I think the Mazda5 would be a better family vehicle than the P5. But that's not to say that the P5 doesn't work as a family vehicle. I have a 6 yr old in a car seat (she's small for her age) and an 8 yr old. They love the car. I love my car (would like more power). I think the P5 is a great car and I don't think you would be disappointed by it. But the Mazda5 is a bit more versatile and that might be more important right now than performance (but maybe not). I think you'd be happy with either. As far as safety is concerned, I believe the Protege was a solid performer in most crash tests. I haven't looked at the ratings for the Mazda5 yet. No small car will score well in the side impact crash unless it has side curtain air bags. Keep that in mind when you look at ratings.
2 small kids, protege5 or mazda 5?
- Thread starter MexicanDragon
- Start date
Chuyler, while I agree that the P5 has more versatile space and is better for hauling furninture, that space is only there when the seats are folded down, and is useless with kids in the car. We love our P5, and if we need to bring home furniture, She stays home with the kid, and I go pick it up in her P5, but for day to day Daddymobiling and long road trips, the trunk really is more useful. I was just suggesting that as a family vehicle, he should really consider the sedan too.
Wipedawg, your mom rocks! Nice ride.
All told Brent, if you don't also get the minivan, buy the Mazda5. If you do get the minivan, a P5 is a great car, but you should at least take a look at the LX or ES sedans. If you want your suspension mods pre-done for you, buy an MazdaSpeed Protege. More power, Racing Beat suspension, and Racing Hart wheels! It even comes in that blue you like!
Good luck, and let us know what you decide on.
Wipedawg, your mom rocks! Nice ride.
All told Brent, if you don't also get the minivan, buy the Mazda5. If you do get the minivan, a P5 is a great car, but you should at least take a look at the LX or ES sedans. If you want your suspension mods pre-done for you, buy an MazdaSpeed Protege. More power, Racing Beat suspension, and Racing Hart wheels! It even comes in that blue you like!
Good luck, and let us know what you decide on.
I am in the same boat, and this post inspired me to register. I am currently driving a '95 GMC extended cab, 5.7 litre, 350 cubic inch gas eater. I have a daughter in a booster seat, and a son in the hospital who will hopefully be home soon who will need to ride in the carrier base in the back seat. With NO third door on my truck cab this is a major pain to get the kids in and out, and we have ended up putting 9,000 miles on our CR-V since March with gas prices being so hideous and access to my back seat so inconvenient. Anyway, I love the Protege5's looks and when I went a drove a 5 speed today I loved the handling even more. I have found an '02 with 66K miles, some cosmetic damage that has been repaired (front fender/hood repaint), but seems to be in good mechanical condition. The place that it is at wants $7850 which is well under the going rate for these rides. I am wary of this car because I suspect it has been in a collision although they assure me it wasn't. I am going to have my brother who is an insurance adjuster run the VIN. Any thoughts? Sorry for the wordy post.
1) Carfax
2) Look over the vehicle very very closely. Check all fitiments around bumpers and doors. Look for ripples in the body panels or paint that doesn't quite match. Not all collisions are reported to the insurance company so a clean title doesn't mean it has been in an accident.
3) Any blemish you find that they did not point out is $$$$ off the asking price. No questions.
4) If you are still unsure, take a bunch of pictures and post them here. We will tell you if it looks OK.
2) Look over the vehicle very very closely. Check all fitiments around bumpers and doors. Look for ripples in the body panels or paint that doesn't quite match. Not all collisions are reported to the insurance company so a clean title doesn't mean it has been in an accident.
3) Any blemish you find that they did not point out is $$$$ off the asking price. No questions.
4) If you are still unsure, take a bunch of pictures and post them here. We will tell you if it looks OK.
MexicanDragon
Member
- :
- 2003.5 Mazda Protege5
Foolish said:
I've never really considered the last gen sedan, but the MSP interests me. The room issue i was not aware of. Can someone give me an approximation of how much an MSP would go for? These are 170HP turbos, right? And the MP3's are similiar, just non turbo?
As far as strollers, all we have is a Jeep Lightweight frame stroller. We have a few of the larger ones, but with the new baby, we're mainly using a sling carrier when we're out, or if we're grocery shopping, just pop the car seat on the buggy.
Another question, the link I sent. Is that a 2k3 or 2k3.5? I'm sure you guys can tell from the front 3/4 view. I may be able to jump on this soon, I just found out.
I think I'd take an MSP over the P5, but even if it has less cargo area, we are probably going to get an older minivan for those purposes, and I just find the P5 to be one of my favorite cars, aesthetically. I like it better than the mazda 3 in that respect. I like it better than the WRX wagon looks wise, but perfomance, I want a WRX bad. I just can't justify paying 25 grand right now. I don't want to be in a paymenet like that. I could pay off the P5 in 1.5 years, and that would be nice.
The other options are still on the table, a 95 BMW 540i 6 speed (tons of space compared to both protege's) and an e36 (92-99) BMW 325i 5 speed (or if some miracle occurs, a 97-98 M3/4 (4 door). The first two I could just buy outright.
**BRENT**
MexicanDragon said:
You should be able to find a MSP for around $14K or so. The MP3 is 2 years older, same suspension and has no LSD or turbo and about 10hp more than the stock 2.0L Protege engine.
I'd guess it is a 2003 based on the roofrack and not mentioning a subwoofer, but I could be wrong.
Pro5Monkey
Member
- :
- '02.5 Red Pro5 manual
I'm getting in on this one late, but.....
I got my Pro5 last February. This first thing I did when I got to the stealership was put both of my car seats in. Then I sat in both front seats to see if I could sit comfortably. I have a 3.5 year old in a front facing seat on the passenger side and a rear facing infant seat in the center. No problem. I'm 5'-9" and have room to spare to adjust the seat. We like to road-trip and camp quite often, so I got one with the roof rack and I can throw on the car-top carrier in about 10 minutes. I could fit the pitbull in the back if not for the huge cooler full of beer. I love my dog, but I love my beer too (cheers) And, NO, I don't drink and drive with the kids in the car............. often (thumb)
I got my Pro5 last February. This first thing I did when I got to the stealership was put both of my car seats in. Then I sat in both front seats to see if I could sit comfortably. I have a 3.5 year old in a front facing seat on the passenger side and a rear facing infant seat in the center. No problem. I'm 5'-9" and have room to spare to adjust the seat. We like to road-trip and camp quite often, so I got one with the roof rack and I can throw on the car-top carrier in about 10 minutes. I could fit the pitbull in the back if not for the huge cooler full of beer. I love my dog, but I love my beer too (cheers) And, NO, I don't drink and drive with the kids in the car............. often (thumb)
Pro5Monkey said:
I love how a lot of people manage to use the Protege as a family car. I think it's a great compromise in that respect. Fun car, beautiful, with awesome handling and decent cargo space. Safe, good on gas, the list goes on and on. My car very rarely has more than 2 people myself included in it, and I rarely use the cargo space but when I need it it's there for me and that's so nice. Yeah, I could have gotten a cheap Kia Sportage or something for winter and when I need to haul stuff and a Miata for when I want to have fun on the twisties in the summer, but the Protege5 does it all without much compromise. I want to cherish my Protege5 forever or until Mazda gets rid of that crap Mazda3 hatch and makes something decent looking that is lightweight again.
- :
- 2017 SG Ford Focus RS -- 2003 Protege 5 -- 2016 Ford Expedition
santisurf said:
somebody'll have to pull the keys out of my cold dead hands --or-- I have to pull the keys out of my cold dead ignition!
to be more on topic, I think you'll be happy with the P5 and I think you'll be happy with the 5, I think Mazda is trying to step up thier image.
MexicanDragon
Member
- :
- 2003.5 Mazda Protege5
Katya4me said:
Hey, been gone a while. Birthday party for my 3 y/o, work, etc.
Its funny, I'd missed this "2003" reply. From what I understand, the only difference is the roofrack and sub? Sub takes up a bit of hatch space in the floor, right? As long as there's no other changes, unless for the better, I'm fine with that. I'm an audiophile, so the soundsystem should be good, but I don't much trust factory subs in a car of this price. I'd rather have something that sounds really really good for 350$ than something that just adds bloated bass for a 4-500$ option, (or bump in MSRP). If nothing else, I'd rather have the extra space. I was thinking there might be a front bumper change, was hoping that was a giveaway. I am still interested in this car, and it just went in the local "Car Finderz" ad, so its known about now. I just hope no one likes a blue wagon with a 5spd. Personally, I REALLY like blue wagons with 5spds. We shall see.
Thanks again to everyone for the help. I'm thinking this would be about 250$ a month for 2.5-3 years, whereas the 5 would be about 4-450$ a month. The extra space would be nice, but its heavier, has a lower power:weight ratio, larger coefficient of drag, and I can't stand the wheels or tires on the stock 5. Nor can I stand either blue, and a carbon grey touring specia order would take a month or two, I'd say.
Enough talking for now...thanks again.
**BRENT**
aMaff said:
Gosh ur soo in love with ur car its ridiculus!!! lol but so am i
(thumb) BTW to answer ur question u wont lose trick space!!! people stop leading this news around!
the P5 with the sub ***DOES NOT!*** lose any truck space b/c of the sub!!! it sits omn the spare wheel!!! Gosh!
heres a pic with my 2 10s
Attachments
santisurf said:Gosh ur soo in love with ur car its ridiculus!!! lol but so am i
BTW to answer ur question u wont lose trick space!!! people stop leading this news around!
the P5 with the sub ***DOES NOT!*** lose any truck space b/c of the sub!!! it sits omn the spare wheel!!! Gosh!
heres a pic with my 2 10s
If you look at your hatch compared to a earlier P5's hatch, you will notice that there is a little tray that goes over the spare tire and under the carpeting, effectively raising the floor about 2-3 inches and buffering the sub. It is slight, but it is noticeable if you look at the 2 hatches side by side. P5s that want to install the spare tire sub, have to buy this setup and it costs about $80+ from Mazda.
