reking

Did you guys know that they have refreshed the p5 for this year. The car has been changed, with no additional cost added to the car. The changes were: side markers to the front bumper, change to the cup holders, tweeters have been added so now it has 6 speakers, shift **** has changed, and the wheels have a sporter look to them. I think leather is a option for the car now. I'm glad I waited!

Maxx Mazda

"Free Changes?" Please. I think by adding those ugly rims and those side markers, you're paying the price alright. The price of ugliness! Everyone will agree that with those damn side markers now added, the car has WAY too many lights.

As for the cup holders and tweeters, well, I like the cup holders it has now. Perfect for those "koozie cup" soft beverage thingies. And the tweeters, I could not tell the difference from my P5 and one with. In fact, I think it makes the bass less-pronounced by having all of that high-range. Why not just get a system anyway? The stock one sucks.

Leather has been an option to American customers for awhile. I wish we had this up here in Canada, but we get off with not having those ugly roof racks at least!

I'm sure then you also know aout the Sport-Matic transmission added for the 2002 1/2 model year? Why not just go all manual if you're spending that money to shift yourself?

Not to sound rude about the old news, but I just wanted to add my $0.02.

mopho

Speak for yourself! I think the new wheels are great! I am not going to change them- the sidemarkers are nice too, everybody that has seen my car points them out and loves them. And they may keep some schmuck from side swiping you on the highway- the roof rack is removable, nice to have that option- the cup holders are deeper and much better, the only downside is no cover to hide them, no biggie. And the new shift **** is nicer too!
Your not missing anything with leather- It is not high quality, looks cheap and doesn't even smell good. You stick to it in the summer and freeze in the winter. The cloth interior looks better with the colored accents. This is just IMO of course

Sir Nuke

thanks for pointing this out JUST IN CASE....but the changes have been out for a while now. :{D

reking

Will I'm sorry that it's old news for you but we just got a shipment of cars in fairfax Va. with the changes on it and I'm a newcomer to this club, I was hoping to make new friends, so far its not good. I have not bought my p5 yet. I'm keeping my car stock when I get one. I think the car looks great the way it is and so thanks for the negative info. I already have a show car that wins. One is enough.

neuromancer

For those of us who have no choice but to get an automatic (I'm married, my wife needs to drive too), the sportmatic auto transmission would have been a welcome addition to my P5. Don't think so one sided, not everyone has the same priorities as you do.

Jay

neuromancer

Don't take his little bitch slap too hard, someone has just messed up his car by keying it. He's a little gumpy about that

At any rate, welcome aboard.

I would have liked the Sport AT and the leather as an option when I bought mine, especially the leather.. I like the original wheels better, and don't really care for the side marker or the cup holder change. But that is just me.

What color of P5 are you getting?

Jay

reking

Sliver, like you.

leungwingkei

Everyone seems to argue that their car is better. The people with the 2002 5's say that the changes were for the worse. And the 2002.5 5 owners say the changes make the car better. Try not to be so one sided people.

I have a 2002 Protege5. I however, admit that the Sport Auto is a welcome addition. I wish I got it. Some people say its useless, and that response is the same, etcetc. If it's useless, then leave it at D like any other auto. But you got to admit is does look better and have more features, and that's something to be praised not bashed.
As for the tweeters, they too are a welcome addition giving a more pronounced high end to audio, which makes sounds clearer. Think about it, 6 speakers are more dedicated to their function instead of 4. Just as a subwoofer 2.1 audio system sounds better than two full range speakers. And not everyone goes out the change their stock stereo to an aftermarket one. Hell, I can even put a Mark Levison in the Protege5, and while I'm at it swap in a FS-ZE. That's not the point. The point is the new stock setup is better.

However, I do think the old wheels more suited to the car, more distinctive and sporty perhaps? But that's just my opinion.

Sweedenhouse

Yeah I'm with Maxx, the sidemarkers are kinda lame. Everyone keps saying they're "euro". Uh hello we drive a "japanese" car, and it does look too busy up there with the sidemarkers, and the bumper lights. The MP3 I guess is OK with the side markers cause they don't have the bumper lights. As for the cup holders, well they just flat out suck whichever model you have. Stock speakers, and wheels are of very little concern to me too, cause those are some of the first things I **** can when I get a car. So the mid-year refresh doesn't really do anything for me either. That's just me though, if some of you guys ya like it, that's cool.

speedbump

"Can't we all just live together"...Rodney King.

Sweedenhouse

Actually if you're gonna use an old stale quote like that, that lost its humor about 6 years ago, you might as well say it right.....

"Can't we all just get along?"

mopho

I saw you drive by me, twice, while I was in Hillsboro in April. I was there for the rally, I was staying at the West Coast Hillsboro hotel (across from the airport), eating breakfast when you drove by.

Sweedenhouse

Wow that's pretty cool, you saw the Juggalo Wagon roll by. Yeah I live just down the road a little from the airport there. I live close to there cause I work at Intel. Which rally was that? I get kinda confused sometimes, and don't really know what's going on.

mopho

It was the Oregon Trails Pro Rally, here are some photos: http://www.rallyplanet.com/index.php?pid=5339