protege5 article

[Roywhitep5]

i was looking through the san jose international auto show pamphlet and in the back there was an article talking about model's that wont be returning for 2004. it says:

MAZDA PROTEGE/PROTEGE5
This sedan/wagon combo usually captured "most favorite" honors whenever the econo-car awards were being handed out. For the past dozen years or so, the protege was among Mazda's top sellers. The hot little protege5 wagon will probably be a classic someday. The replacement mazda3 has some pretty big shoes to fill.


i think they're right about it being a classic in the future

 

[Lord_Zath]

Yeah, my dad showed that to me as well. He also found the latest Mazda 3 article in I think Road and Track. It stated that while the 3 has more HP and more refined looks, it wasn't as much fun to drive like the P5 was. Shoulda kept the P5 goin a few more years =(

LZ

 

[Roywhitep5]

Yeah, my dad showed that to me as well. He also found the latest Mazda 3 article in I think Road and Track. It stated that while the 3 has more HP and more refined looks, it wasn't as much fun to drive like the P5 was. Shoulda kept the P5 goin a few more years =(

LZ

just makes our cars a little more valueable...... to us$$

 

[jsooke]

I believe the article was Car and Driver: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=7566&page_number=1

Although the numbers for the M3 are better, they liked the Pro5 better.

 

[Brian MP5T]

The 3 does have more HP and is bigger inside, but they lost the point of the car. Small, Cheap and a blast.

Death to the 3.

 

[JOS3]

i think the 3s are ugly anyway. the thing about the p5 is that it looks sleek and sporty. the 3 doesnt look sleek and is barely sporty looking. i consider it the bloated, bubbly version of a p5, no thanks

 

[Captain KRM P5]

Yeah, my dad showed that to me as well. He also found the latest Mazda 3 article in I think Road and Track. It stated that while the 3 has more HP and more refined looks, it wasn't as much fun to drive like the P5 was. Shoulda kept the P5 goin a few more years =(

LZ

that article was from Car and Driver

 

[Brian MP5T]

The 6 is nice the 3 sucks. It's been said too many times but It's true.

When C&D tested the 3 they gave it great reviews but even they said it just wasn't the same as the P5. Sorry Mazda...Crash and Burn.

 

[Stealth5]

i wish the inside of the p5 was as nice as the inside of the 3 tho, i woulda got cloth if they had that pimp red and black stuff.

what does it take to make a car a classic? the p5 has s*** for power, but it definitely looks NICE

 

[leungwingkei]

When C&D tested the 3 they gave it great reviews but even they said it just wasn't the same as the P5. Sorry Mazda...Crash and Burn.

That can be a good thing too.

 

[Critter]

I'm not a fan of the 3, had thought "Ooh, my next car...."

But our cars have an individual charm and style that the 3 lacks for all the "progress".

I have had my car for nearly 2 and a half years and I still go outside to the garage just to smile at it from time to time.

Have had 14 cars, this is the only car that went close to that response. Nuff said. This one of only 2 cars I've kept that long....and I'll have this quite a while yet.

I just love it. Can't stop playing with it.
That's what makes a classic.....IMO

 

[Roywhitep5]

im definately not selling my p5 unless i absolutely have to. imo its one of the best looking cars around and it somehow makes you love it

 

[jersey_emt]

I agree with most of you.

I HATE wagons.

But I LOVE the way the P5 looks. It is the best looking wagon on the market, hands down.

In fact, if Mazda made a Mazdaspeed P5, I would have bought that instead of my MSP. But I wanted a decently quick turbo car with a factory warranty....so MSP it was.

 

[PeaB0dy]

P5 FOREVER!!!

I intend to keep this car for a VERY long time..

Even when it comes time for a new car because this car served it's time, I will still keep it, cause then, I will rebuild it, inside and out, give the performance it should have been (unless I throw in a turbo before that, but ill still do the rebuild..).

Hell, parts will start to be more readily available in a few more years too, so many of them around here that the wreckers will be good for something..

I do not thing the Mazda 3 has elements from the Puegeot 307 and Alfa 147. The Alfa 147 is a tiny car, and it has a snake like look in the front, kinda mean look. The 307, nice car (206 is still better looking..) and is a good handler. The Mazda 3 does not have the fun to drive feel to it, it doesn't say, c'mon, what are you waiting for, use me, abuse me, have some fun.

 

[Brian MP5T]

i wish the inside of the p5 was as nice as the inside of the 3 tho, i woulda got cloth if they had that pimp red and black stuff.

what does it take to make a car a classic? the p5 has s*** for power, but it definitely looks NICE

It is pimpin' but all that extra stuff costs money to you the driver. Mazda had a good thing going on when they came out with 626 and the 323. Mid size luxury and Mini size quality car...No Frills.

The point of the P5 was lost when they switched to the 3. Thats all.

 

[RX7jeff]

Mazda had the basic car(MP5) elements down on this one,...and the loyal fan base of the car attests to that,...if there was ONE car which would/could have used a Mazdaspeed and/or a V6 option this was it!?!?!?

 

[+ friction]

I can't really think of too many economy cars that are classics, but it is a good thought. Maybe some VW's, then plenty of infamously classic econo cars (Yugo, Pinto, Corvair, etc.).

 

[quicksilver5]

I looked at the 3 before buying my P5 one week ago today. I chose the P5 over the 3 for the same reasons that I chose the P5 over the Matrix and Vibe. It simply is more fun to drive. Numbers aside, the P5 is more grins per mile. It reminds me of my first drive of the Miata when it came out in the late 80's. The horsepower rating was somewhere around 108 and the quarter mile times were pathetic. However, when you drove it, you felt like you were in a much faster car. Because I don't plan to turn my P5 into a stoplight dragster, I am more than happy with her just the way she is. In the future, I may throw a new intake, a header and some exhaust, but that will be for more grins (that sportscar sound) than for shaving seconds off of my 0 - 60.

 

[Super-Saiyan3]

I totally agree!! Whe u look @ the 3, it looks like Mazda couldn't decide if they wanted it 2 look like the 6 or the RX-8!! That's why I LOVE my P5....it looks unique, it's got a Rally type design to it and nothing else looks like it!! Even though we have the last of the P5s, we'll make them go on 4ever!!

 

[+ friction]

It simply is more fun to drive. Numbers aside, the P5 is more grins per mile.

Agreed.