Any Other Cars?

[james5377]

Hey Everyone,

I'm just curious as to what other cars did you consider before getting a P5? I considered the following....

Civic SI: Mini-minivan but it has a smooooth engine and transmission... almost bought one...

Subaru WRX: Damn fast.... Damn loud too...

Toyota Matrix: Eh... well... its an ok car... the stereo console makes me think that I'm getting a Minivan.

VW GTi or Jetta: Nice car but has extremely poor reliability records...

Pre-owned A4: Very nice car... powerful yet elegant.... hard to find a used one in excellent condition though....

So whats your options before getting a P5??

[MadBiker]

I had a '98 Mazda 626 (for the wife) and was looking to replace my v6 diamante (was a nice car but it was high maintenance and gas guzzler) when the p5 came out in '02.

The options I considered were:
used v6 manual '98 or 99 626
'01 protege sedan
used millenia (manual)

but then the p5 came out, it was instant love and purchased. Still in love with it!

[viVid]

I looked at a Honda Civic (everyone has them, very plain style), VW Jetta (again, everyone has them, hated the purple dash lights, found the 1.8L Turbo lacking), Toyota Prius (great milage, but overpriced, gutless and handles like shit), Subaru (funky looking, too much $$). I found the P5 to be the best 'bang' for the buck that looks nice and is an all-around great car.

[bazooka joe]

honda civic si also

[RAAZ227]

Scooby....


Picking mine up tomorrow!

[IchBinEinMP5]

Was considering the P5 and the SiR back almost a year ago, couldn't get a decent trade for my 98 Protege at Mazda so I went with the "great" deal from Honda...

Nine months later I traded the Sir in for the P5, with a check from Honda, a great trade in value from Mazda, and a good deal on a 2003 P5...

The Honda had a good motor (but it liked to eat oil), great shifter and tranny (when the cables didn't stretch or the syncro's screw up) and the seats (except when they creaked). Other than that the car was crap: no good suspension (tuning or quality), tires sucked, wheel size sucked, noises sucked...

My first and probably last Honda I will ever own. Don't buy them, there is good reason people like to modify them: They suck.

The 2003 Protege5 on the other hand is a great car.

If I could have afforded the Subaru WRX wagon, I would have bought it hands down though, even the TS, but still a lot more than the P5 (with higher financing and less trade in)

[P-Funk!]

I had a hard budget of $17K (needed to include two each fishing kayaks @ $3K and something to haul them) so iwas looking at:
1. Saturn Wagon - eh. Nothing to like about it. Plain/Jane. No roof rack. No 5 spd, and just blah.

2. Jetta Wagon or Legacy Not within budget

3. Hyundai or Esteem wagon - unavailable (Thank God!)

4. Focus Wagon - no roof rack, auto only, poor quality rep.

So really, there wsn't any thing to directly compare to the P5. AND i get a sunroof AND a roof rack?! Low % financing?! (wow)

Garvy on muh grits!!

peas! out! [guess i need to get some more...]

(werd)

[Phoenix5]

WRX isn't loud.It's got a deep and burly sound to pipe but not to extent of trying to sound like a V8,which is cool!!!

[kcbhiw]

I was looking really hard at '99 or '00 Contour SVTs. The only thing that really bothered me was the possible occurance of oil starvation when cornering. I'd still love to have one, but I'm very happy with my P5.

[RAAZ227]

Originally posted by IchBinEinMP5
Was considering the P5 and the SiR back almost a year ago, couldn't get a decent trade for my 98 Protege at Mazda so I went with the "great" deal from Honda...

Nine months later I traded the Sir in for the P5, with a check from Honda, a great trade in value from Mazda, and a good deal on a 2003 P5...

The Honda had a good motor (but it liked to eat oil), great shifter and tranny (when the cables didn't stretch or the syncro's screw up) and the seats (except when they creaked). Other than that the car was crap: no good suspension (tuning or quality), tires sucked, wheel size sucked, noises sucked...

My first and probably last Honda I will ever own. Don't buy them, there is good reason people like to modify them: They suck.

The 2003 Protege5 on the other hand is a great car.

If I could have afforded the Subaru WRX wagon, I would have bought it hands down though, even the TS, but still a lot more than the P5 (with higher financing and less trade in)


SiR????? Did you build it with a H22A swap??? The Prelude and the Accord are the only ones with Cable Tranny? All the other D and B seris motors are Linkage.

[matallama]

Um, nothing was really comparable in the price range. Only test drove the P5 and bought it the same day.

Otherwise, might have gotten a PT Cruise. Also like the Jetta wagon, but would have to have the 1.8T engine - too expensive.

All the other small four door hatch/wagon variants out there were too lame.

[KYREDP5]

I don't think I really even considered anything else. At least no new cars....

[RaiderMP5]

I was looking at a Jetta Wagon. But then stumbled upon the P5 at the Mazda dealer while looking for a B3000. that was all it took. So much more style than the Jetta. and I love VW's. I guess the several grand difference in price also helped.

We ended up trading in our POS 2000 GMC Sonoma and got it paid off, and drove out with both the P5 and a B3000.

[TwinHead]

Hey all. First time writing anything.

Been visiting site for a while now and haven't got the chance to write.

But I guess I'll use this thread as an Icebreaker.

Looked at the Mini and Liberty before getting the P5.

I guess going with the P5...we went somewhere in between.

:D

[brucelee]

i was on a tight budget too, <$15,000..so i didn't have many choices. what i did look into were civic, corolla, matrix, old impreza, old prelude, aerio (for a brief fleeting moment)...what else..i can't remember. i do remember tho seeing how just about everyone who had the car had something good to say. and reviews showed good things that fit to my taste...like good handling and style. and not too many people have them.
i dont think i could have gotten a better car in its class

[taylor5]

1. Mini -Cooper (dealer in Winston-Salem sucks)
2. Elantra GT (friend beat me to it, and it has been a goody)
3. Civic Si (too strange looking)
4. VW Golf (Black VW/Cadillac in Greensboro screwed me before)
5. Protege' ES (needed more cargo room)

But overall, made the best choice with the P5!

[FlannelBoy711]

1. 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT - Almost got it for 8.5k cause it looked real dirty and the front bumper was cracked, a friend is a dealer and goes to the ar auctions.
2. 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer - Good car, but flet too plain when I sat inside, 8.9k same guy.
3. 1998 Acura TL - So close to buying this, 7.7k with 50k, wouldn't start cause it needed a new battery and gas, next day, it was sold.
4. Saturn SC2 - Looks pretty nice, but when you drive in it ewwwww, it feels like your riding on a plastic go-kart.
And finally I went with the PR5, I first tried out a yellow one and it was awesome, my mother didnt like it, but it grew on her and she almost traded in her car(2001 Pontiac Azrek Gt) for one. So far I couldnt be ahppier, I love my car.

[krazyrabbit]

Originally posted by P-Funk!
I had a hard budget of $17K (needed to include two each fishing kayaks @ $3K and something to haul them) so iwas looking at:
1. Saturn Wagon - eh. Nothing to like about it. Plain/Jane. No roof rack. No 5 spd, and just blah.

2. Jetta Wagon or Legacy Not within budget

3. Hyundai or Esteem wagon - unavailable (Thank God!)

4. Focus Wagon - no roof rack, auto only, poor quality rep.

(werd)

I agree, except that the Hyundai GT hatch is a pretty good ride, they come with leather and other goodies standard, and their price comes in about the same as the discounted P5s. The things that really swung me to the Protege was that the re-sale value for Hyundai is still very low, long term reliability is still unknown, and the P5 is much sexier! ;)

[matallama]

Originally posted by FlannelBoy711
my mother didnt like it, but it grew on her and she almost traded in her car(2001 Pontiac Azrek Gt) for one.

Failed to trade in an Aztek on a P5? Your mother needs help:D

[NCMP3]

I looked at these prior to the purchase of my MP3.

1) Integra Type-R - insurance to high for what it is.
2) Civic Si- couldn't find one in good enough shape to buy
3) Subaru-RS sedan- hard to find in blue
4) Ford Focus- I didnt like the feel of it.


Sorry I know that I dont own a Protege 5 But I just wanted to share.

[P510]

I was looking at getting the Scion xB because its price, but with the insentives they have right now for the P5, i HAD to get one. I tried to get one about 1.5 years ago but was too far upside down in the car I owned at the time. The P5 was the only thing I could think of the would replace my Miata for a daily driver and still be fun.

[scarmiglio]

I drove the Matrix xr. It wasn't a bad car, but I couldn't find a comfortable seating position. The pedals were too close and the steering wheel too far away. I had to lean forward to reach the shifter (I'm 6'4").

I also drove a WRX wagon. I loved the boost, but couldn't get past the headlights (in 2002) and the additional cost ($6000+).

I test drove the P5 twice and the second time they had a no payments for 6 months and 0% interest for 4 years with no money down. It was too good to pass up.

It helped that the P5 came with Leather and a nicer interior than the Matrix or the Subie (imho). I also think that the P5 handles better than either of those cars. Both the Matrix and the WRX were a little too disconnected and floaty. I like that the P5 lets you feel the road.

[kolashaker]

Before my last car kicked the bucket (a 94 Sentra) I had my heart set on a VW GTI 20 AE, but it ended up being too expensive for my budget at the time ($16000), plus a friend of mine has a 337 and my sis owns a Golf. I guess I wanted to be different and stay within my budget...

I always liked the P5 ever since I first laid eyes on it, so I knew ultimately that was the car I was gonna get if I didn't get a GTI. One test drive, price below invoice and 0% financing sealed the deal, not to mention the Pro's reliability record. But on top of all of that I love the way this car handles--nothing even compares to this car in this price range in terms of good looks and fun to drive factor.

I still love VWs, though. I'll be sneaking glances at the R32 (and my bank account) when it comes around to the States ;).

[FlannelBoy711]

Originally posted by matallama
Failed to trade in an Aztek on a P5? Your mother needs help:D

Yea, but doesnt everybodys parents? :D ? I really love the Aztek, I had to use it for a couple of months and it was so amazing. The leather was beautiful, 6 Cd player, The little options, shows ur oil life, gas mileage per tank, sunroof was cool, heads up display, and the radio controls on the steering wheel.

[leungwingkei]

I looked at the Ferrari Enzo, then at the Pagani Zonda 7.3s, then at the Mercedes AMG CL65, then realized I had a tight budget, so got the P5. =)

[Action Jackson]

Focus ZX5
Elantra GT
Sentra SE-R SpecV
Imprezza Wagon
Protege ES w/ GT pkg, Golf
Acura 1.7 EL [Canada only model]

[2True]

I actually bought the Mazda 6s originally. It turned out be a "factory reject" of sorts but did not qualify for recall. So my Mazda dealership gave me a break and put me into a 2003.5 P5 for basically nothing. Not a bad deal in retrospect, but I sorely miss the that V6 power band.
The P5 is growing on me, slowly but surely.

[mikeyb]

We really were not looking for a new car when we bought the P5. We traded a 01 Eclipse GT Premuim Package in for it. The payment went from the high 300 to 299 a month. The dealer gave us 18k for the GT.

[mikeyb]

Originally posted by Action Jackson
Focus ZX5
Elantra GT
Sentra SE-R SpecV
Imprezza Wagon
Protege ES w/ GT pkg, Golf
Acura 1.7 EL [Canada only model]

Acura 1.7 EL = rebadged Civic with leather and stickon wood interior trim. It doesn't look to bad.

[Action Jackson]

Originally posted by mikeyb
Acura 1.7 EL = rebadged Civic with leather and stickon wood interior trim. It doesn't look to bad.

Almost. I help to moderate one of the discussion lists for the EL.

It's definitely fake woody trim.

Plus it comes with a bit of a body kit, revised front and rear, originally had the chrome accents on the interior as stock trim, 15 spoke alloy wheels, slightly faster steering ratio and 4 wheel disc ABS and the 127 vs. 117 hp engine.

And also has better NVH insulation over the Civic.

The problem for this car now is that the 127hp Civic Sedan is out.

I'm impressed that the some of the US folks have heard about the EL.

[Mike R]

Mercury Marauder, but the MPG was too low and I needed a smaller car than my 91 Marquis. Was thinking Honda Civic, but I liked the looks of the P5 better.

Still want a Marauder though. Just not very fast for a 300HP vic.

[mikeyb]

Originally posted by Action Jackson
Almost. I help to moderate one of the discussion lists for the EL.

It's definitely fake woody trim.

Plus it comes with a bit of a body kit, revised front and rear, originally had the chrome accents on the interior as stock trim, 15 spoke alloy wheels, slightly faster steering ratio and 4 wheel disc ABS and the 127 vs. 117 hp engine.

And also has better NVH insulation over the Civic.

The problem for this car now is that the 127hp Civic Sedan is out.

I'm impressed that the some of the US folks have heard about the EL.

I live 4 hours from the Canadian border and a lot of Canadians come to the Coast on vacation.

[chuyler1]

Originally posted by Mike R
Mercury Marauder, but the MPG was too low and I needed a smaller car than my 91 Marquis. Was thinking Honda Civic, but I liked the looks of the P5 better.

Still want a Marauder though. Just not very fast for a 300HP vic.

I replaced my 90 Grand Marquis with my P5. I loved the look of the Marauder but having a manual tranny was on the top of my list. I looked into (in order of preference)

* Subaru (the only wagon in my price range wasn't worth it)
* Used Audi (still too expensive, couldn't find any standards)
* Jetta (V6 was too pricey, and the 4 banger didn't stand up to the P5.)
* Matrix/Vibe (coudn't stand the interior, too expensive to get AWD...and I wasn't going to buy one w/o it)

I drove the P5 and knew right away it was the car for me. Plus I could splurg for a moon roof, abs, and leather and still come in under my budget.

[RAAZ227]

Not sure....when I bought the MP5 I wasnt looking for a wagon. That was accually the last thing I wanted. But then I kept looking at it and it felt more like a hatch to me. Then a year ago I almost traded it in on a WRX wagon.

[james5377]

Originally posted by 2True
I actually bought the Mazda 6s originally. It turned out be a "factory reject" of sorts but did not qualify for recall. So my Mazda dealership gave me a break and put me into a 2003.5 P5 for basically nothing. Not a bad deal in retrospect, but I sorely miss the that V6 power band.
The P5 is growing on me, slowly but surely.

Factory rejects? Is there really something like this?? Just curious...

Yup... I agree with you.... I like my P5 more as days go on especially when I just pass the break in period... love it ... love it... love it...

[2True]

Originally posted by james5377
Factory rejects? Is there really something like this?? Just curious...


That's why I put it in quotes, it wasn't really a reject, just had sooo many damn problems the 3 months I owned it. The final straw was when the fuel pump busted and poured gasoline all over the place and my wife declared it a safety hazard and would not allow my daughter in it.

Learned to never buy a car its first year out though :rolleyes:

[IchBinEinMP5]

Originally posted by RAAZ227
SiR????? Did you build it with a H22A swap??? The Prelude and the Accord are the only ones with Cable Tranny? All the other D and B seris motors are Linkage.

Sorry to correct but the new 2002+ Civic SiR (Si in the US) are cable shifted...

[IchBinEinMP5]

Oh yeah, the first time around I had also been considering the 2002 Dodge Neon R/T... I must say that it REALLY could move compared to the P5, MP3, or SiR. It also handled a lot better than the SiR. Test drove one 3 times, for about 300kms and 48 hours worth, had the dealer to bare bones and 0% financing for 60 months but just couldn't get by the idea of potentially poor reliability (go figure that the Honda was worse than I imagined a Dodge to be) and the power windows were only in the front. That is about all that stopped me...

In fact the salesman is giving me an SRT-4 overnight when they get one in because he believes he'll sell me a Dodge yet. I am just looking forward to driving it, should be a blast...