Anyone else notice that there is styrofoam under the P5 near the bumper area? I can understand having styrofoam as one of the components of a bumper, but not outside of the bumper, unprotected. Here is a pic of what I see...

 

Im not sure if it is weatherproofed. I barely touched it, and it flakes off like the styrofoam that comes in a dvd or vcr box.

 

As a former body technician I can tell you that most cars now a days use either styrofoam or a honeycomb composite as an absorber for impacts and to help the bumper cover keep it's shape under small 5mph impacts and to keep it from deforming in the heat of the sun.

 

I think it's an energy-absorbing measure Mazda uses for the bumper. I remember the whole controversey over the 1999 Protege's was that Mazda decided to use a cheap plastic bar underneath the rear bumper as an energy absorber. Here was the result of that:



For the 2000 model year, Mazda reinforced the rear bumper.

 

Hey MNKYBOY,

My wife and I got our P5 Thursday and we leave for New Orleans on Sunday.

Any recommendations for places to check out on our visit?

Will our car be safe in a hotel parking lot there?

 

Its great that you are coming to New Orleans! Where exactly are you staying at? If you are staying in New Orleans, then there are some bad areas like most citys, but if you are staying in Metairie or Kenner (New Orleans Int Airport is in Kenner) then you shouldnt have anything to worry about. The Hampton Inn on Causeway Blvd in Metairie is a pretty good place to stay, since its right on the interstate not to far from New Orleans.

As far as places to go, things to see...French Quarter (of course ) Audubon Zoo, Swamp Tour, Aquarium of the Americas , many museums, and eat, eat, eat, eat ,eat...did I mention eat?...lol. We have a ton of great food here in New Orleans, make sure you try some crawfish, gumbo, and jambalaya. Also, in the French Quarter there is a place called Central Grocery Store. They have a sandwich called a "Muffalata". That grocery store is where the sandwich originated from, and boy are they good!!

I hope you have a great time, and like I said earlier, every city has some bad parts of town. Be Cautious!, use common sense, and most of all, HAVE FUN!

 

We're staying in a hotel near Bourbon Street, I can't remember the specifics and my wife's not around to ask.

My wife's will be at a convention and I'll be hanging out. Are there any good roads to drive while we're there. I'd like to take the new car out for a spin one day to see the sights.

Let me know if you meet while we're there. Maybe we could drag race our P5s.

 

Well, crusing around the French Quarter is cool. You can ride down Canal Street. The best way to sight see in New Orleans is to walk around tho. What days are you going to be here?


BTW, do you have any pics of your baby blue 323?

 

We'll get in to town Tuesday and leave on Friday.

I don't have any pictures of the 323 yet, It's just an old stock beater , but I'll try to get some and post them.