Got Rid Of The Protege5...
 

Well, it is official... Just got rid of the Protege5. :(

After all of the transmission issues, the dealership called Mazda and since I was having intermittent issues, they could not replace any parts on the car. The dealership's and Mazda's response was "Drive it until the problem is more consistent." Personally, I think that is a very shitty response to a customer who has only had the vehicle for only 8 months, and it has spent time in the shop twice for the same thing.

On a lighter note...

I traded it in on a 2003 Mazda 6S fully loaded except for the Sport Package so I could get the 1.9% APR and the $1000 "Customer Loyalty" for trading the MP5 in on it. Sticker Price was $26,000. After the "Customer Loyalty" $1000, the College Graduate $500, and the S-Plan Discount of $2500, the end price was only $22,000.

Highlights Include:
Sepang Green Metallic
220HP 3.0 Liter V6
5 Speed Sportmatic
Traction Control
ABS
Leather
Fog Lamps (Not the Integrated Ones)
Bose w/ Indash 6-Disc Changer

I will post pics soon...

I would stay around, but since there is no Mazda6 Forum, I will probably have to hang around the "other board". If the Mods want to create one, I will volunteer my time to be a Mod on it... (HINT HINT)

Nice knowing everyone, and thanks for all of your help.

I know about that forum...

I meant a Mazda 6 forum on this board. :)

so how do you like the 6? finally drives like a normal car
unlike the pro5, huh? (in terms of acceleration)

Glad your bad experience didn't discourage you from staying in the family! :)

i like Mazda but only the 1st gen for me is dependable. I have a pr0tege 5 just got it about 4 weeks ago and no i am not having any problems w/ it but i've heard a lot of comments about it.
When i bought my 97 civic back in 97 brand new i never break it in and i was redlining the car on my way home from the dealer. i was only 16 yrs old then and all i know was to speed up. I've had the car for 4 yrs and reached 80,XXX miles on the clock. When i reached 60,XXX miles i was shooting 60 shot of NOS " wet sys"
and never had any problem w/ the car. I drive my car to Reno NV. once in 2 months to visit my family which is about 4 hrs. away.

My point is Honda is a good very good car and very dependable I just hope my p5 would last and be dependable as my civic was...

by the way i did break in my p5 i haven't redline it and not planning on doing it. I dont race this car cuz its very slow. Just bought it for long driving. If i have any problems within a year i will sure trade this car in for a ACURA RSX typeS (which i should've gotten in the 1st place)

but then again for me 1st gen pro is the best....redline it almost everyday!!!

:D peace and hopefully ur 6 is a good choice!

what is the S-plan????

Sorry to see the p5 go, but you couldn't have got a sweeter car to replace it. Well yea you could, but the 6 is an awesome car! Should have got the 5-spd though, hehehe... Good call on the 6! :D

Almost all current mazda 4 bangers will have transmission issues as due to the fact that the transmissions in these cars are barely strong enough to handle the daily drivers of these cars.

This is a discount for emloyees of Ford fleet customers. I can't recall the details but it comes out bit under invoice. It's good for most Fords, Mazdas, Volvo's, Jag's, Rovers and Mercury's.

The program does not apply to the MSP .:(

I've bought two Fords and two Mazda's this way. No haggle, great price, hard to beat.

i wish i knew this b4 i bought my p5. Damn!

Says who?

Mazda transmissions. The G15M has a little stronger shift forks and seems to be slight better designed. But The G5m which is in the Ford zx2 side uses the same differential and breaks differentials quite easily some times stock cars with slicks shearing all the gears on the differential. This can be put off till about 170 hp at which point the car can shear a stock differential inside a dozen launches. This transmission (G5M)is now in the new Mazda 6i. So unless they cam up with faster syncros and a better differential be prepared to replace your transmission or certain transmission parts like the spider gears or the whole differential itself at some point if you like to race. If you don't like to race then the transmission may last you well past 100k probably into the 200k range provided that you don't do frequent hard launching.

Hard launch is defined as letting the clutch fly and spinning the tires off the launch. However if you are one of those racers who is really good at launching a car you may be spared a little trouble down road. So it might be worth it to spend a little time learning how to slip your clutch while launching so you can nail that launch with no wheelspin or sudden drivetrain shock. Also keeping your suspension stock would allow some of the shock to be thrown on the suspension rather than all on the spider gears of the differential.


Also the Atx transmission the F4EAT can hold itself for about 40-60k before about 30 percent of them have problems. However if you treat it right by installing a large tranny cooler and don't race it and cut the manufacture reccomendations for changing the fluid in about half you could probably get a normal life out of the transmission of 150k. The funny thing is that this ATX transmission can be easily fixed up to last forever for about 3 grand in labor and parts combined. Which is cheaper than purchase and install of a new transmission.


Its mainly dependent on driving habits but for the most part these transmission are relativly weak.

Not like the old days when we could do daily burnouts and never have problems.

Although I'm not sure this could be applied to the miata transmission as I have no experience with that particular transmission so yes if you bring that car into the picture I could be considered wrong.

I wouldn't panic. I've seen two automatic transmission P5s with 50k+ in the area and both are running great. Assuming you don't drive the vehicle like a race car and exhibit proper maintenance/care you'll be fine.

A 2.0L 130hp vehicle can only be worked so hard.

Yup, I got mine with the same plan, just walked in, gave them my PIN and said show me your S-plan price which was right on the bottom of the invoice! Could not have been easier!!!