Newbie Seeking Advice

[Foxy]

Hey all!

I am about to graduate from college, and commission into the USAF. There's an available $20,000 loan at 4.5% that I am planning on picking up, and using to purchase a new car. I currently drive a 89 Honda Accord LX, and while it is decent and reliable, I really would like a new vehicle.

I'm interested in something with a bit of cargo room, as I will be in the military and most likely moving my stuff all around the country. SUV's are out; I need something more economical. Sport wagons seem to be a logical choice.

I've been dying for a Subaru WRX wagon, but that's simply not going to happen - the money I had saved up to go over the $20,000 loan went other places, and I doubt I could afford the insurance.

I test drove a 2003 Mazda Protege5 with the Sport transmission, and wow! I've driven a stick once, but I am not really comfortable with it. The sport shifting was fun to say the very least. The car was comfortable, well put together, and looks outstanding. However, I've got a few concerns.

1. The engine! For all the zoom-zoom advertising, the little Protege5 did not seem that powerful. As part of the test drive, I went up a steep and long (7% grade, 2 mile) hill. My honda can make it up that hill in 3rd at about 55-60mph constistantly. The Protege struggled up the hill, probably at 50, and losing speed fast. I had myself, my friend, and the salesman in the car. How would this Protege handle going up hills with the back full of stuff? FWIW, I live at 5200 feet, and frequently drive up I-17 from Phoenix to Prescott, AZ. Going down should be fun.. but coming back up might be a hassle. As far as power mods, I might be up to putting a cold air intake on it, but I refuse to put a loud, buzzy exhaust system or any other more 'radical' mods to the car.

2. The cargo space - my Honda has a larger trunk. The Mazda's seatbacks can fold forward and give it a lot more space. However, with the seatbacks up, there doesn't seem to be really that much space on the floor for stuff like groceries. Do you guys have problems with that stuff?

3. Kinda out there.. but has anyone taken their Protege5 on dirt roads? I like to go out hiking and such; this occasionally demands some light dirt road duty. Will the Protege5 handle it ok, or will it get beat up quickly?

4. How's the reliability? Military doesn't make much money; can I expect the P5 to last me years and years?

Just for comparison, I also test drove the Hyundai Elantra GT. That thing was quite a bit more powerful, but it only comes in leather (which I hate), and it didn't feel nearly as well built as the Mazda. I also plan to test drive either a Subaru 2.5TS wagon, or the Impreza Outback Sport Wagon.

If I do get the P5, are there any worthwhile options I should get? I really like the Sport Shifter, that's the transmission I would like. I want the ABS/side airbag package, alloy wheel locks, rear bumper guard, and the cargo tray.

I know I may get a slightly biased opinion here. My heart is really taken with the P5, but I am hoping someone can clear up my worries.

 

[PR5hokie]

Hey man and early congrats on your upcoming grad and howdy from another A.F. officer. I'm stationed at Tyndall right now.

1. Power can be a prob but you just have to learn what gears can do what. This was my biggest prob when I switched from my old car, but now that I know where the good power is it isn't a prob.

2. Although there are bigger sport wagons out there, there is plenty of room for normal hauling (groceries, bags, etc.) There is actually more room than you think back there.

3. Dirt roads, couldn't really tell you.

4. Very reliable and I think that you will be surprised regarding the $ you'll be earning. You'll be living fine even with all the expenses I'm sure you have/will get.

FYI. Look at financing through Mazda. If you are looking at the USAA loan then I would take the 5k for "whatever" expenses. I used it for school, rent, food, fun, etc. Mazda actually had a lower interest rate than USAA and they offered zero down and 6 month defered payment. Don't forget the $500 off you can use since you'll be a college grad. If you want to talk more about this or anything (military pay, life, move, etc) PM me and we'll chat. Take care.

Matt

 

[JPBlackMP5]

Jason,
You might want to check out the deals Mazda is financing for purchasing cars. 0% in some cases for 48-60 months, even on P5's.
I recommend you familiarize yourself with manual transmission. Friend of mine bought the Sport shifting and regrets not buying a stick becuz of lack of fun and controlling speeds better. Engine is what it is: lacking HP. Downshifting on the 17 may be your only choice provided you don't run too high on the tach. Xhst-wise: don't rice out your car, look to improve intake. that'll give you a few HP's.
Space-wise: the P5 is a "sportwagon" - not a family wagon. I leave the grocery shopping to my wife's SUV. Thankfully, there's enough room to fit my golf bag, tennis racket, and gym sport bag in the P5's trunk. Oh, and my roof rack assembly which I immediately had the dealer take off (less noise when driving).
Not sure about offroading. you might bang up the paint job, plus handling might be marginal on dirt. P5 was really meant for tight/twisty roads.
Mazda has good reliability. and the warranty can't be beat for repairs.
No worries about options: I have moonroof/ABS/side air bags package. Cargo tray was standard. Oh, and I have a 2K2.5 P5.

Good luck to you. Maybe we'll run into each other. My inlaws live in Phoenix and Flagstaff!!

 

[Don]

USAF "grad" here - 20+ years. Congratulations on your comission!

1. The Protege 5 engine (unlike the Miata engine or the little Honda fours) is a torque engine, and not really a horsepower engine. It makes over 100 ft lbs of torque from just under 2,000 RPM to about 4750 RPM, (dyno results here) and performs best when kept near that powerband, so you'll get much better hillclimbing performance and acceleration (especially at altitudes) with the 5 speed manual than with the sport automatic. While the performance does suffer above about 4,000 feet, a 5 speed P5 will eat up the grade you're referring to in 4th gear, no problem. I just returned from a two way trip across the Rockies, and even at altitudes above 5,000 feet, I felt very comfortable being able to handle all the grades in our loaded down P5 with manual trans.

2. The only problem with cargo space would be if you were also carrying 4 adults. If not, it's very simple to fold down either of the rear seatbacks or both if needed. I can put more groceries than I can afford to buy behind the seats, so we've never noticed a problem there

3. No opinion there - Some tires may throw enough gravel around to damage some of the plastic trim stuff if you drive far enough or fast enough on gravel roads, I suppose. Probably would be a problem for most sport wagons.

4. Yes. Mazda's reliability record is very good, going back many years. We likely gained some reliability when they opted not to go with the higher tech engines used in the Hondas.

I'd rank the car in the same league with the Suburu, but far above any of the Korean offerings, at least in quality, reliability and far, far above them in resale value.

Options?? I'd be slightly worried as well in your shoes, if I were hung up on the auto trans - I personally just don't feel it's an ideal match for the P5, especially in the manner you expect to use it.

Don

 

[20ESGUY]

To answer the question about the dirt roads...it won't be a problem as long as you go slow and steady. I've taken my sedan out and around the country back roads here with no problems. the back end will slide if you're on loose gravel, but thats to be expected. other than that it's pretty good.

 

[Sir Nuke]

A few things..

1. the sport auto....when you were on that test drive and headed up that long grade...did you take it out of OD? so that it downshifted? Actually I think you would be MUCH happier if you went ahead and got the standard tranny and just got use to it....not to mention its a BIG savings, as the auto is one of the most expensive options you can get.

2. storage....NO PROBLEM....we took my wifes P-5 on vacation this last summer.....for people in the car...and all our stuff...I took out the package tray and neatly arranged all the stuff in the back and it only came up to the back of the seats. the wife DOES use her P-5 for grocery getting too. NO PROBLEM.

As for reliability? its very good......no problem there either.

oh...and btw Foxy.... Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to our Club. There are TWO BIG fridge'S in the corner with anything you can think of in them...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have. (stash)

make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom don't care....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!! (stash)

 

[WaatDaHell]

With the sport auto, the OD automatically engages once you coast in 4th gear for a few seconds. There isn't an option to turn it off. I have the sport auto too, mainly because of bad Southern California traffic and it does help to have the sport auto over a basic auto. In basic auto mode, climbing uphill could be a battle considering the small engine the P5 has and the tranny can be a little slow downshifting. But if you use the sport mode, just keep it in 3rd gear while you're climbing and you should be fine. I have to do this in Newport Beach quite often, and I have no problem climbing the hills when I do my own shifting. Believe it or not, I rush up those hills faster than a lot of the Bimmers and Suv's that go up those hills. It depends on how hard you want to push your car. The best part though is going down those hills, cuz you really get to enjoy the P5 to its potential. Trust me, the little bit of struggle going up, is all worth it when you go down.

When it comes to storage, I used to drive a 90 Accord and that car had a massive trunk. It's actually bigger than the P5 if you think of length and width. However, with the P5, you get the ease of entry and the height. If you have something flat and really wide all around, you might have trouble, but if you had to put a 32" Sony Wega TV in it like I did, you'll be very grateful for the P5's hatch dimensions. I had the TV, 5 big home theatre speakers and two speaker stands, the receiver, dvd player, and 5 Disc-CD player in the car with the seats folded down. Not to mention, I had my laundry basket full of clothes in the passenger seat too. Well, that just tells you what it could hold.

 

[Foxy]

Thanks for all of the advice and warm welcomes, guys! I really appreciate it.

The USAA loan is the one I am talking about. I still need to talk to the Mazda people and see if I can qualify for their financing. I plan to be blunt - "listen, I already have financing at 4.5, can you do better?" And I definately plan to keep some of the leftovers to spend on uniforms, etc.

As far as the shifter, I know that the manual is more efficient, more fun, etc. However, I may be driving in stop-and-go traffic, and I much rather prefer to just let the car handle itself. Also, my girlfriend may be driving the car some, and she is more interested in a car as a means to move from A to B than having fun driving. The sport shifter would let her just trundle along in automatic. I'd probably spend most of my time in the sport-shift mode.

Thanks for calming my fears about the cargo size. As I get closer to commissioning and finding out where I am going (would not be fun to buy a car and then find out that I am getting deployed to Iraq for a year and having to store it!), I will be giving more and more attention to the Protege..

Now, I wonder how many times they'll let me 'test drive' the Protege before they force me to buy it

 

[BK's black P5]

Just my 2 cents, but you can't go wrong with the P5. Price to grins ratio is unbeatable.