Mazda Protege Accessories and Modifications

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Comments

  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    still didn't change..
  • kerenskykerensky Member Posts: 12
    I was wondering if anyone had bought their 2001 Protege with Mazda's new modular 6-Disc in-dash CD Changer. I really like how it looks, but was wondering if anyone could tell me how it sound. Especially how it compares to a good aftermarket CD head unit. Also, does anyone know how many, if any, RCA speaker/subwoofer output connectors it has? I appreciate any help.
  • gitarzangitarzan Member Posts: 66
    The only problem with the OEM mudflaps, is they don't have Yosemite Sam on them saying, "Back off!" Now that's class...

    Not.

    ===============================================

    I got a Brand New 2000 Pro and sealed the deal and drove off with it about midnight Friday. Since the dealers cleanup shop was closed, they owe me a detailing which I'll have done this coming Friday. I think I'll have them add-on Flaps and a Cargo Net.

    One big suprise was the car did not have a power antenna. Just about everything else was powered. The radio/CD sounds pretty good for standard, but for some odd reason it wan't pickup my favorite station. It's got a weak signal anyway and I guess the FM autosquelcher or what ever justs rejects the less than great signal. At times like this I wish it had a regular VERTICAL antenna.

    I plan on doing the front struts this summer.

    I was also thinking about Wire Wheel covers. I never did care for that roman chariot spoke look on every other car on the road. Spokes are classic, classy and sporty to my eyes. I'm from those days when any sporting car had wires. Real Wires.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    So wire wheel covers on a Protege? Hmmm...that may not make the Yosemite Sam flaps look so bad.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I have a 01 ES and I took a look under the hood the other day and saw the so-called cold air intake. It doesn't seem like the air would be that cold after it passes over a hot radiator. Usually cold air intakes go underneath the car somewhere. I did see that it was connected to a huge air silencer that runs underneath the airbox. I know that is the first thing 5.0L mustang guys take off their cars (I had one). An air silencer is a big hollow piece of plastic that muffles the air induction sound but also saps performance. It will give you a much more throaty sound and should improve performance a little. From the way it looks, it should be easy to make a home-made ram-air system with plastic dryer tubing, I did it on my mustang. Speaking of clear corners, I dont think they make them for 2001s yet, and when they do, they will be expensive because the headlight/cornerlight assembly is one piece.
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    If they do make it, expect a pretty penny because it will be an entire 1 piece unit... not 2 like the 00's.

    And at 80MPH, you shouldn't have to worry about hot radiator air...
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    Aftermarket parts for the Protege are very hard to come by. Corksport up in Oregon is the only shop I have seen so far that specializes in Mazda's (and not just the RX-7 and Miata). Here's a pic of the HKS Mega Flow Intake for the '99-'00 1.8L:


    image

    Click on the pic to go to Corksport.com


    They also carry one of the most prestigious but elusive brands around: MAZDASPEED. Mazdaspeed was an aftermarket manufacturer until recently when it was absorbed by Mazda. It is now the factory's "tuner" division, much like Ford's SVT or Mercedes's AMG.

  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I'm curious to see everyone's response. jstandefer, I think you know this one, but here it goes:

    Why do they call themselves Corksport?

    I already checked the web site and they don't give a reason. I know the answer is out there on the web, but this makes for a good trivia question.

    :)
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    The answer is... just kidding.

    You should post that in the main Protege board and see what kind of response you get. I don't think anyone else but the junkie's like us come into this board very often.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Not everybody on the main board is familiar with Corksport and the context here was ripe for the trivia.

    :)
  • gibbergibber Member Posts: 41
    Recently I replaced my original Potenzas(at 39K, must be record-cord showing, etc) with Nitto NT450 205-50-15. The tire shop said my struts were seeping and might need to be replaced sometime. This seems a little quick. Are these covered under warranty? The Nittos are much quieter than the Potenzas(maybe anything is). The handling seems pretty good, but reviews on Carreview.com are certainly mixed. I particular the wet traction was criticized, although I thought the Potenzas weren't that great in the rain either. Also, the brake pads were replaced at the same time(by me).
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    Struts I believe are a wear and tear item.. Check your warranty book to see if its excluded verbatium.. if it doesn't mention it, get your dealer to look at it.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I had a 1996 Cavalier and the front struts went. They were covered by the factory warranty by Chevy. I think Mazda covers them as well.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    are covered by the factory warranty, but they will only replace the ones that are leaking.

    :)
  • olga4olga4 Member Posts: 6
    I own a Protege'00 ES which has front disc/rear drum breaks. If I'm not mistaken previous-year and this-year models have all disc brakes. How much this influences on distance to stop a car and if it's significant is it possible to make an 'upgrade'? Sorry for this possibly stupid question.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Previous generation (1995-98) Protege ES models have 4-wheel disc brakes, as do the 2001 ESs. Since the rear brakes are responsible for only about 10-20% of stopping power, it will not make a big difference between discs and drums on the rear. It will, however, improve pedal feel. But IMO, it's not worth the money for the conversion.
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    Don't even think about upgrading to disc.. it will be a major undertaking to do it. Turn in your 00 and get an 01 if that's the case. The best thing you could do is get performance rotors for the front and pay for better brake pads..
  • conheadyconheady Member Posts: 77
    Anyone know where I can get my hands on some Mazda logos or Emblems. My leBra covers my front Emblem and I was thinking of getting another Wings emblem to stick on over the bra. Then maybe another for the interior dash. I know corksport has them, but I'm looking for a place I can buy from on-line. Also any stickers or decals would be nice. I found a site that makes nice custom Mazda plates - but NY state requires both front and back REG plates.
  • conheadyconheady Member Posts: 77
    http://www.spoilers4less.com/spoilers4less/mazdaprotege.html


    http://auto-stuff.com/mazda.html

  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    They sell the "Flying M" hood emblems for $14. Not too bad, and I'm sure it's a lot cheaper than the dealer.


    http://www.corksport.com


    Click on General Parts, and then Decals/Stickers/Emblems.


    They also sell J-Spec engines... like this one for $1875.

    image

    210hp 1.8L DOHC turbo from the 323 GTR!

  • fowler3fowler3 Member Posts: 1,919
    I took a '01 Pro LX 2.0L for a test drive this afternoon. Everything was great except the ride.
    It HOPS constantly from 5mph up even to 65mph.

    Is there a way to reduce the uncomfortable hopping?

    Can the suspension be snubbed down and not put in stiffer shocks? Civics don't have this hop, but the seats are terrible, way too hard. The Pro's seats are as good as in more expensive cars, if it just had a smoother ride it would beat the heck out of Civics.

    fowler3
  • gibbergibber Member Posts: 41
    Jstandefer- you mentioned that the Nitto 450s were only slight worse than the Michelins in tests-what tests and where?

    Thanks
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    gibber- I can no longer find the review. It was on tirerack.com and compared the Bridgestone Potenza RE92, Nitto NT450, Yokohama A022, Dunlop SP Sport W-10, and Michelin XGT V4. I was going to go with the Dunlop's but decided on the Nitto's after reading this review. They rated the Michelin's as the best tire, but the Nitto's were so close and cost was so much less.

    So far the Nitto's have been great. They do "chatter" a bit on painted road surfaces (such as lane lines and stop lines) and they'll squeal a bit in hard corners, but the grip is excellent and road noise is much, much less than the OEM Bridgestone's. Plus, the tread wear has been outstanding for a performance tire. I have 17,000 miles on them and I think I can get another 15,000-20,000 miles on them. I only got 15,000 miles out of the Bridgestone's (of course, I drive my Pro pretty hard). I hope this helps!

    fowler3- Unfortunately, the stiffer ride is part of the Protege. The ride is very similar to a German sport sedan. However, with that stiffer ride comes excellent handling. I thought the ride was very bumpy at first, but two years later, I have found I prefer the stiffer ride and the extra control rather than a cushy ride with less control. Everytime I take my Protege into a corner, I smile, and the ride is forgiven.

    There is no way to soften the ride. The Protege already wears extremely stiff shocks with fast rebound rates. Also adding to the stiffer ride are the 15" wheels and 55-series tires. The ES gets even stiffer with 16" wheels and 50-series tires. You will get used to the ride pretty quick, and you may begin to appreciate it.
  • kuzma725kuzma725 Member Posts: 1
    I just bought a '01 Protege LX 2 yesterday. I was greedy and decided not to spend the extra $100 on the "Remote keyless illuminated entry system" Now I'm thinking that I made a mistake. The car is supposed to be delivered from another dealership tomorrow or Tuesday. Is this something that can be installed by the dealer, or is it supposed to be done at the factory? And will they charge me more now that I've already signed the papers? Excuse my ignorance, this is the first car I ever bought, and I don't know much about cars and related issues in general :)

    I'd appreciate a response before tomorrow morning :)

    TIA
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    They will charge you to install the system and for the part, but you should be able to put it in with the price of the car. Just tell the dealer you want it installed before delivery of the car.
  • norcannorcan Member Posts: 72
    I'm thinking about getting windows and moonroof tinted. Any tips? Never done it before.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Take it to a place that guarantees it. I was going to get the windows and sunroof tinted in my 2001 ES too, but I am still contemplating it.
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    I had my windows tinted a few months after I got my Protege (has it really been over two years already??). I had mine tinted with 100% fully metallized titanium tint. It's amazing how much more efficient the AC works with the tint and how much cooler the car stays while parked. The tint I got blocks 100% of UV rays and has a lifetime guarantee against fading, delamination, bubbling, and discoloration. Cheap tints will turn purple after a few years and will start bubbling. Go with the expensive tint at a very reputable place. Also, if they can do it, have the rear window done as a single piece of tint rather than individual strips. People tell I'm stupid for spending $250 on my tint when there's so many shops doing it for $99. But, I'll be laughing ten years from now when my tint still looks perfect!

    I have 22% tint on the rear five pieces of glass (the rear doors count as two pieces of glass each). I have 35% tint on the front doors. I don't have a moonroof :-( , so I don't know how much that would be. However, definitely get the 100% fully metallized titanium film for the moonroof at a very dark (10% or lower) tint. It will really reduce the heat generated by the moonroof glass.

    kuzma725- Congrats! $100 for the keyless entry is for a factory installed system only. The dealership will charge you an outrageous amount for keyless entry to be installed and it will not be the factory system. They probably could install the factory system, but it will certainly cost you. My experience with dealerships (and I've worked at enough of them) is that their keyless entry and alarm systems are amazingly cheap and of very low quality. I would go to a shop that specializes in automotive security systems (they usually sell audio equipment as well) and have a really good system installed. It will be a much better system, will most likely include an alarm system, and cost less than the dealership's system. Good luck!
  • digidavedigidave Member Posts: 48
    Spend the extra cash and get a professionally installed quality alarm system instead (i.e., Viper). I don't know about the aftermarket keyless entry a dealer may install for you (unless you choose the factory one which is probably more expensive), but my experience with the factory one is that it's useless once the vehicle is started. By that I mean it serves the purpose of locking / unlocking the doors remotely when the ignition is off and nothing more. You can't use it to, say, warm up the car!

    For instance, consider the following scenario:

    1. Take the remote control and stick it on your key chain
    2. Place the door / ignition key on one of those removable key chain accessories
    3. Unlcok the doors with the remote
    4. Separate the key from your key chain to start the car
    5. Lock the doors
    6. Come back after the car's warmed up (or cooled down, depending on climate) and unlock the doors with the remote
    7. Call the spouse or the locksmith, or get the other key (you have a spare, no?) to unlock the doors because your toasty (or chilled) vehicle is inaccessible at this time! The remote is disabled while the vehicle is running.

    (luckily I had the second key available!) :-o

    Viper w/ remote start - now there's a nifty option to have!

    Best of luck,
    Dave
  • digidavedigidave Member Posts: 48
    thanks for the info on the tint; one can learn so much from such a little bit of text!

    Problem I have is I'm in NJ and there's no tint allowed at all on the front windows. With that, what do you think about just tinting the "back 5"? (of course, the moonroof as well). I imagine it would contribute to the cooling effect you describe, albeit not as potent.

    Thoughts, anyone?

    Dave
  • borgf15borgf15 Member Posts: 29
    I had my car tinted with Llumar. 35% front, 18% rear. Love it. I didn't want to change my "moonroof" into a "sunroof" by adding tint. When you put tint on it you probably won't be able to see the stars at night (this was true on a previous car I've driven). IMO I wouldn't tint the moonroof at all.....just use the shade when it's parked.
  • borgf15borgf15 Member Posts: 29
    Can you drive to another state and have it done....or does the law not allow that?
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Dave,
    In California it's illegal as well, but Jerry and many others take the chances that if they tint the back dark and the front much lighter, most officers won't notice. Worst case, you have to peel off the tint from the front, have it inspected and start over.

    :)
  • nikecarnikecar Member Posts: 460
    or roll down the window when you see a cop. :)
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    maltb is absolutely correct. I have a sold a few cars to police officers and sheriff deputies (Trans Ams or Dodge Rams, typically...). They told me that most police officers won't pull you over for the tint if they can still see the driver and front seat passenger. If you are less than sincere when they pull you over for something else (like speeding, an easy one in the Pro ES), they will probably cite you on the front windows. They said your best bet is that if you are pulled over, roll down all of your windows so the officer can see you. They feel much safer that way.

    The remarks above are from police and sheriff deputies in the San Diego area. I don't know how other areas handle it. BTW, in California, it is now legal to have 85% tint on the front door windows. Of course, 85% is practically no tint at all. I have heard that the bronze non-reflective tint is also legal here, but I'm not sure on that one.

    Fortunately, I have not had a speeding ticket in my Pro. Actually, I haven't had any tickets at all in the Pro (knock on wood). The only speeding ticket I've had was in a 4-cyl extended cab Ford Ranger. I don't know how I did that... that poor truck couldn't get out of its own way.
  • norcannorcan Member Posts: 72
    Thanks for the info on tinting, jstandefer.

    There's an Edmunds discussion on tinting and the same questions get asked over and over. Topics are metallic vs. dye, radio reception with metallic, state laws, installation problems, etc. etc.

    I think I'll get the moonroof tinted but I'm not sure about the rest.

    Borg, Kinda hard to drive and look at the stars at the same time.... what the heck are you up to?
  • borgf15borgf15 Member Posts: 29
    Yep, sure is....took me years to perfect it.....I take one eye and keep it on the road, while the other eye is free to look thru the moonroof.....j/k :)

    Actually I have looked thru it while the wife was driving at night......kinda cool.
  • digidavedigidave Member Posts: 48
    Yeah, guess you're right - a moonroof is clear for a reason. As for getting it done, that's not a problem - I can do it locally but at the risk of being ticketed or failing inspection.
  • digidavedigidave Member Posts: 48
    So it appears that CA has taken a lenient approach on this issue (with some level of tinting the front windows now allowed or tolerated); not sure about NJ though. Last vehicle with front tint installed was purchased from a person who had it registered in Texas and when I went to have it inspected, it failed for the tint. Went home and removed it, returned to inspection station, and passed.

    I'd hate to pay for a nice tint job only to wind up "breaking the law" by getting a ticket or failing inspection (though they did bump inspection up to every two years from one...) I'll see if I can do what the consesus here is: darker in the back, lighter (but uv protected) up front, may be acceptable.

    (also, thanks for the tip on the other Edmunds tint discussion)
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    I have been very interested in adding the Japan Sport 20 (the Protege Sport Wagon with 170hp and all-wheel-drive) body kit onto my '99 ES. Unfortunately for me, someone else has done it. And what a beautiful job it is! Check out the pics at:


    http://www.geocities.com/protegetech


    You should see the featured car after you enter the site. Click on it for details. This site is also a great resource for Protege owners of all generations. Basically, he's added the Sport 20 front bumper:

    image

    and the side skirts:

    image

    And of course of bunch of other modifications.


    All images above used with the permission of CorkSport. Visit them on the web at http://www.corksport.com

  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    rosenthal mazda in tysons corner quoted me $252 just for the labor of installing fog lights, and the parts dept guy quoted me the whole foglight kit at $350. That's $602 just for a pair of fog lights. I think I'll just go to the nearby junkyard and salvage a pair of those plastic covers from a wrecked Protege.

    Now the question is will there be any Proteges at the junkyard, otherwise I'll have to buy them for $20 each, still a ripoff...
  • theparallaxtheparallax Member Posts: 361
    Try www.copartfinder.com for some totalled Protege's, you'll probably find something!
  • rsparrowrsparrow Member Posts: 60
    Am I correct in recalling you writing about getting an aftermarket power moonroof installed in your Protege? If so, were there any issues (the Triple H structure...) I'm thinking of getting one installed in my '99 Pro as well...professionally installed of course. Thanks!
  • protegextwoprotegextwo Member Posts: 1,265
    Rick, I saw Paul's after market moonroof, in his old 99 PRO-DX and it looked very very nice. ;-)

    -Larry
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Larry, thanks for the compliment. :)

    Sparrow: I paid like $1000 for the moonroof installation. The dealer sent it to a shop and got it installed. The maker was called Hollendasia or something like that (don't know anymore, because I got rid of the car). But it was a spoiler-type roof (opened outside and not inside) and it also closed automatically when turning off the car. (That's one thing I miss about my DX.) You can also go to Ziebart (some locations) and have one installed for like $6-800 or something. In any case, make sure it's covered for the life of the car. Mine was, and the ones from Ziebart are as well.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    What year/grade is your Protege?
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    2000 ES, do you know places where i can get the parts (either the fogs lights or the covers) cheaper?
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Retail should be about $230 but check with Mazda South in Austin, TX. I don't see them on their site (http://www.mazdastuff.com/), but I'm sure they have or can get them(Part number 0000-8Z-C01). Looking at their prices, they seem to be selling OEM parts at a significant discount.

    :)
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    is that $230 for the fog light KIT or just the pair of foglights by themselves? If I am to install them I would need the whole kit (wiring, switch, etc...), wouldn't I?

    thanks

    H
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    It's actually a very nice kit with OEM switch, harness, mounting brackets and instructions.

    :)
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