Dissapointed with the 5-sp.

[New Phase!]

I honestly have question about the clutch as in which one is heavy, I guess I have to test drive both again to tell. (Dealer would love me to death if I get a P5 off their hands).

Engine noise. I believe Mazda would try to reduce the noise on the Mz3 than P5 simply because that would be what the majority of the targeted market appreipated. (less road noise)

RHAGEL - not try to disagree with you but seems to me your disappointment is mainly personal perference and which is quiet different from what Mz3 is intended for. It's good points that you brought up.

 

[New Phase!]

OT: does all Protege share the same steering structure (I mean among different trims/ or ever P5)?

 

[M3-GT]

Don't want to sound annoying but the majority of people that seems to complain about the 3 are protege owners....So it seems everybody is happy.

Protege owners can stick with their protege and the 3 owners can appreciate the new car.

(yawn)

 

[M3-GT]

It drives like a ford, smooth and liquid not the proteges quick and responsive feel.

Drives like a Ford? We haven't driven the same 3 then.....

 

[New Phase!]

Don't want to sound annoying but the majority of people that seems to complain about the 3 are protege owners....So it seems everybody is happy.

Protege owners can stick with their protege and the 3 owners can appreciate the new car.

(yawn)

I notice that too I wonder...

on the other post about 2.3 badges, some protege owner said: "I am glad that we don't have it on pro".... hum....

seems like everything about the 3 is a step back from a Protege owner....

 

[RHAGEL]

Drives like a Ford? We haven't driven the same 3 then.....

ok, that is kinda harsh, I was thinking more along the lines of one particular thunderbird SC I drove. The steering in many fords seem so smooth and easy to turn, they do not seem to let you "feel" the road. Its all good though, my comments are completely my own opinion. One day I will be the CEO maybe director of operations or vice president for marketing for Mazda and I can make some decisions for my own. (yeah right) Well maybe, as soon as I am done with my Bachelors in Marketing next year, I am definately going to apply to Mazda. I live about 10 min away from MNAO (Mazda North American Operations) in Irvine and that puts me in a good place to apply. I also have ford, lincoln,mercury, volvo, aston martin, jaguar, lexus, hyundai, toyota, damler chrysler and about 80% of the aftermarket headquarters within driving distance from my appt. (Anybody jealous?) Im not trying to rub it in, but so. cali is the s***. Some expensive s*** I might add.

 

[RHAGEL]

To Levitron, what do you think about your slush box? I thought the automatic in the 3 was awsome. Smooth, quick shifts and the manumatic (or whatever mazda calls it) is pretty cool. I think I would miss my 5-sp too much though. My fiance would never let me keep my Pro if I got a 3. Oh well.

 

[Patio]

the p5 was labeled sport wagon by mazda, whatever thats suppose to mean

 

[Levitron]

To Levitron, what do you think about your slush box? I thought the automatic in the 3 was awsome. Smooth, quick shifts and the manumatic (or whatever mazda calls it) is pretty cool. I think I would miss my 5-sp too much though. My fiance would never let me keep my Pro if I got a 3. Oh well.

It's good enough for everyday driving....the first 3 gears shift fast, so you tend to end up in 4th pretty quickly. And like you said, smooth shifts.

It's pretty good...I like it. I still wish I got stick though...but like you, I'm not the only one who drives the car (well, right now I am the only one).

 

[M3-GT]

It's good enough for everyday driving....the first 3 gears shift fast, so you tend to end up in 4th pretty quickly. And like you said, smooth shifts.

It's pretty good...I like it. I still wish I got stick though...but like you, I'm not the only one who drives the car (well, right now I am the only one).

Make them learn to drive standard!....hell that's what I did with my girlfriend and last year she bought her car with a standard tranny and no automatic....Automatic on a 4 banger? Ground for a divorce

 

[RHAGEL]

I do have to get my fiance to drive stick, I am just procrastinating. I tried to teach her on my last car (94' 626 V-6) and when we got on the freeway, she put the car in first instead of third. She nearly blew the head off the block. Luckily the car had hydraulic lifters so there were no pushrods to break. I swear the tach hit the bottom of the dial. It scared the s*** out of me. I was drunk so that was the only reason that she was driving.

 

[M3-GT]

I do have to get my fiance to drive stick, I am just procrastinating. I tried to teach her on my last car (94' 626 V-6) and when we got on the freeway, she put the car in first instead of third. She nearly blew the head off the block. Luckily the car had hydraulic lifters so there were no pushrods to break. I swear the tach hit the bottom of the dial. It scared the s*** out of me. I was drunk so that was the only reason that she was driving.

OMG...I can imagine the ordeal!

 

[RHAGEL]

It is an ordeal, but if she learns than that will lead to appreciation. And appreciation leads to her allowing me to get a 3 or 6 (depending on cost) She is the main financial support right now while I am finishing school, so I got to be very persuasive.(locked)

 

[M3-GT]

Class on country road and a picnic will do the trick LOL.

 

[RHAGEL]

Thats what Im talkin about, foot massage, back rub, a little wine and dine, shell be wanting to buy me and E55 (dreaming)

 

[jjac28]

i think it's too smooth and quiet, it lost its sportiness....just read the car and driver test ....
the protege gives you a sense of driving a sports car with its raw handling and engine feedback,while the 3 is just too smooth to feel sporty.
its still a great car though!



if my p5 would be stolen or destroyed in a fire or something like that then i would definately get the 3, its the best car in its class.

 

[nate0123]

I'm kinda relieved though, cause if the new 3 were more desirable to me, I'd be tempted to lose bunches of money and trade in on one. Now I can keep my car longer and have fewer regrets and nagging desires to buy something else. (thumb)

 

[cortez]

It drives like a ford, smooth and liquid not the proteges quick and responsive feel.

Funny, that's how I describe the 3rd gen Protege after driving a 1st Gen Protege...

 

[cdglowred5]

Also the tranny is a cable not a metal rod like the protege 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation.

I was at the track and beat a mazda 3. aka matrix vibe

 

[RHAGEL]

I'm kinda relieved though, cause if the new 3 were more desirable to me, I'd be tempted to lose bunches of money and trade in on one. Now I can keep my car longer and have fewer regrets and nagging desires to buy something else. (thumb)

I have to agree, I wanted a 3 but now I am trying to justify buying a new car after only a year. Not to mention all the money I have put into it, I will have to start over with the mods.