Looking to get get a protege5; need advice!

[Bob_Bobber0]

Hey all, this is my first post here. I've owned a 1990 miata for several years now. Love the car but its getting a little impractical. I need to transport my kayak, and bike, and friends, and guitars and amps now. I'm a college grad working for a startup so protege5 is obviously one of the best hatchback choices for me to get since it's cheaper than a mazda3 and I can probably do most of the work myself.

Anyway, I'm selling my miata for about $5500, looking to get a nice protege5 that will last quite a while.

My ideal:

2002-2003
White, 5 speed
black leather interior
80k miles
No accidents
Maintenance done

Odds of this package being available? Price wise what am I looking at used from private party? What are the weak points on this car to look out for? Obviously rust around the rocker panels and fenders, but anything else I should be leery of?

Also, I'm keeping the wheels from my miata they are chapparral 15x7 with 205/50/15..what is the generally accepted wheel size to run?

Any local forums or clubs to look for enthusiast owned and maintained cars for purchase?

thanks in advance for the advice.

My miata:

 

[CTt3P5]

Welcome!

The P5 is def. a great choice in hatch and you may be able to find an older 3 hatch for just a little more. Scratch the 02 off your list as there was no leather option that model year. Now this is where it gets tricky, leather was an option on the 02.5/03/03.5 models. Yes, the P5 was only offered stateside for two model years but Mazda thought they'd spice things up and refresh a few things every six months. While you may get lucky and find what fits your wants, realistically I see you having to compromise at least one of your main options (white/leather/80K).

Rust is known to form on the rear qtrs, rockers, hatch (around emblems), inside of doors and the strut towers in the engine bay.

Were you planning to run those Chapparal's on the P5? If so, no go as the P5 has a 5x114.3 bolt pattern vs. the 4x100 on the NA/NB Miata's. As for preferred wheel sizes, most feel that a nice 17" wheel is perfect. 18" require you to run a 215/35/18 rubber band, could run a little bigger but would require some tweaking. 16" is the stock wheel size and if you keep that you can run a 205/50 / 205/45 / 215/40 with no tweaks necessary vs. the limited selection in the stock 195/50 size. If you prefer a little more rubber you can run a 15" and even a 14" wheel. Just have to watch offsets on the 14" wheels to make sure you clear the calipers. I've been running 93 Eclipse steelies for a few years now for winter use with a nice 185/70/14.

Pasting this info. from another forum and gotta give credit to KrayzieFox (Oggie) for putting it together (pretty sure he still lurks here from time to time):

2002
This was the first year the P5 was offered in the US. It was basically an ES with hatchback styling, but a couple other minor differences.

Standard Equipment
Flip-up cupholders
No tiptronic automatics
Different manual shift knobs
White colored gauges
Different style wheels
Roof Rack
No clear side markers
No tweeters
No leather option


Optional Equipment
In-dash 6CD Changer
Sunroof
Side airbags & ABS brakes *package requires Sunroof*

2002.5
The mid year 2002 refresh models, and the 2003 models were almost exactly the same, but not quite. The 02.5 came with the following options:

Standard Equipment
Open cupholders
Tiptronic automatics
Leather manual shift knobs
Silver colored gauges (automatics had tiptronic cutout)
Restyled wheels
Clear side markers
Tweeters
Roof Rack with added baffle to reduce wind noise


Optional Equipment
Leather
6CD Changer
Sunroof
ABS
Side airbags *6CD Changer, Sunroof & ABS included in package as well*



2003
The 2003 models had a couple small changes in the way the optional equipment was handled, and introduced a new color.

Standard Equipment
Open cupholders
Tiptronic automatics
Leather manual shift knobs
Silver colored gauges (automatics had tiptronic cutout)
Restyled wheels
Clear side markers
Tweeters
Roof Rack with added baffle to reduce wind noise
Added Laser Blue color


Optional Equipment
Leather
Spare tire subwoofer *only a couple months before 03.5 models were launched*
Sunroof, 6CD Changer *package*
ABS, side airbags *package*

2003.5
This was the last of the P5 models to come out and there was a very limited number of them available. They had all the previous options, except for the roof rack and midnight blue color, and received a unique spare tire subwoofer.

Standard Equipment
All option from 02.5 & 03 minus roof rack and midnight blue color
Spare tire subwoofer


Optional Equipment
Leather
6CD Changer
Sunroof
ABS brakes
Side airbags​

 

[CTt3P5]

Not letting me edit my post but as for local clubs, check out the GA section here on the forums. They used to be pretty active and went by GACC. I'm sure they'd be willing to help you out.

 

[Bob_Bobber0]

Thanks for the advice I'll check that out!

I've been browsing craiglist nation wide and have yet to find one that meets all my wants. I'd definitely do the light blue (similar to my miata color), and the red look nice as well. Saw one with bronze ssr type c wheels which looked real good.

Found a super clean yellow/black leather that looked nice as well, though I'm not sure I can rock a yellow car. haha

 

[CTt3P5]

NP and GL

Can't see the pics here at work....you have a smurf by chance? And ain't nothing wrong with red, they clean up nice. lol

 

[Bob_Bobber0]

It is a smurf! Your car looks fantastic! PM your email I'll send a few more pics

 

[CTt3P5]

Nice! I'll check out the pics posted here when I get home later. Thanks for the kind words but I'll be honest she's a ten footer. Get any closer and you'll notice the hail damage, dings, etc. But hey she's 11yo and has 176K on the clock. I've since sold the carbon fiber hood/eyelids and removed the smoked vinyl overlays from the fogs. And pic was taken and processed by thejeans (Levi) so he helped make her look good.

 

[pkane]

I thought I would search for you a little and found your ad to trade your miata. Black with leather, 5 speed. If your going to paint anyway, I would think the leather interior would be hardest from your list to find. Here is a possibility.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3950081480.html

 

[Bob_Bobber0]

Yea I talked to that guy, car has been in two "minor accidents" so kinda leary..

I'm scouring every craiglsit and autotrader ad in the country lol, only found a handful of cars I'd consider..this may be a long road.. got til august 15th till my miata sells.

I don't really want to paint the car

 

[Bob_Bobber0]

So I was just informed that the seats are real easy to swap in from other mazdas (speed3) and that the leather package is just the seats (no other fancy interior stuff) That may help my search a bit if I can find one that is solid except for the leather I can always drop the seats in later.

 

[Ltlrdwagon]

NP and GL

Can't see the pics here at work....you have a smurf by chance? And ain't nothing wrong with red, they clean up nice. lol

I concur , Good luck in your search!

 

[Bob_Bobber0]

Still looking!

I've gotten a little less picky. Still want white, but no need on the leather or low miles as long as maintenance is there. If anyone hears anything let me know!

 

[CTt3P5]

Should I come across something I'll let you know.

 

[kms1990]

i picked up my 03 from my dad 143k miles maintained he owned it since 03 (not new but early lease return, somehow the toyota dealer next to the mazda place had it) i was 13 when he got this car i 23 now, i grew up in this car and now i am driving it, he bought a new 6 and we traded my xterra (15mpg wasnt doing it anymore) theyre great cars the check engine light has come on once as far as i can remember in the time we have had it and it was a loose fuel cap, lol. i wouldnt expect to find one under 100k miles seeing as theyre 10 almost 11 years old and average mileage is 15,000 a year. but you may get lucky, check autotrader and cars.com as well. and being in texas i do not know about any rust issues as mine has no rust anywhere i can see (i do my own maintenance so i see underside alot)

 

[pkane]

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/4027404755.html

 

[esnave09]

If you wanted to do the interior yourself, I know there's a guy selling the skins for a red and black leather interior. I know its not all black, but figured I'd give my two cents. Good luck with finding one!

 

[Bob_Bobber0]

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/4027404755.html

meh, trying to stay away from red and this one looks a little interesting.. I've scoured craigslist everywhere within 400 miles lol