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Comments
Just out of curiosity, what does the $415 full 30k service include?
Also, does anyone know of a site dedicated to all Proteges (even really old ones)? I had a '90 LX (kinda like an early ES--4-wheel discs, 125hp 16v, power everything, etc) 5-speed for a while that I really liked, it was stolen, I'm thinking of getting another first generation model (I live in the city, don't want a car payment). Thanks!!
Someone earlier said that you can't have a 4-cylinder that isn't buzzy. Try the Civic 4 cylinder. Even our 93 Civic is quiet and smooth as glass at highway speeds. My 98 Civic EX was also smooth as glass and still got 35+ MPG while being faster than my current Protege.
Don't get me wrong. I love everything else about the car. The engine is just an annoyance. It's great for around town but I doubt it will be going on any more long trips. We typically cruise at around 85MPH and if we are in a hurry we follow the fastest car (which on the way to Florida can be 100MPH the whole way down) and the Pro just isn't up to doing that comfortably. Whereas, at 85MPH in the Civic it's begging to go faster.
Has anyone noticed a slight hesitation in their 2.0L engine at around 5700-6000 RPM?
I don't know if you guys read the article on the 2000 Pro ES a couple of years ago from Car and Driver. I think this gets back to what they said...BMW verve for half the price. Stability at all speeds. If you can put up with the slightly stiff suspension at lower speeds, it more than makes up for it when your going 120+ KPH
On another note, I got my Protege up to about 190 KPH (about 119MPH) before the governor kicked in. Great fun. Felt very stable even at that speed.
I really hope an aftermarket company comes out with a Turbo for the 1.8L engine. I agree it would suit it better than the 2.0. A couple of years back there was a Protege "streets" edition at SEMA. It was the 1.8L motor and it produced 180HP and over 200lb-ft of tourque.
....is me. Oh! I thought you said 5700-6000 miles. LOL
fowler3
I find my engine is quiter that most economy cars (2000 1.8L Protege). Focus was louder and so was the 1999 Sentra I tried. Sunfire was even worse. Jetta was much quiter though. I find at highway speeds you get alot of road noise (mainly from the OEM Bridgestone tires) from the Protege.
I think it's also a personal thing as well. Some think that engine noise is music to their ears.
The Protegé inspires confidence in everyone who drives one. It's the best compact car I have ever owned and I have owned many since 1953.
fowler3
What grade and make did you use and where did you get it?
Thanks.
I'm glad there is such a wide selection of good cars in this price range, it really keeps the options open. (I'm sure those Cavalier drivers will notice eventually)
Thanks to everyone who helped! :-)
They purchased a 2002 Protege LX from us yesterday. We sold them a P5 a few months ago also..
They got an automatic with ABS, moonroof, alloy wheels, parimeter alarm and mats. Millenium red.
Great engine though. Makes a nice little growl. He hasn't been able to open his up yet as it is still being broken in, but the test car we took had some great power.
Richard, not to shot the messenger or anything. It's are darn shame they didn't pull a PRO-ES out of your inventory. :-(
-Old Head
I've just noticed some strangeness going on with my car. Perhaps it's the cold, but on occassion, when I first get in the car in the morning, I've noticed that when I open the driver's door, the odometer will not be on, the interior lights won't come on, and the light above the ignition will not come on. Also, the door ajar light on the dash will not come on. If I open any other door, the lights will come on. Actually, now that I think about it, it also happens when I get out of the car sometimes.
Is there a problem with my driver side door not activating the lights? I'd say yes, but just wanted to see if it was happeening to anybody else out there. Thanks in advance.
Mike: happened to me once, but as Paul said I was leaning against "the door thing" that turns on/off the dome light. As far as the odometer goes,I thought it's only on when you put the key in the ignition.
Audi8Q: Why not an ES? That would put a lid to others in this class.
Now to make Mike and Duh-Ster feel better, we got hit this morning at about 6am with heavy snow that just stopped now at 1pm. The roads were driveable at 8am when I got to university and the PRO handled well this morning (no sliding issues - but I did drive carefully and with O/D off). As per weather reports we are expecting freezing rain coming from Windsor and Niagara into T.O. this afernoon. @&#* ! Now that's stuff I'm not comfy with. Might be a long commute back home.
Dinu
Floated on some slush and ice a little bit on the highway...due more to sloppy plowing by Streets and San than anything else.
Freezing rain here tonight, just to put a nice glaze on everything. Ugh!
pf: i called my dealership and they said they'll have their "service clinic" in about 6 months. they said it's rare that a dealership will offer free oil changes along with the inspections...didja get it done?? is it available to all mazda owners, or just those that purchased from your dealer?
thanx!
'duh'
Mazda/Ford: I hope Mazda knows what they are doing. There are not many desirable fords on the road, and I can only hope they do some serious modifications or they'll also lose another satisfied Mazda customer. I guess we'll have to wait to see how 'Fordified' the next gen of mazdas are.
Freddy: I too hope that they won't mess-up the PRO and the new 6. I'm already thinking of another PRO as my next car or maybe of the 6. If it's Mazda-made, I'll take either, but I'm very unlikely to consider a Ford-made car. Or GM or DC for that matter.
Dinu
The Mazda 6 sits on a platform designed and built by Mazda. I am not sure if they will be built in Japan and imported here, or if they will be built at the Auto Alliance plant in Michigan. Mazda has been placed in charge of Ford's small and mid-size car development. The 6 will provide the platform for the next Taurus, Sable, mid-size Volvo, and mid-size Jaguar sedans. It will basically replace the Contour/Mondeo platform currently used by Ford.
As for weather, it is quite beautiful here in San Diego. After three days of rain and cold weather (well, cold for here--about 60 degrees day/45 degrees night), the sky is clear, the sun is out, and the temp is about 70 degrees out. I guess that's why we pay so much to live here...
I would wait until a tranny had 10k miles on the original fluid before changing. This would allow wear-in metal to be removed with the tranny lube.
Last Chat tonight!
9 p.m. Eastern, 8 p.m. Central, etc.
Dinu, that sounds like some harsh weather. Over here, we're supposed to hover around -6 or so for the next week. That's not so bad and I can handle that!
And yes, everyone should jump in for the last Edmunds Protege Owner Chat tonight before they shut it down for good!
9pm ET/6pm PT
Dinu
PS: About 15 cms overall and -12C with windchill, -7C w/out. Not too bad.
PS2: Chat@9PM!
Dinu
We have the heat and humidity of Atlanta in the summer, and the snow and cold of Canada in the winter
The 2.3L is a Mazda designed engine that is currently only built by Ford in the US. The next Protege is said to have that same engine, but built in a Japanese plant.
While I was at the dealership, I found out that they do not replace fuel filters on 99 and up Proteges because it is in the fuel tank. That really sucks. Is it supposed to a "lifetime" fuel filter? That doesn't make sense because I don't think any filter can last the life of the car.
I'm relieved.
Now, if Mazda can make sure the bugs and gremlins are squashed out of the Focus platform and work their Optispace magic and banish the cheap plastics....
You might ask your dealer's service or parts dept to look it up on their microfiche (or PDF files, if they're up with technology) diagrams, or just point it out to you on one of their Pros.
I personally think that it's a mistake for Ford to combine the Focus/Protege platform. The Focus has had so many recalls that I am afraid it's bad luck will rub off on the new Protege.
Has anyone seen the new 2003 Corolla? We took a look at one today .. nice car. Very small ES300-ish and a Lexus-looking (but not feeling)interior. It's what the Lancer tried for but didn't quite achieve. Only bad thing is 4-wheel disc brakes are unavailable and they used a little too much hard plastic in the interior. We looked at an S model with automatic transmission, cruise control, and power package and it only stickered for $16,900 .. not a bad deal.
On a sad note...month-end for collections today meant I missed the last chat. :-( That's a huge bummer.
I also invited some of the Protege Club members to meet up at the Chicago Auto show as well. We'll see what develops.
Regards and "Mush!"
Pete