3rd Gen Protege/MazdaSpeed/P5/MP3 General/Maintenance Discussion for 1999-2003.5 Models Only (BJ Chassis)

what should the protege5 have?

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Old August-20th-2002, 12:21 PM
  #16  
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kc5zom,
I put a 135db Fiamm horn on for $15 bucks from NAPA. 10mins and wahla. A screamer! I didn't do the air horn one, just a big black snail shell type. It mounted in the factory location using factory wires. I highly recommend it.
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Old August-20th-2002, 02:52 PM
  #17  
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Why cant they just use real carbon fiber for those two strips. I would have paid the extra 25 bucks for that. Better thought out intake routing. Make the front passenger seat the same as the drivers. "hight adjustable". The map lights need to be moved up like a foot and there need to be small ones for the rear passengers. Feels like your trying to scratch your back when your trying to turn one on. Standard cargo mat!!!!
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Old August-20th-2002, 06:00 PM
  #18  
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Originally posted by P5Freak
If you never use your full size spare what a waste of money with a 5spoke 16" wheel/tire rotting away in the trunk.
I don't believe I have ever seen an economy car actually mount a full-size spare on an alloy wheel. They usually just put it on a cheap steel rim without a cover.
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Old August-20th-2002, 08:04 PM
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Power rear window. I have a 4Runner and the amount of cooling you get with the rear window down means you can leave the other four windows up and not even need the A/C unless it gets over 90 degrees.

Better OEM tires. It's raining off and on here in So. Cal. and my traction has gone to crap. The tires slide a bit; it's quite easy to spin out even in 2nd; the tires have zero traction on the road paint, especially those big white turn arrows.

My salesman said that the car would have had variable intermittent wipers, but that the switch where it would be is taken up by the rear window wiper *** thingy. They should put the variable intermittent *** back on and provide a roll-type switch (like the dash brightness switch) on the left of the dash to control the rear wiper next to the switch for the fog lamps.

Not only auto-full-open moonroof, but the ability to auto-full-open all the glass with the remote or a button would be sweet (like the key method in that Volkswagen Jetta ad).

6th gear would be great. Doing 4k rpm at 85mph just doesn't seem right if I'm just cruising and not accelerating.
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Old August-20th-2002, 08:39 PM
  #20  
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I'd like to the 6th gear, I do alot of highway and it would be gas saver.
Inverter outlet
Better lighting, instead of having to do ourselves but that wouldn't be much fun?
Auto sunroof
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Old August-20th-2002, 09:20 PM
  #21  
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I agree with the auto sun-roof. When you turn the car off, it should close automatically. And I'd move the power window buttons, I always lower the rear windows by mistake. Intermittent wipers would be nice but hardly necessary. and a full size spare on a steel wheel would be the same as a donut. I think the donut is a good idea. Face it, for the money the P5 is perfect. Mybe a ballsier horn and a little more power for the stereo(at least 40w per channel would be nice)

Originally posted by P5Freak
call AAA ($20/year do it!) when you get a blow out.
$20 a year, I don't think so.
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Old August-20th-2002, 11:45 PM
  #22  
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-- 6th gear would be nice.
-- Power door lock switch for the front passenger.
-- Rear cup holders.
-- Real Intermittent wipers.
-- Openable hatch window.

I've owned my P5 for almost a month, and it truly is the neatest car I've owned. The bang for the buck is pretty darn good. Most of the above suggestions are just nitpicks. The car is very driver oriented so who cares about the lack of cup holders in the back? I don't want anyone spillling anything on my leather anyway! My Car...no food or drink.
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Old August-20th-2002, 11:55 PM
  #23  
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when i turn my p5 off the sunroof does close automatically.....well it used to, i disconected the batteyr to reset my ecu after a intake install and now it doesn't close by itself anymore
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Old August-21st-2002, 12:47 AM
  #24  
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I believe the P5 is pretty much on the top of its class for the amount of money that I paid. Of course there are always things that we want with the vehicle...but hey there is always an aftermarket world out there....

So look at the upside...you currently have a vehicle that can take a sharper turn around corners with a high level of control....that is what currently works great for me in the city.
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Old August-21st-2002, 01:07 AM
  #25  
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I dunno the only other thing I guess is it shoulda came with "a trunk full of Faygo, car full of fat chicks"

HA HAHA HA HAHA F***YOU
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Old August-21st-2002, 06:35 AM
  #26  
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I agree with those who want better suspension ah la MP3
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Old August-21st-2002, 08:36 AM
  #27  
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Originally posted by kc5zom


I don't believe I have ever seen an economy car actually mount a full-size spare on an alloy wheel. They usually just put it on a cheap steel rim without a cover.
My SVT has a tire larger than the typical donut one, and it is monted on a wierd rim. I know it's not steel but I am not sure what it is, and it is painted a off-white color. Crazy, huh.
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Old August-21st-2002, 09:32 AM
  #28  
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Better Seats!!!!!!!

Maybe its different on the P5, but the side bolsters on my seats suck. When I corner hard enough to squeal the tires, I have to brace with my knees in order to stay in the seat.

Also, I agree these cars need more power and better handling- like 170 hp 150 ft lbs of torque, and MP3 handling.
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Old August-21st-2002, 09:41 AM
  #29  
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Buy a Porsche. These cars are morph'd econo boxes, not race cars. Spend your money on aftermarket goodies and take the car to the level you want it at.

I think most would agree that you'd rather spend your money on the accessories that you want versus what Mazda wants. They (Mazda) are just trying to deliver a product to the marketplace that will excite enough people to buy a bunch of them. If they put in aggressive seats, tighter suspension they just kicked a certain percentage of potential buyers off there radar scope (NOT GOOD).

So if you got your P5 for $16-$17k (Mine was $19.3k) drop a turbo for another $5k and there you go. Don't leave Mazda up to reading your mind only. Like I said this car has to appeal to a wide enough audience to make Mazda $$.
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Old August-21st-2002, 10:21 AM
  #30  
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Originally posted by P5Freak
Buy a Porsche. These cars are morph'd econo boxes, not race cars. Spend your money on aftermarket goodies and take the car to the level you want it at.
Dude, well said. Some people are just never happy...we have the best handling car in its class, and what do we we say about it? "Needs better handling." To me, it's pretty damn good as is, and remember my other car is a Porsche. Ditto for the 130hp, if I wanted more I'd buy a car that's designed to be a racer.

I do agree with some of the little annoyances, like the placement of the window switches, fixed rear window, and the door lock buttons that bump my elbow. However, if minor inconveniences like that are the only problems I have with my P5, I think that's a testament to just how good this car is. When I drove the Matrix I thought it handled like a minivan and the steering wheel blocked my view of the guages. Those are the kind of things that you can't ignore and can't really be fixed either.

A sixth gear would be nice, or at least a little tweaking of the ratios for the 5-speed. Six gears means a different transmission which bumps up the price, so I don't really see that as a good idea. As is, cruising at 75mph the RPMs do run higher than I'm used to, but I got 29.4mpg on my first tank of gas so who's complaining?

And to all you guys asking for rear cupholders, you mean to tell me that you let people have DRINKS in your car???!
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