I've had my 2002.5 Protege ES for 2 months now and I'm enjoying it very much. I just got out of a lease on a BMW 328 and I'm impressed at how the Protege satisfies my driving fun. And my car payments are half of my lease payments!

1st mod - I got the shift **** from Mazda3online.com - and coincidentally found out that it's the same shift **** on the new Mazda3's. It's a nice silver/black leather wrapped **** with a metal shift pattern. Nice classy replacement for the stock ****.

Second mod?

1. Stereo? I'm happy with the ES's stock system for now.
2. Mazda side sill kit/P5 front end? Love what I've seen here and on Cardomain but that looks like a lot of work and $$$.
3. Leather interior? Is the simplest leather solution katzkin? That's around $1200 installed.

I'm leaning towards the leather interior because I got the Protege for a steal and I just read an issue of Car & Driver of how they upgraded the Sube WRX to become the new Saab 9-2 - and one major interior upgrade was a leather interior with gray inserts.

Any other ideas for less than $1000?

Any Katzlin group buys or specials coming up?

 

I guess by "mods" you don't mean anything performance-oriented.

 

I would suggest an intake and cat-back....pushing the performance mods....they make the car even more fun...or perhaps the MSP SPrings,Tokico Blues,and MSP Swaybars..all 3 can be had for like $900...Huge difference in handling!!

 

Not yet - that's why I posted in Exterior/Interior/Audio. I'm trying to get the car as comfortable as possible. I used to drive a 328 that had a really nice leather interior and the ES's seats aren't as nice.

I also didn't want to add any bodykit that would add weight until I figure out more about performance mods.

 

Yeah them body kits just kill you in weight Get an intake and catback now, damnit. Just kidding, I dont even have em yet. I like that leather kit for our cars though.

 

I was hoping to sell my leather interior to another P5 owner but all the p5ers here seem to keep ruining their cars!

 

How much are you looking for to trade up Matty? I'd love me some leather. I was gonna get it in my original P5 but the dealership sold it out from under me.

 

I was thinking $400 and your old seats and I'll swap everything over myself. Do you have side airbags?? I do!

 

Yeah I do too... Where can I get $400.... I'll see what I can do. That would be nice though.

 

sweet....just let me know...you might get some insurnace money you could upgrade with.