Thinking about 2003 P5...
 

Hi everyone,

I recently found out VW is not offering 2-door Golf for MY 2003, so that left me with basic 4-door Golf or Jetta as choices. Since I was in the 4-door sedan, 5-door hatch category, I looked at the P5 I fell in love. I test drove it last summer and loved it, so I'll have to repeat that test drive. :D

I'm just amazed at the value this little fun hatch offers.

Anyway, I'm thinking about 2003 MP5, but just can't decide between black or midnight blue. Can I see some pics (links to pics) please? My local dealer has only black one and I'd love to see it side by side with midnight blue.

Also, any Nova Scotians here with P5s? What did you pay (CDN$) for yours?

Thanks!

pop over into the photo gallery and just dig around..you will certainly find the pictures you are looking for.

and BTW...Welcome to the Club. :{D

I own both a 2002 Jetta TDI fully loaded and a new Mazda P5. If you are interested in how I think they compare let me know and I will fill you in. I have been driving the Jetta for a year and the P5 for 3 months.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Jetta vs. P5.

I've been a dubhead all my life, but I'm just not feeling the new ones. The P5 on the other hand, now that's speaking to me.

This could be long winded but in a nutshell:

Style: P5

Coolness: I call it a tie. Both are very cool in their own way.

Steering/Handling: Hold on to your hats folks...Jetta. Amazing in the curves and I can take my hands off the wheel at any time at any speed and it will never stray from a perfectly straight path.

Ride i.e. smoothness, less road noise etc..Jetta

Fun to drive: P5

Build Quality: Damn this one is tough..Jetta by a hair

Reliability: Hands down P5..yes I consider this different from build quality.

Safety: Jetta hands down..8 air bags standard

Luxury feel...Jetta. Seems like you drive a more expensive car.

Interior comfort (esp the backseat) P5 by leaps

Sound system: Jetta



Gas Mileage: Depends, my TDI gets 49mpg on the 4 cyl's Protege is a better

Aftermarket: Jetta

Price: P5 by a good margin

Value for your dollar: P5

Resale: Gotta go Jetta. College kids will still love to have a VW in 10 years

Other observations: Jetta handles better especially in wet weather, ride is lots quieter and smoother, gauges look much cooler. P5 is more fun and that counts for a lot; it is more kid and adult friendly in terms of space and seating, it has better lighting particularly at night. I am sure there is more but this is off the top o'the head. If you have any specific questions, I can try and answer them

VW VS P5
 

Yes I 2 have driven both types of cars, I have recently wrecked my P5, and I have to say Overall!!!! I would buy another P5....Definately over a VW.... Even if money were no Issue, I've had, and seen Lots of VW's with many problems, We like to call them Volks Walkins!!! In refrence to my friends Jetta that is in the Shop on the Monthly with something always wrong... He's always Walkin!!!! hehe

Jus my 2 sence...

VW's are like Women, Theres that 1 week a month that you HATE THEM!!!

Ironman:

Thanks for the comments.

I'm surprised to see you rate the Jetta over the P5 in handling? Is your Jetta stock? The new VW's have been much deriled for their soft suspension, one reason why I'm considering something else. I equate good handling to "sportiness" and good ride quality to luxury. In my experience, the stock Jetta is a far cry from sporty.

I've yet to drive a P5, but every review touts the great handling and sporty feel.

On a twisty back road, which would you prefer?

Funny you should ask. I just took both cars out to Kerville Tx and surrounding this weekend for some super twisties and great hills and valleys. Both cars handle very very well. The Jetta is auto and P5 manual so the p5 was lots more fun and even at 90+mph it was handling 45mph curves with no problem and no skid or roll. It rides lower and definately feels more sporty. The jetta is stock and it doesn't feel soft. If the road had been wet, I would have taken only the jetta on those roads. I don't know if it is just me but I have noticed the P5 tends to hydroplane much more..could be the tires I guess. Drive both and compare for yourself but both are good in the curves. The jetta has very tight steering.

I'll definitley drive both, among others.

My '92 Jetta sucks in the rain, but it's because of the tires - it sticks like glue on dry pavement and is a blast to drive up a mountain road.

That's something I can't do without. Besides, there's always snow tires...

Thanks everyone, especially ironman. It's always great to hear a different argument.

At first, I was considering a used car. However, since I planned to pay it off very soon, I budgeted about CDN$450 for payments, and a light went off in my head. It made sense to get a new car with a warranty and that new car smell for the same payment. I know that I will have to pay make that payment for 4-5 years instead of one year, but I hope I'll be making more bucks in one year anyway, so I said to myself "why not".

On that note I compared similarly equipped Jetta and Golf with P5 and here's what I got in terms of MSRP:
Jetta GLS 2.0L: CDN$24,850
Jetta GL 2.0L with A/C and heated seats ($205 for the seats): CDN$23,550
Golf GLS 2.0L: CDN$23,260
Golf GL 2.0L with A/C: CDN$21,580

Protege 5 with A/C and $105 for colour: CDN$21,031

All VWs have steel rims and relatively soft suspension. P5 has 'sporty' ride and 16" alloys. Also P5 has an in-dash CD while VW GL trims don't. Only on GLS. P5 has 130hp vs 115hp for VDubs. VWs do have more upscale feel to them, but I love the P5 interior. Also, P5 looks more "fresh" and "playful" than Golf on the outside.

So, bottom line is, I cannot tack on another $2000 as I am looking for the cheapest alternative to meet my payment target.
Golf GL 2.0L comes close with only about $500 more than the P5, so I still might consider that as an alternative.

You are most welcome. You will love the car. One last word of caution and I am not trying to talk you out of car, check insurance rates. Lots of folks in the states are being reamed out the ass on the P5. Not fair at all!

well to compare both cars on insurance, the golf is about 100 more a year to insure: with all discounts

P5: ~1100
Golf: ~1200

and if you want to go for the GTI (just for the hell of it)

GTI: ~1400

Yes, insurance is another plus for the P5. You can classify it as a station wagon, can't you? :D

I'm a big dub fan (read: VWVortex whore ;) ). If I had money, I'd be all over GTI 1.8T, but for now, I just want to make Metro Transit a thing of the past. hehe

BTW, where can I get online quotes on insurance withtou filling out registration forms etc.?

HS8 where did you get those numbers from?

As soon as I sell my RSX...I'll place the order for the '03 Protege5 (Sunburst Yellow)!

It's funny before my RSX I ended up cancelling my order for the '02 P5 cause Mazda couldn't deliver it, I waited half a year...

I like what Mazda change for 2003!

- Sequential SportShift
- Blacked Out Head Lights
- Side Markers
- Slight Change in Rims
- Front Strut Bars

Can't Wait...:)

Pfive:

You should be able to call your current insurance provider and have them run a quote for you. You just need the make and model. Without a VIN they can only give you an estimate, but it'll be in the ballpark anyway.

My agent quoted me $635USD/year for the P5, classifying it as a station wagon. Not bad at all!

IMO, VW doesn't make anything exciting and attainable aymore. To buy a dub I'd actually like, I'd have to drop over $22K, and that's just way too much.