Buying advice for FocalJet member...
 

hey guys, I'm a member of the focaljet.com forum, and I was just referred over here by someone. My girlfriend got her hands on some cash and she is putting a down payment on a car, she wanted a 2.0l or so sporty compact. I suggested the protege5, and some other ford models, (since ford handed small engine engineering off to mazda theyre basically the same). She likes the P5 because it's "cute", but that will only last so long :) can you guys give me some strong points and weak points of the car? I know it's an awesome car, or else you guys wouldn'ta bought it ;) but why did you buy it, what don't you like about it, what are it's best features? I have to convince her, or else she's going to buy an echo, or some other boring toyota (yuck). Thanks in avdance guys...

evan

zoom zoom zoom....
 

I'm pretty sure that you will find the answers smattered all over the board... but here is my take on why I have a P5...

highs:
- it handles like a dream... this car is highly responsive and a heck of a lot of fun to toss around, the more I do the more I really get to like it... I'm gonna get myself in some serious trouble one of these days as I am pushing harder and harder and still have not hit that edge :) The handling of is pretty much what put it into the "I have to have it" category about three minutes into the test drive
- I think that it is very very practical... it's a small car but when you put the back seats fully flat the thing can haul a lot of junk
- I managed to sit in the car's front seat and even with the optional sun/moonroof sucking up headliner space I fit in the car (I don't in my Dad's 626!), even the 6'+ guy at work fits in the back seat and does not complain
- you get a lot of standard features for the price... take a look at the other makers and you will see what I mean
- it looks cool
- I really like hatchbacks

low(s):
- it really could use a bit more grunt under the hood, but considering what is under there is still moves along OK
- lots o' wind noise....
- the more I learn the more I see that the dealer that I got it from was a moron (but I can not hold that against the car)

all in all this is a very fun little car!!!:bt:

zoom zoomhttp://home.rochester.rr.com/jbarenys/zoomzoom.jpg

Hey! We've recruited another one! This is Aimee (a.k.a. Focswagongrl) from focaljet. I love my P5. Here's my take on it:

Strong Points: Stylish; great-looking interior; comfortable seats (I don't like Focus seats, but love the P5 seats); small and zippy (yes, zippy); good on gas (most of the time); looks good in driveway next to focus :D ; handling is awesome; removeable roof rack; aftermarket parts are coming along nicely, etc., etc., etc.

Weak Points: Could use a bit more oomph (can't they all?); orange gauges can be annoying to some people; not as much headroom as a focus, and therefore not really as much storage as say a focus wagon; door lock button is right under your arm if you rest it on the door; no 5mph lock feature (like in focus); seats don't fold completely flat.

That's about it. All in all, I love the car. I can deal with the bad stuff. Good luck convincing her!

:bt:

Aimme :) you traitor :) hehe... I'de love to see your car sometime! I live in dartmouth, MA now (school), so i'm like 20 min from providence, i know you live in Ct... maybe if i can go to the dec 1st FJ g2g... hmm :) email me if you want to show it off to me :) evanparker@hotmail.com

Like JJB said, the strongest point is the handling. The seats are surprisingly confortable, a very important feature for me because it's my work car and I drive an average of 3K miles a month. And it might not be the fastest around but considering all you get standard, it's the best deal for the money. But the most important feature is that it is fun to drive.

I haven't experienced any excessive wind noise on mine, but I don't have a moon roof.

Amazing car! Drives much better than the Focus. (which I was also looking at) Handles like its on rails. Could use a little more power. Nifty little stupid things like dome light that comes on when you open the door and dims when you start the car.

The rear seats do fold completely flat if you lift the rear seats forward (great thing if you have a big dog and leather :D) I found this out by the manual, no one showed me about the seats. And thank god for the 5mph door locks. (no offence pro5girlie :)

Don

the back seats do

here is my take on it

Pros:

LOOKS!!!!, handling, standard features, very roomy!

cons:
wind noise, could use 30 more HP and if you get one with a moon roof get the wind deflector for it

I have the moon roof but I dont seem to get the wind noise everyone mentions. Maybe the roof rack? Not standard here in the north.

Don

the wind deflector makes it about 80% better... I added mine in after three days. I also opted to pull the standard (in the U.S. sold P5s) roof rack cross pieces... I do not need them for every day use but do like the option that I have them should the need arise in the future! that also helped a good amount.

Wow this thread is flying low....

As much as i respects the protege 5 i'd have to say she would be better off in a civic hatchback, you will get the better gas mileages with the 5spd plus if your engine breaks down you have lots of choices you can pick even a vtec b16a

hmmm ...
if u drive a honda ... youll lose it in the car park cause there are too many other hondas there :the finge:

By looking at your other posts, you don't show much respect for Proteges or any other cars, except your Honda.

We don't mind criticism as long it is constructive. Peace

:squint:
this guy doesnt know what he's talking about

umm
honda 2.0L engines put out WAY more than any other 2.0L out there, the b18 engine from the type R (b18c or something?) puts out the same TQ as the FSZE engine but has 195HP instead of 168HP. hondas 2.0 L from the s2000 puts out 156TQ where as out engines put out 135 (yes i know the s2000 is more expensive but it still has a 2.0L) honda's cr-v engine (2.0L) puts out 146HP / 133TQ,