gcs118

I've seen people post saying they own a 2002.5 vehicle...what does this mean?

colnago1331

New P5 stuff:
factory leather option
tweeters
side markers
deeper, uncovered cupholders
leather shift ****
new, squarer wheels

EDIT:
Oh yeah, the 2002.5 has the sport-shift auto tranny (aka Tiptronic) as an option too.

StuttersC

Where on earth are they mounting the tweeters??

I went to my local Mazda dealer and all the 2002 mid-cycle refreshed cars had no tweeters for an option. I also made the mistake of asking and the sales guy, and he looked at me like I was speaking latin.

Just asking...

jali-p5

From what I've seen of the 2002.5 models, the tweeters are being mounted where the side mirror coverings are located. The tweeters to my understanding are not an option, but are standard because the 2002.5 models come w/ 6 speakers instead of 4 now.

StuttersC

I'll have to go look again, a little closer next time.

colnago1331

the tweeters are mounted in the door, right where the outside mirrors are mounted, and they are standard equipment, not optional. The only two new options are the auto-sport tranny and the leather. Everything else I listed above is standard.

nramsey

The new tweeters. They are standard on the mid cycle refresh cars.



I think they sound pretty good too.

huy397

Well... since the newer P5s are equipped somewhat differently, how much of a price difference are we looking at?

I am thinking of waiting for a couple of months to get the '03 model in Canada( I want the Sport Auto ), does anybody know what the base price is going to be?

thanks a lot

jas9297

2003 Prices are on Mazda USA web site

Go to http://www.mazdausa.com, select "Vehicles" from the left, then "2003 Lineup". Insert your zip code, and select pricing for your car of choice. Prices are raised slightly (looks like to cover the cost of floor mats, now standard). So really prices are the same, plus they lowered prices for ABS/Side bags (only $490), and moonroof (now a separate option) comes with 6-CD for only $690)! That's $10 bucks less, plus you get the 6-CD! Yikes (but will they have the $750 cash back?)

Couldn't find them on Canada's: http://www.mazda.ca

kosmicride

I dont see a price increase for the added options but a better value indeed, I did not want abs brakes and therefore I did not get the moonroof, side impact air bags and or 6cd
I got mine with the 2002.5 Sport automatic, the tweeters and all the standard items along with alarm floor mats, I made them throw in life insurance, 5 free washes, and a couple of other things for 16500 so the new price does not seem to be any any change other then the sticker may state more depending on the greedy car dealers.

jas9297

The base price (MSRP) + destination for 2003 is: $17055.
For 2002 it was $16,975.

But, with 2003, you get floor mats standard on all cars ($80 value). So the price is really the same.

Also, you're right, the options packages are lower in price and more flexible. So in all, better prices!

skyhawk174

I still don't understand why things have to be so different for the Protege 5 between what is available in the US vs what is available in Canada. For example in Canada moon roof, a/c, leather, wind deflector, upgraded CD player, roof rack and rear skid plate are all options while ABS brakes and floor mats are standard.

Everyone keeps talking about the leather option in the 2002.5 P5. I guess this comes right from the factory. I already got that option on my 2002 P5 so I did not understand that. I would have also liked to put in the side air bag but it is not even offered as an option in Canada, go figure .

bmorton

Remember we're only paying US$13,200 including freight for the P5 up here, a savings of US$3775 (CDN$6000) over what the same car costs south of the border. Considering the huge price difference I'm pleased at how much of the same equipment we still get. For six grand less I can live without a leather steering wheel or side airbags.

stocker

I am afraid not. You are comparing apples to oranges. You have to look at the currency and cost of living. COL is much higher in the states. Someone in the states doing my job makes the same number of dollars as I do, but in american not canadian. So yes they are paid approx 1.5 what I am paid, but their cars cost more, rent is more, even bread cost more. This is why it is attractive to build cars/trucks in canada, they pay wages and parts in canadian and sell in us dollars. This is why canadian manufacturers have the majority of the SUV assembly plants, they make even more money on the high margin cars by building in canada. Even lexus just started building their SUV in Alliston Ont.

Stocker.

bmorton

Sorry, I don't agree. The cost of living isn't as far apart as you say and in some ways it's more expensive to live here. The real reason for the price difference is that we buy proportionally more small cars than the Americans do and so automakers have to price their small cars to be attractive to cost-conscious Canadians. The car is priced to its target market, and in the US Mazda can charge more for the same car than they can get away with here.

BTW, the only SUVs built or planned to be built in Canada are the Honda Pilot/Acura MDX (Alliston) and the Toyota Highlander/Lexus RX300 (Cambridge).