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Comments
Just kidding Paul (was that joke okay?)
Meade...why are you ignoring me? I respond to your tire post and not even 1 pithy retort. I'm really disappointed. You know...in gradeschool...we used to say that if you continued to pick on someone it was because you had a crush on them. That true Meadeball? (That oughta kabosh the Paul-bashing)
Smile everyone...lets rediscover our senses of humor, especially Meade and Paul, and get back to our normal friendly banter and exchange of truely useful info on our beloved Proteges!
Regards,
Pete
BTW, K-mart now sells a pro oil filter for $1.99. The construction looks the same as others I have seen and used.
ARRGGGHHHHHHH!!!! (Puke, puke, vomit)
Now you guys just stop, you silly savages!!!
Pete -- I didn't have a retort to your tire post because it was very explanatory, subjective and informative. I'm still teetering back and forth about what to do -- I can't find a local source for Yokohama; the only way I could find to get my tires locally was to special order them through Tire America (er, Sears) for $93 each. They're only $61 each through TireRack -- but I don't get all the free goodies. The only other tires I've been able to find locally for the 2000 ES are those Kumho Ecsta 712s (questionable M+S rating, and noisy) and Michelin Pilots (very, very expensive), both from Merchant's. I think Goodyear sells the Eagle RSA in my size, but it too is pricey and I've heard some negative comments about them.
I'm really at a loss for what to do. Anybody got any suggestions? Is there a tire I've overlooked? BTW, I'm looking for an all-season touring tire -- or maybe performance tire -- but I want it to be all-season. Here in Virginia, we don't get enough snow to warrant separate winter tires. I also want a quiet ride and a tire that does well in rain. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg, and I'd rather be able to purchase them from a local shop so I can get free rotation, mounting & balancing, etc.
Fowler -- Another advantage of being older and having more expensive hobbies is that you sometimes get to enjoy your friends' expensive hobbies. A friend of mine has a 34-foot sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay and I am fortunate enough to be invited for a sail every so often. I went to sailing camp when I was 12, and let me say I agree -- there is nothing like the silence and beauty of wind power. I don't understand why so many people are drawn to these power boats that cost upward of $800 to fill up for a weekend's jaunt -- once you get out on the water, what's the hurry? I want it to last forever!
One of my favorite memories is a night sail back across the Bay from Cape Charles on Virginia's Eastern Shore -- about 10 years ago -- we were heeled over and running a good 8 to 10 knots the whole way on three- to four-foot waves, and we were leaving that little trail of phosphorescent algae in our wake like a trail of stars on the water. The moon was out. Good Lord, I really did experience heaven during that three-hour sail. Nothing like it.
Meade
----------------
Off topic:
VW has been moving upmarket for years. Peich made it very clear that he wanted VW to compete with Mercedes (luxury) and sister brand Audi to compete with BMW (sport luxury). They are leaving a lot of buyers behind, but gaining sales overall. Only time will tell if it was the right move.
Do you think I could get it with a metal "loop" type oil filter wrench?
I've been advised that I should have a pro do the first change, but I guess I'm jsut stubborn.
Also, any truth to what the manual say? That you need a "special wrench" for the filter?
I don't know what I would compare Paul's driving to. Maybe ice sailing as I hear folks reach absolutely ludicrous speed on those things!
You know I noticed something. It seems I am talking about my car more over here than in the Jetta topic. Weird. Anyway, just thought I would mention that.
Meade, I just almost wet my pants laughing at your previous post. Too funny.
Gas odor: I never noticed any kind of gas odor in the 2001 Protege when I had it. Well, maybe a little tiny bit if I walked around the back of the car while it was still cold and just started. But never anything inside the cabin or anything. Don't know what it could be. You should be ok taking it to the dealer though, and having them look at it.
Gas here is going currently for 1.27 in the cheap places (that's premium, which I have to use now). That's not too bad though. I must admit though, I miss paying close to $1 a gallon (something like 1.05 here) for gas.
If I was looking for a more overall tire I'd have to say the Pirelli P6000 (I was very happy with my P600's and the P6000 is supposed to be a huge step up), or possibly the Yokohama Avid T4. My boss just put the Avid's on his Integra and just raves about them. I don't have a lot of info on them other than that but they did score pretty highly on Tirerack's feedback rating.
I personally can't wait to get the S-03's on my car...205/55WR15 size ends up being less than 2% different in revolutions per mile, and if I go with the RE730's they are less than 1% different.
To Zoom or not to Zoom....that is the question.
Regards and hope this helped.
Pete
'duh'
What you do get for sure is 4 wheel disc-brakes and a standard spoiler. Not too sure what else in the States. We can't even get side-air bags here in Canada.
PF
Trust me...it is different!
Gas Prices ... You guys are gonna think I'm lying, but the price war here in Richmond continues. Yesterday, on the way home from work, I filled up with Amoco regular (87 octane) for 95.9 cents per gallon. The Exxon across the street had regular for 97.9. The cheap gas stations have regular for as low as 89.9 right now, but I don't put junk in my Protege!
Meade
Sorry if I offended anyone.
Meade
I don't know what it is about Amoco. My car tends to get less gas mileage with it. (I had to stop there yesterday because my light had been on for 30 some miles and my needle was BELOW "E.") Here are my top 4 picks, in order of preference:
(1) CITGO
(2) CHEVRON
(3) EXXON
(4) TEXACO
Uh-oh. Have we started a new discussion? I won't be able to respond much, because I have a lot of work to finish today and we're off Monday (Veterans Day). Can you guys keep the topic running until I get back Tuesday?
;-)
Meade
Meade-I'm jealous of your gas prices; I paid 1.42 the other day....for REGULAR. Granted, it was in an expensive area, but the prices in gas here in MD varies by as much as 12 to 14 cents between areas.
By the way, I don't think you'd save all that much money in purchasing an lx and replacing the stock wheels and tires to match the 16's on the es. Plus you wouldn't have the 4 wheel discs and other cosmetic changes.
'duh'
vocus: All I know is that when I lived out in San Diego a few years ago, I use to drive by this one paticular gas supplier and I would see 4 different gas companies filling up their tankers from the one supplier. One of the news stations out there did a report and it was true. The companies would add their own additives to the fuel to set it apart from the others. Maybe it is just in California. I do not know if they do that in other parts of the country.
Texaco ran crappy in my Protege ES the one time I used it (I was almost out). I never used it again to find out if it changed or not. Usually, if the gas runs out quickly, I don't get it again. That's a sign of cheap gas. Also, if you start the car and see water tricking outta the tailpipe, change gas IMMEDIATELY. That means the gas in the car has water in it (my mother's mechanic told me that years ago, and I never forgot it).
Geez, I guess I shouldn't bury my questions at the end of a long email. I'm looking for good Mazda dealers in the Washington DC Metro area that offer the S-plan AND will take care of me and my Pro once I get the dang thing. Any help?
Thanks,
DK
Low: $12,944.00 High: $14,044.00
That's with 10k km and no moonroof and no automatic.
Quite a hit if you ask me.
For an '01 Honda Civic (4 door) LX 5sp w/ 10k km:
Low: $15,244.00 High: $16,344.00
That includes air, but no group option package.
I'd like to do a comparison of what they both cost initally, but I'm too lazy right now.
PF
I bought my first 1999 Protege DX at Russel Mazda, and it was ok. I had a very nice dealer experience at Schafer & Strominger Mazda in Towson, Md. (about an hour from DC as well). It's pretty good there, and they also took the S Plan. Service wasn't too bad either. Check them out. Whatever you do, DO NOT go to Darcars Mazda in College Park. I had a huge argument with someone there about my 2001 Protege when I took it in for service. They suck major rear.
Well those who know me even a little, know I'm a detail "freak". I'm always striving to keep my pair of 2000 PRO-ES's looking show room new. If you have similar aspirations for your Mazda's, here is a great place to compare paint protectants! These guys are "average joe's" trying to compare waxes and polymer products in a fair and unbiased way. Before you spend 10 bucks at AutoZone or K-Mart for wax check this site out. BTW, those of us whom live in the colder climates, NOW is the time to give your Protege's a good wax job before the snow starts flying!
-Larry
P.S. I personally use KLASSE it is very verrrry easy to use and lasts much longer than carnauba wax. You must order KLASSE over the internet, however my next choice, which is available at Pep Boys and sometimes K-Mart is Prestone Bullet Wax. Bullet Wax is also a polymer product. Very long lasting.
http://www.thewaxtest.com/poly.html
Theoretically, you could get and ES and -1 your tires to get a softer ride, but that'd be a waste.
I live in Cincinnati, where only some of the roads are that bad. Between the two, I'd go for an ES but for that spoiler stuck on the rear!
What I'd really go for now though is a bright yellow P5. The decision will be more muddled next year when the RX-8 and 6 come out, unless they make a turbo an option in the P5. Sigh, too many options, too little money (and parking space, plus my wife would be very, very upset with me).
Please forgive me if I seem to be feeling a little on the spot here, but I just wanted to point out that none of those posts have been correct.
Thanks, and please carry on! :-)
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Vocus--water coming out of your tailpipe is no big deal. There is water vapor in spent gasoline exhaust gases no matter what brand of gas you use.
Larry--I'm in MN so I waxed my car 2 weeks ago thinking it was going to snow soon. Since then, it's been in the 60's and 70's. Weird for MN.
That could be the basis of the prediction fiasco...hehehe.
I never sailed on the Bay, my last boat was an O'Day 25, which I sailed on inland Smith Mountain Lake, in Virginia. Racing was the real fun and the yacht club had plenty of those. I singlehanded mostly and coming in after dark in high wind trying to get into a slip was exciting, too. If a little scary, I can't swim. A 25 footer should be crewed by at least two.
black01coupev6:
Most of the small cars that have leather seats the leather is very stiff, poor quality. I think they get it from slaughter houses. That's where most leather products, such as wallets and belts come from.
fishytaco:
I have an '01 LX 2.0 and a stiff ride was my main complaint after a testdrive. The first car I testdrove the tires were out of balance. The second one was much better, but definately not a soft ride. You feel a sharp jolt over patches.
After it got 2000 miles on it I noticed that the struts had softened up a good bit. You also get use to it and in normal driving find yourself steering to avoid most of the holes and patches.
The disk-drum brakes are pretty good. I can't tell the difference between my former Honda Odyssey's 4-wheel discs and the Protegé's disc/drums most of the time. It stops right now.
Haven't checked fuel economy lately, but have noticed that the fuel guage doesn't drop as quickly as when the car was newer. So it must be better. My trips are mostly the same routes and destinations. Will know in a week or two, going on a long trip to Virginia, will be round-trip in one day -- 460 miles.
fowler3
Did not have anything to say, but since everyone is posting a lot in thelast few days, don`t wanna be left out.
Please don't tell anyone I told ya!
;-)
-Larry