My OWN Protege5 soon, Help me choose

[justsa]

Hey Hello Everybody! How Y'all Doing !?

I'm soo happy the forum exist! I've looking around for 2 months and i'm pleased with the fact that I can relate to so many MP5 fans.
I've had a MP5 since it came out in 2002... My parents bought the car for my older brother and I as a family car. It was an automatic without tiptronic nor sunroof one but "So nice looking and fun".
I always wanted a manual car but as the younger brother with a learner driving license, at the time we received it, my opinion didn't count back then. I enjoyed the car as a second occasional driver (groceries, chores, and occasional nights out) for around 2years then I moved (from Monreal Canada) in Atlanta, GA.
Many many years later, after a "91 5spd Honda Accord" with sunroof, and a automatic 93 Corrolla, I'm about to have MY OWN but used MP5. Yeah! I'm coming back to it!
But now I'm torn between :
- a 2003 5spd with 150K miles without sunroof
- and a 2002.5 semi-auto (tiptronic) 130K miles with sunroof and leather interior

for around the same price , same mileage... I would've love to go for the more luxurous one .. since that I miss having a sunroof and the tiptronic is a compromise for the manual transmission.
However, I'd like to know from others' opinions...
Can the MP5's auto transmission hold longer or if i should be mature about it and go for a stick?
I take good care of cars but I work part time as a restaurant delivery driver with my 93 corolla. My new protege5 will help for other stuff until my corolla dies.
So Can I take the risk of an auto tranny? ( since tha the other in Montreal is still working fine and ... I WANT LEATHER SEATS AND A SUNROOF)
or it's shouldn't be that important and i still get a Hot 5spd car that i always wanted.

Anyone knows somebody selling a 5spd manual MP5 with sunroof?
or is it doable to change the roof on a MP5!?
May seems stupid but Me and MP5 have a somewhat long and soapy story between us.

 

[dxaveP5]

id say 5speed if ur gona be more into performance.
and the auto if ur just gona keep it simple and just cosmetics, and DD, and etc...
leather is always good, but only problem with it is, extra care for the leather so it wont crack etc...

 

[justsa]

my main issue is about the tranny

thanks for the fast answer, I plan also to mod the car : cold intake, exhaust and audio+Personal Audio Player connection, lower it a little bit and obviously change the tires and skirt, but my main point is that transmission, if it can be trust i'll go for semi-auto.
I read about several ppl on the forum which had their tranny blown and had to pay around 2500$ to replace it. Idk how it will react above 160K mile. I hope it could go to 200K easy !
Bottom line that luxurious one with an auto is it worth it? I like performance but I'm not that into speed, much more into driving feeling, car handling (fast and agressive curve and accel while respecting speed limit) and reliability.

Please give me your opinions. I'm getting the car on Monday!

 

[mx-p5]

I've got both, mine is a 5 speed(and sunroof), and the wife's is an auto with the sport shift(without sunroof) and both have leather.

I love em both to death!

And, as Dxavep5 said, if you want more perfmance, go 5 speed.

If you just drive to work and back, and the intake/exhaust combi is all th epower mods you'll be adding, auto with sport shift will do fine

If you ever plan to auto-x the car, go 5 speed, but, if you just enjoy driving, sport-shift should do fine.


We just spent a week in West Virginia in the wife's car and i had a blast, even with the sport shift through the mountains

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

where you located?

 

[justsa]

thanks

Whoa people answer fast here, that's cool
i have until monday to make my mind up but I got pretty good hints from u now.

evilmonkeyMSP : where you located?

PS: I hope u r asking that to someone else 'cause i already mentioned ATL, GA read (godown)

 

[mx-p5]

Most people just look at your profile, so, i fyou can add ATL, GA to your location, it'd be much appreciated by the mods. lol

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

bingo, I dont have time for that reading crap...lol

too bad, we're selling our P5 but you're a little far lol

Most people just look at your profile, so, i fyou can add ATL, GA to your location, it'd be much appreciated by the mods. lol

 

[lasermp5]

If you can live without the sunroof, get the manual trans. You can always get aftermarket leather seats of good quality.

 

[mx-p5]

Or, find one like i've got.

5 speed, sunroof, and leather interior

 

[lasermp5]

Or, find one like i've got.

5 speed, sunroof, and leather interior

(first) WinnAr! Make sure it's laser blue too, that's a must!!!

 

[mx-p5]

werd!! lol

 

[StealthWyvern]

If you do go the auto route get a header(I had a tunder and loved it), solid front and side mounts(do not do rear unless you can live with vibrations). You will still get a few vibs from the front and sides. This will give you a great DD esp if your stuck in traffic a lot.

 

[mx-p5]

yeah, for DD, stay away from the rear motor mount. I love mine and hate it at the same time

 

[StealthWyvern]

yeah, for DD, stay away from the rear motor mount. I love mine and hate it at the same time

I'm even thinking of removing it from my MSP and just go front, sides, with the engine damper. The damper reduced the vibes a great deal but I kinda want that stockish feel when it comes to vibs personally.

 

[mx-p5]

i would if i could, but, i can't so i won't

 

[MakeMeGoFast]

get a 5 speed either way. You'll regret it if you don't.

 

[StealthWyvern]

get a 5 speed either way. You'll regret it if you don't.

I wouldn't say that! I would still like to have my old p5 with my MSP to be honest. Kinda regret getting rid of it. Do I like both a lot yes. Which one can't decide. Power wise the MSP obviously but the P5 to me handled better then the MSP even with the suspension upgrades on it.

 

[oem plus]

5 speed FTW. I have the sunroof and leather seats. Sunroof is nice, but i always forget its there and going through the twisties the leather seats become a slip and slide. I have never driven the auto, but I would think you could squeeze more juice out of the manual (comes in handy powering out of corners or going up curvy hills). Yes, I live in east TN. I don't think they make a straight road here....Haha!

 

[mx-p5]

Dude, my sunroof is ALWAYS open and windows are always down

Leather isn't too bad but, i don't have twisties to run

The auto/leather didn't do too bad in the mountains of WV though for me!!