Is our car boring compared to the Protege5?

[zimmerDN]

Please only reply if you have personal experience with both cars (meaning have owned both cars or have driven both for a long time, I know I don't qualify but that's why i am posting this).

So my gf is looking for a car currenly. Since she likes mine so much I suggested to her that she should look at the protege5. After all I think they are stylish and zoom zoom (I got her hooked on imports and hatch hehe). We finally got to drive one this week at the dealership when I picked up my car.

Wow, this little car seems so nimble and communicative. I was driving the P5 thru some curvy roads and every turn I took the car gave excellent feedback through the steering wheel. I was amazed how much more fun the P5 seems compare to ours. I know the P5 isn't better then ours in many aspects. For example our engine is a lot more willing to rev but that's because we have a bigger engine. Our brakes are much much better and more linear. Also the mz3 looks and has more space inside and looks a lot better.

Our car is a solid performer, it feels more rigid and refine in many ways but the P5 definitely has more zoom zoom. It's like a sedan compared to a roadster.

I blame the 3's engineers on the electro hydraulic steering. Mad What do you guys think?

 

[ebmp5]

i like my p5 better than my sis mz3

and u explained everything that i would have said.

the only thing i like more on the mz3 is the interior i fckn love it.

but other than that p5 is better to me. look at it this way get the p5 and u can have both your's and your girl's lol

 

[Alpinejwl]

I've got both but I enjoy my p5 lots more than the 3. When I am parking, the p5 is in and out. With the 3, since the ass is higher, I have to stick my head higher to get in good. The 3 does has a bigger engine, but my p5 response pretty well, and definitely more fun to drive. I do agree that the interior on the 3 is nicer, but I thinkt he p5 has a more aggressive body style (especially the front)

 

[uclap5]

drop some springs on the 3 and you will get a bit better feeling.

 

[GHOSTWHISPER]

I personally have never liked the 3, its big, i think its ugly, IMHO, and a p5 will out handle the big old bruiser anyday. granted the 3 will make more power, and be quicker...Stock, its more up to date, and more comfy, but no where near as fun to drive. The p5 follows the mazda slogan a lot better then the 3 as well. I just dont like them that much. But just like most ugly things they grow on you, and then you some how like them. I like the 3 modded exterior wise, i have seen some nice things, but if we are talking stock, i would still have a 5 over a 3 anyday.

 

[Katya4me]

I like the 3's interior, except for the dash that makes it a pain to swap in an aftermarket HU. It does feel heavy though, and that bothered me when I was a ridealong in a one at an autox.

 

[rodslinger]

I've owned both and have to say I do prefer my 3s sedan. When I first test drove the 3 I initially felt it didn't handle as well as my P5 but have changed my mind after owning it a while. I think the thought of the car not handling as well was just perception of the car being more "plush" and the engine/suspension noises being more isolated from the cabin. But after being able to spend more time in the car and tossing it down some familiar back roads the 3s ultimately feels more secure and responsive and will likely offer better overall grip with some decent tires (anything but Goodyear RS-A's). I did prefer the exterior appearance of my P5 and loved the utility of it but don't miss the lack of power or the noisy engine and wind noise that car provided either.

Personally you can't go wrong with either. Just get what YOU like.

 

[P5w3kids]

I've driven the Mazda3 quite a few times. Its chassis feels more balanced, its brakes feel much stronger, its engine is much smoother, its interior is much nicer, and the whole car is far smoother and quieter. The Protege5 has more attractive exterior styling and feels more alive, with more feedback and more immediate responses.

About 95% of the car-buying population would rather have the former set of advantages. It takes a real enthusiast to put up with the general lack of refinement in the P5. My #1 complaint: blowing air through the vents alone is VERY noisy--sounds like its all being cycled through the top of the IP. I assume this is an "all of them do that" sort of thing.

I don't know which camp your gf falls into. Have her drive both and report back to us.

 

[JOS3]

the rawness and steering feedback give the p5 a lot of character. the 3 is a much more refined vehicle in every aspect, but there are days when i long for the feeling of my old p5.

 

[FrigginGLI]

I like the 3's interior, except for the dash that makes it a pain to swap in an aftermarket HU. It does feel heavy though, and that bothered me when I was a ridealong in a one at an autox.

Took 5 mins to put my headunit in.

 

[Brad]

pic?

 

[RHAGEL]

Other than the slightly numb steering, I didn't care to much for the clutch. It feels too soft which is good for traffic but if your considering "fun" I think it takes away a little of it.

 

[anarchistchiken]

Also the mz3 looks a lot better.

(rofl)(rlaugh)

 

[Pretzellogic]

The Mazda 3 is a much more refined car. That being said, it's the lack of refinement in certian areas that make the P5 so much damn fun.

 

[JOS3]

The Mazda 3 is a much more refined car. That being said, it's the lack of refinement in certian areas that make the P5 so much damn fun.

just like i said, it gives it the p5 more character

 

[Brad]

It's all about taste...It is what makes you choose one car over the other.

 

[Puckpimp71]

Driving both on a regular basis, the 3's power is nice and pushed to the limits, it handles better, but the p5 has more character and overall feels more eager to be driven.

 

[JOS3]

Driving both on a regular basis, the 3's power is nice and pushed to the limits, it handles better, but the p5 has more character and overall feels more eager to be driven.

sorry, but i think the p5 handles better.

 

[Puckpimp71]

P5 has better steering response and, at least according to the magazines, does a little better on the skidpad, but the 3 did very nice in the slalom and I can push it harder through the corners on a test drive the P5s we have in preowned. Maybe it's cause the 3 is new?

 

[altspace]

I think, he thinks, she thinks, we all think, that's what makes us individuals. If you want a 3 with performance, wait for the MS3.