. Why at this time?
    Do they know who did this? Many Libians work for Bin Laden.

    And, yes, I spent some time in Lybia in the USAF in the 1950's. Arabs can NOT be trusted.

    fowler3
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