Soo I may be getting rid of the P5

[i12drivemyMP5]

My wife has the 2006 S40i & it's eurotrash fomoco overpriced stuffy uptight OK type car IMO. Don't get me wrong, it's all leather 6CD sunroofed stylin cruiser but that b**** has been to the shop to reflash the computer to make the heater work then the battery didn't have some kind of drain tube on it so when the damn thing overheated the battery(known volvo extra perk) it drained all over the back of the tranny & axle & little bit of the body & brake lines. Big stupid asswipe mess that the dealer tried to halfass on the cleanup then the wife hit something on the freeway that ruined a rim, lower control arm & a strut BUT.....the michelin pilot survived somehow. Nice $1200.00 WASTED. Again, I'll go with it being OK given the choices & general quality that exists in the car market today but it just wouldn't be my cup of tea on a day to day basis. Gas mileage seems to suck a bit as well. 7.5 quarts of oil on oil changes = 7500 mile change intervals & the oil filter is just the cartridge element type on top of the motor. The brilliant blue is beautiful & the BOSE stereo does jam a bit for factory & it has this cute little sharkfin for an antenna. The wife enjoys it & she brings in the dough to pay for this overpriced OKness so there you go. She happy in that & I'm down wid da modded zoom-zoom gokart P5 I'm in. Hope this helps, not sure if the 2001 is the same S40. I seem to recall it being the forded up version back when she got the 2004 S60 she had gotten back then that we traded in for the S40i. BTW, what little modding I looked into for the S40i was $$$$$$$$$$$ but no modding for her car anyway.

 

[bratliff]

Thanks for the info, yeah I am still wondering what to do, I am going to drive it again then decide. I may not do it, just wait a couple years and get something faster. The P5 is just too slow, and I am past the point in my life where I want to mod the hell out of em.. I still like to see Air ride, and turbo's etc but I dont feel like wasting that kind of cash anymore. Probably just roll the P5 for a couple more years then get a stang, charger, EVO or something...

 

[Salmon_Rob]

but I know Mazda's bottom ends do not impress me at all. Both cars have plusses and minusses.. again I appreciate everything everyone has said.

hey now, dont lump the fsde in with all of the other amazing motors mazda makes

 

[bratliff]

Ok let me clarify - my car has a rattle when it starts as soon as there is oil pressure its gone, that should not be. RX7's while I respect them, not impressed with the reliability of them. RX8's are not sounding all that great now they have been out for a few years. I am not trying to dog the Mazda, I like my car, I was not looking to get rid of my car this just kinda fell in my lap. I have been reading alot about Volvos and there are a lot of things with them either.

Basically for me its this simple, not much short of some serious cash injection the P5 is slow. I dont want to sink a ton of $$ in it to make it fast just to get something nicer in a couple years. I want to reiterate again I like my car, it does everything I was looking for, it pleases my eye, and it gets 25+ mpg and is fun to drive back and forth to work. If it had a solid 170~190 hp at the wheels it would be pretty close to perfect. but I would still want something else in a couple years...

 

[Salmon_Rob]

Ok let me clarify - my car has a rattle when it starts as soon as there is oil pressure its gone, that should not be. RX7's while I respect them, not impressed with the reliability of them. RX8's are not sounding all that great now they have been out for a few years. I am not trying to dog the Mazda, I like my car, I was not looking to get rid of my car this just kinda fell in my lap. I have been reading alot about Volvos and there are a lot of things with them either.

Basically for me its this simple, not much short of some serious cash injection the P5 is slow. I dont want to sink a ton of $$ in it to make it fast just to get something nicer in a couple years. I want to reiterate again I like my car, it does everything I was looking for, it pleases my eye, and it gets 25+ mpg and is fun to drive back and forth to work. If it had a solid 170~190 hp at the wheels it would be pretty close to perfect. but I would still want something else in a couple years...

and every point you have made is valid, about the 3rd gen protege. mazda3's, 6's, older protege's, older 323's, mx6's, mx3's etc - basically every other car, had amazing potential and motors. the p5/3rd gen protege requires muchos money to make fast, i hear you on wanting something thats quicker and more refined, but please do not assume that thats how all mazdas are

 

[bratliff]

I want to apologize now if thats how it came across, I am not saying all Mazda's but 3rd gen proteges not impressed.

Actually my mom had an 85' 323 that at 180,000 we rebuilt it and the crank, rods, etc all in top condition. We rebuilt it, went another 180,000 before she got rid of it. But that was a completely different car.

 

[Salmon_Rob]

we pulled my original motor out of my 1990 protege, 200+k, still had cross thatching on the cylinder walls. thats a bad ass motor

 

[bratliff]

yep the cylinders still had the cross hatches, but the rings were even with the pistons... in 320,000 miles that car got, bearings x2, oilpumps x2, rings x2 and valve guides twice... the block, crank, rods and pistons were all fine. This was Castrol plain ol dino oil changed religously at 3K miles... and absolutely no abuse.

Oh yeah still had the stock clutch, pressure plate etc..

I do respect Mazda, it was this car that I started appreciating Japanese cars.. until it, we were all Chevy, Ford and Dodge...

 

[Salmon_Rob]

word. its a shame they put such a bad motor in the 3rd gen

 

[DeanSweet]

there's a reason the s40 is on the lot... buddy of mine has 3 Volvo's 850R, 850Wagon and 740Wagon, all of them are sitting in his driveway. Broken. Each of them having various motor issues and parts are hard to come by unless you have serious joy of spending large amount sof money on parts or a buddy in the salvage business.

 

[bratliff]

there's a reason the s40 is on the lot... buddy of mine has 3 Volvo's 850R, 850Wagon and 740Wagon, all of them are sitting in his driveway. Broken. Each of them having various motor issues and parts are hard to come by unless you have serious joy of spending large amount sof money on parts or a buddy in the salvage business.

Well the deal didnt happen.. I still like the volvo, and would consider it in the future.. but for now, the P5 got a bath and a vacuum tonight.

 

[bratliff]

The P5 is gone, got a 4wd 4runner its a big change... Gonna be selling my short shifter and speaker box in a couple days when I have time to take some pics of them.

 

[Protege52003]

my friend just picked up a new 4runner and it is nice.......

good choice!

-R

 

[bratliff]

I got a 99 but it has been extremely well maintained.. I had a Tundra before the P5 I guess I am partial to Toyota's...

Tossed my shifter and some stereo stuff up for sale in the for sale threads.

 

[RipperSnapper]

Volvo. Wuss. Dork. Nerd.
(Harsh!)
Maybe just 'soccer mom'...

Just the random thoughts off the top of my head! *(you did ask for opinions...)

My next car will be a 350Z (silver with manual). Sweeeeet.

Double sweetness. Infinity G35 sports coupe fo me!

 

[P-Funk!]

^Help me out - i 'thought' the IG35 only came with a Auto (not acceptable for me).
Am i wrong?

 

[Salmon_Rob]

yes. 6 speed ftw

 

[shad0wSS]

i would give up my p5 anyday for a ms3