2003ProtegeES

Man when i test drove my Pro i said i gotta have this, but after 3000 miles its kinda like meh, but i guess thats human nature.

Dont get me wrong i still love my car even though its an auto (hits self). What about you guys?

tonkabui

it's been 6 months since i got my car. granted the last month was her sitting in the body shop after i got rear ended, i have had nothing but a constant grin while driving. the car drives better now than it did when i test drove it. i'm thinking it's because i know what it can and can't do.

today, i got my eibachs installed, and that constant grin has turned into a full blown smile. talk about slot car handling! i can't imagine what those guys riding around with teins or JIC's are doing while driving!

can't wait for my intake and exhaust to complete my package. i'm planning on slapping on a turbo once the warranty is over. until then, i'll just keep smiling.

WestTenn

After about 11K and 11 months, my P5's gained luster.

After I first bought it, I had a quick bout of Buyer's Regret --

*Would I get used to the rougher ride and noiser cabin?
*Was that nasty cold engine rattle damaging the engine?
*Would the paint chip off the front end, like some people were saying here?
*Would I be able to live with this car for 60 months worth of payments?
... etc ...

But, I've adjusted or made adjustments. I got rid of the roof rack, I now know the rattle's just a minor annoyance, I got a magnet bra for the front, and every month at payment time I remember that I could not have bought a car with the styling and handling that the P5 has for anywhere near the $18K I'm shelling out over a total of 5 years.

Then there's fact that it has been absolutely trouble-free (knock on wood) since I took it off the lot.

Altogether, I like my car a lot more than I did when I first got it.

leungwingkei

I think you just got use to it. Like when I first got the Pro5, coming from driving my mom's Camry I raved about its quick steering, taut suspension etc.

Now at 21000km, the engine feels better, and revs more freely. The suspension seems to be less tight, and it seems to roll a bit more. I wondered if this was because of the springs and shocks wearing, but after asking my brother who drives the Pro5 less than me, he says he didn't notice any difference in performance.

My alignment is messed up now, it pulls to the right, and hasn't been fixed despite many alignment jobs. As soon as its fixed, I'm back to enjoying the car to its full potential.

tradr

I'm about 30 miles shy of 50,000 miles and the car is running better then ever (gotta love the single digit forecast the past couple weeks.. brr!! - good auto performance weather), running a little rough due to original spark plug wires so it's due for a tuneup next couple days I have off..

Every time my car gets cleaned again I overall think "wow that looks tight" even in winter form with steelies on hehe.

I was actually less excited when I got the car then I am presently.

Zoom Zoom!

alcoholiday

i still like it.

i'm just choked that it rattles so much in the cold and that winter is destroying the paint job.

oh well, it got garaged and babied for a few month before winter came. it'll have to sit outside come this summer if my plans come to fruition.

but it's still going to be my all-purpose, carry stuff, road trip, fun car to drive.

DebaryJoe

Have had mine since May 02, about 10.5k miles, still no rattles, no squeaks, no complaints. Engine has freed up, really like to rev. I get a big smile every time I see a sweeping curve. I also get a smile when I think how it's a couple grand cheaper than than the previous Saturns I've owned and how much better car it is.

kenji4861

Wash, Polish, Wax.. and you will love your car like the first time you met him/her at the dealership. It'll shine.

tyr

yes...

i thought i could live with the noise inside the interior... now it's almost unbearable with the combination of tire noise, wind noise, rear license plate rattle, etc...

i was going to sell it but found out what dealers were offering for trade in and so it looks like i'll be keeping it for awhile...

i'm thinking about getting the following things done so that the car is bearable in terms of noise...

1. remove roof racks completely including the side rails and getting the holes filled and placing the mazda weather strip in... (dealer said they can do this)

2. re-do the license plate brackets (my audio installer/body shop guy can do this)

3. dynamat the car (audio installer)

hopefully this should quell most of the noise...

later,
tyr

Protege52003

I owned a ES 2.0 for 18 months and loved it. Did a bunch of after market changes to it.

I loved the PR5 when it came out in 02. I treated my sedan with lots of resect and got a great trade in price and picked up a Mica Black PR5 the 31'st of December.

I love it and already have 2000 miles as of tonight on her. Have done a good amount of work on her and can't wait for the spring to come. Am going to get some 17's, tint the windows along with a new intake (ingen?????). Hearf they have a supercharger available for the Protege???? Can't wait to keep her clean, too. I do a lot of skiing up here in NE and she is always dirty with dirt and salt.

I did not want to even drive the car when I went to purchase one, but the salesman made me drive it. Drove just like my sedan. The salesman that sold me the PR5 actually purchased my sedan and think he likes it.

I love my PR5 and look forward to driving it everyday.......Wish it had a little more power but I can settle for what she has (supercharger would be very nice)......

eggynatey

Something to look forward to:
I just hit 11k miles on my P5, and I swear it's faster than it was when I bought it. Once your engine "breaks in", you'll feel the difference too!

Protege52003

Yeah, will be nice when the engine fully breaks -in. I am getting close to 29 MPG on the highway now w/my ski rack on. I got 30 MPG on a ski trip two weeks ago with three friends and a full load in the car going pretty much on back roads up to VT around 50 MPH (not bad). MY car sounds good on full throttle and should sound better when I get my new intake system. Will be nice......

RHAGEL

If you are talking about luster as it the paint, dont forgaet that when you buy a car I does not have any wax on it. i would suggest a nice thick coat of Meguires Gold class wax. Looks Good!