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Comments
fowler3
The 2001 had more severe problems though. Brake rotors were warped (but that was my fault for washing the car when they were still hot), the radio blew out two times, once draining the battery and leaving me straded at 9850 miles. And the power driver's window got stuck or something. It was all fixed, and I put 20K miles on the car in 8 months. Definitely would recommend a Protege as good, solid, somewhat sporty, low-priced transportation.
My car has been perfect in its 8 months of use, no problems whatsoever. It's roomie,has comfortable seats, and all the car I need. I recently made a 427 mile day trip and was not tired at all when I got home.
You can pay more for another small car and not have as much driving fun. The Lexus IS300 looks like an economy car, the Protegé ES looks like it costs thousands more.
fowler3
http://www.1010tires.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000038.html
Pretty good actually. I thought they were more quiet than the stocks on my Saturn
--How was the wet traction? (hyrdroplane, et al)
It was really good when they were new but got gradually worse later on. At about 20k miles they were very acceptable on dry and pretty good on wet but pretty poor in slush and snow.
--Especially in relation to the RE-92 poortenzas?
I've never actually driven on poortenzas. I've only driven on BFGoodrich, Bridgestone and now Dunlops on my P5.
Try this site out. It's huge but has lots of conversations on all sorts of tires. Mostly older stuff but it might be helpful.
http://www.autopedia.com/bbs/tires/index.html
or the main site.
http://www.autopedia.com
Minor issues: weatherstripping comes easily off rear doors on the rear edge of the window frame (easily fixed with silicone caulk), steering wheel initially off-center (fixed free). I also found the AT shifts hard from 1->2 when stomping on the accelerator just after letting off it. I avoid this by allowing about a second after letting up on the accelerator before stepping on it.
Other than that, I've had no problems. I have about 24,000 miles on the ODO.
Changes to '01-'02 from '99-'00 (that I'm aware of): thicker sheet metal in the strut towers (better handling), more sound-dampening materials under the cabin floor and around the wheel wells, 2.0L engine now standard across all trim levels, interior dash and console changes, audio system changed, headlamp assembly and front fascia changed, wheels are larger on the LX (15 v. 14), map lights even w/o moonroof, more substantial sun visors, trunk-lid spoiler standard on ES, dual tripmeters and persistent (displays when ignition is in OFF) display of odometer/tripmeter.
I chose the Pro over its competition for roominess, handling, value, comfort and outward visibility. None had the right combination of the above, except the Pro.
My minor nitpicks (accounting for changes in '01):
Interior lighting dimmer control is clumsy to reach. Coin holder is small. Stock speakers may be sub-par, depending on your expectations.
I really like my Pro, even if it does have the smaller 1.6L engine. I like the ride and handling very much (to the detriment of my fuel economy, which averages about 29.4mpg in mostly local driving). zoom zoom
No snow in Ohio, this time we got lucky:) Good luck to our Mid-Atlantic Protege owners.
Mazdadude- That sounds crazy, palm trees and snow. I didn't know they had palm trees in NC. How far north do those things grow?
Which means most of us get to stay home again tomorrow. Hee hee!
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
-Larry
Rev-happy. Sounds OK to about 5000rpm. After that it gets a little rougher. I've never taken mine to the 6500 redline. The torque peak is around 4000-4500rpm. I usually stay between 2500 and 3500rpm (plenty of useful torque down low), get to 5000 when I have to accelerate into congested traffic.
Honda's supposed to make very high-revving engines, with torque peaks higher in their ranges. Still, shouldn't be a problem if she likes to rev the engine.
Don't know about window-etching the VIN onto windows being required in CT. I'd ask the local police station or your local state rep's office. Sounds kind of fishy to me. You can send away for a kit to do the etching yourself for much less than that.
Don't have a good suggestion re: the cracked bumper fascia. Could try cleaning out the crack and using epoxy to bind the crack closed, then use light body filler and touch-up paint. Difficulty is the bumper material is pretty solvent-resistant, making it hard to find an adhesive that will stick to it.
Where was everyone?
Fowler, where were you?
Every Thursday...be there, or be square.
newcar31 I lived in St. Paul for 3 winters. What the Twin Cities have in common with the yoop is being able to undercoat and wash your car in salty slush-mud at least 4 months a year. Drive out of the car wash and recoat all surfaces in salty slush-mud. (
It has around 38K miles on with the only troubles being external events (rock to the windshield, faulty maintenance work). We love it so much that when we decided it was time to replace my car this summer, I went with another Pro, this time a Pro5, which I like even better than her LX.
Get one, you'll see...
The problem down here is not just the snow. (Snow removal equipment isn't needed every year, so we don't have full-time budgets and equipment for speedy removal ... although VDOT had plowed, sanded and salted my suburbian secondary street five times by midnight last night ... good job, VDOT!)
The problem down here, and a problem that many "damned yankees" don't seem to be aware of when driving on southern snow, is the layer of ice that forms since our temperatures don't stay cold enough for everything to remain nice and fluffy-powdery. Our snow is usually real wet and slushy, and often accompanied or preceded by freezing rain or sleet, and the road surface under that inch or two of snow is usually a solid block of ice. Yes, it's damned scary to drive on, especially on roads that have banked curves and you have to fight sliding sideways even when stopped! So many choose to just not drive at all, and hole up in their houses until the roads are clear. Which is good for those of us who have to get somewhere and don't like dodging those who only made it so far!
I love driving down the interstate after a minor snowfall here and laughing at all the Excursions, Yukons, Blazers and other SUVs with New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts plates (well, when they're from Mass, they're Lexuses, Acuras and Range Rovers), stranded in the drainage ditches and medians with their lights shining into the sky, waiting for assistance. Sorry, me and my little Protege will keep puttering along at 25 mph, but I'll make it to work!
Meade in his winter wonderland
Steel wheels (and covers) get damaged as well, but owners don't seem to mind as much (especially if they remember to remove the wheel covers before they install the chains).
I haven't yet used my tire chains (cables, really) on either of my cars' alloy wheels. The tires' snow & ice grip is adequate for what I usually experience. If I were to go into really slippery conditions, I'd get a dedicated set of snow tires on steel wheels (w/o covers) and bring along my tire cables. That way, I wouldn't get upset about scratches on my nice, pretty alloys.
-Meade
Meade my good friend, I saw on the morning news that 10 folks were killed in storm related or associated accidents. I'm very sorry to hear of that and I'm glad you completed your commute safely.
-Larry
I wanted to re-wire my foglights to use them instead of DRLs, but I didn't get around it. Try a locan mechanic for a quick cheap fix.
Dinu
SUVs and snow: Just like Meade and Paul, I get a kick out of watching SUVs in the ditch on snowy days. Not only don;t these people realize that not all SUVs are full time 4WD, but they also forget it will take them longer to stop than it takes a car. Let's not forget to mention the drivability factor of a truck.
BTW, I hope Fowler, our fearless leader is OK. We have not heard from him here, today. He was also no show at the Thursday chat? :-O
"I'm just soooo lazy on Fridays...My only day off from school AND work."
-Dinu01
Dinu, your not lazy, my friend. Heck you go to school during the day and work at night! Everyone needs to goof off and recharge the batteries? Friday is your goof off day! ;-)
-Larry
-Larry
-Larry
Now, let me just say this to head off any debate about this policy. The policy IS what it IS. I do not make it; I'm merely charged with enforcing it.
It is not appropriate to get into a conversation here about whether it is a good or bad policy and I will remove messages from here on out debating the subject and/or using the words. I'm sorry, but it just has to be that way. As noted, I have a job to do, and I have folks to whom I answer, just as most of you do, I'm sure.
If anyone wants to pursue the fact that this is policy, you can direct your comments to our Consumer Services Manager, Jonah Brown, at jbrown@edmunds.com.
I would really appreciate everyone's understanding of this issue and let's just move on, okay?
(Can you tell I've been through this a zillion times? ;->)
Let's talk about Proteges or snow or road salt or anything but this, please.
Thanks!
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
I lost my power for a couple of hours last night at the height of the second "wave" of the storm. Funny how it seems like forever when you have no power, you know?
And it sure got cold in here!!
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
I had been looking on eBay for a used set of 15" alloys (old MX6 or MPV), but in calling my trusty Mazda dealer today to check offset #s(Wantagh Mazda in Wantagh, NY) found that they had a set of black rim takeoffs from an MPV that were mine for $25/per. Stopped and placed in trunk and headed for the local tire shop where I bought a set of Semperit Directional-Grip M&S 195/60R-15s (nice tire, not chunky snow tire cleats) and had them mounted using the chrome lugnuts and locks without wheel covers. Sure gives the car a sort of "Mad Max" look.
Thankfully, Long Island doesn't usually get that much snow (we ain't Buffalo) so the alloys will return in the spring. (Pricing info: 65.99/per plus 4.99 to cover stem and high speed balance plus free switchover in the spring.)
I had forgotten how nice it is to not fear every pothole driving down the street! Wow, tires with rubber between the rim and the road!
I don't know what happened! I tried until 9:30PM Thursday to connect to Town Hall and the page would not open. I thought maybe the server for Town Hall was down. It wouldn't open all day Friday and only up to a few minutes ago, 10:15PM Friday, did I get to the boards. Maybe it was a router problem and nobody south of Virginia could connect.
We got about 8 inches of snow in the Greensboro area and more expected Sunday. My neighbor came over and cleaned off my driveway even though I wasn't going anywhere. To return the courtesy, I'm baking a small ham for her tomorrow in case we get an ice storm (no electricity) instead of snow. She will have something to eat.
My neighbors like my hams. I bake them with cloves, the top packed with brown sugar, and baste with hot pineapple juice and melted brown sugar until brown on the outside. The scored top opens like those onions at Outback restaurants. Great for breakfast on hot biscuits or a slice browned under the broiler topped with pineapple and melted sharp chedder cheese. Yummmm.
This year, NC tried a type of salt used in the North which is applied to the roads before the snow falls. I haven't seen on the news how it worked out. But all roads were clear today when the temp got up to 35 degrees.
If I don't post on Monday you will know we got ice and the power is off.
fowler3
When BMW use to paint steel wheels silver I had the center of each wheel painted black to highlight the chrome lugnuts and BMW logo. They looked sharp! This was on a BMW 2002 (not the year), the 2002 was the forerunner of the current 3-series, in 1975.
You may have seen old ones or pictures. The 2002 had a chrome strip that ran around the entire car just below window level. The C-pillars were narrow, big windows. All 2002's were 2-door coupes. They had leatherette interiors with perferated seats. Mine was metallic silver with a dark blue interior. Cost $6,750 new and we thought that was high. That was a lot of money in 1975, but so was $6,000 in 1956, when I wanted to buy a new Mercedes Benz SL300 coupe, the one with the gull-wing doors and custom-made luggage for the trunk. THAT was a beautiful car in silver with red trim. I only made $130 a month then.
When they talk on the news about inflation, this is a good example of what they mean...wages against cost of buying.
fowler3
And as far as political correctness goes: I had never heard the expression in question until someone here mentioned it in chat a couple of months ago. Even then, though, its origin was unclear to me. It wasn't until I went to the site that dinu mentioned that I figured it out. So in a way, I'm glad this all came up, because know I now what the deal is. I see how it would be offensive, although I know that nobody here meant any offense. And now I'll shut up about that.
Glad you're okay, Fowler! Don't you just love modern technology?
Yes, I do! That's why I have been online for over 7 years now. Gosh, has it been that long? Yep. I started in 1995 when a contractor for Apple Computer.
People using the Net, bulletin boards, and chat rooms don't realize that it takes many servers to provide these amenities. Edmunds is probably on four or five servers, if not more. That's why the front page loads but other pages do not, when one of the servers is down. Outside companies maintain them, the reason it is very expensive to provide a big web site.
When I worked for TalkCity.com we started with one server in Australia, eventually moving TC to California on 22 servers and the Hosts grew from 70 to over 500 to host topical chats and monitor the rooms 24/7.
Modern technology is wonderful! I use it every day in business contacting magazine publishers around the world for clients. I don't know how we could get along without it at so little cost.
fowler3
Go to the front page and scroll down to the bottom or use the above URL.
This week the Los Angeles Automobile Show is in full swing and Car Design News has it covered. Yesterday was for the media so pictures should be up.
http://www.cardesignnews.com
That show will be followed by the Detroit International Automobile Show next week. Many new models will be featured. Hopefully, they will have new Mazdas on display.
Edmunds should link to these sites if not covering them.
fowler3
BTW, your Ham Recipes sounds delicous. I'm looking for a prep cook to work in my restaurant. Any chance you would re-locate to South Eastern Penna?
-Larry
Fowler: Glad you're back and ok. Still NO SNOW in T.O. < I'm thrilled with it!
Larry: It's a personal taste thing.. So this is what I listen to:
Freestyle Frenzy Vol. 1-4
Planet Freestyle Vol 4??
Euromix Vol 5,6
Joee
Bon Jovi
Latin Music (got a CD burned by the locals when I went to Cuba last December - 2000)
Enigma
3Sud Est, etc.. => Romanian music
Z103.5 (www.z1035.com) on the radio
Some older stuff (80's stuff)
Dinu
After that, I stopped the engine and restarted it. Started so beautifully as never before in the nearly 3 years of ownership...silky smooth...but the check engine light is still on...engine revs like silk now....
Any ideas about what is going on?
I will be taking it to the mazda dealer on Monday, first thing.