Any Other Cars?

james5377 · Dec 12, 2003

Hey Everyone,

I'm just curious as to what other cars did you consider before getting a P5? I considered the following....

Civic SI: Mini-minivan but it has a smooooth engine and transmission... almost bought one...

Subaru WRX: Damn fast.... Damn loud too...

Toyota Matrix: Eh... well... its an ok car... the stereo console makes me think that I'm getting a Minivan.

VW GTi or Jetta: Nice car but has extremely poor reliability records...

Pre-owned A4: Very nice car... powerful yet elegant.... hard to find a used one in excellent condition though....

So whats your options before getting a P5??

MadBiker · Dec 12, 2003

I had a '98 Mazda 626 (for the wife) and was looking to replace my v6 diamante (was a nice car but it was high maintenance and gas guzzler) when the p5 came out in '02.

The options I considered were:
used v6 manual '98 or 99 626
'01 protege sedan
used millenia (manual)

but then the p5 came out, it was instant love and purchased. Still in love with it!

viVid · Dec 12, 2003

I looked at a Honda Civic (everyone has them, very plain style), VW Jetta (again, everyone has them, hated the purple dash lights, found the 1.8L Turbo lacking), Toyota Prius (great milage, but overpriced, gutless and handles like s***), Subaru (funky looking, too much $$). I found the P5 to be the best 'bang' for the buck that looks nice and is an all-around great car.

bazooka joe · Dec 12, 2003

honda civic si also

RAAZ227 · Dec 12, 2003

Scooby....

Picking mine up tomorrow!

IchBinEinMP5 · Dec 12, 2003

Was considering the P5 and the SiR back almost a year ago, couldn't get a decent trade for my 98 Protege at Mazda so I went with the "great" deal from Honda...

Nine months later I traded the Sir in for the P5, with a check from Honda, a great trade in value from Mazda, and a good deal on a 2003 P5...

The Honda had a good motor (but it liked to eat oil), great shifter and tranny (when the cables didn't stretch or the syncro's screw up) and the seats (except when they creaked). Other than that the car was crap: no good suspension (tuning or quality), tires sucked, wheel size sucked, noises sucked...

My first and probably last Honda I will ever own. Don't buy them, there is good reason people like to modify them: They suck.

The 2003 Protege5 on the other hand is a great car.

If I could have afforded the Subaru WRX wagon, I would have bought it hands down though, even the TS, but still a lot more than the P5 (with higher financing and less trade in)

P-Funk! · Dec 12, 2003

I had a hard budget of $17K (needed to include two each fishing kayaks @ $3K and something to haul them) so iwas looking at:
1. Saturn Wagon - eh. Nothing to like about it. Plain/Jane. No roof rack. No 5 spd, and just blah.

2. Jetta Wagon or Legacy Not within budget

3. Hyundai or Esteem wagon - unavailable (Thank God!)

4. Focus Wagon - no roof rack, auto only, poor quality rep.

So really, there wsn't any thing to directly compare to the P5. AND i get a sunroof AND a roof rack?! Low % financing?! (wow)

Garvy on muh grits!!

peas! out! [guess i need to get some more...]

(werd)

Phoenix5 · Dec 12, 2003

WRX isn't loud.It's got a deep and burly sound to pipe but not to extent of trying to sound like a V8,which is cool!!!

kcbhiw · Dec 12, 2003

I was looking really hard at '99 or '00 Contour SVTs. The only thing that really bothered me was the possible occurance of oil starvation when cornering. I'd still love to have one, but I'm very happy with my P5.

RAAZ227 · Dec 12, 2003

IchBinEinMP5 said:
Was considering the P5 and the SiR back almost a year ago, couldn't get a decent trade for my 98 Protege at Mazda so I went with the "great" deal from Honda...

Nine months later I traded the Sir in for the P5, with a check from Honda, a great trade in value from Mazda, and a good deal on a 2003 P5...

The Honda had a good motor (but it liked to eat oil), great shifter and tranny (when the cables didn't stretch or the syncro's screw up) and the seats (except when they creaked). Other than that the car was crap: no good suspension (tuning or quality), tires sucked, wheel size sucked, noises sucked...

My first and probably last Honda I will ever own. Don't buy them, there is good reason people like to modify them: They suck.

The 2003 Protege5 on the other hand is a great car.

If I could have afforded the Subaru WRX wagon, I would have bought it hands down though, even the TS, but still a lot more than the P5 (with higher financing and less trade in)

SiR????? Did you build it with a H22A swap??? The Prelude and the Accord are the only ones with Cable Tranny? All the other D and B seris motors are Linkage.

matallama · Dec 12, 2003

Um, nothing was really comparable in the price range. Only test drove the P5 and bought it the same day.

Otherwise, might have gotten a PT Cruise. Also like the Jetta wagon, but would have to have the 1.8T engine - too expensive.

All the other small four door hatch/wagon variants out there were too lame.

KYREDP5 · Dec 12, 2003

I don't think I really even considered anything else. At least no new cars....

RaiderMS3 · Dec 12, 2003

I was looking at a Jetta Wagon. But then stumbled upon the P5 at the Mazda dealer while looking for a B3000. that was all it took. So much more style than the Jetta. and I love VW's. I guess the several grand difference in price also helped.

We ended up trading in our POS 2000 GMC Sonoma and got it paid off, and drove out with both the P5 and a B3000.

TwinHead · Dec 12, 2003

Hey all. First time writing anything.

Been visiting site for a while now and haven't got the chance to write.

But I guess I'll use this thread as an Icebreaker.

Looked at the Mini and Liberty before getting the P5.

I guess going with the P5...we went somewhere in between.

brucelee · Dec 12, 2003

i was on a tight budget too, <$15,000..so i didn't have many choices. what i did look into were civic, corolla, matrix, old impreza, old prelude, aerio (for a brief fleeting moment)...what else..i can't remember. i do remember tho seeing how just about everyone who had the car had something good to say. and reviews showed good things that fit to my taste...like good handling and style. and not too many people have them.
i dont think i could have gotten a better car in its class

taylor5 · Dec 12, 2003

others considered

1. Mini -Cooper (dealer in Winston-Salem sucks)
2. Elantra GT (friend beat me to it, and it has been a goody)
3. Civic Si (too strange looking)
4. VW Golf (Black VW/Cadillac in Greensboro screwed me before)
5. Protege' ES (needed more cargo room)

But overall, made the best choice with the P5!

FlannelBoy711 · Dec 12, 2003

1. 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT - Almost got it for 8.5k cause it looked real dirty and the front bumper was cracked, a friend is a dealer and goes to the ar auctions.
2. 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer - Good car, but flet too plain when I sat inside, 8.9k same guy.
3. 1998 Acura TL - So close to buying this, 7.7k with 50k, wouldn't start cause it needed a new battery and gas, next day, it was sold.
4. Saturn SC2 - Looks pretty nice, but when you drive in it ewwwww, it feels like your riding on a plastic go-kart.
And finally I went with the PR5, I first tried out a yellow one and it was awesome, my mother didnt like it, but it grew on her and she almost traded in her car(2001 Pontiac Azrek Gt) for one. So far I couldnt be ahppier, I love my car.

krazyrabbit · Dec 12, 2003

P-Funk! said:
I had a hard budget of $17K (needed to include two each fishing kayaks @ $3K and something to haul them) so iwas looking at:
1. Saturn Wagon - eh. Nothing to like about it. Plain/Jane. No roof rack. No 5 spd, and just blah.

2. Jetta Wagon or Legacy Not within budget

3. Hyundai or Esteem wagon - unavailable (Thank God!)

4. Focus Wagon - no roof rack, auto only, poor quality rep.

(werd)

I agree, except that the Hyundai GT hatch is a pretty good ride, they come with leather and other goodies standard, and their price comes in about the same as the discounted P5s. The things that really swung me to the Protege was that the re-sale value for Hyundai is still very low, long term reliability is still unknown, and the P5 is much sexier!

matallama · Dec 12, 2003

FlannelBoy711 said:
my mother didnt like it, but it grew on her and she almost traded in her car(2001 Pontiac Azrek Gt) for one.

Failed to trade in an Aztek on a P5? Your mother needs help

NCMP3 · Dec 12, 2003

I looked at these prior to the purchase of my MP3.

1) Integra Type-R - insurance to high for what it is.
2) Civic Si- couldn't find one in good enough shape to buy
3) Subaru-RS sedan- hard to find in blue
4) Ford Focus- I didnt like the feel of it.

Sorry I know that I dont own a Protege 5 But I just wanted to share.

Any Other Cars?

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