what bug's you the most(3rd gen)
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 22
From: Potomac, md
i know it's illegal but definetly not dangerous. i know allt of people with their entire front windshield tinted and you can definetly see fine as long as the tint is no darker than 20%. i have 35% all around and i can see fine cars to the left and right just fine when making turns. in the case i get pulled over i will get a repair order and will take it off and than put it back on after the inspection.
Protege Newbie
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12
From: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
problems...
...u covered the cupholders, horsepower, wipers, and heated mirrors. Got the light s taken care of w/ HID upgrade, don't care bout the "fog" lights.
I don't like how u have to push your seat way foward to lower the rears for cargo, i'm so damn close to the steeringwheel, i steer w/ my nipples and change radio stations every time i shift!
oh yeah, those damn roof sill clip replacers don't come with the car and you have to remove the hedliner almost completely. plus, the **** at the dealer didnt have an item # for when i went to order. i had to find that myself, cvan u beleive that! a dealership that couldnt find the parts the "specialize" in. i tell ya.
i also wanted a forest green MP5 which they told me the dont have.
...u covered the cupholders, horsepower, wipers, and heated mirrors. Got the light s taken care of w/ HID upgrade, don't care bout the "fog" lights.
I don't like how u have to push your seat way foward to lower the rears for cargo, i'm so damn close to the steeringwheel, i steer w/ my nipples and change radio stations every time i shift!
oh yeah, those damn roof sill clip replacers don't come with the car and you have to remove the hedliner almost completely. plus, the **** at the dealer didnt have an item # for when i went to order. i had to find that myself, cvan u beleive that! a dealership that couldnt find the parts the "specialize" in. i tell ya.
i also wanted a forest green MP5 which they told me the dont have.
Protege Newbie
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 14
Originally posted by Mach 1
What bothers me about Proteges is when people put wings on them like in the picture above.
What bothers me about Proteges is when people put wings on them like in the picture above.
and i tried a mp5 out this week
the cup holders look better than 99-00 civic cupholders which are made to hold only large drink it seems and it still doesnt have good enough support
and i agree with the door locks
everything else seems fine except for the high and insufficient body support
Protege Newbie
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 45
From: Boca Raton, FL
The door locks are annoying, it'd be nicer if they were on the interior of the door and flush, rather than poking my arm when it's resting on the sill.
Also, it'd be nice if the moonroof and ALL windows were one-push buttons.
My biggest complaint by far is the car doesn't idle properly which to me says Mazda failed car 101.
RE: windows fogging up: glue, vinyl, plastic, etc., let off gas as they age so keeping your windows open when not in use lets some of these gasses escape rather than cloud up the windows.
All in all it's a great car which I'll be getting rid of in a year or so due to the bad idling (and yes I've done the whole speak with Mazda Corp., go to a different dealer, play with EGR, mess with the wires, plugs, etc....).
Also, it'd be nice if the moonroof and ALL windows were one-push buttons.
My biggest complaint by far is the car doesn't idle properly which to me says Mazda failed car 101.
RE: windows fogging up: glue, vinyl, plastic, etc., let off gas as they age so keeping your windows open when not in use lets some of these gasses escape rather than cloud up the windows.
All in all it's a great car which I'll be getting rid of in a year or so due to the bad idling (and yes I've done the whole speak with Mazda Corp., go to a different dealer, play with EGR, mess with the wires, plugs, etc....).
Protege Enthusiast
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 57
From: Fort Leonard Wood, MO
Originally posted by Mach 1
Is yours an automatic? Im surprised at all the complaints from the 130 HP P5 owners, as Im pleased with the performance of my 122 HP ES, and you all have 8 more HP and more torque than me.
Of course its not a race car, but I never expected it to be, thus maybe why I avoid disapointment.
It has more than enough power to get out of its own way, which is about all you can expect out of a car such as this.
Is yours an automatic? Im surprised at all the complaints from the 130 HP P5 owners, as Im pleased with the performance of my 122 HP ES, and you all have 8 more HP and more torque than me.
Of course its not a race car, but I never expected it to be, thus maybe why I avoid disapointment.
It has more than enough power to get out of its own way, which is about all you can expect out of a car such as this.
at least not for you guys
I have a 01 DX 5spd it has only 103bhp, it could use a bit more though it's still not close to what you guys have
130 and 120bhp
Protege Newbie
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5
From: Delta, BC, Canada
I just bought a 2003 Protege5 after trading in my problem prone 95 VW Jetta VR6.
I just read through all the gripes that fellow owner had of their Proteges and I want to offer some insights specifically on the lack of HP issue.
Coming from a 174HP VR6 VW motor I can tell you that I was having decidedly mixed feelings about the 130HP motor in the Protege5 that I was getting. But after 2 weeks of driving the thing, I can tell you that for all intensive purposes, the MP5 in stock form is a lot more fun and adequate than I originally thought. The VW, although almost the same size, was also a lot heavier, especially in the front, and tended to see-saw when accelerating or deccelerating. When you compare the hp-to-weight ratio between the two cars, the difference is small. Plus, with the price of gas skyrocketing, I'm glad I'm getting almost double the mileage from the MP5 than I did with the VW.
Also in stock form, the MP5 handles a lot better than the VW. I had to spend $$$$ upgrading to Apex springs and Bilstein sports to get the VW to handle the way the MP5 does now. I can only wait till I get Eibach's on this baby to see the improvements. I was fully aware of the hp difference when I bought the car considering the the price I paid for it. Comparable VW would have been $$$$'s more. I do miss the exhaust note of the VR6 though. Nothing like a sweet six under the hood but I can change that by adding the intake and exhaust.
Also, the biggest pet peeve I have is this. In the VW, I could leave all windows and sunroof open and close them all from the outside while locking the car. I find it annoyin to hell to have to turn the key to acc then close each window manually from the inside or do it before I shut off the car. Also the 2 different buttons for the power sunroof and the tiny trunk space are annoying. The VW while being a sedan had a trunk that was double the size with the seats up.
That being said, I love my MP5 and I think that it has the best interior and exterior fit and finish in its class. Most models I took a look at when I was shopping around aside from VW had very cheap, plasticky and fake looking interiors. The MP5 interior looks like it belongs in a higher priced or european even auto.
What I'm trying to say is that you get what you pay for, but in the case of the MP5 I think Mazda did a great job of trying to give us more than we paid for.
Just my two cents....
I just read through all the gripes that fellow owner had of their Proteges and I want to offer some insights specifically on the lack of HP issue.
Coming from a 174HP VR6 VW motor I can tell you that I was having decidedly mixed feelings about the 130HP motor in the Protege5 that I was getting. But after 2 weeks of driving the thing, I can tell you that for all intensive purposes, the MP5 in stock form is a lot more fun and adequate than I originally thought. The VW, although almost the same size, was also a lot heavier, especially in the front, and tended to see-saw when accelerating or deccelerating. When you compare the hp-to-weight ratio between the two cars, the difference is small. Plus, with the price of gas skyrocketing, I'm glad I'm getting almost double the mileage from the MP5 than I did with the VW.
Also in stock form, the MP5 handles a lot better than the VW. I had to spend $$$$ upgrading to Apex springs and Bilstein sports to get the VW to handle the way the MP5 does now. I can only wait till I get Eibach's on this baby to see the improvements. I was fully aware of the hp difference when I bought the car considering the the price I paid for it. Comparable VW would have been $$$$'s more. I do miss the exhaust note of the VR6 though. Nothing like a sweet six under the hood but I can change that by adding the intake and exhaust.
Also, the biggest pet peeve I have is this. In the VW, I could leave all windows and sunroof open and close them all from the outside while locking the car. I find it annoyin to hell to have to turn the key to acc then close each window manually from the inside or do it before I shut off the car. Also the 2 different buttons for the power sunroof and the tiny trunk space are annoying. The VW while being a sedan had a trunk that was double the size with the seats up.
That being said, I love my MP5 and I think that it has the best interior and exterior fit and finish in its class. Most models I took a look at when I was shopping around aside from VW had very cheap, plasticky and fake looking interiors. The MP5 interior looks like it belongs in a higher priced or european even auto.
What I'm trying to say is that you get what you pay for, but in the case of the MP5 I think Mazda did a great job of trying to give us more than we paid for.
Just my two cents....
Show Layne some respect
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,458
From: Long Island,NY
Funny - I have discovered a simple gripe - figured I'd share it.
I find that the blower settings could be better, especially from fan speed 1 to 2.
I often find speed 1 to be too weak, and then speed 2 to be too strong. I find myself wishing there was a speed 1.5 or something
.
Stupid complaint, though I'm not trying to whine - just thought I'd post it since I recently decided this was one of the few things about the car that I don't like and can't easily fix myself.
~HH
I find that the blower settings could be better, especially from fan speed 1 to 2.
I often find speed 1 to be too weak, and then speed 2 to be too strong. I find myself wishing there was a speed 1.5 or something
.Stupid complaint, though I'm not trying to whine - just thought I'd post it since I recently decided this was one of the few things about the car that I don't like and can't easily fix myself.
~HH
Protege Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 247
From: Edmonton, AB
Originally posted by sundeepg
oh yeah, and I think the cupholders are fine. They are a huge improvement over the VW.
oh yeah, and I think the cupholders are fine. They are a huge improvement over the VW.
..I'd like to add.. I really enjoyed your post.. and I feel the same way you do about the hp.. it seems to be a big problem for a lot of people.. but I think it's just fine..
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,102
Hey Sun! Nice to see another fellow BC'er! Andrea, are those cup holders that you are refering too, are they the one's with the flip lid on them? I now that the early pro's had them but mine (a mid year change of 2002) has the ones that are being used in the 2003's.
Protege Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 247
From: Edmonton, AB
Originally posted by 90210brandon
Hey Sun! Nice to see another fellow BC'er! Andrea, are those cup holders that you are refering too, are they the one's with the flip lid on them? I now that the early pro's had them but mine (a mid year change of 2002) has the ones that are being used in the 2003's.
Hey Sun! Nice to see another fellow BC'er! Andrea, are those cup holders that you are refering too, are they the one's with the flip lid on them? I now that the early pro's had them but mine (a mid year change of 2002) has the ones that are being used in the 2003's.