What do you love about your P5?

[WidowMaker]

Here are some things I love about my P5:
Love the looks!
Love hip and leg room.
Love the all clear headlight assemblies.
Love the leather wrapped steering wheel.
Love the ease of driving.

come on lets get some more!
Charles Smith
2002 Black Mica P5

[gene in cincinnati]

I love the:
- price
- handling
- ride
- roominess
- steering wheel
- exterior styling!
- interior styling
- cool headlights and foglights
- wheels and tires
- stereo
- roof rack
- the colors
- fun-to-drive factor!
- antenna
- rear spoiler
- utility and cargo space
- outward visibility
- did i mention styling and handling? :)
- overall bang for the buck for what you get

I hate the:
- lack of power (but this is to be expected based on the package)
- cupholders
- stereo power and speakers
- small, flimsy rearview mirror
- rear defog button (should auto-off)
- climate control (why does the air conditioner come on on all but the last two settings?)
- gas mileage
- noisy roof rack
- noisy sunroof (when opened)
- high and wallowy shifter
- no DVD nav option
- lack of proven mods
- the way the car sounds at idle

[311Mazda]

I love the styleing, both in and out. The price, the ammount of standard features, the handleing, and seating/cargo space. I've accualy used the car to it's full ablity! I've had 5 people in it before..hawled mattress on top on the roof rack, had the seats folded down for extra cargo space, and the car is very versitle. Love it. :D

[fastdrvr23]

Pros:
-Tight steering feel
-Strong 4-wheel disc brakes with good pedal feedback
-Properly Spaced Pedals (Heel/toe, i.e. revmatching)
-Gas Mileage
-Cruise Control
-Good factory tires
-Very Useable Headlight/Foglight combo
-Great looking interior
-Decent Stock Stereo
-Overall utility of design
-Firm, but not harsh, suspension
-Overall fun driving experience
-Gets alot of (good) attention

Cons:
-Clutch is too light
-Wind noise at ~80 MPH (Not bad though...)
-Valve-train sounds on cold start
-Rear License plate holder

That's about it. It's fun to drive, and comes with a lot of bang for the buck!
What was really surprising was that it handled better than the other "performance" econo-cars that I test drove in comparison (Sentra Se-R, Focus ZX3, Subaru 2.5rs and a VW Jetta GLS). I competed in the S.C.C.A. for 1 1/2 years autocrossing a 1990 Protege LX 1.8 in class D-street prepared, and the PR5 feels like a more streetable version of that car. Great car!

[mx-p5]

This car is just great all around!!

Tylor

[paintbalr07]

i hate that i didnt get this car sooner, and i hate that i dont have the money to support my modding needs. ohterwise i love the car. the steering wheel is pretty sweet. looks awsome, cheap and fun

[danielschweer]

This car is just great all around!!

Tylor

i love the 6 year old thread bump

[MTV]

It's fun to drive
Great Handling
Steering feel
Looks

The list goes on and on....

[ProtegePower]

I'm gonna go find something about exhausts to bump, brb...

[Diehonda]

Dude, for real?!?!


I have seen some bump from the dead but good lord!



I love mine because it isn't a Honda.

[BadKarma]

Nice looking, fun, and reliable daily driver.

[TreFlip999]

6 years..holy F***.....I love pretending its fast and letting everyone assume its fast, with the right exhaust set up you can turn heads

[MTV]

Nice looking, fun, and reliable daily driver.

Reliable? Nah....

[DubbyDoo]

i love the "head" room

[Valk]

I love; The handling..for my first car it is really responsive.very easy to drive... very light but solid. The extra room id not have had i baught a honda. split folding seats ftw. The overall look of the car. cute but aggressive.

i hate; the fishing pole... never realy paid much attention to it until i read it likes to smack windows <_<. front posts...have to move my head to see around them at times which is kinda awkward... center post... have to look extra hard over my shoulder. The fact mine is auto =( but i still drive the piss out of it =)

[NCZ13]

looks
handling
sound of my exhaust setup
the way it gets your around for being a 112whp monster.

i love everything about this car.

[808MP5]

I love pretending its fast and letting everyone assume its fast

same here....

I love my "Station Wagon"

[mx-p5]

Valk, what do you mean by "Fishing Pole"?

[MTV]

same here....

I love my "SPORT Wagon"

fixed.

[mx-p5]

Sport Hatch

[Woody54]

i love letting my friends keep up with me, until i get to take a turn then bye bye gti!!!

+6 year bumps lol

[MTV]

Sport Hatch

My registration says sport wagon.

I still prefer the "hatch" pretext though...

[dirtyz]

i love the handling, the sporty looks, how "sneaky" roomy it is on the inside, and the fact that i paid cash for it!

i dont like the fact that the previous owner was a smoker :( also, the stock stereo does not sound very good.

[808MP5]

My registration says sport wagon.

I still prefer the "hatch" pretext though...

Lol
my registration
Says 4dr sedan
I think they were a little confused.
Looks to good to be a station wagon.
And to many door to be a hatch back.
Its a protege 5 door. Yay

[clicknext]

-Handling: especially easy to appreciate, when you learned to drive on vans and SUVs
-Braking: ditto
-Looks: cute but also cool and aggressive, appeals to the girls and the guys both
-Steering wheel: I might have taken it for granted had I not learned to drive on a Honda CR-V with a steering wheel that felt about a centimetre wide
-Hatch space: SO much better than an equivalent sized sedan, or even much bigger sedans. Very useful for Ikea trips
-Pretty good sound, too bad it's ruined by the amount of road and motor noise
-Anonymity: I love how people compliment me on it, and then ask what it is. Probably doesn't help that I've got a 323 badge
-The giant fogs: Not too useful considering their short range, but they do look damn good!
-Seats: They are really comfortable, both in aggressive-ish driving and longer trips! I'm more comfortable in them than I am in my computer chair
-Driving position: I love how the steering wheel is at just the right height, and the shifter is like a truck shifter so that my elbow rests at a perfect 90 degree angle
-For a 2002 car (which was released in other markets much earlier), it does not look dated at all!
-Decent sized glovebox
-Rear passenger space
-Trunk space
-Damn, there are too many good things to say about this car. Of course it's got its share of bad things, but that's for another thread.

[BadKarma]

Reliable? Nah....

Maybe some perspective would help... My last car was 95 Dodge Neon. Turning the ignition was like flipping a 'cause-random-part-to-fail' switch.

So yes, my P5 is reliable.

[brickisred]

Thought I'd contribute to the rise from the dead. (mj) I just bought a Protege5 and I love it! It has 70k on it but was garage kept and looks & drives great. I've never owned a car, only trucks and I can't believe I waited so long to buy one of these. Will probably go get one of the Mazda 3's as soon as I can.
Love the:
Looks
Handling
Power
Seats
CD changer
Room
Etc, etc.

Just hope it lasts as long as our old Explorer which is about to trip 200k...

[Schnitzelsemmel]

i like:
- the looks: still fresh and cool (although the bj was released back in '98!), and it's appealing to both boys and girls, especially the "huge" fog lights (remembers them of classic-shape wrx's (second))
- the space inside: although i'm, erm, quite fat, i still have enough space behind the wheel. furthermore, head room is immaculate, and the trunk is huge for a compact car. just look at a similarly aged vw golf or something else.
- the cockpit ergonomics: everything's in the right position. never had to search a switch. and, you're sitting better than in comparable cars.
- braking and handling: brakes are superb (no wonder, as they're coming off the 626 station wagon). handling is fine, but for harsh driving, the (stock!) suspension is a bit too soft. but that makes a perfect compromise for long autobahn drives.
- the engine: very good compromise. under 4k rpm, it's very "kind" and easy to drive. if you need power, just shift back and rev to 5k rpm.

i dislike:
- the fuel consumption: even when driving very consumption-conscious, consumption doesn't fall under 7.4 litre per 100 km. when driving normally, consumption is around 8.5-9 litre per 100km. quite bad, as a single litre costs around one $.
- the shift feel: the throw is quite long, and, when it's cold, 2nd and 3rd don't go in that easily.
- the poor rust prevention (although i didn't have any rust problems so far)
- the stereo system: ok, the cd changer is very practical. but the speakers are crap - no bass, and cheap sound.

[Purrfectangel]

i love letting my friends keep up with me, until i get to take a turn then bye bye gti!!!

hahahahaha I dusted a mazda 3 gt on the winedy onramp to the highway. He took the same exit as me and as he pulled into the RCMP station he saluted me lol

My favourite thing is when I'm taking off at an intersection especially uphill...first gears a little wimpy and I start to slip back and the people passing me think it's funny until...and there's where my favourite saying comes in "second gear bitch!"

Mines listed as a protege 4D on the registration..what a bunch of tools, but the insurance company classifies it as a "sport compact hatch" :D

Things I love..everything. I could honestly live in this car and not give it a second thought.

-Looks. Doesn't look dated, infact it looks better than most newer cars, all other mazdas excluded. Aggressive and intimidating but cute as I fly bye :D and not gender specific.
-Torque...spirited is the only word that totally describes this car. Someone said something about driving it and acting like it's a fast car but isn't lol..so true. She may not be the fastest car but she's peppy and a wicked car for cities.
-Handling, suspension is one of the best I've ever encountered if not the best stock. Considering it's an economical car..
-Brakes. I think it's also funny when I shop around for pads, they ask if it's disc I say yup and for the back the same and they're like are you sure...? lol
-Price
-Comfortable..more head room than I could ever want, seats are super comfy, I didn't like the high stick at first but as someone mentioned before it's great for the 90 degree angle position like an arm rest and I don't think I'll change it. Dark interior, lots of room for everyone, lots of space in the hatch, and the hatch door actually opens up high enough so I don't wack my head.
-Style, you couldn't ask for more from a stock car, big sexy fogs, clear corners, 16" wheels (that are nice stock at that), toyo tires, ground effects, white guages, frig they even put fo carbon fiber in??, 4 disc brakes, reasonably low, boxy lines etc etc..
-I find it good on gas but to each his/her own on that one.
-It has the potental to be a kick as sleeper car ;) so unsuspecting. Its mysterious and cute all in the same breath so when you pass a cop they're like yeah it's just a wagon but if they only knew ;) I think they're catching on tho, considering that the city seems to be overrun with mazdas since they upgraded her. Nothin beats the original though.

and most of all I love the fact that it was an undiscovered car and it's still not widely known unless you love mazda's. People look at it and say wow that's a nice lookin car, hatch or not, and then they say what is it. It sticks out like a sore thumb, there's no mistaking it for any other car. Not to mention it's a limited edition car :D

I remember just after I got her for like three months I keeps saying I LOVE this car! and even now when I swear at her I love it.

[808MP5]

My car got mistaken for a matrix. A cop once thought it was a volkswagon. Ppl always ask what car is that. I think it has something to do with not having any emblems/badges on my car. I love it.

[idrift4wd]

pros:

1. Built solid
2. Cheap price
3. great handling(steering feels nice!)
4. somewhat stylish
5. very roomy i guess
6. the stock or standard equipment(cd player,pwr everything, alloys, roof racks, strut bar etc.)
7. idk about reliability but no cel light yet for 55K(harsh driving i guess)
8. keeps its value!

CONS!!!!!

1. im sry but this has to be the worst car in the snow. i dont ever think snow tires will help this. its really bad
2. tire wear. tires go somewhat quick
3. lack of that extra emuff!
4. cd player skips alot in the cold.
5. brakes suck.
6. no cup holders in the rear lol

[bazooka joe]

i bought the car new in july of 01 with 7 miles on it. it's been a touble free car except for a bad egr valve. i've modded the heck out of this car and it has never let me down (of course i've let the car down a few times!) i love it as much today as i did the day i drove it home...pushing 115k and will probably keep the car another yr or so....maybe make it a track car some day??? swap the at for a manny, build the engine, strip the car of all it's weighty crap and do some serious auto x!!(drive)

[slideshow240]

i like the wagon aspect of it....
love wagons
hate the cup holders so close to the damn radio
no rear cupholders
clutch feels like im pushing on sponge bob with my foot
no ass when accelerating
brakes feel like shit
love the body lines and roof rack
headlights dont like HIDS (FAIL!)
its not a subaru lose the fogs
hate the bumper lights
love the JDM tails
love the 5x114.3 bolt pattern, more wheel options even with the shitty ass offset problem(more camber!)
hate how its ass heavy
love all the stuff you can do the motor...just dont want to
interior is nice...need my bubble knob back but with a TWM SS
these cars need coilovers and a slam!!!!
overall i like the MP5... bad ass car!
but i need coilovers and my wheels polished with 20MM spacers up front, so 17x7 +30 17x8 +45... sounds nice so far!!
im not one to autox or anything so the lower i can go and wider is better. sorry

[Schnitzelsemmel]

-It has the potental to be a kick as sleeper car ;) so unsuspecting. Its mysterious and cute all in the same breath so when you pass a cop they're like yeah it's just a wagon but if they only knew ;)

mh, i wouldn't say so. some weeks ago, a cop stopped me for a routine control. when he saw that front bumper, he just stared stupidly at it. as if it was some aftermarket piece. i just waited for a stupid question...
or did he even admire it? (yippy)

i wouldn't call it a sleeper car, but at the same moment it doesn't attract people very much. i'd say it's more a commuter car on steroids, but only a few. only connaisseurs recognize this car, and yes, that's maybe the best about it.

[StealthWyvern]

mh, i wouldn't say so. some weeks ago, a cop stopped me for a routine control. when he saw that front bumper, he just stared stupidly at it. as if it was some aftermarket piece. i just waited for a stupid question...
or did he even admire it? (yippy)

i wouldn't call it a sleeper car, but at the same moment it doesn't attract people very much. i'd say it's more a commuter car on steroids, but only a few. only connaisseurs recognize this car, and yes, that's maybe the best about it.

lol when i park next to my gf's 6 my grandma stated one day that her car looks pissed off and my car look as happy as could be(eekdance)... I about died laughing when she told me that.

[arcane73]

I love everything about mine.....with the exception of it's ability to disappear in the morning before i wake up (rant) the GF likes to sneak off to work in it

This is the first car I've ever owned that i can see keeping for a very long time.....most of what i've had (classic muscle car projects included) haven't held my interest past a certain point. This car on the other hand has yet to let me get bored....and it's still bone stock! I catch myself driving home and 'accidentally' taking the long way around just to get in a bit more play time on the twisty back way to the house :)

[aMaff]

non tech discussion, moved to Lounge.

And I love mine because it's a fun daily driver in which I can stuff mass quantities of junk into her trunk ;)

Extremely useful, but still playful as hell :)

[katsi]

I love dusting my friends subaru in the twisties.

I love keeping up with bikes on those curvy mountain roads.


and i love that with the exception of my SRI

ITS STOCK.

It turns heads, no matter what...and damn..its just a great car.
The interior STOCK is absolutely incredible.

I LOVE how much you get for your money.



I HATE that it sounds like it runs 12's...but falls about 5 seconds behind
and i hate that mine is tiptronic