Mazdaspeed P5

[colincor]

I was recently speaking with a "big boy" at Mazda Canada who said that the Mazdaspeed Protege 5 will be =come a reality, he just isn't sure when.

No I know that this is the constant rumour, but he is really high up and said that it is just a matter of Protege 5 sales.

Appearantly the P5 is selling so well still that Mazda doesn't want to canabolize its current P5 sales with competition from the Mazdaspeed version. He said that as soon as the P5's sales fall down to a lower level where Mazda is loosing sales to the competition, they will bring in the Mazdaspeed version to boost it back up. According to the "big boy," Mazda will, at the very latest, release the Mazdaspeed P5 at the end of the regular P5's run to squeeze out the last bit of sales before the introduction of an entirely new model. Although, Mazda will not anounce this since they know that customers will cease to purchase the standard P5 in anticipation of the new model.

Well...I know I am waiting

 

[hihoslva]

I don't know how much time they have - I thought the 2004 model year was going to be the last for the P5 (and all the Proteges), as the 2005 model year will introduce the Mazda3:

I like the 3. I don't know where your guy is getting his info, but it seems a bit unlikely. Would certainly be nice though! I would keep squeezing this guy for more info!

~HH

 

[colincor]

Hey, I like the 3 too, and I did ask him about it and he said that "It doesn't take a genius to see that regardless of the 3 (MXSportiff), the Mazdaspeed P5 will be a reality simply because I is an easy sell." He explained that while Mazda is taking orders for the 3 (and Mazda does expect an initial high demand that will place many of them on back order), Mazdaspeed can quickly punch out a couple thousand of the Mazdaspeed P5 that will also be in high demand and possibly pushed as far as being put on back order as well, and naturally why wouldn't Mazda want to have 2 cars in their lineup that people will fight for the chance to buy AND will not allow customers the opportunity to negotiate (hey if you don't want to pay the price then get out since someone else is begging for the chance to).

I know it all sounds odd, and it may just be PR hot air, but that is what "The Man" said and I have little reason to believe otherwise.

 

[MP5s Make Ready]

I'm glad you posted new pics because even though I think the car is ugly, I still like to look at it......

Hello Toyota Matrix....let me introduce to you the Mazda 3. Then new model in a line-up of cars that can transform from hatchback to minivan!!! When that comes out people are gonna start confusing it with the MPV!!!

 

[REMillers]

I try not to hold my breath to long for any promise from MazdaSpeed, they rarely produce.

 

[chuyler1]

I think you're overestimating the popularity of the Mazda3. Its not going to be like the PT Cruiser. Its a nice looking car, but nothing screams out at me, and it won't scream out at people who aren't Mazda fanatics.

Is the production model going to have dual exhaust, body colored grills, chrome trimmed fog lamps and 17" wheels? Probably not...which means it will look like every other hatch back coming out.

Hey, the gas cap is on the wrong side...I hate walking around my car to pump gas.

 

[wongpres]

colincor,

Did your Mazda Canada source mention anything about the release date for the Mazda3? I've still heard nothing from Mazda Canada about this.

 

[colincor]

Maybe I am overstating the demand for the 3 (though I assume we agree that a Mazdaspeed's P5 will have a greater demand than supply), but I do think that the new 3 can do for Mazda what the Civic has done for Honda. If the 3 is as reliable as the Protege, with its gorgeous styling, practical design, and as always Mazda affordability and value, it can quickly shoot Mazda up the ranks of the poket rocket market. Hey, when the Ford Focus came out, would you have guessed that it was going to have the largest aftermarket of any single model year vehicle currently in production? Probably not.

Wongpres, if you go to www.Mazda.ca and click on the MXSportif link on the bottom of the home page (after you choose english language), you will see Mazda Canada's press release with more info. I belive it is supposed to be released in the fall of this year, but you should check.

Now to touch on a comment that chuyler 1 made, I am not a Mazda fanatic - as you put it - and I can't wait for the new 3. I grew up with my dad selling Hondas. I have always loved European cars, but when it came to the Japanese market, I loved Honda. My family would never speak of Mazda because to us it was just the Japanese word for Ford. It wasn't until my girlfriend started shopping arround for a car, and I began doing the research, that I fell in love with the Protege. Like I said, I am not a Mazda fanatic, and while I really like the 6, I am simply just really impressed by the Protege. While Honda and Toyota try to sell their Civics and Corolas, they don't want to give you anything with them, only the reliability with their name, but with the Protege, Mazda gives you the same reliability, but with much nicer features for less money. Features such as (she bought a 2002.5 Protege EX 2.0 with the GT package): 16 inch alloy wheels, sunroof, cd player, sporty interior styling, etc. Sure, Honda and Toyota offer all of this, but not anywhere near Mazda's price. Also, I think the Protege is far better looking than both the Civic and the Corola. Now, personally, I like the Protege 5 more than the Protege, but I like them both more than all of their competition (with the possible exception of the Subaru WRX, VW 1.8T, and VW VR6, which at about $8-$10K CDN more, is hardly equal competition). And I think the Mazdaspeed Protege is easily the best looking car in its class and should apply for the "best car value ever" award (if there was such an award).

So to give you an idea of what the general population will think - I LOVE the new 3. I would LOVE a Mazdaspeed Protege 5. I think that when you work the numbers out, all arround the Protege, in either layout (5 or Sedan), is the best value for the dollar available. I fell in love with the Protege 5 when my girlfriend decided to get the Protege, and I fall in love with the Protege more every time I drive it. A Mazdaspeed Protege 5 will easily be the most fun car for the dollar available, and the new 3, should it prove to be reliable, will win the hearts over of many.

 

[dmitrik4]

i don't know about canada, but the protege is not some sort of super-value priced car...my ES has every option, and listed for $17,700 -- not exactly chump change as far as economy cars go. about equal to a loaded civic or corolla. it's just a hell of a lot more fun to drive than those two. likewise, i don't see the MSP as a terrific value, since the SVT Focus comes in at about the same performance for $2-$3k less. i know..."blah blah blah it's a ford, look at the recalls..." basically, what i'm getting at is that i don't believe people buy Proteges for their great price...

 

[perfworks]

agreed dmitrik4,
i want to say that if the new 3 comes with the 2.3l like they are saying i will sign up tommorow.
because it will be the smae as the one i have in the mazda6.
with a lighter vehicle i could only imagine the possibilties

 

[dominoy2k1]

:bs: (nuts) ...the way i see is that this rumor is also bs....why would they start producing another p5 when the 3 is coming out and eventually the 6 in "wagon" form....i dunno maybe this post deserves a.....(notcool) a

ps: this newbs name is similar to another idiots name.....maybe its just coincidence(sp?)

 

[perfworks]

what idiot?

 

[wongpres]

:bs: (nuts) ...the way i see is that this rumor is also bs....why would they start producing another p5 when the 3 is coming out and eventually the 6 in "wagon" form....i dunno maybe this post deserves a.....(notcool) a

The 3 will be out in sedan and hatch/wagon. The differentiation between the 3 hatch/wagon and the 6 wagon is that the 6 wagon is the traditional functional wagon (large, carry lots of stuff, utility), whereas the 3 wagon/hatch will be the hot/sporty version with less utility.

So the 3 hatch/wagon competes with the likes of Matrix/Vibe whereas the 6 wagon is in the traditional wagon segment that includes cars like Forester/Impreza wagon/Volvo V40.

 

[mp3boy1984]

hmm....i saw a mazdaspeed 5 in one magazine last night that i was browsing through. Granite it was a prototype. I honestly question why they would come out with the 3 when it looks just like the 6 but in the wagon form. I think that is stupid at how similar it looks. I honestly don't see why they would scratch the 5's, it doesn't makes sense.

 

[ashevansracing]

I agree with mr. Canada...the price/features is the best aspect of the P or P5.

 

[tonkabui]

can you imagine the sales of the p5 if they just got that turbo in there in the first place? i would buy one, my dad would buy one, my brother would buy one, and a few of my friends would buy one. that's at least 5 sold right there! but what do they do? they have to wait till sales slow! what the hell for? dumb strategy.

look at the rsx. there's the regular rsx and the rsx-s. sales seem to do just as well, if not better. that option of having more power will always be better than not letting people have that choice.

 

[pshaw34]

yeah, i just dont know why they dont make the turbo an option for the p5. they would make lots of more sales. the mane reason people sont buy the 5 is bc of the lack of power...

 

[KYREDP5]

I seriously doubt we will ever see a MSP5.

 

[InitialDMP5]

thats what happens when people fall into the trap of good promotion. the whole zoom zoom ideal is starting to fall off. I mean if MAZDA was really into the zoom zoom "drives like a sports car" slogans, then each of their cars would have a MAZDASPEED version as soon as they come out of the factory. the engines would have been upgraded to handle more power and any money spent on doing these modifications, would easily be made back with huge sales. People love mazda, its the little car company that could, they are tired of being closet zoom zoom heads.
-peace out

 

[MazdaspeedHolla]

I talked to a guy at mazda and I know they are talking about making a Mazdaspeed MPV with a turbo and 22" rims and everything. He also said that they were talking about making a Mazdaspeed Mazda 6. I am dead serious too.