domZ'sPro5

Just returned from my first extended trip. The car performed very well.
Did not figure out total gas mileage yet, but I was arouond 30-32 mpg for the trip.
Went from New Mexico to San Diego. (Watched my Jets kick the Chargers ***) Noticed the car runs a lot better (quicker) at sea level. (We are at 5,000 ft. in Albuquerque.)
Penty of speed for highway driving, settled in nice at about 80-85 mph. Running about 4,000 rpm's. I sure wish the car had a 6th gear or something...would be nice to cruise at about 3,000 rpm's. Higher rev's do add up to good trottle response at 80 mph.
Handling fabulous through twisties btw Phoenix and Flagstaff (watch fof Az. State Troopers-one nailed me doing 95 mph at bottom of long curving hill-he told me I was going too fast for my car to handle-I smiled inside and bit my tongue before telling him the car handled very well at high speed, thank you!
Seats pretty comfortable during drive, 12 hours straight each way. Map pocket on driver's side rubs on outside of my left shin kinda a pain in the *** but generally o.k. for long ride.
Mazda car bra a good idea-lots o' bugs pasted to front of mask-glad I have it! Mask was nice a tight fit on car-no flapping in wind, etc.
Wind noise brutal at 80-90 mph with moonroof tilted open-I have 2002 model (I like this verision better than 2002.5) so I do not have the rubber "teeth" on front cross bar of roof rack. I have asked my Mazda dealer for this attachment-we'll see if they come through. They did not know it even exsisted until I showed them it on the cars in their own lot!
Car has about 6,300 miles on it so far and I am still very happy with it!
Of the 14 cars I have owned and driven over the years this Protege 5 combines most of the good things my old cars had in one neat pakage.
my two cents...

DomZ

misbehave

So, you only get 1 ticket for 1,800 miles?
That's not too bad.
I and my best friend (who own a 97 Eclipse with 5 speed shift) both keep getting tickets about every 300 miles.

CitizenPro

I've actually been pretty lucky (knock on wood). Ive driven to Dallas and back around 6 times, and about to go again this Sat. for my sis's wedding. Also to Topeka, Kansas once, and have yet to get any kind of ticket. Im usually doing at least 80 mph everytime, I cant seem to drive the speed limit on the freeway(actually anywhere). And what sucks is I have 25,000 plus miles on my beautiful baby and I havent even had her a year! Its all good, she runs perfect and havent had any problems. Yet.

domZ'sPro5

That area-between PHX and Flagstaff is known to be a bit of a speed trap-I shouldn't have gone that way

I have an escort rader detector, too. No help!
"Mr. Sulu, activate the cloaking device..."

Maybe that would have saved me!

DomZ

misbehave

Since you guys already brought this up, I want to add my "info" about speed trap.

For anyone who live in WA. If you planning to travel on I-90, whenever you are 20 to 30 miles within the range of a town called Ellensburg, Slow Down To Match the Speed Limit Sign or Under!
There is always (yes, ALWAYS) a pair of patrol cars hiding between the east and west bounds of the the highway. And yes, they ALWAYS come in a pair. I don't know if they are gay or not, so if you have a nice ***, watch out! They might want to have a "3P" all of a sudden.
Almost everyone I know who drove on the I-90 and passed that town got nailed by the Couple if they were not driving under the speed limit.