Considering buying Protege5

[RatLabGuy]

Hello guys. Time has come for me to get myself a "new" car, and seriously considering a Protege5. Too bad they aren't made anymore!
for me this will be an everyday DD, 75-80% highway. I like tight handlin gand the "zippy" feeling... but not interested in building a 12 second car or anything, just want something fun to drive. Def want a 5 spd.

Anyhow, a few Q's for you guys.
From the gas mileage post here I'm seein galot of different averages, I can only assume that's from diff erent mods, trannies, and driving styles. Q is, would it be safe to expect around 27 mpg or so? I'd rather go conservative, then be surpised later (ughdance). I currently get cosistently >31-33 w/ my 5spd '95 Tracer so i'm a bit sketchy on losing much.

Pep? I drove one the other day, fun car, but was a little underwhelmed w/ the motor/kick... just a little surprised. But A/C was on too. 130 hp stock isn't a rocket by any means. If it bugs me later... will the simple stuff like headers/AFM etc net some extra HP, or are these things already tweaked enough stock that it takes alot more work/$$$ to ad more pep? Again, I'm not after a pocket rocket.

Space... i'm one of those "young family" guys, w/ a 21 m/o son. i really like smaller cars but i' ma little concerned about space later. Anybody here w/ a carseat in the back - can an adult still comfortably sit back there? Wife and I are not large people (5'9" and 5'1") so we do't exactly take up alot of space, just wondering. And on that note - can you get a whole ton of stuff in the trunk/rear?

When out shopping for one - what sort of little things to look for? Every car/model has those little things that tend to fail/get goofy/etc. just hoping for some advice ahead of the game here.
Ideally I'd like to get one w/ a warranty, any advice here since they're at best 3 years old?

While i plan/hope to get a wrranty and not have to worry for a very long time - what's it liek to work on these vehicles? I' maccustomed to doin geverything myself, from maintanance to repairs. Tired of it all teh time, hence the need for a new car. My meterstick - how many different size sockets could you possibly need to do most repairs on the vehicle? My old 4Runenr is only like 3-4 for everything. I love that.

Now i know thsi is a loaded question... but the other car i'm considering right now is a Subary Impreza (not WRX) 2.5i. Any comments on comparisons, or (even better) anybody own both?

If I go this route I have about 10-11k to drop on it cash w/o messing w/ loan. Think it's feasible for an '03?

Thanks guys!
Dave

 

[Demoniam]

Welcome to the site!
I'm a pretty new mp5er, and I absolutely love mine!
If you do a search of the forums, you can get a lot of info for your questions. Not trying to sound anal here, but New-to-the-forum folks come here every week (I was one of them...4 weeks ago) and ask the same Questions..

1. 27 mpg is a safe estimate. of course manuals > auto, hwy > city, et c...
2. As far as I've read...if you want real power from a p5, you gotta go turbo. The NA mods will get you some get-up-and-go.
3. Grea for a small family. We test fitted our car seat the other day and it was good. I'm a fat dude, and was comfortable in the back with the carseat. Trunk is not huge, but the travel system stroller will easily go in.


...sorry, wife is bitching at me...gotta run

 

[Kansei]

yay welcome to the forums!!

I've gotten 36mpg on the highway but I average 28-30 with half highway half city and pretty agressive driving.

As for power, as Demoniam said without turboing you can't get a lot more out of our engines. You can go the intake/header/midpipe/catback route, but I wouldn't recommend the header or midpipe with the family. A Racing Beat catback gives the car a nice purr without making it much (if any) louder. Things like an ECU or new cams are ways to get more power out of our cars without making them overly loud, but then you're dealing with using premium fuel (ecu) or a lot of labor (cams).

I don't know how much power my car is making (haven't dynoed) but I know it feels a bit quicker than a friend's Protege that I drove. That being said, I have sunk thousands into it and for the money I could easily have purchased a used turbo kit. I'd recommend doing a couple little mods (intake, catback, maybe an underdrive pulley) and seeing if you are satisfied with the power. The A/C can definitely have an effect on it too.

As for things to look for. If it is a 2003, check and see if it has had the recall service done. There was an issue on some 2003 models where little screws in the intake manifold came loose (search on here for "vics screw" for more info) and they could really damage stuff in the combustion chamber. Other than that, I'd say check for rust where the rear bumper meets the rear fender just behind the rear wheels. You may see paint bubbling, caused by the rust underneath about to come through. A repaint is covered under warranty but the repaint just masks the problem and doesn't really solve it. If I was going to do it again, I'd get an undercoating before risking rust.

Good luck finding a Protege5. They seem to sell very fast in the used car market, but don't let the dealerships rip you off. I paid 10,999 (after a 2k discount for some holiday weekend) in 2004 for my 2002.5 (manufactured June 2002) with just 15k miles on it, and that was their asking price, I didn't haggle at all. I see places charging a lot more than that now for cars with 3x the mileage I had.

 

[gtnissanfan]

Now i know thsi is a loaded question... but the other car i'm considering right now is a Subary Impreza (not WRX) 2.5i. Any comments on comparisons, or (even better) anybody own both?

Here's a bunch of links I collected when researching the Protege5 (I bought one a few weeks ago). In short, I think it's an excellent fun-to-drive, economical, good-looking, well-made car. I think most people on this forum will agree. I didn't really consider the Subaru because of the lower EPA-rated mpg and higher price, but I'm sure someone around here can do a good comparison for you.

Overviews
Edmunds.com 2003 Protege5 Overview

Automotive.com 2002 Protege5

Car and Driver Protege5 Overview

Automobile Magazine 2002-2003 Protege5 Overview

Consumer Guide 1999-2003 Protege Overview

MSN Autos 2003 Protege5 Overview


In-Depth Reviews/Test Drives
Canadian Driver 2003 Protege5 Test Drive

Cars.com Vehicle Profile

Edmunds Inside Line 2002 Protege5 First Drive

AutoWeek 2002 Protege5


Comparison Tests
Edmunds 2002-2003 Compact Wagon Comparison Test

MotorTrend "The Next Bandwagons"

Car and Driver "Boxes, Size Small"

 

[stdntDrvr]

i've got an '03 i'll sell for 10K

5-speed w/ moonroof

 

[Mike R]

Rear legroom is pretty good. I fit fine in the back and I'm 5'11". One of the reasons I liked the car. The milage isn't all that great. I get an average of 30-32 mpg with mostly highway milage. On trips the milage drops to as low as 23. I hate the motor mounts. Anytime the A/C compressor kicks in the car jerks, and low speed driving (city) with the 5 speed sucks. Not too much cargo area in the back, and for trips with my 2 girls and wife I needed to get a roof box.

 

[LilPixieMama75]

Hello guys. Time has come for me to get myself a "new" car, and seriously considering a Protege5. Too bad they aren't made anymore!
for me this will be an everyday DD, 75-80% highway. I like tight handlin gand the "zippy" feeling... but not interested in building a 12 second car or anything, just want something fun to drive. Def want a 5 spd.

Anyhow, a few Q's for you guys.
From the gas mileage post here I'm seein galot of different averages, I can only assume that's from diff erent mods, trannies, and driving styles. Q is, would it be safe to expect around 27 mpg or so? I'd rather go conservative, then be surpised later (ughdance). I currently get cosistently >31-33 w/ my 5spd '95 Tracer so i'm a bit sketchy on losing much.

Pep? I drove one the other day, fun car, but was a little underwhelmed w/ the motor/kick... just a little surprised. But A/C was on too. 130 hp stock isn't a rocket by any means. If it bugs me later... will the simple stuff like headers/AFM etc net some extra HP, or are these things already tweaked enough stock that it takes alot more work/$$$ to ad more pep? Again, I'm not after a pocket rocket.

Space... i'm one of those "young family" guys, w/ a 21 m/o son. i really like smaller cars but i' ma little concerned about space later. Anybody here w/ a carseat in the back - can an adult still comfortably sit back there? Wife and I are not large people (5'9" and 5'1") so we do't exactly take up alot of space, just wondering. And on that note - can you get a whole ton of stuff in the trunk/rear?

When out shopping for one - what sort of little things to look for? Every car/model has those little things that tend to fail/get goofy/etc. just hoping for some advice ahead of the game here.
Ideally I'd like to get one w/ a warranty, any advice here since they're at best 3 years old?

While i plan/hope to get a wrranty and not have to worry for a very long time - what's it liek to work on these vehicles? I' maccustomed to doin geverything myself, from maintanance to repairs. Tired of it all teh time, hence the need for a new car. My meterstick - how many different size sockets could you possibly need to do most repairs on the vehicle? My old 4Runenr is only like 3-4 for everything. I love that.

Now i know thsi is a loaded question... but the other car i'm considering right now is a Subary Impreza (not WRX) 2.5i. Any comments on comparisons, or (even better) anybody own both?

If I go this route I have about 10-11k to drop on it cash w/o messing w/ loan. Think it's feasible for an '03?

Thanks guys!
Dave

Over the Summer, I took a trip up to VA and was getting 35mpg on the highway. I was really impressed. I usually get about 25 - 28 mpg around town.

As for room...I have three kids ages: 10, 7, & 3. It's a little tight in the back for all three to sit with my 3 yr old's car seat, so my oldest sits in the front. They all had plenty of room then and all our stuff fit in the back with no problems on all our trips over the Summer. Plus I also do all the grocery shopping for us (it depends but goes from 4 of us to 7 of us to shop for) and I have no problem fitting all our stuff in the back. I am still impressed with the amount of stuff I can stick back there. I also have transported all my rims with tires in the back after having the new rims & tires put on.

I have also had two adults ride in the back with my boyfriend & I in the front. I'm 5'4" & he's about 5'7" our passengers were my Brother (who is about 5'6") & SIL (who is about 6'). They were quite comfortable back there. I have even sat back there when all the male "Motorheads" were test driving my car before I bought it to make sure it was acceptable for me. LOL! I was impressed with the room.

Mine is my daily driver and a good portion of the time, I am traveling with two car seats in the back (I watch my 10 week old nephew during the week). Some days I need to pick up my boyfriend's 5 yr old son from school and hit fits just fine in between the two car seats. Thank goodness he's a skinny thing! LOL!

Being a mother of three, I have no complaints on the amount of room in my car. I have had it since April and am very happy with it.

 

[Kansei]

^^ I love reading people's stories about how much use they get out of their Protege5s. 99% of the time I'm the only person in mine but I do use it to haul stuff from time to time, usually my mountainbike when I don't feel like taking the 3 minutes it takes to swap the roof rack back on

 

[ZZZOOM!]

Our carseat fits in back of my 5 without any problem and I have it in there regularly. The only complaint that I have is that you cannot put the car seat in the middle...it has to be on one side. Its easier to access the carseat but the middle is safer if you get a side impact. Unlike my wife's 04 Subaru forester that you can put the car seat anywhere. If you have two carseats then it does not matter. Make sure you like the ride before you buy. The 5 is stiffer than a stock non-wrx impreza would be. But of course the 5 handles much better. I would have bought another subaru if I was going to finance though. You are stock at 160hp (2.5) and they are peppy with a 5spd. The AWD wears tires but its fairly efficient and nice to have. I got 32mpg with the forester. In the snow subies are unstoppable. I have not taken a big trip with the 5 yet. For family stuff the optional ABS and side impact airbags are good to have.

As far as mods I have only done the OBX header on stock pipes so far and it did make a difference.

 

[Protege52003]

my baby's car seat fits better in my P5 than my Jetta......the front seat in both have to be moved up a little becasue the seat is facing backwards now. makes the room an little tight for the passenger in the front seat. my wife is short and it is tight for her, especially in the jetta.........

-R

 

[Diehonda]

header, intake, exhaust and peppy enough for me.

Two car seats and room is not an issue. I sold my jetta for my P5 and love the transition as the hatch fits a lot and the seats fold down nicely.

Gas mileage. 80% highway and drive it like a rental from time to time due to everyone on the expressway thinking that they are in nascar. I get 31mpg consistantly but I also live in an area that doesn't have the crappy reformulated gasoline. When I go to "the big city" where i work and get gas my mileage drops to 28 which isn't that bad.

 

[Kansei]

^^^ hehehe "drive it like a rental". I haven't heard that phrase used before but it's so good!

 

[RatLabGuy]

Thanks guys. It sounds like this car would fit my needs nicely.
I'll keep you posted as I continue to research...

one question. Anybody here own/have owned a Mazda6, esp teh 4 cyl 5spd?
If I can score a deal on an '03 or '04, I'm also leaning in that way.
Quickly leanin gaway from teh Impreza b/c of the lower MPGs (as mentioned), also it looks liek finding a used 2.5i is damn near impossible anyway.

 

[ZZZOOM!]

^^^ hehehe "drive it like a rental". I haven't heard that phrase used before but it's so good!

Well ya know NOTHING out performs a rental in off road capability or trying e-brake sliding techniques. They even land well when you catch air. They must fix up the cars before they rent them I don't know.


When its hard to find a used car there is a good reason for it. People don't get rid of them! But cool! You will be happy with the P-5. I didn't think of the rear facing car seat glad someone mentioned it.

 

[Katya4me]

Thanks guys. It sounds like this car would fit my needs nicely.
I'll keep you posted as I continue to research...

one question. Anybody here own/have owned a Mazda6, esp teh 4 cyl 5spd?
If I can score a deal on an '03 or '04, I'm also leaning in that way.
Quickly leanin gaway from teh Impreza b/c of the lower MPGs (as mentioned), also it looks liek finding a used 2.5i is damn near impossible anyway.

I can't add much other than having a friend who had an Impreza wagon and traded it in for a P5 and she says there is more cargo space in the P5, but that w/ the seats folded up, there is more cargo space in their Protege sedan than the P5. My mom has a Forester and she bought a rooftop cargo carrier that will fit the P5 as well for times that a lot of extra space is needed, otherwise it suits my needs very well.

 

[Protege52003]

A pic of my son in the back of my P5.
My wife is 5' 3" and fits in the front fine.

-R

 

[Demoniam]

A pic of my son in the back of my P5.
My wife is 5' 3" and fits in the front fine.

-R

Is that the Graco Metrolite travel system?

How well does the stroller fit in the back? We're thinking of getting that same style!

 

[RatLabGuy]

Thanks for the pic.
5' 3" is not a tall person...
However, we had the same problem w/ our '97 Saturn as well.
But... our son is now old/big enough that teh seat is facing forward, so not an issue any more.
At least for the next couple of year, lol.

Noticed the mention of not being able to put the car seat in the middle seat. Why not? Is there no middle seat belt??? Or just no "latch system" nifty straps there? I don't think either of our car seats even havet he Latch do-jobs, none of our current cars have it so we didn't really care at the time.

interesting note about the impreza having more room w/ seats folded. What gives w/ that? Do the P5 seats not fold very flat or something?
if need to really carry along of crap around, I'll just use my old topless 4Runner.
BTW i'm def in the market for one of these now, in case anybody has a lead on one in the NC area.

 

[RatLabGuy]

oh, another random question.
I'd really like to get an extended warranty, esp since teh newest ones are now 3 years old and a min of about 30k miles. While it'd be ideal to find one where somebody has already paid, I figure chances aren't so good.
Anybody know what the options are here? I knwo w/ some auto companies, if the car is still under warranty you can still go to a dealer and pay for an extension. Does Mazda do this? And how long is the original, just so i know?
If anotehr dealer has one - is it crazy to pay for a waranty from a non-Mazda dealer.... hoe does that work? Unf the dealer here in town is not being very helpful or going out of their way to find me one.

 

[Demoniam]

Where are you in NC...
and why have you not traveled over to carolinamazdas.com?

Had you posted 2 weeks ago, there was a great red 03 in Raleigh...Check craigslist.com and autotrader for some good local deals!