Thinking of buying-

[pasadena_commut]

I'm looking into selling my 04 mustang and picking up a Protoge5, for better mpg,

If you are buying it for mpg you MUST get the manual. The automatic only does 21-22 mpg in suburban/urban city driving, the manual will return somewhere around 25 under the same conditions. Both transmissions will give you around 30 mpg on the highway. If you don't know how to drive a stick, then it is time to learn. If mpg is your overriding concern then there are better options then the P5, especially some of the older Hondas and some newer cars like the Fit. For what it's worth, my old '87 323 used to get 27-28mpg on the same trip where my auto P5 gives 21-22, and it routinely turned in 37 mpg on the highway. (Of course it rattled like a tin can full of rocks being dragged over cobblestones!)

 

[JDMJNKY]

Mazwelmurder wish you were closer mine is gonna hit the market soon.Gl on your search.

 

[mazwelmurder]

i really would love to learn stick, theres some MSP's for sale too which are in my range but i just dont know how to drive it!
ive tried plenty of times but i cant even get the car to start moving

 

[klapp14]

i really would love to learn stick, theres some MSP's for sale too which are in my range but i just dont know how to drive it!
ive tried plenty of times but i cant even get the car to start moving

It is tricky at first, once you master 1st, you shouldnt have any problems.
When I was learning, I would let the clutch out very very slowly. Then when I felt it grab and pull a little, I would give it some gas.

This way takes a lot of patience, and you really have to be able to feel the clutch engage. But i dunno, it worked for me, maybe it will work for you too!!(uhm)

 

[mazwelmurder]

hahaha thanks very much.
i just gotta find someone willing to let me burn up their clutch practicing!

 

[rapter]

If you are buying it for mpg you MUST get the manual. The automatic only does 21-22 mpg in suburban/urban city driving, the manual will return somewhere around 25 under the same conditions. Both transmissions will give you around 30 mpg on the highway. If you don't know how to drive a stick, then it is time to learn. If mpg is your overriding concern then there are better options then the P5, especially some of the older Hondas and some newer cars like the Fit. For what it's worth, my old '87 323 used to get 27-28mpg on the same trip where my auto P5 gives 21-22, and it routinely turned in 37 mpg on the highway. (Of course it rattled like a tin can full of rocks being dragged over cobblestones!)

Wow 21-22 mps in the city. I had the Protege sedan 2.0L tho.
And i had Automatic trans, and easily got 28-29 mpg in the city.

Is the P5 that much different???

 

[pasadena_commut]

Wow 21-22 mps in the city. I had the Protege sedan 2.0L tho.
And i had Automatic trans, and easily got 28-29 mpg in the city.

Is the P5 that much different???

The P5 is a tad heavier but that isn't the difference. It's probably the drive itself. My usual route is 7.5 miles one way with around 20 lights/stop signs, so around 15 stops, or about one every half mile. The speed is rarely high enough for the torque converter to lock on the auto, so there goes 10% fuel efficiency right off the top. And the car is cold for about 1/3 of the trip. I also noticed the other day that the TC unlocks going up about a 1/4 mile of slight grade at around 40 mph - when that flattens out it locks again. My worst tank ever was from a trip in and around LA, where it was stop and go every other block for a couple of hours with 4 people in the car. That tank was only in the high teens, even though it included around 50 miles of highway travel.

But in pure highway driving the same car does around 30mpg.

 

[mazwelmurder]

well snap.

either way itll probably be useful to learn, aye?