3rd Gen Protege/MazdaSpeed/P5/MP3 General/Maintenance Discussion for 1999-2003.5 Models Only (BJ Chassis)

Proud new Protege owner!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May-15th-2003, 07:41 AM
  #1  
Protege Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
Astral's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 134
Astral is on a distinguished road
Talking Proud new Protege owner!

Hi folks!

I took the plunge and yesterday I became a proud owner of a 2003 Mazda Protege LX sedan, Laser Mica Blue! This is my first car ever (I'm finacing it, fresh out of college) and I hope that it lasts me well beyond 5 years!

The dealer couldn't find any cars of that color with 5-speed, so I ended up choosing the automatic. I've had the car for only a day now, but it's already a ton of fun! I love how the interior looks, and the handling and acceleration (even with the automatic) do deliver that "zoom-zoom" feeling during normal driving.

I was a little surprised by how not crappy the factory sound system is. I think all I want is a good subwoofer to deliver tight bass (don't need it booming or very loud), and the sound will be just what I want.

The dealer still has to attach the factory spoiler (just for looks, of course... is there any performance gain from it?), and put on foglights (now these can be useful in New England). Once that goes thru, I'm gonna post some pictures

I'm a free man now, you know... no more asking for rides, no more walk/bus/train to work, none of that! I go when I want, wherever I want! It's completely awesome!

BTW, after reading the threads here, I was all set on hand-washing my car weekly (or bi-weekly) with the 100% cotton terry towels and what not. However, the dealer said that he'll give me a free carwash at his dealership whenever. Now, it seems as though the dealership's car wash should be better maintained than your average gas station car wash... also, it could be a good way to wash the underbody of the vehicle. Should I take the dealer up on his free auto car wash option or should I bite it and do it myself?

Anyway, looking forward to fun times with my Protege!
Astral is offline  
Old May-15th-2003, 07:54 AM
  #2  
Protege Enthusiast
 
20OMZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: toowoomba AUSTRALIA
Posts: 158
20OMZ is on a distinguished road
Hey man welcome to the protege world were the world of asking for rides is no longer. Hey man my name is rick I have had my protege for 3 years last month and it is keeping me going and i still have things to finish the girl off. I wouldn't knock back the free washes at your dealer, though some can do a dodgy *** job, just take it there once and if your happy then take it to them a again, if not do it your self, cant wait to see the pics of your ride.

It didn't take me much time to change the stereo and the exust in my 2000 model protege and glad i did. Well mate take care and hope you enjoy your madazda. ZOOM-ZOOM-ZOOM

Your mazda should last more than 5 years hopefully they dont change the shape to much from now on.



http://www.imagestation.com/members/20omz
20OMZ is offline  
Old May-15th-2003, 09:30 AM
  #3  
Protege Enthusiast
 
BarryG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 83
BarryG is on a distinguished road
Congrats on the new LX! If you treat that car right, it will last you well beyond 5 years! I like the laser mica blue.
BarryG is offline  
Old May-15th-2003, 02:28 PM
  #4  
Protege Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
Astral's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 134
Astral is on a distinguished road
Thanks for the welcome guys! Good suggestion about the dealer's wash, I'll give it a shot, see how it comes out.
Astral is offline  
Old May-15th-2003, 06:13 PM
  #5  
Protege Enthusiast
 
choke on words's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Sugar Land, Texas
Posts: 190
choke on words is on a distinguished road
Congrats on your new car Astral

Enjoy the car, you'll love it more as the days go by...I know I do

EDIT: Get some pics up I wanna see!!

Last edited by choke on words; May-15th-2003 at 06:17 PM.
choke on words is offline  
Old May-16th-2003, 01:51 AM
  #6  
I Bent My Wookie
 
Proto2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 358
Proto2k is on a distinguished road
I wish the dealer would have offered me free carwashes. Congrats on your Protege. Hope you love it half as much as I love mine.
________
Pattaya apartments

Last edited by Proto2k; August-26th-2011 at 08:01 PM.
Proto2k is offline  
Old May-16th-2003, 11:05 AM
  #7  
Protege Newbie
 
ProjectZero's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SillyCon Valley, Left Coast
Posts: 6
ProjectZero is on a distinguished road
Re: Proud new Protege owner!

Astral--

Where are you at? If you're already thinking about underbody wash, I'm thinking you're near snow, salt and all that other icky stuff....

As far as the free wash at the dealer-- go for it. Do not turn it down. Remember, all those other cars on the lot gets washed so you know at least the water supply and towel talent are halfway decent.

Most dealerships perform three "types" of washes-- the wash or rinse of the cars sitting on the lot, the wash and detail of the cars ready to be handed over to a new car buyer, and the wash of the cars for everyone else, e.g. service.


The last two types (wash/detail for buyer, wash after service) are typically done in the same wash bay and performed by the same personnel-- the difference is that the wash for everyone else is a speed-wash-- rinse, lather, a pass with the mitt, rinse, dry. It is, in most cases, better than the auto car washes at the petrol station. But if they're giving it to you for free, there's nothing to complain 'bout that!
ProjectZero is offline  
Old May-16th-2003, 12:21 PM
  #8  
Protege Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
Astral's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 134
Astral is on a distinguished road
enderFound-- I'm gonna get some pics up next week, 'round Wednesday-Thursday time--that's when I'm getting the foglights & factory spoiler installed. I don't want to take pics before those come on

ProjectZero-- I'm in Massachusetts, New England... so yeah, during the winter it gets pretty icky... I talked to some other folks and some said that I dont' need to worry about the underbody wash until winter rolls around.

It's the third day and the love affair continues I drive past Civics and Corollas and I'm glad I don't own one. Then I drive past Ford Escorts and Chevy compacts and then I get really glad I don't own one
Astral is offline  
Old May-16th-2003, 05:42 PM
  #9  
Protege 5
 
Protege52003's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Mass
Posts: 351
Protege52003 is on a distinguished road
Thumbs up

Hi Astral and welcome to the forum.

Like your car and color choice.

I am from Worcester and have been using this forum since I got my PR5 5 months ago. Don't know how I found this page and wish that I had found it earlier when I had my '01 ES 2.0.

People will help you out and answer your questions when you have them. Some members will b@#*h a lot depending on what you say or ask sometimes, but I don't think they mean bad. Just make sure you follow the forum rules and everything will me ducky.

We will have to cruise main street sometime????

Later.

-R
Protege52003 is offline  
Old May-16th-2003, 08:09 PM
  #10  
Master of All Things :{D
 
Sir Nuke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: southeast texas, near houston
Posts: 4,118
Sir Nuke is on a distinguished road
Hey Astral and Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to our Club. There are TWO BIG fridge'S in the corner with anything you can think of in them...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have.

make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom don't care....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!!
Sir Nuke is offline  
Old May-28th-2003, 08:41 AM
  #11  
Protege Enthusiast
Thread Starter
 
Astral's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 134
Astral is on a distinguished road
Ok, after spoiler & fog lights, I finally took some pictures!

They have been posted to this thread.


Protege52003,
We will have to cruise main street sometime????
Yeah, we could cruise main st
Astral is offline  
Old May-28th-2003, 10:44 AM
  #12  
Registered User
 
akaveli's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Virginia and Brooklyn, NYC
Posts: 602
akaveli is on a distinguished road
Welcome Astral
akaveli is offline  
Old May-28th-2003, 12:10 PM
  #13  
Protege Enthusiast
 
kenchan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 405
kenchan is on a distinguished road
hey congrats.

i bought my new 03 blue mica pro5 a few months ago.
brand new it came out of the dealer wash with swirls...
so no more dealer washes for me. its either touchless or
me washing it by hand.
kenchan is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chexmix78
Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3
8
April-13th-2013 08:08 PM
Ex.
Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3
1
March-19th-2012 08:53 PM
XxTacC
Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3
1
February-17th-2012 11:23 AM
XxTacC
Mazda Service Info
1
February-8th-2012 11:54 AM
Ambient
Forced Induction/Nitrous
16
February-21st-2003 08:24 PM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


Quick Reply: Proud new Protege owner!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:15 PM.