2 small kids, protege5 or mazda 5?
- Thread starter MexicanDragon
- Start date
romecandleboy
Member
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- 06' MX-5 Miata
MexicanDragon said:
The most recent Protege models (01'-03) are supposedly considered the most reliable cars out there according to 'Consumer Reports'. I plan on keeping mine for 200k. -That's the goal at least.
my p5 has 74k, have changed the battery, atlernator belt, switched to synthetics, no major issues
my wife has a 98 ES with 95k (+/-) and it has had new water pump, belts, brakes, struts etc. It's a hand-me down car from her mother to her brother to her. Her brother beat the crap out of it, but she drove it like an old lady, so the car has seen better days, but she still fires up on the first time, everytime. She will need a new exhaust soon, the flex pipe and other sections have rusted through. The tranny also needs a flush, but she runs great.
We plan on keeping both cars as long as possible
my wife has a 98 ES with 95k (+/-) and it has had new water pump, belts, brakes, struts etc. It's a hand-me down car from her mother to her brother to her. Her brother beat the crap out of it, but she drove it like an old lady, so the car has seen better days, but she still fires up on the first time, everytime. She will need a new exhaust soon, the flex pipe and other sections have rusted through. The tranny also needs a flush, but she runs great.
We plan on keeping both cars as long as possible
Protege5 2003.5
Im at 47534 and i have done Brakes, tires (3) times,winshield whipers, Oil change, one light out ( Front right), battery,i think i need belt soon also) BTW i beat this protege to its limits, Spinouts, Fishtails, slammed brakes, Curbed it 2 times By Accident, and thats about it, i would say my protege5 is a Champion! (first)
MexicanDragon said:
Im at 47534 and i have done Brakes, tires (3) times,winshield whipers, Oil change, one light out ( Front right), battery,i think i need belt soon also) BTW i beat this protege to its limits, Spinouts, Fishtails, slammed brakes, Curbed it 2 times By Accident, and thats about it, i would say my protege5 is a Champion! (first)
MexicanDragon
Member
- :
- 2003.5 Mazda Protege5
http://www.getauto.com/autolinks_cardetail.html?x_dealer_id=AAEhs&vinNum=JM1BJ245531173311
That's the car i'm looking at, btw. Its good to know that these are supposedly very reliable. I figured they would be, and may be a better option in the long run than either of the bmw's i'm looking at. The Mazda 5 is also very tempting, but being the first year of production, I just worry about there being a few kinks that may need working out. Still have to see how the family fits in the P5 before I drop the cash though. But from what you guys have told me, it seems like this might be the way to go for me. As I may have said before, I LOVE the P5 aesthetically, and the blue is probably my favorite color. Hopefully I'll be able to work out a ridiculous deal on this car. TN tax is ridiculous (9.25%), so its going to be another grand in tax, so the cheaper I get it down, the better. We shall see.
What do you think would be a good price for this car? Just knowing mileage and what you can see from the pic. I might should run a carfax on that. If anyone could do that for me, PM me, it'd be appreciated. Thanks again!
**BRENT**
That's the car i'm looking at, btw. Its good to know that these are supposedly very reliable. I figured they would be, and may be a better option in the long run than either of the bmw's i'm looking at. The Mazda 5 is also very tempting, but being the first year of production, I just worry about there being a few kinks that may need working out. Still have to see how the family fits in the P5 before I drop the cash though. But from what you guys have told me, it seems like this might be the way to go for me. As I may have said before, I LOVE the P5 aesthetically, and the blue is probably my favorite color. Hopefully I'll be able to work out a ridiculous deal on this car. TN tax is ridiculous (9.25%), so its going to be another grand in tax, so the cheaper I get it down, the better. We shall see.
What do you think would be a good price for this car? Just knowing mileage and what you can see from the pic. I might should run a carfax on that. If anyone could do that for me, PM me, it'd be appreciated. Thanks again!
**BRENT**
You might consider a Protege sedan, also. My wife and I have one of each, an '03.5 P5 and an '01 LX. We have a six month old baby.
The only reason I suggest the sedan is that my car has much more cargo room than hers when the back seat is in place (as in, up, being used). The wagons are actually shorter front-to-rear than the sedans, and that difference in space is all in the hatch area.
With my car, the stroller can be loaded longitudinally into the trunk, leaving half of the trunk space empty, but with her car, the stroller has to be loaded cross-ways, and basically fills the hatch space. I think the trunk is deeper, too.
With two kids, if you've got a stroller in the trunk, and the whole back seat filled with kid seats, the only place to even put a load of groceries would be the front passenger seat and the rear floor!
Just my thoughts on the matter. We love the P5, but for road trips or anywhere we need the stroller, it's all about the sedan.
The only reason I suggest the sedan is that my car has much more cargo room than hers when the back seat is in place (as in, up, being used). The wagons are actually shorter front-to-rear than the sedans, and that difference in space is all in the hatch area.
With my car, the stroller can be loaded longitudinally into the trunk, leaving half of the trunk space empty, but with her car, the stroller has to be loaded cross-ways, and basically fills the hatch space. I think the trunk is deeper, too.
With two kids, if you've got a stroller in the trunk, and the whole back seat filled with kid seats, the only place to even put a load of groceries would be the front passenger seat and the rear floor!
Just my thoughts on the matter. We love the P5, but for road trips or anywhere we need the stroller, it's all about the sedan.
But if you have the money, get a subaru. I had a AWD car, it was fun to drivejust for ur opinion, i have the P5 2003.5 and the room i have is awsome!, i can fit 4 surfboards and 3 people in the car confortable!!! (thumb) This car has plenty of space, and last time that i was aware the p5 is 2 Ft 4 Inches Longer than the sedan. (cheers) imout!
santisurf said:
No....
The P5 is 6 inches shorter than the sedan. If you read about the exhausts, you would know this because P5 owners have to get the MSP exhaust cut and rewelded if they want to use it. The P5 gains it's storage space in vertical space that the sedan lacks due to having a trunk.
Bob Loblaw
Member
- :
- 02 P5, 88 328is stroker
I have a 9 year old (who's the size of a 12 year old) and a 4 year old in a booster seat. They love the new car because it's way easier to get in and out of, compared to my previous car, a 2-door Integra... And it's way easier for me to buckle up the little one, now that there are those extra doors. 
The cargo area is actually much smaller than the Integra's, but I don't really mind because we also have a minivan.
The cargo area is actually much smaller than the Integra's, but I don't really mind because we also have a minivan.
The 2003.5 Protege5s have less cargo space than the 2003 Protege5s because they had to raise the floor about 3" to accomodate the subwoofer. For a measly little subwoofer you sacrifice about 2.5-3 cuft of cargo space. You can always remove it though.
The one thing you need to remember is that the Protege5 has vertical space that more than makes up for the 6 inches that the sedan has. Especially when it comes to moving large objects like a dresser, mini fridge, or crib (in pieces). These things simply won't fit in a sedan because they won't fit through the pass-through hole.
The sedan owners can bark all day long about their 6"s but a hatch back is simply more versitile.
...and don't forget about the roof rack. You can always strap a few duffle bags to the roof in between the cross bars....or you can buy a cargo box.
The one thing you need to remember is that the Protege5 has vertical space that more than makes up for the 6 inches that the sedan has. Especially when it comes to moving large objects like a dresser, mini fridge, or crib (in pieces). These things simply won't fit in a sedan because they won't fit through the pass-through hole.
The sedan owners can bark all day long about their 6"s but a hatch back is simply more versitile.
...and don't forget about the roof rack. You can always strap a few duffle bags to the roof in between the cross bars....or you can buy a cargo box.
Bob Loblaw
Member
- :
- 02 P5, 88 328is stroker
chuyler1 said:
Just wanted to say that I found this funny.
Sorry, back on topic now...!
