P5 compared to 3 Hatch handling?

R

Rusty

Member
:
2002 Protege5 - silver
I have an '02 P5 with 59K miles, and I'm thinking of trading for a Mazda 3 hatch. I test drove one and it seemed a little more powerful than the P5, but I'm worried about the handling. At low speeds, the 3 handled really well, similar to the P5. But when I got out on the highway, I shook the steering wheel back and forth to see how well it recovered. The rear end was wobbly and took its time settling down. When I shake my P5 like that, the rear end follows perfectly, like it's on rails. I don't want to give up that stability.

Have any of you gone from a P5 to a Mazda 3, and did you have the same impression? I noticed the 3 hatch has no strut tower braces. I would like to get your opinions before I decide to buy one. I really don't want to take a step down in handling.
Thanks
 
hehe well when i was first looking for a car(almost a yr ago) i was deciding between the p5 or mazda3. i went looking around the forums and was reading some old news hehe. it made me want to get a p5. heres a few old forums i was looking if its any help. i read that the p5 was better at handling than the mazda3 but i could be wrong. btw the mazda3 does feel more powerful being that it has a 2.3L versus the p5's 2.0L xD

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29258&highlight=protege5+mazda3
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14566&highlight=protege5+mazda3

this one was kinda the deciding thread that made me want a p5 xP
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119308&highlight=protege5+mazda3

its really ur choice but i would honestly have the p5 because of the looks and handling. (cant really say about handling cause i didnt drive a mazda3 hehe) but its also fun when people think that ur car is a subaru or matrix or something and laughing at their face. hehe i wonder what other owners have to say. hope i was some help for ya xD
 
I read all of those links. Good info, thanks. I guess I'll probably go ahead and trade my P5 for the 3; my wife wants something a little plusher when we have to occasionally trade cars. She drives a loaded Galant LS V6 and it's a dream to drive, especially on the highway. My P5 is the most dependable car I've ever owned, and I just plain love it. I don't care what anybody says, if you know where to keep the revs, it has plenty of zoom. And it rides like it's on rails. I'll probably whip a tear to see it go.
Now... Yellow, red, blue or black???
 
keep the p5? sell off the galant? xP hahaha. well yellow and red are fast colors according to what we learn in psychology lol..its more noticable. black attracts bad things? alot of dust, heat, and is hard to take care of. go wit silver!!! xP
 
kura808 said:
keep the p5? sell off the galant? xP hahaha. well yellow and red are fast colors according to what we learn in psychology lol..its more noticable. black attracts bad things? alot of dust, heat, and is hard to take care of. go wit silver!!! xP
Click to expand...

Can't do it. Remember we have the wife factor to deal with. Besides, I like the Galant. It's the best trip car I've ever had and it pulls out to pass on a two lane like a rocket. That V6 runs good. Leather, great stereo, sunroof, nice wheels, not a scratch on it... Nah!

I think I'll give the 3 Hatch another test. Maybe I'll learn to accept the loss of handling. Maybe there's something I can do to help tighten up the tail end.

Thanks for the replies.
 
i thought the 3 hatch was better handling then the p5... iirc it pulled .02 or something more Gs in a skid pad test... i will see if i can't look it up later.
 
tsunami said:
i thought the 3 hatch was better handling then the p5... iirc it pulled .02 or something more Gs in a skid pad test... i will see if i can't look it up later.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't doubt it on the skid pad. It's the way the rear end didn't obediently follow the front end while quickly changing direction at highway speed that bothered me. Like if you rock the steering back and forth as if suddenly avoiding an object, the rear just seemed lost momentarily. Maybe that rear sway bar in major error's link will fix it.
 
yeah my suspension hasn't been stock in 2 years so i honestly couldn't tell you... lol eibach pro kit and progress rear sway here... i should have my mazda speed front and rear sway here shortly so i will have a used rear sway for sale soon...
 
Even with the stock suspension on my 3, I still can't complain since my comparison is against the '94 Ranger it replaced...

...and I'm in no rush to start messing around with replacements--don't want to re-class my car quite yet ;)
 
I traded my 2002 Pro 5 for a MS 3. I also had a opportunity to drive a 3 hatch for 1000+ miles.

The handling on the Pro 5 was excellent. The balance was good and the easy of driving the car to the limits is tough to replicate. Heel toe braking was some of the best I've tried.

The 3 is more refined for comfortable performance driving. The biggest improvement I'd noticed with the 3 hatch was corner exit speed and overall acceleration. I didn't like the pedal placement, but that that's personal preference.

If it's in your budget, step-up and get the MS 3 GT.
 
MS3_Mafia said:
^Thats what i did...(headbang)
Click to expand...

I second that motion...go with a Speed3 and you will solve all of your concerns...speed, handling, looks...all superior to the P5.
 
kura808 said:
hehe good luck with ur choice xD what would ur wife say if u got a ms3? lol
Click to expand...

She'd say, how're we gonna pay property tax ($425/yr on a new one) and insurance? S.C. has the highest insurance rates in the land. I got to keep the finance payments less than $300, my son is in college and that pretty much destroys all my fun money and some of my necessary money too.

That's her in my avatar, so I think I'll keep her! :D
 
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At first I thought my old p5 outhandled my 3. Its rear end will stay planted and unless you are trailbraking really hard its tough to lose traction in the rear.

Its really close, and like tsunami said, I believe they pulled a .78g with p5 and .83 or something with the 3 on a skidpad.

Add a rear sway bar for ~120 bucks to the 3 and its a whole new monster, really stiffens up the rear, BUT you will be able to swing the tail easier.
 
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