Any Other Cars?

[P510]

I was looking at getting the Scion xB because its price, but with the insentives they have right now for the P5, i HAD to get one. I tried to get one about 1.5 years ago but was too far upside down in the car I owned at the time. The P5 was the only thing I could think of the would replace my Miata for a daily driver and still be fun.

 

[scarmiglio]

I drove the Matrix xr. It wasn't a bad car, but I couldn't find a comfortable seating position. The pedals were too close and the steering wheel too far away. I had to lean forward to reach the shifter (I'm 6'4").

I also drove a WRX wagon. I loved the boost, but couldn't get past the headlights (in 2002) and the additional cost ($6000+).

I test drove the P5 twice and the second time they had a no payments for 6 months and 0% interest for 4 years with no money down. It was too good to pass up.

It helped that the P5 came with Leather and a nicer interior than the Matrix or the Subie (imho). I also think that the P5 handles better than either of those cars. Both the Matrix and the WRX were a little too disconnected and floaty. I like that the P5 lets you feel the road.

 

[kolashaker]

Before my last car kicked the bucket (a 94 Sentra) I had my heart set on a VW GTI 20 AE, but it ended up being too expensive for my budget at the time ($16000), plus a friend of mine has a 337 and my sis owns a Golf. I guess I wanted to be different and stay within my budget...

I always liked the P5 ever since I first laid eyes on it, so I knew ultimately that was the car I was gonna get if I didn't get a GTI. One test drive, price below invoice and 0% financing sealed the deal, not to mention the Pro's reliability record. But on top of all of that I love the way this car handles--nothing even compares to this car in this price range in terms of good looks and fun to drive factor.

I still love VWs, though. I'll be sneaking glances at the R32 (and my bank account) when it comes around to the States .

 

[FlannelBoy711]

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

Yea, but doesnt everybodys parents? ? I really love the Aztek, I had to use it for a couple of months and it was so amazing. The leather was beautiful, 6 Cd player, The little options, shows ur oil life, gas mileage per tank, sunroof was cool, heads up display, and the radio controls on the steering wheel.

 

[leungwingkei]

I looked at the Ferrari Enzo, then at the Pagani Zonda 7.3s, then at the Mercedes AMG CL65, then realized I had a tight budget, so got the P5. =)

 

[Action Jackson]

Focus ZX5
Elantra GT
Sentra SE-R SpecV
Imprezza Wagon
Protege ES w/ GT pkg, Golf
Acura 1.7 EL [Canada only model]

 

[2True]

I actually bought the Mazda 6s originally. It turned out be a "factory reject" of sorts but did not qualify for recall. So my Mazda dealership gave me a break and put me into a 2003.5 P5 for basically nothing. Not a bad deal in retrospect, but I sorely miss the that V6 power band.
The P5 is growing on me, slowly but surely.

 

[mikeyb]

We really were not looking for a new car when we bought the P5. We traded a 01 Eclipse GT Premuim Package in for it. The payment went from the high 300 to 299 a month. The dealer gave us 18k for the GT.

 

[mikeyb]

Focus ZX5
Elantra GT
Sentra SE-R SpecV
Imprezza Wagon
Protege ES w/ GT pkg, Golf
Acura 1.7 EL [Canada only model]

Acura 1.7 EL = rebadged Civic with leather and stickon wood interior trim. It doesn't look to bad.

 

[Action Jackson]

Acura 1.7 EL = rebadged Civic with leather and stickon wood interior trim. It doesn't look to bad.

Almost. I help to moderate one of the discussion lists for the EL.

It's definitely fake woody trim.

Plus it comes with a bit of a body kit, revised front and rear, originally had the chrome accents on the interior as stock trim, 15 spoke alloy wheels, slightly faster steering ratio and 4 wheel disc ABS and the 127 vs. 117 hp engine.

And also has better NVH insulation over the Civic.

The problem for this car now is that the 127hp Civic Sedan is out.

I'm impressed that the some of the US folks have heard about the EL.

 

[Mike R]

Mercury Marauder, but the MPG was too low and I needed a smaller car than my 91 Marquis. Was thinking Honda Civic, but I liked the looks of the P5 better.

Still want a Marauder though. Just not very fast for a 300HP vic.

 

[mikeyb]

Almost. I help to moderate one of the discussion lists for the EL.

It's definitely fake woody trim.

Plus it comes with a bit of a body kit, revised front and rear, originally had the chrome accents on the interior as stock trim, 15 spoke alloy wheels, slightly faster steering ratio and 4 wheel disc ABS and the 127 vs. 117 hp engine.

And also has better NVH insulation over the Civic.

The problem for this car now is that the 127hp Civic Sedan is out.

I'm impressed that the some of the US folks have heard about the EL.

I live 4 hours from the Canadian border and a lot of Canadians come to the Coast on vacation.

 

[chuyler1]

Mercury Marauder, but the MPG was too low and I needed a smaller car than my 91 Marquis. Was thinking Honda Civic, but I liked the looks of the P5 better.

Still want a Marauder though. Just not very fast for a 300HP vic.

I replaced my 90 Grand Marquis with my P5. I loved the look of the Marauder but having a manual tranny was on the top of my list. I looked into (in order of preference)

* Subaru (the only wagon in my price range wasn't worth it)
* Used Audi (still too expensive, couldn't find any standards)
* Jetta (V6 was too pricey, and the 4 banger didn't stand up to the P5.)
* Matrix/Vibe (coudn't stand the interior, too expensive to get AWD...and I wasn't going to buy one w/o it)

I drove the P5 and knew right away it was the car for me. Plus I could splurg for a moon roof, abs, and leather and still come in under my budget.

 

[RAAZ227]

Not sure....when I bought the MP5 I wasnt looking for a wagon. That was accually the last thing I wanted. But then I kept looking at it and it felt more like a hatch to me. Then a year ago I almost traded it in on a WRX wagon.

 

[james5377]

I actually bought the Mazda 6s originally. It turned out be a "factory reject" of sorts but did not qualify for recall. So my Mazda dealership gave me a break and put me into a 2003.5 P5 for basically nothing. Not a bad deal in retrospect, but I sorely miss the that V6 power band.
The P5 is growing on me, slowly but surely.

Factory rejects? Is there really something like this?? Just curious...

Yup... I agree with you.... I like my P5 more as days go on especially when I just pass the break in period... love it ... love it... love it...

 

[2True]

Factory rejects? Is there really something like this?? Just curious...

That's why I put it in quotes, it wasn't really a reject, just had sooo many damn problems the 3 months I owned it. The final straw was when the fuel pump busted and poured gasoline all over the place and my wife declared it a safety hazard and would not allow my daughter in it.

Learned to never buy a car its first year out though

 

[IchBinEinMP5]

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.

Sorry to correct but the new 2002+ Civic SiR (Si in the US) are cable shifted...

 

[IchBinEinMP5]

Oh yeah, the first time around I had also been considering the 2002 Dodge Neon R/T... I must say that it REALLY could move compared to the P5, MP3, or SiR. It also handled a lot better than the SiR. Test drove one 3 times, for about 300kms and 48 hours worth, had the dealer to bare bones and 0% financing for 60 months but just couldn't get by the idea of potentially poor reliability (go figure that the Honda was worse than I imagined a Dodge to be) and the power windows were only in the front. That is about all that stopped me...

In fact the salesman is giving me an SRT-4 overnight when they get one in because he believes he'll sell me a Dodge yet. I am just looking forward to driving it, should be a blast...