Test Drove a P5 Today

[mts3]

I finally got to test drive a Protege5 today. It was Midnight Blue with polished wheels, moonroof, and unfortunately, automatic. Since I won't own an automatic, I have to test drive the 5 speed to make my decision.

From research I have found a few complaints on this car, although negligible. One was wind noise (not really a problem for me since I have the moonroof open a lot. Another was engine noise. I'm used to the silky KL03 V-6 in my MX-6. The 2.0L certainly is noisier but it's very smooth and not buzzy at all. Considering 50 series tires and great handling, I expected a rough ride. The A/C isn't as strong as that in my MX-6 but it cooled the cabin on this 95 degree day in reasonable time.

I came away very impressed with the car. I didn't get to drive on any really twisty roads but around town, the steering and handling are awesome. The ride was also very controlled. The interior in these cars is amazing. I'm used to beige/tan leather. The all-black seems so much easier to clean. I was also fascinated by the amber lighting.

I'll hold my final decision until I can test drive a 5 speed. Seems a 5 speed with moonroof as the only option is hard to find in Mississippi; the only one I located was silver and I can't do silver.

Maybe I'll sell my MX-6 in a couple of months so I can join the P5 crowd

Tyson

 

[fastdrvr23]

I think it's great there is another potential P5 owner here in the Humidity state...

I see you mentioned the wind noise problem in the above post. The easiest, and most effective way to remedy this problem is to remove the roof rack. Even though I thought it looked better with the rack, I did this when I first bought my p5 and it made a huge difference! Quiet as can be now...

As far as the KL series being quiet, I would wholeheartedly agree... except for the damned HLA's ticking at idle. You might have been extremely lucky and didn't have any, but I spent quite a while trying to get rid of mine in my former PGT. Anyways, now I am sitting here day-dreaming at work about a KL-03 turbo on the familia all-wheel drive platform... Even though it would be a heavy bastard, I bet it would make for some good straight line fun... lol.

Come over here to the Grey Daniels Mazda and drive a 5 speed P5... Let me know if you want to drive one with a 5 speed and about 7,800 miles for a comparison, I'll see what I can do... lol.

Later,

Will

 

[2002VividYellow]

I test drove an automatic first myself because I wanted something my wife could drive..I didn't like it so I bought the 5 speed. I can say I noticed a pretty good difference with the 5 speed

 

[nramsey]

You aren't kidding about the 5 speed with moonroof being hard to find. I had a heck of a time finding one, and finally found one about 300 miles away. I was looking for silver, white, yellow or red. The one I found was red.

Seems every car with the moonroof has some big $ option like ABS/airbags, polished wheels, CD changer or leather. I just wanted a base 5 speed with moonroof! Was glad I found one though, it's an awesome car

 

[Claeren]

Fellow mx6'er in the house!

Hey bud, i just test drove a P.5 myself and i came by here looking for more info and look who i find!

I had to drive an ATX as well but to be honest i think i may buy one, not for me but because the rest of my family is kind of retarded...

I didn't know you could get leather and stuff like that... lucky americans! Mind you, it really isn't an economy car any more when you do all that...

Liked the ride though, power was lacking but the handling was great.

Claeren.

 

[Syzygy]

Welcome newcomers: Claeren, nramsey and mts3!

 

[mts3]

It's Claeren, another MX6.commer!

The car I drove was before the "mid-cycle refresh"

The dealer I dealt with, All Star Mazda, only has about 20 Mazdas in stock, mostly Millenias. It's where we bought my wife's Millenia from. They only order Proteges in automatic usually. They can locate a 5 speed like I want, though. The first price they offered was about $500 over invoice. This was without trading in my MX-6. The deal was 0% financing for 4 years and no payments until January, very appealing.

I am going to travel to Memphis Sunday, hopefully I can test drive a 5 speed. Even a 5 speed 2.0L 4 door would please me, I just want to compare the shifter and clutch feel to my MX-6. I haven't decided if I'll buy in Greenville or at Gray Daniels. Since they got us the lowest APR offered when we bought our Millenia, I feel certain they can get us the 0% on the P5. I'll have to see if Gray Daniels can do the same.

I guess no one knows how long clutches usually last on these since they are so new. The last 2 manuals I've owned (95 Impreza and 95 MX-6) made it to around 140K and counting on the original clutch. I'm hoping the P5 is the same.

A little closer to joining the P5 crowd.........almost time to list the MX-6 for sale.

Tyson

 

[Claeren]

Horrible feeling, letting the MX-6 go, isn't it?

I can only get 1.9%/36month or 3.9%/48month financing, doesn't seem fair... but it is still a great price.

There is a part of me that woneders if the economy is going to slip a little further what with all the scandels and the apparent lack of any technological frontiers and if that happens will i be able to get an even better deal?

I guess time will tell,
Claeren.

PS - Thanks for the greating Syzygy!

 

[mts3]

Well I had a little more experience test driving Protege5's today. I went to two dealers in Memphis, TN...Gosset Mazda and Dobbs Brothers Mazda. (there isn't a dealer in Mississippi open on Sunday).

First I went to Gosset Mazda; they had the EXACT car I wanted. Midnight blue 5 speed (midyear refresh although that doesn't matter to me) with the only option being a moonroof. I absolutely loved the 5 speed....much better than the auto although it wasn't bad. There's something about the engine that just sounds much different with the 5 speed. However, when I asked the salesman what kind of deal he would make, he insisted that I fill out a credit application. I told him that I just wanted to know what kind of price and that I couldn't do a credit app yet since it would be a joint purchase and my wife wasn't present. So I left.

The other Mazda dealer didn't have the car I wanted; the only 5 speed was yellow with leather, polished wheels, and everything else and stickered for over $20K. They told me it would be about $19240 but they couldn't tell me anything about a car equipped how I liked it. Also they weren't much help since I wasn't buying today.

It looks like I'll be going back to the dealer in Greenville. I am hoping to get the car for about $16800 (sticker is $17800, invoice is around $16300) and opt for the 0% APR for 48 months. But I have to sell my MX-6 first...I'll have about $1000 extra to put down if I sell it myself rather than trading it.

Tyson

 

[nramsey]

It looks like I'll be going back to the dealer in Greenville. I am hoping to get the car for about $16800 (sticker is $17800, invoice is around $16300) and opt for the 0% APR for 48 months. But I have to sell my MX-6 first...I'll have about $1000 extra to put down if I sell it myself rather than trading it.

Tyson

That's almost the exact deal I got on my "only moonroof" P5. I opted for the $750 rebate though as I had financing lined up already. I also had to sell my other car, but I ended up buying the new car before the old car sold...had about a week overlap which wasn't bad at all.

 

[mts3]

There is a silver one with 5 speed/moonroof only in Jackson. Then there is a blue one in Memphis. The dealer in Greenville will likely be able to get either one for me.

I made the signs/posters to start trying to sell my MX-6. I figure if I can sell it before the 0%/48 months is up I will do that. If not I may have to trade it in I'd have about $1000-1500 extra if I sold it myself.

Tyson

 

[mts3]

Well I just sold my MX-6. I came out better than I would have if I'd have traded it in.

I'm gonna have my dealer locate a P5 for me...with only a moonroof. My first choice is blue but I'd take black or red.

They have either 0% for 48 months or a $500 rebate and 4.9% for 60 months. I like the payment for the 60 month term but the idea of no interest and paying it off in 4 years is much better. We'll have to see what kind of deal they can make me.

Tyson

 

[adragonfly]

I got the $500 rebate and 3.9% for 60 months from Mazda American credit. That's as low as they can go unless you do the 0% for 48 months. Ask them if they can do better than that 4.9% offer.

 

[Woody]

MTS3,

Up here most dealers will search out the state to try to find a car close to what you want - I think they s/b able to find something, espeacilly if you give them 2 or 3 color choices.

I have never driven a MX-6, but I have driven the last iteration of the Probe GT, which as you probably know, is the sister car to the MX-6. The Probe GT had really nice handling, and plenty of zap.

But I can tell you I have put about 3,000 miles on my P5, and it is still an absolute blast to drive. I'm convinced you can't get more car fun for the money than a P5, and the utility of it being a small wagon is a plus.

If you want more zap from the P5 with about $400 worth of intake/exhaust tweaks you can get another 5 to 10 hp from the car. (See my Dyno posts under Performance section.)

I'll be 50 in September (gasp) and I've only bought 2 cars new in my life - and the P5 is one of the 2. I think you will find it a fun, and very reliable car.

- Woody

PS - The big drag on performance is a/c - so just remove that button ;]

 

[colnago1331]

I got lucky

I got 2.9% for 60 months and a very good price (slightly over invoice) on my wife's P5. I checked a week later and the 60 month interest rate was up to 3.9%. Now it's up to 4.9%? If you can afford the 48 month/0% deal, I'd go for it. No interest is a good thing.