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Comments
1.) First, I had my Protege towed to Lancaster Toyota Mazda Collision Center. They do great work, I had my 94 Toyota Corolla repaired and painted at their shop and the work was top box.
2.) I still have a Mazda Protege to drive,... when I get the Zoom Zoom Zoom itch, my wifes! Hehe, you know their identical.
3.) My insurance policy allows 30 day, not to exceed $900.00 car rental. I got a 2001 Dodge Stratus. I can't believe I'm driving a D.C. vehicle???? LOL!!!
4.) The Protege should be ready for pick up, the week ending 9/28/01. However, I will probably bring my wifes Protege to MAPP #2. I will want to detail the heck out of which-ever PRO-ES, I bring... and the repaired PRO will have to be left un-waxed for 90 days, per the body shop.
5.) The very best news? Only $100.00 bucks out of pocket! Yea, I get to keep my $600.00 Bush dollars$, for both the 30,000 mile check-ups.
Folks, thanks again for the support!
Respectfully,
Larry
I had asked if a salesman could take me up the street to a restuarant to get breakfast.
fowler3
There are asphalt rubber sheets from McMaster-Carr for 12 bucks apiece.
Works for me at least.
Vocus-Sounds like you got very lucky. I must admit, 55 in a 35 is a bit fast, did you mean 45 instead of 35 by chance? I actually own a radar detector. I usually drive 7-10 miles over, sometimes 15 on the highway when its safe. Contrary to perception, it has not changed my driving habits, except maybe make me drive a bit slower, because I become very cautious whenever I hear it go off. I also find it amusing to watch everyone else go barreling by me and then all slam on their brakes. One word of advice though, if you get hit by laser you're pretty much toast. However, if they're are other cars on the road, a decent detector will pick up the laser reflections off other cars, and give you some warning. But if you're the only one out there, and the laser goes off, you might as well pull over.
And finally for Meade, did you get my email?
Steve
I've played this CD a LOT in the car (as an aside it's a jazz cd with Louis Armstrong, whom my 4 year old has decided is her FAVORITE singer ... go figure), it doesn't not have a pasted on label and is in very good condition.
Arrgh.
2001 Protege ES not even 600 miles on it...and I LOVE it, this is just annoying.
Julia
Steve: I need a radar detector. And I was going 55 in a 35. (The last time I was stopped, I was going 85 in a 55.) I was haulin' butt. I need to slow down a little, like everyone has told me. Anyway, these past two times I was alone on the road (in a far lane, and no cars real close) when I got lasered. I am going to invest in a detector, and slow down a little. Also, are they legal in Maryland or not? Thanks.
Escort 8500
Bell 980
Valentine 1
These are the three I considered. I chose the V1 even though its more, I found the arrows telling you where teh laser was coming from to be worthwile. There's plenty of information on the Radar Detectors discussion on Edmunds, and www.epinions.com
HTH,
Steve
I took my car into the dealer today to get the rattle and the squeek fixed. The gave me a Corolla rental car. The Corolla is not that bad if you don't care about handling. It rides really nice and it has good pickup even though its an automatic.
A good part of the reason I quit using it was the chirping on long road trips. Almost drove me crazy. I just set my cruise 5 over unless I'm on the interstate in which case I go with the flow of other traffic. IMHO they are a waste of money. But it took buying and using one for me to realize that. Hope I haven't offended anyone again. Just my two cents.
Steve
I usually drive 68 to 70 mph on the freeway. I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in over 12 years. I didn't buy my Protege to see how fast it goes. I bought for it's handling, looks and reliability. It is a fact going 20 miles over the speed limit in the average daily commute(30 min.) will only get you to your destination a few minutes earlier. Is it worth risking your life or someone elses?
Pete
One of the worst wrecks I have ever seen was a Mustang, driven by a drunk friend because the owner, in the passenger seat, was even more drunk.
Those two came over an overpass at 140mph which launched the Stang like a projectile, it became airborne, the front end crashed into the windshield of an on-coming car killing the driver. The two in the Mustang were also killed. The innocent driver was on the way home after giving a talk to teenagers about drinking and driving.
fowler3
You impress few, if anyone, bragging about speeding. Any number of things can happen. A driver who's car is hidden by trees has looked down the road you are speeding on, and you thought you had it to yourself, looks in th opposite direction and pulls out in front of you...he thought he had a clear road, too.
fowler3
Me (mdaffron)
Larry (protegextwo -- or is that one?)
Paul (vocus)+ 2?
Steve (sfrat)
Jason (krotine)+ 2
Dennis (yooper53)
Chow-Chi (mazdafun) -- maybe
I will be sending an e-mail to all of you this morning. It will contain specifics on what you've offered to bring and what we still need.
Anyone else interested? We've got space under our shelter for lots more! Drop me an e-mail if you'd like to be part of the Mid-Atlantic Protege Picnic II in Northern Virginia on Saturday, October 6. You can e-mail me at: [email protected]
ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM!!!
Meade
BTW, I can't wait for the Mid-Atlantic Protege Picnic(MAPP), Oct. 6th! Listen, if you have decided to sit this out or just can't make up your mind? Remember, life is short you don't want to miss a GREAT chance to "party" with your fellow Edmunds Town Hall Protege Owners. It was really neat to meet mdaffron, vocus and others last year! I'm sure this years picnic will be even better! Great Food, Great Friends and Great Cars, all in one place! Be there or be square, lol!
Respectfully,
Larry
And as for the rest of you out there ... so far, unless you e-mail me and register for MAPP II, you're going to miss fellowship, fun, hamburgers, hot dogs, lasagna, Virginia ham biscuits and Shoo Fly Pie!!! (And that's just a sample of what people are bringing!)
Meade
This is the type of damage I typically see. You can touch up the clearcoat if this happens in the future. Get some of the clear plastic model paint and dab some of this after you've polished up the exposed aluminum.
If the clearcoat starts peeling off (I've never seens this happen), it means the clearcoat application was done wrong (probably didn't clean off the wheel before painting) and you should get a new wheel.
On back roads where I'm the only driver, I drive the posted limit. Better safe than sorry. I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in over 10 years (I was trying to keep up with another car full of friends on the way up to Tahoe...dumb, dumb, dumb).
The once or maybe twice a year I indulge myself is on roads where my only problem is likely to be Bambi darting across the road. Which would be disastrous enough. Having achieved top end I quickly lose my nerve because, well see "my only problem" above. White tails scare me. I kid you not!
As far as the fines go I could live with that but what I'm unwilling to live with is the increased insurance premiums for the next three years. I see the $380 for six months as something I can't get around.
Having said that I can't say that the rare push to top end doesn't make these old bones feel truly alive, if only for seconds at a time.
I currently own a '99 civic, but am looking to trade up I'm considering a protege sedan,
PR5 and 4-cylinder Altima. The PR5 and altima without a roof differ by around $3500.
I used to own a '91 protege (sold it at 160,000 miles, great car).
Questions for you mazda-heads:
Is the protege5 noticeably slower than the sedan? I know there is a weight difference,
and Car and Driver timed the PR5 as 9.5 s 0-60. Anyone test drive both? I'm looking
at a 5-speed.
After you've lived with it awhile, do you find the protege sedan to be quick enough for
you? Obviously all enthusiasts would like 0-60 in 4.5s but... I know the sedan has
world-class handling; my test drives have convinced me of that (so much better
handling than a Passat). Do you find the power lacking a bit? Comparing the C/D
review of the sedan and the Automobile review of the '02 Altima 2.5S, it sounds like
the Altima will run 0-60 about a half-second quicker than the Protege (175 vs 130 hp
but the Altima weighs 350-400 lbs more).
I've considered buying a sedan or PR5 and then turning to racing beat or corksports
but suspect the parts+labor cost would be prohibitive to speed up the mazdas.
Thanks for your opinions.
Brian
This is what I do:
1) I drive with the flow of traffic or slower (around 10mph over in the mid-west) for daily commuting. I have to admit when I first got my ES I did drive like I was 17 years old for a week or so.
2) I dont "speed" on short trips. Its just not worth it. On the other hand....I take 2-3 yearly trips of >1000miles each way each way and on those trips I do drive faster. On trips like that (doing them overnight on a week night) and driving 85mph can save 2-3 hours of drive time each way. I can frequently average 60-70mph including the stops. The last time I was on cruise control for 306miles straight at 85mph!!! Keep in mind this is the mid-west where I am frequently PASSED on interstates doing a constant 85mph.
3) For the usual go fast thrill, I usually stick to on-ramps and off-ramps. Thats where I usually get the biggest thrill and as a bonus there is a very low risk of getting caught if you pick the right ones....there are plenty in the mid-west.
All my racing is confined to the track or strip.
I also have a radar detector that I use 3 times a year on my long trips. If the speed limit was set at 85mph on interstates I would throw it in the trash today. I'm sure its saved me tickets but if the speed limit was more reasonable I would not need it. I'm also sure that I'll eventually get caught....I'm still going to keep doing the same thing.....just like everyone else.
The lesson: raise the interstate speed limit to 85mph now and to 125mph within the next 25 years and finally just get rid of it. Its a crime that we cannot cover 1000 miles in 10 hours by car.
As far as Interstate speeds go on long trips I find it fairly common to find the traffic flow 10-15 mph over. Certainly they were designed for greater speeds. Gee. Think of all the lives that were saved when the I-states were posted at 55. )
I have no problem with you speeding if you want to kill yourself, but since you drive on the interstate with resticted speed limits, you put legal drivers and their loved ones lifes in peril.
Also, speeding on offramps is suicide. Maybe you need to add rollbars for this manuver.
Please read my post#4619
The Protege has a sporty feel, can't say that about the Altima. If you need to blow someone off the line, Mazdas aren't know for these qualities.
IMO, you need to look at another brand and be prepared to open your wallet.
I own a LX 2.0 and test drove a P5. The P5 didn't seem any quicker. The suspension was alot tighter and responed better, IMO.
Pete
The Germans use to have NO speed limits on their Autobahns. If cars could go 150mph they did. They were usually three lanes wide and when you saw flashing lights in your rearview mirror (about a mile back) you had better pull over because the next flash would be right on you in seconds. Slower cars hung right.
These days all that has changed and they have speed limits on most of the Autobahns. They may be higher than here, but it has cut down on what I saw in a field in 1972: A "haystack" made of wrecked small cars like our Protegés -- three stories high. Cars the drivers had not had time to pull to the right lane when racing MB's and BMW's zoomed up on them.
You have to experience having a big MB pass you at 150mph or 180mph to appreciate the wind blast. And the Ferrari's in Italy! You don't even see them when they go by, it's just a streak of color you catch in the corner of your eye.
fowler3
Ever pass on the right side of a car? Sure you have. Doesn't happen on the Autobahn. If you travel at speeds well over a mile a minute you tend to watch the road and DRIVE. Traveling at 55MPH on highways built to handle much higher speeds (thank you, Ike) is mind-numbing.
I was going 85 in a 55 when I got a speeding ticket, and I admit it was really wrong and careless of me. That's why I paid the ticket and didn't fight it, because I was totally in the wrong with no explanation. Since then, I have learned to slow down a little bit. It's just a little hard though, when everyone passes you light a freight car passing a hobo on the highway just because you are doing the speed limit.
I know they're a little harder to find, but if you're as passionate about the feel of your car as you seem, you'll really be impressed if you try the 5-speed against the automatic.
Meade
Just a thought ...
Meade
My last car was a '99 Passat with the 150hp 1.8T and a stick. It was faster by about a second to 60, quieter, bigger, and more luxurious but handled like a pig. I'm not a speed demon, I get a lot more pleasure driving a slow car fast then a fast car slow.
I was going to wait for the Altima too, but decided I didn't want to spend more then $17k so the Pro5 fit perfectly.
I haven't had one single instance where I have *needed* more power, so I think it's fine. I also suspect that this car can do 0-60 quicker then C&D got once it's broken in well.
Citation #154356 IMPERSONATING A HOST-
You will recieve 2 points on your inter-net lurking permit. Future violations can and will lead to suspension of your inter-net privileges.
Respectfully,
Trooper Pro-X-One
Driving at 85mph is illegal but its not reckless. It was illegal when the speed limit was 55mph and its illegal when the speed limit is 70-75mph on quite a few roads here. I did it then and I'm doing it now. I hope more people join me in getting the limit raised to 85mph. Far from reckless. Reckless is driving after a few drinks, weaving in and out of traffic, using the breakdown lane to pass, tailing, driving too fast for conditions (rain, snow, fog, etc), not using turn signals, not observing lane discipline, and it goes on. Which do you think causes more accidents? Higher speed will make it worse but speed by it self does not cause accidents unless taken to the extreme. I dont drink and I dont do any of the other reckless things either. The assumption you are making is that I'm a reckless driver because I choose to ignore interstate speed limits. That does not mean that I drive 45mph in a 15mph school zone or blow off stop signs. I obey most if not all traffic laws (other than the interstate speed limit). I'm really not an automotive anarchist but I dont like speed limits. I would rather see people who dont use their turn signals and camp in the left lane get tickets (both of which are illegal and reckless) rather than people who are "speeding". I would like to see a day where people dont have to slam on their brakes when they see a police officer. There should be NO speed traps, photo radar, or other easy revenue tool. Police should be on the road with "us" on their patrols to ACTIVELY look for people who are actually driving in a manner dangerous to others (no signals, weaving, tailing and so on). Just my opnion.
2. The driver's education is the other important part of my last post, that I never sent. Driver's ED and testing is a joke in our country.
I wonder if you Gentlemen drive at these speeds with your children in your car? Maybe you don't have kids and are young and don't have the responsibility of other loved ones.
Go ahead a drive as you wish, just don't kill any of us innoccent, law abiding drivers.
Pete
This is my last Post on the speeding topic here! If anyone else would like to continue, I will post on Speeding in News & Views.
Is driving 85 MPH dangerous? Yes, if the rest of the traffic (if any) is not doing speeds close to yours. The same thing applies to folks who go slower than the flow of traffic. If traffic is moving at 65MPH and you are doing 50 or 55MPH...right or wrong, you are driving dangerously.