Should we get another P5, or something else?

[Bass Addict]

My mom has an 02 Maxima SE, and her lease runs up in February...and after 3 recalls, a new radio, and a new gas pedal, she is not going to buy and she wants something cheaper. She has driven my P5 and she absolutely loves it, and has considered getting one..however, after seeing these NA protege's blowing up at 30k miles, and Justin's at like 95k, I am tempted to have her look at something else. Keeping in mind she drives her car pretty hard, what would you guys say? I might have her look into a Mazda3, since she doesnt like the 6's.

 

[FLSilverP5]

Driving your car hard has nothing to do with it. I ride mine like a virgin rides camiron diaz! But you gotta ask yourself, do you really want you and your mom to having matching cars? If you wanted to stay in mazda i would say the 6. Have her test drive it. But i dont know about anyone else, but after my P5 i am not buying another mazda.

 

[misbehave]

My mom has an 02 Maxima SE, and her lease runs up in February...and after 3 recalls, a new radio, and a new gas pedal, she is not going to buy and she wants something cheaper. She has driven my P5 and she absolutely loves it, and has considered getting one..however, after seeing these NA protege's blowing up at 30k miles, and Justin's at like 95k, I am tempted to have her look at something else. Keeping in mind she drives her car pretty hard, what would you guys say? I might have her look into a Mazda3, since she doesnt like the 6's.

What do you mean by that when you said she drives hard?
You mean rough on the car?
Then you should get her something that can take a lot of abuse like a Toyota or GM/Ford/Chryster.

 

[alexlitov]

she wants to go from ~ 260HP to 130HP ???

 

[cbcbd]

You also have to figure that the people on this site are either obsessed with their cars or were looking for an answer to a problem. We are not the majority of p5 owners, we are just the more dedicated or problematic ones. So you can't really say that most P5s have engine probs. Look at the reliability reports on Consumer Reports. Proteges are pretty reliable and Mazdas are up there in the top 5 of most consistently reliable makes since 99.

And your mom might drive hard, but I'm sure she's not autoxing, going on 90mph fun runs, pulling e-brake slides, and redlining all her gears. Or maybe she does and is the coolest mom around (headbang)

I'm up to 67K miles and haven't had a major problem yet (knock on a huge piece of wood).

 

[Bass Addict]

Yea, I guess I should have taken into consideration that out of all these members on here...only a handfull have blown em. And when I mean my mom drives hard, that is in comparison to other mid 40's women. She said she doesnt really care about losing the power, she bought the max cause she liked the way it looked and drove..not because it was fast. And, after she drove mine..she likes it better than the max, she said its fun to drive. I might let her buy a MSP, she can have my P5 and I can drive the MSP. Hehe.

 

[Sir Nuke]

You want your mom to be in stomething cool too....JUST IN CASE you need to drive it...or want to. so she is use to having some power....and your mom no doubt needs a grocery getter too....my vote....get her to the nearest CHRYSTLER lot and get her in a new MAGNUM HEMI Wagon.....they are bad ass!

 

[alexlitov]

I second the Magnum Wagon idea...

 

[misbehave]

Get the MSP.
Or if she can wait, how about getting her to buy the upcoming MSM3, MSM6, or even MSRX8.

 

[Matthew]

or get a mazda6 v6 wagon, my friend just got a loaded titanium one and its sexy as hell. not as fast as my p5, but still quick.

 

[Bass Addict]

Sir nuke, the Hemi Magnum wagon is more expensive than the Max, which is one of the main reasons she is looking for a different car, she wants something cheaper. She has specified to me that she doesnt want an american made car, which I dont blame her. However, the Magnums are badass. I might take her down to the Mazda dealership and let her actually drive the 6 and see what she thinks for herself...its her car.

 

[misbehave]

Sir nuke, the Hemi Magnum wagon is more expensive than the Max, which is one of the main reasons she is looking for a different car, she wants something cheaper. She has specified to me that she doesnt want an american made car, which I dont blame her. However, the Magnums are badass. I might take her down to the Mazda dealership and let her actually drive the 6 and see what she thinks for herself...its her car.

Your mom is sure a smart lady. (headbang)
I have high respect to women who doesn't pick SUV as their first choice when buying a car.

 

[jdm_mp5]

or get a mazda6 v6 wagon, my friend just got a loaded titanium one and its sexy as hell. not as fast as my p5, but still quick.

Yes get the 6 wagon!!!

 

[Masshole]

I second the Magnum Wagon idea...

a dodge.. yeah, that'll be reliable (smash)

i cant say i've ever had a good experience with a mopar product (coming from a family that is full of chrysler/dodge nuts)

 

[rjmhotrod]

If you're going to look at the Mazda6 just keep in mind which model you're test driving. For example, I test drove a new Mazda6i with 5-speed and hated it. In fact I test drove it twice just to make sure I wasn't just dreaming it. The 4cyl has such a deficit of low end torque that it makes the 5-speed very difficult to drive in normal everyday traffic. I nearly stalled it several times just pulling away from traffic lights because I didn't have the revs up high enough. I test drove several 5-speeds and the 6i was by far the worst. I also drove a 6s with tiptronic and yes it behaved much better but didn't seem that much faster than the 6i with 5-speed. That being said, I think I would still look very seriously at the 6wagon. It wasn't available yet when I was in the market. It's one of the nicer wagons out there.