Test drove a P5 today

[Jack Daniels]

Drove this P5 today. Protege5 It was my first drive in one. Inital impression is excellent. Decent quality, fantastic handling, nice interior. The car I drove was fairly loaded. It had everything I want except dimming rear view mirror, which I'll have added. Only two things disappointed me a little. It seemed weak on low end torque and 5th gear isn't tall enough. Granted, I'm used to my old Z28 with it's 6 speed (I know it's not fair to compare a 340hp V8 to a I4 with 130HP), but 3000 RPM in 5th at 65 MPH? That just seemed a little high to me.

Anyway, I'm impressed with the package and anxious to make the purchase. I just have to wait a couple weeks and I'll head down there and pick it up.

 

[uclap5]

Its got better low end torque than other econoboxes i think

I believe the short 5th gear is for both "sportiness" as well as for emissions. Hurts the gas milage, but i think mazda was really going for the ULEV.

Hope to see you as a permanent member soon!

 

[ZoomZoomH]

talk about a big change

yeah going from a Z28 to P5 will take some time get used to

are you getting rid of the Z28?

 

[Jack Daniels]

Uclap5, I'll be a permanent member, for sure. I'm going to buy a P5, but it'll be a few weeks.

ZoomZoomH, I sold the Z28 last month. It was five years of fun with that car, but I need a more practical ride now. I actually did very well on that car. I paid $23k for it back in '98 and sold it for $14k. It was a beautiful navy blue metalic car with every option. I added some performance stuff over the years, most notably 17x9.5" front, and 17x11" rear ZR1 wheels with 275 and 315 Yoko AVS sports. Lowered with Eibach ProKit, it was really sharp if I do say so myself. I did no engine mods at all and it ran mid 13's in the quarter mile. I miss it already.

My wife's car (Regal GS) is no slouch tho. It's got the 3.8L supercharged V6. It's got some punch.

 

[hihoslva]

The "buzzy" top gear is - unfortunately - a necessity when dealing with a little 4-banger.

I have read plenty of posts from people complaining that 5th is geared too low, we need a 6th, etc. But what 99% of these people fail to realize is that IF 5th was taller, OR we had a 6th cog in the box, they'd all be complaining that the car has zero passing power on the highway, and they are sick of downshifting to get by that 18-wheeler, blah blah blah.

There ain't no replacement for displacement. Without a bigger motor with more oomph, we simply can't use a taller top gear.

And mileage would probably be WORSE with that gear also, because the engine would be low in the powerband, so any throttle input would basically be like bogging down, and sucking up the petrol.

I think the gearing is about as good as it can be - and when I need those 130 ponies to start pulling past another car, I appreciate the "buzzy" top gear, even in my automatic.

~HH

 

[spankee]

Jack Daniels, that seems like a good price too. Apparently this is a very good time to buy a car if your finances are right. "Yours" is only $1500 more than mine, and I didn't get a single option (totally base model).