2002.5 changes to the Protege5

[dficken]

To bring back an old post...

I was checking out a "2002.5" today and I believe I saw another feature they added. A little light in the "trunk" area. You can flip it on and off. I don't recall seeing this is the pre-feb28th model. Is this correct or am i just smoking crack?

dficken.

 

[pr5owner]

Re: To bring back an old post...

I was checking out a "2002.5" today and I believe I saw another feature they added. A little light in the "trunk" area. You can flip it on and off. I don't recall seeing this is the pre-feb28th model. Is this correct or am i just smoking crack?

dficken.

you are on way too much crack, they all have the light in the truck, even 1997 models of the familia in JPN had that light LOL

 

[pr5owner]

Damn I forgot about the whole R gear. It comes in handy sometimes when I miss my exit on the freeway.

you have noting to worry about! you have an auto! it will automaticaly swich to R for you!

 

[lpsalsaman]

2002.5 Changes to the P5.

This whole thing about the trunk light is funny as a mf. Oh well, I guess people just don't check their cars through out. Hey, funny thing about the new shift knob. I went to the dealer here and just for curiosity, I asked how much it was. Dudes, this guy at the part department says to me; "It's $285.00". I said in disbelief "285 DOLLARS? Are you on something dude? Well, supposely this guy said that it is because is hand-made and something about limited production. Still, we all can get something better via aftermarket that is also brandname. The freaking Racing Harts for the MP3 are just 280 a piece. I'm sticking with my s***.

 

[Red Baron]

ACTUALLY believe it or not....in Canada its a LAW that its there!!

I'll check if it is or not a law up here. However, we have to have our headlights on at all times. It may sound weird, but it's as effective as the third break light to notice other drivers.

Really don't like the new wheels and cup holder. Shifter knob looks way too much like the one in my last two Civics, but the side blinker is a good idea, maybe a bit too big. Don't care at all for the tweeters, I prefer to listen to road noise and engine music. By the way, here in Canada our whells are painted silver, not polished, kinda sad but we have salted roads in winter and that can ruin the finish of any polished wheels in a flash.

 

[Baltopro5]

Both cup holders suck. I have the old ones and its great because you can cover up whatever you use your cuphloders for. (anything but cups. )

Also I don't get this clear side marker thing. I have met people that go out of there way to find clear side markers. Why? I don't think they look any better. I guess Mazda wanted to use them as a "selling feature". Now that I have seen the clear markers I am Glad I don't have them.(Nothing was wrong with the yellow/amber ones)

If they want a selling feature leave our cars alone and let these kick ass cars sell themselfs (Just like they have been!)

 

[cdglowp5]

On the 2002.5 protege 5's I think it looks very silly with the amber lights on the bumper and then on the fender a clear turn signal. Just wire the amber light to blink for making turns. I might do that with mine.

 

[markleung]

yeah me too! I think the cup holder is on our old model is better then the new one...... without door... u will find a lot of dirt hehe!

Wheel... yeah maybe it looks better on the new one... but I like mine also....

Mark

 

[dficken]

Is it possible to swap the new cup holder out with the old one? Or possibly create a lid for the new one?

 

[Sir Nuke]

Is it possible to swap the new cup holder out with the old one? Or possibly create a lid for the new one?

without actually poping the NEW style out and looking at it, I couldn't say for ABSOLUTE sure....HOWEVER>...one way to verify it would be to find out if the actual console for the 2005.5 has a different part number...seeing as how both parts SNAP into place in the console...if the console part numbers are IDENTICAL then the cup holders are interchangeable....

 

[mp3_moran]

I'm sorry, but if the part numbers were "IDENTICAL", than the parts would be too. Either both parts would have the door or both parts wouldn't.
In any case the center consoles will have different part#'s, but you'll probably have to wait a bit to get the part#'s for the 2002.5 parts, it takes a while before that information filters down to the dealerships.

 

[Sir Nuke]

I'll check if it is or not a law up here. However, we have to have our headlights on at all times. It may sound weird, but it's as effective as the third break light to notice other drivers.

here in Canada our whells are painted silver, not polished, kinda sad but we have salted roads in winter and that can ruin the finish of any polished wheels in a flash.

WELL I was told this be numerous canadians...so if its not true where you live..it may be a regional thing and not national...

as far as the lights...it IS a good thing...here in the states its law in many states for motorcycles....but not all....I have even installed driving lights on my harley and keep them on at all times as well....in fact you can't even turn the lights OFF on a bike here unless it a very old one..and I mean like pre-1975 or something like that.....

your wheels.....it shouldn't make any difference about the salted roads....for the factory polished wheels are CLEAR Powder Coated....just like the silver ones are SILVER Powder Coated....I think its just one of those things....I mean WHY do our cars in the US have roof racks and the Canadian ones don't? that really makes no sence either...nor the thing with the ABS....go figure. lol

 

[gb5mx]

2002.5 Protege5

Saw the new Protege5 the other day.

Yes, the new wheel design is available polished... the dealer had one in the lot.

The side-marker lights, I suppose, are intended to give the car a more European look. I do agree that having these AND the lower orange turn signals on the fender looks busy, but overall, I like the new markers. These appear to be the same as the side markers used on the MP3s last year except for the fact that they are clear vs. orange. Of course, the MP3 had different headlights with the turn signals incorporated into them, which explains the extra lights on the Protege5.

Another change is the availability of black LEATHER from the factory. This option only costs $490 (US)! Looks good and very inexpensive.

I don't quite understand the comments about the color of the cup-holder surround on the center console. When I saw it, it appeared to match the rest of the console just fine. I do like the look of the covered cupholders on my "older" Protege5. I imagine this shaved a few bucks off the production costs for the car (fewer parts, less labor). Not a huge deal, though, as I still think the Protege has one of the nicest interiors in its class.

The new Sportshift Automatic looks good. I have a 5-speed, but think this really adds to the appearance of the interior of the automatics. The shift knob is two-tone black and grey leather, like the shifter on the MP3. Seems odd that the Autos get the two-tone shift knob but the manuals get the black leather. I'll keep the plastic ball that came with my car... I think it looks good and I like the small size of the knob.

I have a spun-aluminum Voodoo shifter on my Miata that screws right on to the Protege shifter... might need to get one of these for the P5. It's a round knob, comes in spun/polished, black, chrome, and a cool "pearl" effect (machined aluminum with clear powdercoat) and are very affordable at around $35. They also make one out of billet titanium, but these are a lot more money.