Givin the option..would you trade your p5 for a mazda3 hb?

[Kansei]

you're preaching to the choir. go over to the mazda3 side of this forum and ask their opinions.....let me guess? they prefer the 3?

i bought my P5 used and have a lot of seat time driving a friend's 3 HB. that said, the 3 is light years ahead of the P5 in terms of quality, refinement, handling and power. BUT, it also feels a bit chunky when tossing it around, isn't as 'exciting' and more isolating from the driving experience, the drive by wire throttle sucks and yeah the P5 looks a little better but more dated.

if i had the money i'd take the 3. otherwise, the P5 is a great used car.

Oh hell no the 3 is not "light years ahead" of the P5 in the handling department. ugh I drove a 3 HB and it was very disappointing. "Isolated" is the word I use to describe my experience with the 3.. steering, brakes, shifter (cable actuated), handling.. I want to feel like I'm driving.

 

[MyZmZm]

Oh hell no the 3 is not "light years ahead" of the P5 in the handling department. ugh I drove a 3 HB and it was very disappointing. "Isolated" is the word I use to describe my experience with the 3.. steering, brakes, shifter (cable actuated), handling.. I want to feel like I'm driving.

This is probably one of the biggest reasons I'm so hooked on my car - I just feel so in tune with the car and the road. I feel so disconnected in any other car.

I've driven the RX8 briefly - I'd love to have more time with it to see what that car can do - but I have yet to drive the miata. There's no snow right now so the roads are dry; wonder if the boss man would let me take the miata from the show-room out for a spin....
(drive2)

 

[Black_Protege_5]

The only car I would trade for my P5 is an evo. But still then I probably wouldnt trade it and find a way to have both. When I was looking for a new car I didnt even know about the Protege. But when I drove on the lot and saw it and black. I had to have it and never regreted buying it. It handles so well, a Volvo S40 turbo couldnt even keep up on turns. I just need more power(sad2)

 

[Lord_Zath]

I had an audi a4 driving 45 in a 50 mph zone this morning. So I got close behind him, and he did the bastard brake to 40 maneuver. I tried passing him, and his 1.8 turbo kicked in. So I got back behind him, and he started hitting the brakes again.

I proceeded to lay on the horn. He let off the brake, sped up a little, then later hit the brake again. I gave him the horn from the moment his brake lights came on to the moment they came off. After that, he went 55. Sometimes you don't need to be the strongest - just the loudest. BTW, I have dualtone horns in the car (not the wimpy Mazda horn).

 

[Phoenix5]

Oh hell no the 3 is not "light years ahead" of the P5 in the handling department. ugh I drove a 3 HB and it was very disappointing. "Isolated" is the word I use to describe my experience with the 3.. steering, brakes, shifter (cable actuated), handling.. I want to feel like I'm driving.

BTW,does the 3 hatch even come w/ a strut bar or is that optional(lol2)???I know the sedan doesn't come w/ one.

 

[Dimitrios]

Oh hell no the 3 is not "light years ahead" of the P5 in the handling department. ugh I drove a 3 HB and it was very disappointing. "Isolated" is the word I use to describe my experience with the 3.. steering, brakes, shifter (cable actuated), handling.. I want to feel like I'm driving.

I took an A3 out a few months ago and while it's literally "light years ahead" of my Pro5 and the Mz3, the cable actuated shifter was the deal breaker for me (not even sure a short shifter would solve the mushiness).

That said, I'm not sure I would consider an "old platform" given the option of moving ahead with something newer, even given the limitations of the new design.

............ok, I'd keep my Pro5

 

[JOS3]

you're preaching to the choir. go over to the mazda3 side of this forum and ask their opinions.....let me guess? they prefer the 3?

i bought my P5 used and have a lot of seat time driving a friend's 3 HB. that said, the 3 is light years ahead of the P5 in terms of quality, refinement, handling and power. BUT, it also feels a bit chunky when tossing it around, isn't as 'exciting' and more isolating from the driving experience, the drive by wire throttle sucks and yeah the P5 looks a little better but more dated.

if i had the money i'd take the 3. otherwise, the P5 is a great used car.

it took 4 pages to get an intelligent response.

i use to have a p5 that i loved to death. i swore i would never get rid of it. then it started to rust like crazy and it had to go. i never wanted a 3, but once i started to look at them i thought it was ok. i didnt like the 3 at all when i test drove it so i bought an rx-8 on impulse. once i realize that i made a mistake buying a $30,000 car on impulse, i drove the 3 a few more times and it was completely different from my first impression. the p5 looks a little better, but the 3 is far superior to the p5 in every other way. the only weak argument that p5 owners have is that the p5 looks sportier. yeah, get over it. the 3 is not ugly by any means and besides, how good is the p5 going to look when it rusts from the inside out.

btw, making absurd claims like, "the only car i would trade my p5 in for is an evo," is going overboard. if you truly feel this way, you need to get out and drive more cars because there are better cars than the p5.

 

[Hy8us]

on another side note the p5 has a better back area for hauling stuff, ive fit a 32inch tv in there in the box, a golds gym power tower in the box, 2 coolers stacker on top of each other with 4 full sized duffel bags and a suitcase with room to spare. couldnt see out the back but i hauled a crap load to the beach.

this car rocks cruising around in the summer at the beach!

 

[aMaff]

good for hauling tires / tools to an auto-x too (thumb)

 

[Black_Protege_5]

btw, making absurd claims like, "the only car i would trade my p5 in for is an evo," is going overboard. if you truly feel this way, you need to get out and drive more cars because there are better cars than the p5.

Well Its true. If I am going to get rid of my car its going to be for something I want. Not some pos mz3. I am getting tired of front wheel drive and I have driven the mz3 and stock on stock the P5 feels more secure. If I'm gonna go overboard I'll say something like I would only trade my car for a lamborghini.

 

[aMaff]

Well Its true. If I am going to get rid of my car its going to be for something I want. Not some pos mz3. I am getting tired of front wheel drive and I have driven the mz3 and stock on stock the P5 feels more secure. If I'm gonna go overboard I'll something like I would only trade my car for a lamborghini.

Agreed. I've driven a few threes...they don't feel nearly as tight as the P5 (I've got stock everything but rims/tires btw...until I auto-x...then even the rims are stock...) There's really no comparisson b/w the 2.

 

[ronin12]

I want to trade my 98' audi A4 for another P5

 

[slkt]

No way.

 

[Canecreekfreak]

All things being equal, no, I wouldn't make that trade. But since the 3 would be newer than my P5, as well as having the stronger engine, stiffer body, etc, I'd probably do it. I don't like the styling of the 3 nearly as much, but having a newer and more solid car would probably convince me to do it.

 

[luckyP5]

Oh hell no the 3 is not "light years ahead" of the P5 in the handling department. ugh I drove a 3 HB and it was very disappointing. "Isolated" is the word I use to describe my experience with the 3.. steering, brakes, shifter (cable actuated), handling.. I want to feel like I'm driving.

let me clarify, in the handling department, i found the 3 has higher limits. it still feels like a boat in comparison to a P5 though. but if you ever hooked a corner fast, i felt the 3 would do it faster......with a lot more body roll

the P5 impressed me in that it still feels like an early to mid 90's small Japanese car. lightweight and nimble with a low cowl and sporty, direct feel to the driving experience. let's face it this is no sports car but at least it's fun to drive. today's cars have gone all bloated and too cushy and numb to be any fun. so it's nice that the P5 was out there.

again, if i had the cash, i'd of bought a 3. i already own a proper sports car and needed something for everyday use. the P5 is extremely practical and fun to drive.

 

[romecandleboy]

The only 'new car' (in my price range) i'd trade the P5 for is an MX-5 Miata.