would u guys rather get a used p5 or a 3

[kingyellow03p5]

i dont know about a 02 p5 but i bet they r jsut like the 03 id say go for the used p5 it fits and u wont have payments so ur free to mod it all u want, and i would personally try to jockie em down on the price to save a few gs for a few early mods u know. but thats just my 2 cents. (second) (blah)

 

[Poseur]

P5=japan made mazda goodness, 3=re-skinned ford focus.

 

[rjmhotrod]

If this is your first car, beware the P5 will spoil you. I love mine. Just got it a few weeks ago and I love driving it more and more each day. I think the P5 is the best car you can buy with the amount of money you're talking about spending. Don't hand over 12K if you can, you'll need that extra money for a decent set of snow tires if it doesn't already have a good performing winter tire already on. Don't ask me which tire to buy because I live in SW FL where snow isn't an issue. But do a search, people have discussed it. And I will reiterate what has already been said - DONT go into debt if you don't have to. Especially straight out of college. I've seen it wreck people's lives for years, much longer than the term of the loan. Debt isn't necessarily bad, you can't live in the US and not have it. But it keep it under control. Off my soapbox now, the P5 is a good choice.

 

[Nomis]

P5=japan made mazda goodness, 3=re-skinned ford focus.

Or Re-skinned Volvo s-40. Which isn't all that bad !!

 

[Jackal14075]

I;m in college right now and I have payments on my p5, which i bought brand new. Let me tell you from somebody who's doin it right now, SCREW THE LOAN. Don't get me wrong, I lvoe my P5 more than my girlfriend, but now that I'm goin to school and workin to pay off this damn car, i wish i woulda bought a 5$ piece of crap instead.

 

[protegeV]

Or Re-skinned Volvo s-40. Which isn't all that bad !!

whats scary is that you could say that a volvo S40 is a rebadged Fukkus(shocked)

 

[FLSilverP5]

I Don't get me wrong, I lvoe my P5 more than my girlfriend, but now that I'm goin to school and workin to pay off this damn car, i wish i woulda bought a 5$ piece of crap instead.

Hahahahahaha. Wow that just made my nite.

 

[cbcbd]

P5's are great, but keep looking around, $12,000 is alot of cash money.

(werd)

There are other 4 doors out there for lugging friends around. Ski racks fit on any car. We'd love to have you as part of the P5 family, but you have to think more about spending this much on a used car now. Spend half of that on a used car, it will get you through college and the beginning of your working career. If you're still as diligent with your savings through college and get some saved from work you can then dump a big down payment on a new car.

I'm saying this because I almost bought a used Grand Prix mid college for about $12K. I chose to not to and wait until I graduated to spend the money on a new car and look where I am now!!

 

[protegeV]

honestly, if u wat a good cheap car with a decent warranty, get a new hyundai...you can get one of those accents for under $6K and they got a decent warranty, and they are a TON better than they used to be(getting close to honda standards)...good cheap car IMO.

 

[kingyellow03p5]

what the heck i cant believe u all buy a honda......!!! get some thing else...!!! nooo dog get the p5 but try to knock me down on the price u can walk away form it for a day and as long s they have ur number they will call u and try to get u to buy it by taking mor money off and if they dotn go back and buy it for the lowest they will give u and there u saved money and blow that mony on mods or some thing, but dog mp5 thats all i can say just du it.
but its not my life it jsut makes since no lone 12 isnt bad for a mp5 with good mialage. if u get it for 10 or 9 id take it and get some killer rims or some thing.
but thas just my thoughts do what u will just my 4 cents.

 

[P5MoJo]

hahahha i would never buy another Protege 5! spend your money on a 2001 celica gt-s because those get a lot of miles to the gallon and the speed.. nuff said -mojo

 

[alexlitov]

People on here will keep on saying get the P5 - the only reason is because they own one and are jeolous of the NEW and MORE POWERFUL Mazda 3.

Mazda 3 is still made in Japan and will be a reliable car. Mazda 3 with 2.3L is way faster than the protege. Even the 2.0L version is still faster.

Go out and drive both. It's your money and your future.

Personally, I would wait a few more months since 2005 Mazda 3 will be out and you might get a slightly better price on the new 2004 Mazda 3.

$12k is a lot for a used P5.

P5 is just an econobox that a lot of people were able to buy under invoice so you should be able to huggle a price under the KBB value.

Good luck on college and your future ride.

 

[Replica]

I didn't want to say it, but a nice 99-00 Civic EX would be pretty damn cool. They can be found for about 6,000$ and a sohc greddy kit is about $1300. Run low 14's @ 8psi and still get 32mpg and have 4-5k in the bank. The P5 is really cool in different ways but it also costs alot more.

 

[Mr. Win]

hahahha i would never buy another Protege 5! spend your money on a 2001 celica gt-s because those get a lot of miles to the gallon and the speed.. nuff said -mojo

wtf? those things are are ugly, uncomfortable, and slow i have yet to see a fast celica buttt then again i do see alot kids that think thier fast in a celica...

 

[Mr. Win]

I didn't want to say it, but a nice 99-00 Civic EX would be pretty damn cool. They can be found for about 6,000$ and a sohc greddy kit is about $1300. Run low 14's @ 8psi and still get 32mpg and have 4-5k in the bank. The P5 is really cool in different ways but it also costs alot more.

i didnt want to say it ethier but for a first car they drive nice and take a beating. the greddy get is a waste on money though... imo many better kits can be had and you can hang with the big dogs and run low 13s exp since your only paying 6 for it...

 

[Replica]

i didnt want to say it ethier but for a first car they drive nice and take a beating. the greddy get is a waste on money though... imo many better kits can be had and you can hang with the big dogs and run low 13s exp since your only paying 6 for it...

The greddy kit isn't great by any means, the manifold looks like ass. But it's a great place to start and the greddy kits are reasonably complete (although not intercooled) and I've heard great things about e-managed as opposed to the blue box they used before. The custom kits with the HF manifolds are nice, but for a daily driver I don't think I'd want to risk a custom kit.

 

[Mr. Win]

The greddy kit isn't great by any means, the manifold looks like ass. But it's a great place to start and the greddy kits are reasonably complete (although not intercooled) and I've heard great things about e-managed as opposed to the blue box they used before. The custom kits with the HF manifolds are nice, but for a daily driver I don't think I'd want to risk a custom kit.

thats tru thats when you start building the motor.. 8 psi with an intercooler even smic is good for a civ he could also go SI i like the SIs from that year... with the emange as well he could beat up on it with no issue.

 

[Replica]

thats tru thats when you start building the motor.. 8 psi with an intercooler even smic is good for a civ he could also go SI i like the SIs from that year... with the emange as well he could beat up on it with no issue.

The SI kits are alot more expensive. I think they start at like $2400 for a B series Greddy kit. Either way, fun will be had.

 

[P5MoJo]

wtf? those things are are ugly, uncomfortable, and slow i have yet to see a fast celica buttt then again i do see alot kids that think thier fast in a celica...

hahah are you kidding me? 170hp compared to a 130hp (feels more like 50hp) protege 5... our cars are slow as hell and slapping a turbo doesn't even compare to the VVTL-i that's inside the celica's.. putting a turbo is such a waste of money! you made me laugh hard because you talked about uncomfortable and ugly, those stock seats fit like a glove compared to our bad gay cloth ones we have that cause my body to roll into the passengers, for $12,000 it's def worth it. And as for the look of it its up to personal taste, it grew on me.

 

[Replica]

hahah are you kidding me? 170hp compared to a 130hp (feels more like 50hp) protege 5... our cars are slow as hell and slapping a turbo doesn't even compare to the VVTL-i that's inside the celica's.. putting a turbo is such a waste of money! you made me laugh hard because you talked about uncomfortable and ugly, those stock seats fit like a glove compared to our bad gay cloth ones we have that cause my body to roll into the passengers, for $12,000 it's def worth it. And as for the look of it its up to personal taste, it grew on me.

I test drove a GTS and hated it. That thing felt incredibly slow until it FINALLY made power in the last 700rpms or so before redline. The car was just too damn small too. The tranny felt like a toy. Might be a fun car and I'm just not seeing it...(yawn)