hey all, i've been searching for a car to get, and i think P5 might be the best choice...pretty inexpensive (HOPING that i can get one for around $14k w/o options or a few more with options..doable?), awesome handling according to everyone, fuel efficient, all around a great value. of course i kinda wish it had more power, but i guess that can be changed with a turbo.
anyway, in order to expedite my choice, i need you to tell me what the P5 can offer in a nutshell. is it worth the price? do you regret anything about it?
also i have a bunch of other questions that i'd apprecite if you could just answer straight...
is there enough power to go around daily traffic (even when carrying a hefty load or several people) and accelerate fast enough for normal 0-20, 0-30 or 0-40 blasts when i need to quickly change lanes when the stop light turns green? going up hills?
has anyone without ABS noticed any shortcomings or unexpected troubles when braking?
is it true that when you get in the car and lock the doors, you cannot start the engine? i'm talking about locking with the lock button on the door, not the key fob.
how is the stereo? i'm no audiophile, but would like hearty bass and nice treble when it counts. standard option list says 6 speakers and 100watt sub...true?
with the mazda3 coming, how is that going to affect the P5 value? is it worth waiting for the 3?
are you satisfied with the P5?

i guess that's about it. thanks for even reading this much. your input is very much appreciated!

 

What do you mean by locking the doors and having it not start? Why would that happen ? You wouldn't happen to be on NASIOC (subaru owners club) too would you ?

 

$14K? If you're buying new, you might be able to get a deal at the end of the model year. Or, if you're willing to pick up a slightly used one. Other than that, I think $14K is ambitious.

The P5 has pretty much all the options included: A/C, power windows and locks, cruise control, etc. I believe the only options are safety package (ABS + side air bags), alloy rims, and moon roof.

But you can't have everything, right? If you want all these features stuffed into a cheap car, then you'll have to give up something, and Mazda chose to compromise on engine power.

While many believe the engine could use a 30-50 hp bump, it's really pretty adequate for most purposes. I don't think you'll have much trouble hauling junk or people or merging onto the highway. And the car feels faster than it really is, because the steering and handling are so good that you can zoom zoom through the twisties quicker than many faster cars. The manual transmission will help you keep the car in its powerband and mitigate some of the low-power blues.

You are right that power can be increased with a turbo, but you're talking about $3K or so to slap that in there, and then you also lose a lot of the fuel economy (lower miles per gallon, plus more dollars per gallon to run high octane). I'm not saying don't do it. I'm just saying that if you do, you'll be giving up some of the price and economy factors that led you to the P5 in the first place.

I do not have ABS, and I have not (yet) had a problem. The car brakes competently and is stable while stopping.

I don't think there is a problem starting the car after locking the doors. Not sure I ever tried it in that order, though. Usually, it's sit down, crank ignition, back out, lock doors.

Stereo is OK. The stock unit allows you to adjust bass, treble, and midrange separately. CD is standard. Cassette, Minidisc, or CD changer is optional.

I believe the Mazda3 is replacing the P5, so you won't be able to buy a P5 after the 2004 model year. I suppose that once the 3's are out, nobody will want the older model, and you'll be able to pick them up cheap. But that'll be a while.

One thing you didn't mention is cargo space. With the seats down, the P5 swallows up cargo. I don't need to haul a lot of stuff very often, but when I do, it's nice not to have to borrow somebody's SUV or pickup truck.

I've never used the roof rack, but that's standard, too. I imagine you could put all manner of sporting equipment up there.

The only things I don't like:
1. cupholders aren't deep enough
2. no clear side markers on the front fenders
3. not really big enough for 5 adults

They have rectified items #1 and #2.

The back seat is one of the roomier ones in the compact car class. It's decently comfortable for two people, but there are three seatbelts. I wouldn't want to be that guy in the middle, though, even on a short trip. In fact, I have removed my center seat belt, because it never gets used, and it gets in the way of putting the seats down.

 

hey thanks for your generous input dewey. you've cleared up a lot of things. i guess most people say the power's adequate. i'm going to be using it in college for more practical things as moving things in and out and driving to the grocery store and stuff like that, so i suppose i won't need SO much power. just don't want to be stuck on a hill if i'm carrying all my stuff back home. i wouldn't be adding a turbo until i can afford one haha.
thanks for the additional info about the cargo room. i'm pretty confident that i'll be able to fit all my boxes and what not in there. never thought i'd think about getting a car like this but i guess i'm just practically minded. hah. as for the back seat room, that's just something my friends will have to get over with. they can't complain, i'll be driving them. :P and i'm sure it'll be more than enough.
as for the lock, there was a thread on this forum about the car not starting when locked. that's why i started wondering if that really happened. and chastan i'm not in the subaru forum heh. is there a brucelee there too? i just used this name when i played counterstrike haha.
ok so now my area of concern is about the mazda3...is it better to wait, should i get the P5 now, etc...granted i stay in the same price range. what would you do?
and feel free to post more P5 experiences.
thanks a lot!

 

I'll say again what has already been pointed out. Most of the people that complain that the P5's are slow say that in reference to racing. Our cars are one of the peppier sport compacts and especially for the price. And for carrying the cargo - P5's have a lot of room (after the seats are folded down) and have a lot of torque for the engine size. You won't be disappointed if you buy one.

 

yea i wont be racing it if i get it. i just dont want to be disappointed by having overexpectations. stuff i can expect are ok. if the majority are saying speed is the only enemy, i can cope with that as long as it has decent power for going from a stop to about 30mph.

 

Hey bruce... you're best bet would be to go and drive one man. That's what really got me hooked (that and the way it looked) and ended up buying one the next day. You WILL NOT be dissappointed with the vehicle after driving it!!!

I guarantee!!

 

same here!

 

No ABS on my car and it stops great, the pedal feel is good and the brakes seem to be well suited for the size and weight of the car.

No, I do this all the time. But just in case I was imagining that it worked I just went out to the car and tried it.

Got in, used the power locks to lock all the doors. Put the key in the ignition and started the car, just like every morning.


Not sure what the Mazda3 will do to the price of the Pro5, but in my case I do not care. I bought it to run it until it dies. Secondly, I like the way the P5 looks a LOT more than the new 3.


As some others have said, go and drive one... I think you'll like it.

 

wow thanks jjb for testing the lock thing out.
the fact that just about everyone who buys one likes it is a big thing for me. i'll go test drive soon enough, hopefully i'll end up with one.
i'm guessing that the 3, being more powerful, is going to cost more than the P5. i better get one before they run out. :P

 

the reason people say the p5 is slow is that it handles like a high performance car but doesnt accelerate like one. Its really a phenomenal deal for the money. 14.4k for the 5 spd new with abs/side airbags

 

I LOVED my P5, and I still miss it.


But I like the MSP more, I needed that turbo!!

 

dang toucci, $14.4k? i'm guessing that's with the rebate? i wonder how i can pull that off here...
i wish my budget allowed for a MSP...

 

I cut pretty much 1/2 of my fun budget.. And 2/3 of my food budget.


I spend $15 on "fun things" arcade, maybe the express way. I spend $10 a week on food. If I can I do less than that.

 

$10 a week on food? dang, what are you eating? that's one meal for me. 2 at most. order some wings and $10 gone.
btw what's the 2003.5 supposed to be, as opposed to 2003? sorry, i'm still new to mazda.