P5 is so great to drive!

[ottawaP5]

Hi Guys,

I find myself taking the long way everytime i have to go somewhere just to give me a chance to drive it more cause this car feels so great! Any of you do this?

I got to really try it out on the twisty roads..amazing! It handles as if it were on rails! I was really impressed.

I still get looks while i drive and its only stock.

[Captain KRM P5]

hey that Chevy Sprint you've got - my sister had one of those little bad boys, turbocharged no less - is yours turbo?

[7th_Shadow]

The Pro5 is a blast to drive. I like going to classes cause it means i get to drive my Pro5.

ZooM-ZooM

[AndrewSilverMP5]

(2thumbs) I try to zoom through all the backroads (as opposed to highways) to my destination.

[ottawaP5]

Actually my sprint is bone stock lol

My P5 is a nice upgrade to it..same style of hatch though.

I'm going to sell it soon..its only got 60 000 miles on it.

Heres what it looks like

[ilbumy]

Why else would we, or atleast I, buy a P5. It's the best to freaking drive by far. :D

[DrPhill]

i think the only cars that handel better than the protege cost tons of $$, i cant wait to find some real twisties:)

[jjac28]

driving my protege puts a big smile on my face...every day.
i love driving it.... with the 5sp you can drive it just the way you like it :)

[CruzinAltitude]

I work 2 full time jobs and am pretty much tired every minute I am awake. Except when I get in my Pro 5. Driving it is such a thrill that I wake right the hell up!!! No need for No Doz, just a spin around the block (with a twist road if possible!)

[Captain KRM P5]

ah, bone stock sprint, i see. they only made a few of those with factory turbos and five speeds. fast little bugger. after a while they upgraded and sold them as the pontiac firefly up yonder.

[dosle]

i can't wait for my break in period to be over, i live on a road in the county that is very curvy. then i can experience the p5's handling :D

[banned bandit]

Originally posted by ottawaP5
Hi Guys,

I find myself taking the long way everytime i have to go somewhere just to give me a chance to drive it more cause this car feels so great! Any of you do this?

I got to really try it out on the twisty roads..amazing! It handles as if it were on rails! I was really impressed.

I still get looks while i drive and its only stock.


take it up into the gatineau hills...then you'll have some fun :D

hehe i can do 100km/h on the back roads.......just watch out for deer up there if you go at night, almost ran into one last October

[ottawaP5]

bandit,

Did you ever try the 105 that goes to maniwaki? It's a great twisty road, and the P5 shines on it!

[CrazyFoo]

Ah yes, the Gatineau Park, that's always a great place to try out some new rubbers or suspension mod! Except when you end up in the grass (Had quite a scare when I first got my Omni)

The 105 going to Maniwaki is great, GF's cottage is up that way and I love to cruize the curves, especially near Wakefield!!

[Bad Juju]

I'm impressed with the handling of the P5 everytime I drive one. Although I must say, I'm not that impressed with the throw back, but I also know those cars have alot of potencial, but I have to admit, the handling is great

[Lazer_ST]

Hi All.

I'm new to the forum, from down under Australia and just purchased a Mazda Protege SP20 , which i think is equivalent to the Protege 5. (exterior wise atleast, I'm not sure if the specs are any different. Here is Aus, all the protege's are sedans and the hatch backs are classified as Astina's.)

I just heard of the new Mazda 3 coming out, and I have to admit that the interior does look pretty cool, but does anyone know if it is avaliable as a Sedan rather than a hatch?

Also I think I might be having a bit of a problem with my car too, its an auto shifter (i'd like a manual, but dont have a manual license), the 1st gear seems to change at about 3000 revs, is this meant to be normal? I've only started noticing it the last week, and when I'm doing 100km/h on the freeway the revs are sitting at 2800...

Appreciate any feedback!!

[chuyler1]

Before I bought my P5 I could get to work in 40min flat. Now I take back roads to get to the highway, and more back roads by getting off early and avoiding traffic. It now takes me 55min to an hour. But its sooo worth it :)

[yay for cars]

Originally posted by Lazer_ST


Also I think I might be having a bit of a problem with my car too, its an auto shifter (i'd like a manual, but dont have a manual license),
welcome to the forum! in australia you have to have a seperate lisence to drive a manual? crazy

[zerodk]

Originally posted by yay for cars

welcome to the forum! in australia you have to have a seperate lisence to drive a manual? crazy

Actually, I don't think that's a bad idea. From where I come from, you have a choice to take an auto driving test or manual driving test. If you pass the manual one, you are allowed to drive both manual and auto. It sure beats those young teens trying to figure out driving as well as the stick shift on the same roads as you and I! - another reason for high insurance costs!

[chuyler1]

I'm in favor of any law to get inexperienced, and experienced but horrible, drivers off the road.

I think "accident" is an over used word.

[Action Jackson]

Originally posted by chuyler1
I think "accident" is an over used word.

Yup. To me an "accident" is either:
-a mechanical failure
-a medical condition causing loss of control
-an act of God [something freaky like a bolt of lightning take out a tire during a turn....]

Everything else is just human stupidity.

[speed.wilkinson]

It has taken me a little while to really start loving this cars handling. I have 8k miles on it and it really seems to be coming to live...the car is getting quicker...better mileage.

[yay for cars]

Originally posted by zerodk

It sure beats those young teens trying to figure out driving as well as the stick shift on the same roads as you and I
haha, im sorry, i just thought this was funny, because last saturday i was one of those teens trying to stick shift for the first time "on the same roads as you and i". everyone will be proud though, got it into first gear the first time i tried! it was a peice of cake, i stalled it a couple times in my friends neighborhood though when i started getting frustrated. but i did fine in traffic. :)

[Lazer_ST]

Like Zerodk, here in australia, you either have an option of going for a Manual License test or Auto License test, if you go for manual, you are allowed to drive an auto as well...
Just that in my case, i never had actual lessons, just drove at home and our cars are all auto...

We also have legislation that stipulates that we are put on probation for the first 3 years, after that period is over, then regardless of whether you went for an auto or manual license, you can drive either type...
I dont get off my probation period till next year, so i was forced to buy an auto!! DOH!!, but its still cool!!!

[zerodk]

Originally posted by yay for cars

haha, im sorry, i just thought this was funny, because last saturday i was one of those teens trying to stick shift for the first time "on the same roads as you and i". everyone will be proud though, got it into first gear the first time i tried! it was a peice of cake, i stalled it a couple times in my friends neighborhood though when i started getting frustrated. but i did fine in traffic. :)

Well, I have driven an auto for 10+ years and the P5 will be the first manual car I own (I did test drive a few manual cars during this time, but never on a continual basis). So I'm sure I'll have fun learning to drive all over again :)

I haven't seen how you drive so I won't comment on that, but having seen my fair share of bad drivers out there (who may be driving both manual and auto), I'd the separate manual and auto licensing is far superior.

Of course, my comment is a bit tongue in cheek - there are probably quite a few older new drivers out there trying to drive stick as well - though probably not as many as the eager young drivers ;)

[AbbyVonNormal]

Originally posted by Action Jackson


Yup. To me an "accident" is either:
-a mechanical failure
-a medical condition causing loss of control
-an act of God [something freaky like a bolt of lightning take out a tire during a turn....]

Everything else is just human stupidity.

! LoL !

Perfect definition.
If this forum had points, i would give you a few!!

[chuyler1]

A points system...thats a good idea. Each post can have a 'vote' button and when people like it, they can vote for it to add a point to your score. Then the number of points you have can be listed under your total posts. (It will seperate the real posters from the post whores! :) )

I'm serious about this accident thing though, here in Massachusetts there is at least 5 to 10 "accidents" during the morning rush hour. Most of which are caused by a real accident such as someone's car breaking down or getting a flat...which causes some random driver to rear end another random driver totally unrelated to the flat tire car because he/she wasn't paying attention to the brake lights in front of them.

And only in America would there be such a thing as Curiousity Traffic!!!! WTF. If the accident is on the other side of the highway, keep moving!!!!! move god dammit!!! Oh wow there's a car on fire over there, who gives a shit, i'm late for work now hit the gas pedal!!!! errrrrrrr. They should put a huge wall up between the north/south east/west bound sides of the highway.

[bazooka joe]

hey chris, i'm with you. a big wall between in the middle of the highway, cool! i can't believe people want to slow down and look at a car wreck. i want to get home or wherever the heck i'm going. i travel 128 and the mass pike each day and it sucks bad. joe

[cbcbd]

---------------------------------------------
Oh wow there's a car on fire over there, who gives a shit, i'm late for work now hit the gas pedal!!!!
----------------------------------------------
haha, yeah, I completely feel that. Get over it and read about it on the paper the next day.

Wow, I'm so in agreement with you guys.
I know I'm not a perfect driver, but I know I always try to drive safe and smart during traffic.

I just hate and know that most people out there are really not thinking about their driving and I'm in complete agreement with Action Jackson's definition of an accident.

There's no reason why people should rear end each other, that's just driver stupidity and is very easy to prevent. Why don't you give SPACE during traffic!!!? Instead, they jam on the gas when traffic moves, ride the guy in front's ass, and then when he brakes they have to slam on the brakes and stop traffic!!! WTF!!?

With a manual I just hate stop and go traffic so I always give plenty of space so hopefully by the time I get to the car in front of me who had to stop, traffic has started moving again and I won't have to go into 1st.

Some people are just morons

[chuyler1]

Well, here in MA, if you leave more than a car length during rushhour traffic...it quickly becomes the brake lights of some asshole who sqeezed in front of you in his $40K SUV. Thus causing you to hit the brakes...and the guy who was tailgating you, and the guy who was tailgating him....

...why? because people seem to think that one lane is going to get them home/to work faster than another. News flash...pick a car in a different lane and watch it as it passes you...then 10 minutes later you pass him....you can't always be in the right lane, but it all works out in the end...suck up and deal with it and prevent everyone else from being late too by staying in your lane and not causing an accident 30 cars back.

[cbcbd]

Most of my time commuting I'm analysing patterns of traffic in different areas. Like you said, most of the time you'll end up the same, no matter which lane you pick.

People just don't use their brains and think. They don't learn from experience. They already spend so much time in traffic, they should think about what's going on instead of just ignoring all form of thought, switching from lane to lane constantly, and believing that, in rush hour traffic, passing that one guy in front of you who actually left space in front of him will make a difference.

I will repeat, people don't use their brains. It's like I'm driving amongst monkeys that have oposable thumbs.

[chuyler1]

You and I think alike...

...since I already took the time to analyze my daily commute...repeat DAILY...as in I do it twice a day 5 days a week...

I know what lane to be in and how much time I have to get in that lane. Example: I know there will be alot of cars entering 495N from the Mass Pike so when I'm coming up 495 nearing that ramp, I stay out of the right lane until afterwards (I have to get off at the next exit, Rt9). Yet, every day I see people who mosey on down that lane (because its empty from the cars getting off at the Mass Pike) then slam on their brakes and switch lanes when they see a tractor trailer followed by 5-10 cars coming around the bend of the on-ramp.

Don't they get it? They do this every day, EVERY DAY. One time, when I was younger, I tripped over the coffee table in the middle of our living room. That same coffee table is still there and I still walk by it every single morning...but do I trip over it? no, because I have learned to walk around it.

A family driving into boston on a vacation that gets caught in morning traffic and doesn't know what to do...I can understand that...but people that do this every day have to learn sometime don't they?

They are saying the traffic will improve once people 'learn' the BIG DIG. That's B.S. Ask most daily commuters and they'll probably say they had no idea there was construction because they are in some other world talking on their cell phones during their commute...then they see a sign for their exit and wip over 3 lanes in their BMW leaving a trail of mayham behind them. 15 minutes later and its bumper to bumper all the way to the south shore.

Not even all the money in Saddam Heusen's bank account could pay for a highway system that the people of Massachusetts could navigate through w/o causing car crashes every morning and evening.