Newbie with a Midnight Blue P5

[Beetle]

Hi, I am Jason. Kind of a noob when it comes to Mazdas. A few years back I bought an 02 Miata Automatic, didn't know how to drive stick, learned quickly sold said Miata and bought an 07 with a 6 speed. Well I liked to bounce around a bit back then kept it a month sold it off. Went the way of the Jeep. Well long long story short, like 4 years long, and that brings us to now. So I am need of a second vehicle, I do need some good MPGs, and do not want boring. So I started looking and a seen a P5 on CL for sale, dude never answered me back, and so as luck would have it a car lot down the road had TWO for sale. I took the '02 over the '03 because less miles, it was my favorite color, and had a sunroof. My old G8 GT had a sunroof and I thought it was the coolest thing. Alright as this car will be my Daily Driver it still doesn't need to be boring. I went to an auto-x a few months back and was dying to have a Miata again, but I need something with some room, P5 it is.

Plans for my P5, lower it, make it handle even better than it already does and make it go a bit quicker round the cones. I have wheels picked out, a cold air, but when it comes to lowering it what do I do? I found some H&R lowering springs at the ProtegeGarage.com, only question does this car have struts? If so when lowering it do I need lowering struts? Stupid question but I am way new at this. I just cut the springs on my 68 Short Step, the Mazda is uncharted territory for me. Well that is it for now, just gotta know who else is in Fred or Northern VA? Any autocross clubs or the sort up here? Thanks!

This thing is like new inside and out!

Also I am doing the JDM fogs overlays, gonna order them tomorrow at the latest, I love the yellow fogs!

Wheels I am planning on. Bronze and Blue will look good I think

Gonna invest in a GoPro as well as big brakes from a 6, and possibly a short throw. Now when I was driving it, the clutch feels heavy and really touchy. Is this normal, it makes me believe it has a new clutch in it.

 

[hat1018]

Welcome and congrats on your P5. I would go with lowering springs and new struts. Personally I don't think you need to spend big bucks on special struts o.e replacements(~$200) should do the job unless you want to slam it and then you would need to get coilovers($800-$1000). Short throw shifter is money well spent I love mine no more big rig style. I replaced my brakes with 04 MZ6 wagon parts and love it. I found the whole set-up from a crash/totaled part out on craigslist for 130 bucks. Rear sway bar is a good idea too for better handling. Either a stock bar from an MSP or an aftermarket bar. Keep an eye on the for sale threads or even make a "want to buy" thread. Good luck!

 

[Tressly]

Welcome! I live in Stafford and am also relatively new to the forums, not sure about any clubs. Cool to see another local!

 

[Beetle]

So if I didn't have bad luck, I'd probably have no freaking luck

So... I talked to the dealer today before heading over tomorrow and paying him and picking it up. I asked for a Carfax, said he doesn't do em. Whatever, no biggie I will pull one up. Guess what? Freaking salvage title. Gosh Dernit! Now he told me the title is free and clear, if it is we go forth with this one, if not I ran the Carfax on the other and it checked out alright and he will give it to me for the same price.

It is a red one but the rest is the same, has less miles tho

 

[Beetle]

Welcome and congrats on your P5. I would go with lowering springs and new struts. Personally I don't think you need to spend big bucks on special struts o.e replacements(~$200) should do the job unless you want to slam it and then you would need to get coilovers($800-$1000). Short throw shifter is money well spent I love mine no more big rig style. I replaced my brakes with 04 MZ6 wagon parts and love it. I found the whole set-up from a crash/totaled part out on craigslist for 130 bucks. Rear sway bar is a good idea too for better handling. Either a stock bar from an MSP or an aftermarket bar. Keep an eye on the for sale threads or even make a "want to buy" thread. Good luck!

Thanks I will be on the lookout for a MZ6 part out And yea I want it to handle like a miata if at all possible.. Far fetched? Nah!

 

[whatusername]

i like the blue one better.. whats the update? what happened?