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Mazda6 i I drove a 4 cyl 5-speed base-model at the local dealership recently and was very impressed. Granted, it didn't have 220 horsepower, but it also weighs a few hundred pounds less than the 6s. I was impressed by the car's quiet nature on the freeway, but nice sound when accelerating...

MP5, that's an awesome story! Always fight a ticket if it's at all convenient. At the very least you'll have fun knowing that the state probably lost money on your ticket when you take the judge and cop's time into account. Additionally, if the officer doesn't show up, they dismiss your...

I've seen them both together. The hatch has a flatter angle to the rear window, but frankly didn't look that much different than the sedan. Hatchbacks do make loading cargo really easy, though. Personally, I can't wait for the Mazda6 wagon. I can't figure out why they waited to introduce...

I was talking with a co-worker who just bought an Acura MDX with a DVD system. he has three kids and was joking that his next family vacation will be "Hey kids... there's the Grand Canyon on the left..." "Aw dad, we're in the middle our Sonic Hedgehog game." Why even leave the house?

Just saw this posting on eBay for a new black MS Protege by a dealer in Florida. The opening bid price is at MSRP... I wish them luck. The car looks good, though! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6326&item=2404470755

What about water dispersion? Would slots on the rotor surface act like the grooves in tires to help disperse water if braking in wet weather? (I'm not arguing, I'm asking). Disk brakes in general are much more resistant to fading from water than drum brakes... I imagine that the pads...

There are many advantages to FWD. A couple of the primary ones: Better traction in inclement weather (more weight over the driven wheels). Better space utilization (roomier interiors) From a pure performance standpoint, there are a few drawbacks. In particular the front-heavy weight...

I like the MSP... don't get me wrong. I was just commenting that the SVT Focus is a much higher volume production car and thus, is subject to the normal market discounts and rebates as regular Foci, which apparently are tanking on the market. The MSP and SVT provide an interesting comparison...

Actually, the PR5 does have a leather option in the U.S. and it's reasonably priced at $490 IMHO. I have it on my car and like it a lot. However, if you load up a Protege5 you aren't far from the price of a 4 cylinder Mazda6. (within $2k or so). I don't believe that the 2.3l engine in the...

I drove an SVT Focus and was pretty impressed with it. The ride was smooth and quiet and the exhaust note (stock) must have barely passed the EPA inspectors and Ford beancounters. It sounded good. My test drive was with a dealer and the route included no curvy roads, but the car did feel...

Remember, dealers where charging mark-ups on Subaru WRX's when they came out and you can now get them far below MSRP... heck even Chrysler and VW dealers found a few suckers to pay well over sticker for PT Cruisers and New Beetles a couple of years ago.

Recently bought a P5, have put about 9000 miles on it in the past few months and haven't experienced a single quality-control problem. I drove both the stick and the new sport-shift auto... went with the stick (actually, my wife's request... I married the right woman!) and believe it truly...

The Altima also seems a lot roomier on the inside than the 6, but I really think the interior of the Mazda has a much higher quality appearance and feel. I'm not a huge fan of the body kit one has to get in order to obtain the factory sport package on the Mazda, but I could live with it. I...

Warranty "Void" Actually, manufacturers have every right to refuse to cover a malfunction under warranty if it is caused by some sort of modification (or accident). However, an air intake modification wouldn't void the warranty on, say, the transmission, suspension or bodywork. The only...

Funny you should mention this. My wife got a new 02.5 PR5 a few months ago. She hated the leather shift knob (too big for her hands and not as distinctive-looking) so she had the dealer swap it for the plastic ball-shaped shifter from an '02 PR5 they had on their lot. Personally, I have to...

I had an opportunity to drive and ride in the Mazdaspeed Protege today during their training near San Francisco. I can only describe the car as "awesome." The biggest revelation for me was how well integrated and refined the car felt. Depite all of the aftermarket-sourced components, the...

Saw a MS Protege Mazda had a black mica Mazdaspeed Protege on display during the World Superbike races at the Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca last month. The black looked nice (actually, my wife has a black mica Protege5 and I think it's a really nice paint with a lot of metal flake in it) and a...

17" Wheels The MPV ES also has 17" wheels with a slightly different 5-spoke design. Perhaps these might fit also? Though you're more likely to find take-off Millennia rims than MPV wheels... I recently got a set of take-off 2002 Miata 15" alloys and replaced the 14" rims on my 1991 Miata...

Auto vs. Manual Interesting discussion. This is also the reason that manual transmissions usually accelerate more quickly than automatics. There is more parasitic loss of power between the crank shaft and the drive wheels because of the torque converter... so more power makes it to the ground...