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Comments
Therefore it couldn't produce any lift/down force since all flow across the surface would be drag, i.e. turbulent, not laminar flow. <<<<
a SPOILER does what it name implies.
It SPOILS the smooth flow of the air over the rear trunk area.
A smooth flow of air would produce a lifting effect viz. the rear of the car will feel less planted on the road. In short, the spoilers job is to improve the contact between the rear tires and the road by SPOILING the smooth air flow.
Meade
After lots of pondering, I believe this is caused due to the "toe-in" of the front wheels opening out with such high forces acting on it at that speed.
But the car steers great if you DO NOT try to grasp the steering wheel tightly.....just hold it lighty at those speeds ( i know it's supposed to be otherwise) and the car within itself does not seem to lose composure...it tracks straight and even.
Only saw it from behind, so couldn't see if there were any other gold accents...
Anybody else ever see this???
Meade
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
But I guess one cannot have a luxurious ride + sports suspension with $15,000.
upgrade to a merc or bimmer maybe the only option
While I would not describe the movements of the Protege's suspension over uneven pavement as bobbing, it does not absorb the irregularities of the road in the same way as, say, an 82 Jetta Diesel. However, I prefer it to the undulatory motions of a large Buick any day. Essentially, no you can't have a Lexus like highway ride without sacrificing the ability to corner flatly, at least not without spending a lot more money than Proteges cost. Sporty suspensions are firm, and luxury suspensions are soft. In the middle is what is called "touring" which is what most people consider a happy medium. I would put the Jetta in this category, especially modern ones, even with their sport suspensions. The Protege has always had a slightly sportier suspension. With the 2001+ ES, it has actually become firm enough to be considered harsh by some people. If you really feel like you are bobbing like a Buick, I would have your suspension checked out. Also, make sure your tire pressure is 32psi cold. The Protege should have more sharply defined movements. You shouldn't bob more than once or 1 1/2 times.
No offense -- it just sounds funny when someone tries to describe such a subjective problem! It's like hearing someone trying to describe a noise their furnace is making or something.
Has anyone asked the guy how his shocks are doing?
Meade
The real point is that most people here love their Pro's. Some here may have owned Honda's and are not as impressed with them as you are. This is not a bad thing. As I mentioned, I have owned Honda's and have had great experiences with the vehicles. I have also had great experiences with Mazda.
I think what is starting to irk some people, and certainly myself, was that you were taking almost every opportunity to say how you thought Honda was better than Mazda. If this is your opinion, then good, just don't constantly go out of your way to point it out. Not everyone agrees with you so let it go. Essentially, it became like a broken record. I think I am almost intimate with your boyfriends 1993 Civic now. Great year for Civics by the way...:)
Anyway, you have a lot to contribute and have done so on most opportunities. Just try and keep the Honda this, and Honda that, to a minimum. You have my apologies in adance if i have offended in any way.
That was the best i could come up with on short notice. I did mention the shocks. Just thought he may have been describing a condition which is quite normal for the car, but that his old "subjective" interpretation thought maybe there was a problem.
Get one that fits you and your desires/needs.
Just yanking your chain...
Anybody for suds and darts?
oh wait, you are...... nevermind....
The current A4 is based on an all new platform refered to as the "B6."
The previous generation A4 was based on a shortened version of the "B5" platform which also carried the Audi A6 and the VW Passat.
Here's where it get's confusing... the Jetta, Golf, New Beetle, Audi TT, S3 A3, and various Scoda's and Seats are all built off the corporate "A4" platform. "A4" the platform has nothing to do with "A4" the car.
Although, that still doesn't explain why people would want to do that to their perfectly nice Proteges...
And of course, no offense to anyone here who has done that, considered doing that, or who have relatives with Proteges who have done that, or......:)
I assume the red wire in the car door is positive.
Any help is appreciated.
ROn B.
Ron B.
Go Scuderia Ferrari!!!!
I like the seats, the way you sit straight up in it, the handling(more on that later), I LOVE THE WAY IT LOOKS, features, climate control, price (for a new car), arm rest, warranty (of course it's new) that's about all I can think of right now.
We bought it because of the looks. While it may not be MY cup of tea I like it for her. And the bobbing that you guys were talking about can be kinda annoying on some surfaces. I call it "yeah yeah right now gotta finda corner yeah yeah wheres a corner" handling. If only the engine were as good as the chassis this car would be perfect.
Oh yeah, we both love her car. What really made me look twice was someone posted something like "to keep an older car running you would be putting "car payment" type money into it every month. That's not true at all.
Would I rather have a Civic? Honestly, yes sometimes (like when I see my gas hand dropping after having a little fun or just cruising at 80 on a road trip). But there are times when I am convinced the Protege is the best small car out there bar none. Would I take a NEW Civic over my car? Probably not. It does have the mechanicals down better (such as the gearbox and engine refinement) but the styling is not my favorite and since I got 0.0% on the Protege, it's just not worth it. Where it gets more difficult for me is when I compare that $4500 96 Civic EX to my car or any other Civic up to year 2000 (especially a Si but those things are holding value like crazy).
I have not said anything untrue about the Protege .. just some things that a few of you don't agree with. I have not said that it's the worst car out there or that I hate it and can't stand to look at it another day. I've just pointed out a few "opportunity areas". If I had lived with a Civic for the past 8 months I would probably have a list of "opportunity areas" for it too. In fact, I already do. But the grass is always greener on the other side of the automotive fence.
IIRC, the auto tranny is not the one from the 626, but I have the 5 speed manual so I can't say how well the auto works. The manual, however, is great. The handling is IMHO the best in its class.
In my personal experience and in car mag reviews, the Pro is extremely fun to drive. It definitely sticks out in its class in this regard.
Yes, the suspension is too stiff for some people. If you like mushy rides, I would look at another car. However, if you actually like driving, this is the car for you.
In terms of cost of ownership, I've only had to do regular maintenence (ie. oil changes)...however, since my car is black, I spend a ton of money trying to keep it clean!
One of the main reasons I bought this car was for reliability. Looking through Consumer Reports will show that this car is excellent in terms of long term reliability.
The seats are comfortable IMO and I have had no trouble with them. I've driven long road trips (approx. 7 hours) with only quick breaks, and I felt that the seat was very comfortable.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the Pro. Sure, it could use some more HP. However, for it's price point and the fact that it is in the "economy" class, I think the Protege is an amazing car.
Hope that helps. Good luck in your car buying decision and let us know how it goes!
Thanks.
I'm going to bed and I'll check the board in the morning.
Ron B.
A few Comments:
I'm noticing that if I stay even at 60mph, the tach is at a level 2600rpm. now since you guys seem to talk about much higher RPMs, I am rather confused about all this.
The handling is wonderful. In the 3 days, it has already manuevered me out of several accidents (did I mention I am also a new driver, driving in and around NYC?).
Finally a questions: Are the Mudflaps and Cargonet Accesories easy to put on (without a service visit?)