At what point do you call it a day with your Protege5

[ghettoracingkid]

So I think ive been getting the itch for a new car or at least a new to me car.

I am the original owner of a 2002 Silver (yes the faster one) Protege5.

I now have 2005XX miles on it.

I just had the front right wheel bearign replaced.

I need to repalce the right rear caliper but its covered undeer the autozone warranty (so they say over the phone)

I also need 4 new tires and an alignment

So do I put the little bit of money in it or do I just fix the caliper and drive it until i find something new.

I always loved Miatas and I think I got the wife convinced to let me get on. she thinks they are too small and what not.

I am a bigger guy so i sort of do look funny in one but I love driving them. And maybe it will give me more motivation to lose some wait.

As far as the miata I was thinking of 6 spd with bose from 99- 2006. Or do I go with a pre 97.

Money is tight but getting better.

So the question is after all that. At what point do you call it a day with a car and move on?

 

[pureliquidhw]

put the money into the P5 and keep it as a winter beater. Buy the miata too, or at least save up for it. Car prices don't go up (in general) so the longer you wait the better, so if money is a little tight now, wait until you have 5K to throw at a used miata.

I'm doing the same thing Once I turn 25 in april 2010 I will be buying a MS Miata or an s2K depending on price and availability. insurance down # of cars up.

 

[ghettoracingkid]

I was looking around and dont feel like spending a few grand on a car I actually dont want. I love the 99 and on until the just changed it.

I think Im going to stop in and see my cousin and ask him if he gets a trade in of a miata with teh 6spd and bose from 99 -07 with in my price range ill go for it.

I would hate to get rid of my P5. I love that damn thing. 200,000 is alot of miles to put on the car by your self.

 

[Sveivo]

Everyone has a different value system and different needs. People get "new" cars on a whim, but not me. But most people can't afford them either and have a lot of debt.

I've taken exceptional care of this car, and it is still fun to drive, and I will probably continue to mod it here and there.

The issues you are describing are extremely minor, and frankly your argument is a bit childish. I personally would not let it go for those reasons. Fix the car, stop obsessing and just drive it.

 

[Flash5]

for me its going to be when i have the money to get a new one lol, that and when i can find something out there that tops everything thats positive about the p5.

 

[widgit117]

Honestly for me my next car is already picked. Corvette. I will keep my P5 as my putt around but my next car is a Corvette. Either a C6 or a C5 Z06. Gotta keep the P5 dude, if your used Mazda dies than what would you do?

 

[RABID_MP5]

Well the Miatas are great, no doubt. But there basically is no car with less space. I've hauled so much with the P5 I can't tell you. It's just so practical. So a major question is whether you need the utility. The P5 will definitely deliver.

 

[solidtrance]

I can definitely understand your thoughts. The P5 I had was the first car I ever had that I never wanted to get ride of. For all the same reasons you cited in your OP. My decision was made easier for me, when my wife got hit by a truck, which totaled the P5 I had. I got her a Speed 6, but up until that point I was going to keep the 5 for a winter car. As for advice, go drive the Miata and see if you like it as much as the P5. As already mentioned they are really small, but if you keep the P5 who cares. You can get a great used 8 these days, and the newer (06's-now) miata's are made on the same chassis as the 8 I think. I think the P5 shares a lot of its appeal with both the miata and the 8. They are all not so great in a strait line, but shine when you take the (twisty) back roads. Just try to find something that you love as much as the P5, and don't worry what others think of your decision.

 

[alexelie]

go try a s2000, they look so hawt! dont know what you are willing to pay but you can get one for cheap 2000-2003.they have 9 grand red line, 240hp from 2,0L.

sorry im a honda fan

 

[bgibb68]

keep the p5 as a daily....or untill it gets totaled or falls apart...that's my plan

 

[judman13]

Wow over 200k...at least you have gotten your moneys with out of it. I agree with most of the other guys. Put a little money into it and keep it running nice. Save the other moneys till it dies then reward yourself with something even nicer.

Thats my logic however flawed it maybe.

 

[aMaff]

For me it happened when I drove another car that just spoke my language. Doesn't make a lot of sense so I'll elaborate:

My first car that I could truly call my own was a 1991 Mercury Tracer that was 4 different colors w/ an SOHC 1.9 L motor. Slowest. Car. Ever.

When it came time to buy a 'real' car about half way through college, I test drove EVERYTHING in my price range (around 10K). Eclipses, civics, lancers, corollas and a few others I can't think of off hand. Everything. Then I stumbled over the P5. It had a s*** load of space, was pretty fun to drive, felt really taught and though I really wasn't much of a driver compared to today (in terms of skill level, 4 years of autoxing will do that), it just felt right. The car and I were just on the same page. So I bought the P5.

Fast forward to a couple years later, graduated, have my own place, not paying a ton for rent and able to save money for a dedicated autoxer. I started co-driving a few friends' cars. MSPs, Civics, an SRT4, and then a buddy's CSP Miata. I knew then and there that I needed some of that in my life lol. That started a long search for the right miata. Found one for a good price (knowing I was going to tear into it anyway), test drove it, and again, the car just spoke to me. So I bought the Miata.

Fast forward again to last summer. Some friends of mine (Rogue and RacerXGirl for you forum types) were getting married in Savanna. I was driving down and splitting a hotel room w/ a buddy who had an S2k. Should we drive my Protege or the S2000 down there? Riiiiiight... yeah we took the S. He had a bum knee so by the time we got to Macon he was in some pain. After a lunch stop, I was in the driver's seat. And man on man, the S2000 just spoke to me. Handled like no other stock car I'd ever driven, revved to the moon, pulled like a freight train and was just completely awesome. And I needed some of that in my life haha. Couple months later, traded in the P5 since I've got my own place now and am single, I don't really need something with a ton of room, and got the S2000. Do I miss the P5? Sometimes. Then I drive the S2k and suddenly...not so much anymore.


So... now that I've reminisced...that's my schpeal on 'when to call it a day' on a car. When you find something that just makes you all warm and tingly and plasters a huge ass smile on your face.

 

[ghettoracingkid]

nice post amaff.

So here is the update. Im still on teh fence on buying something.

I went to see my cousin and mentioned I was looking for a miata. He did have 1 on the lot i think it was a 2006. not a fan of that body style.

We got to talking and I told him I was either looking for a 99-05 or a pre 97. stick and what not. he said well we have a 2004 (he thinks) stick and what not. the deal was made yesterday. and he also has another coming in. a first gen also stick. he is going to call me once he gets the price. should be in a week or so.

I also found a 2004 on craigslist for 2700. I think something is up becuase it has like 30,000 miles. too low if you ask me. Im going to run a car fax on it when I can.

as far as the P5. I dont know what to do. I have 2 dogs that I bring to my parents house on the weekends (10 miles away) but thats only becuase I dont want to worry about them while im gone all day.

So I basiclly use the P5 to commute back and forth to work. from Long Island to New Jersey. Im hoping in a few months I will be working 15 minutes up the road.

As far as the utility. The wife has a 2005 6 and and anything we really need to move or haul should fit in there. Im probably done with hauling large goods like I have in the past and when I chill with my freinds I usually dont drive becuase some of them dont like being in a car that is stick and my best freinds have a kid so we take there auto.

I dont know if I should sell it, trade it in, hold on to it.

I think it will mostly depend on the insurance factor. If its cheap enough to keep ill keep both and have the p5 for bad weather and the miata all the other times. or until im comfortable enough with the miata on a daily basis no matter the weather.

BTW, Ive driven many miatas, I used to swap new cars from dealership to dealership for my uncles dealership. loads of fun driving new cars all day to pick up a new car. and I got paid $10 an hour. Who lost out on that one. Did i mention my chic drove with me and sometimes picked u pa car with me??