Good Evening, From VT

[FusionGT]

Good evening everyone, new here to the Mazda Forums. Might as well give a bit of background.

I'm Adam from Vermont. I drive a 2003 Grand Am GT right now, but am currently looking at purchasing a 2003 Mazda Protege5 as a daily driver. Just signed up here looking for information on how they do reliability wise at higher mileages (Say... 130k+ miles). I've owned a 1995 Protege back in the day and my mom owns an 03 Mazda 6s.

Looks like a great site!

 

[bafilio1]

Howdy there.. Glad to see another GA owner in the forums as well. The p5 is very reliable IMO our P5 sits at 161,xxx and the only maint. its had so far is a timing belt change around 85,x. other then that I haven't done anything else besides the basic oil change and plugs. Shoot DD the GA and toy with the p5. Depending on what you like. I'm not a huge speed fan so my gt is the dd for me and the p5 is the fun around the hills autox etc.

 

[FusionGT]

You've got a 3800SC'ed GA? I must see this. Are you on GAOwnersclub.com? There's VERY few people that have ever completed that swap and have it run correctly. And thanks for the welcome

 

[bafilio1]

Yeah I know what you mean It was 3800 swapped. but around March/April of 08 I spun a bearing and sold the busted motor on CL and the oem blower seperate. So later in april me and my buddies had to have TONS of fun returning the 40,x mile original 3400 in her. She's back on the road now as the DD since I picked up the P5. I used to own a 03 staurn vue as my DD so the GA was the play toy. You think thats rediculous my old friend Chad had a 98 Cavalier formally z24, 3months later we had it up and running with the 3800 in it as well, that is where I got it from because his tranny and clutch could keep up. 2 clutches in 1 month and 3 trannies in 4 months. ouch

Nope not on GAOwners club. I joined a few GA forums and they all are HUGE pricks so I stick to my real buddies here.

 

[FusionGT]

Some GA sites are like that, but GAOwnersClub is a good site, I've been on there for about 3 and a half years now. Just for interest's sake...

 

[bafilio1]

Looks good.. Because mines a DD we don't have any interesting pics of her. But I like the blacked housed headlights. I recently purchased a set of headlights after my accident. Theres a pic of them in the other rides thread. NICE fyi I really like the Orange, we tried to find one in orange but couldn't find any with good mileage.

Can I ***** your post with my pics. lol

Okay back to the Mazda in me.

 

[FusionGT]

Nice projectors, I've thought about them from time to time... The black housings were actually free, just a swap out for the stock housings from a friend.

If you do sign up on GAOC, lemme know what your name is (I'm Fusion14 on there) so I can keep an eye out for pictures.

 

[bafilio1]

Okay I may join and see if this other one is as nice as it is here. The projectors were only 68.99 shipped from ebay new, the black ones were substantially more expensive. But they are boreder line "ricer" for me. With going back to a stock motor I've decided to make exterior changes. I'm picking up some lowering springs soon The ride in the GA is much easier on me so I can offord a drop where as the suspension in the p5 is VERY stiff and I don't want it any stiffer... just wish it was lower