Rob MP5

Okay, my current car is falling apart, ever since someone hit it. It's just been one problem after another.

So I was thinking as a birthday present to myself getting a Protege 5, which is in March (I know a long time away).

But anyway, I just want to know a few basic things about the Mazda Protege 5.
1. Recalls?
2. Reliabitiy of the 2.0L 4-cyl
3. Reliability of the Sport AT-Tranny

Thanks,

Rob

Future Owner of a Midnight Blue Protege 5

Dermen

By march Mazda is supposed to have releases the Mazda 3. It is the replacement for the Protege5. If you can still find a Pro5 at that time you could get a good deal on it. But I think you would end up getting a 3 unless you are going to be looking for a used Pro5.

1. No recalls for the Pro5.
2. Very reliable
3. I have only heard of a few people having problems. But a stick is much more fun.

Sir Nuke

hello rob 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!!

1. no issues
2. very reliable
3. GET A STICK!

Rob MP5

I saw the post for the 3, it looks a lot like the RX-8 and the Matrix got to together and had a child.

Not a big fan of the car's having sex and reproducing (The Wrangler and Cherokee having the Jeep Liberty)

I might end up learning stick, I've test driven a 2002 P5, and loved it, so i might end up getting a 2003 with less than 5,000 miles on it. But it's gotta be the Midnight Blue.

My friends are gonna kill me though, I am a HUGE muscle car freak, gimmie an old carb V8, and i'll be makin that thing running 9's in month's. Drastic change for me a 5.0 V8 RWD, switching to a 2.0L 4-banger FWD

Pinn

Yeah get a stick....the semi-auto tranny has pretty slow response

1ofdfew323

hi and welcome to the club ! i own a p5 myself and a 91 323 hatch. If ur thinking of speed ar fixing it up for any kind of races forget about it. get something else. It's not that p5 is not capable of racing...all cars are it all depends on how much u want to spend. I myself bought the p5 for one reason . It being unique but i wasn't expecting it to be this slow! Anyhow if u want something unique toyota came out w/ scions (2 kinds), If u ask me i would get the subaru wrx sprots wagon ( it looks like the p5) but faster way way faster and looks wider than this skinny p5. but then again p5 has a 5 star rating on its superb handling.

spazspike

time to defend the transmission...

Fear not on the automatic transmission, the protege5 might not be as "exciting" with 4-spd choices but I've enjoyed it. Don't expect to get optimal gas mileage at highway cruising speeds with it, though. For example 70mph is approximately 3200rpm on the TACH a bit high for extended trips even with cruise.

I've been pleasantly surprised (and quite pleased) with my first 2k and owing a Japanese vehicle. Sure it's not a race car but you'd be surprised how easily it revs and accelerates up to speed. Plus the 'sport' feature of the automatic allows you to ensure you're getting every once out of each gear should you desire that power.

For me the car was an issue of price, features, style, cargo space and gas consumption. It's met or exceeded my initial expectations and I hope that I can continue to say the same for at least the next 2-3 years.

BTW... I have a midnight blue (AT) PRO5 that I bought in NJ (Flemington, Mazda). As a fellow NJerseyan to another, feel free to drop me a line anytime you want or perhaps updates on performance/quality as I go along with it.

Sir Nuke

Rob, have no fear....for if they are TRUE hotrodders...they will more than understand the first time they TRY to keep up with your little "4 banger" through a set of twisties. unless they have one of the finest machines on the road today....YOUR little 4 banger will be albe to run away from them there...and that is one hell of a lot of fun.

ya see....I am a true hotrodder...and you have to go with the flow....I started out with a 1941 Ford P/U streetrod....went to a 1956 Chevy.....then a Camero Rally Sport......then I delved off into the world of 4 bangers....I have handed more than one V8 their asses with one....NOW true our little proteges are not going to do that in a straight line....but if it boils down to a handling match......you have a HUGE advantage.

FC3s Boy

get the stick more fun, better MPG, and cheaper to boot

Rob MP5

It looks like I'm getting a P5 sooner than my birthday (March) my current car's water pump is going, and with 100+ miles on her, it'd be cheaper in the long run to save my money and get a new car...

acidbbg1

Good Choice on The p5...I live in NJ...There are allot of p5's in NJ...and i haven't heard of any problems...And i have been running Nitrous w/ out any problems for some time now!!

Ohh..yeah..I agree w/ sir nuke..Get a Stick...It's so much more fun!!!!!

Chas

1ofdfew323

have u timed it yet? im planning on buying nosfor my p5 if i cant get me my type r integra.

Rob MP5

I called my insurance company for a quote for the P5, it'll cost 5000 dollars to insure for one year, I think i might end up getting my car fixed instead. Oh well...I really wanted a P5, and seeing that they are being discontinued i wanted it new not used. I'm sick of repairing used cars all the time.

1ofdfew323

but y p5??? i bought my p5 and i regret buying it. its not that attractive and sloww too.....i should've bought me the MSP damn!!! i will try to trade mine in hopefully i wont have to pay too much....

spazspike

Say what?! Well there's something you're not telling us here. My Protege5 is registered in the state of NJ and in the District of Columbia and I pay $219/month on insurance. Which is slightly more than half of what you're going to pay on a yearly basis.

I'm 21 with 1 ticket and no accidents. Not under "mommy & daddy" coverage either. Perhaps you need to call up USAA and sign-up.