jlobster
05-17-2007, 03:38 PM
I just got myself a 2003 Protege LX a few months ago and I love it! I use it for commute (100 mi/day, highway) and am prepping for a cross-country drive from Berkeley, CA to Austin, TX (where I won't have to commute 100 mi/day). I am a total n00b to auto mechanics and I have seen many possible upgrades to the Protege, so I wanted to ask you guys your advice. Consider it a "Protege Upgrade Guide for Dummies" (or at least one dummy: me).
I wanted your opinion on what upgrades/tunes you thought I could handle. My main concern is practicality--will it give me a practical difference in how it drives. I want to know a) if it will really benefit me; and b) if you think someone like me should get it done. For the latter, you can consider or rate it: 1. You can totally do this yourself! 2. It will be hard, so you should get a mechanic to do it (I am more than willing to do this). 3. Don't do it--it either requires regular maintenance or will be too much work for your mechanic.
My parts budget for each is about $100 to $200. Anything more and I probably won't see economic benefit (unless you know better).
Additionally, if you can recommend a mechanic in the San Francisco East Bay to perform these upgrades (or give me more direct advice), it would be fantastic!
Here they are, in no order:
1) Cold air intake (and/or anything that would improve MPG): I am most concerned with MPG. If I get any HP boost, it's a plus.
2) Tail lights: These are what started it all. I need to replace my right tail light and I noticed that eBay had pairs of custom tail lights for just a little over the price of one OEM tail light. I know I said practical only, but it would help me identify my car in a crowded parking lot. Feel free to razz me for looking on eBay.
3) Side view mirrors: Probably the only thing that I don't love about my Protege (apart from cabin noise). They just don't give me enough view. I am not looking for truck-sized mirrors, they are just much, much smaller than equivalent Hondas and Subarus I have driven. These can have a little bling, but it needs to fit the rest of the body.
4) Something else I may have missed?
I appreciate your help Mazda intarweb! Thanks in advance.
I wanted your opinion on what upgrades/tunes you thought I could handle. My main concern is practicality--will it give me a practical difference in how it drives. I want to know a) if it will really benefit me; and b) if you think someone like me should get it done. For the latter, you can consider or rate it: 1. You can totally do this yourself! 2. It will be hard, so you should get a mechanic to do it (I am more than willing to do this). 3. Don't do it--it either requires regular maintenance or will be too much work for your mechanic.
My parts budget for each is about $100 to $200. Anything more and I probably won't see economic benefit (unless you know better).
Additionally, if you can recommend a mechanic in the San Francisco East Bay to perform these upgrades (or give me more direct advice), it would be fantastic!
Here they are, in no order:
1) Cold air intake (and/or anything that would improve MPG): I am most concerned with MPG. If I get any HP boost, it's a plus.
2) Tail lights: These are what started it all. I need to replace my right tail light and I noticed that eBay had pairs of custom tail lights for just a little over the price of one OEM tail light. I know I said practical only, but it would help me identify my car in a crowded parking lot. Feel free to razz me for looking on eBay.
3) Side view mirrors: Probably the only thing that I don't love about my Protege (apart from cabin noise). They just don't give me enough view. I am not looking for truck-sized mirrors, they are just much, much smaller than equivalent Hondas and Subarus I have driven. These can have a little bling, but it needs to fit the rest of the body.
4) Something else I may have missed?
I appreciate your help Mazda intarweb! Thanks in advance.