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Mazda Protegé

24043 messages,  Last post on Jun 10, 2012 at 12:01 AM

You are in the Mazda Protege Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda Protege, Sedan

Messages Page 1618 of 2405

#16168 of 24043 Love those WHEELS! by fowler3

Aug 20, 2002 (7:10 pm)

Theparallax, where did you find them? I've been looking all over for that style, do they make them in 15" and four-lugs?
 
Sorry Meade, when I looked at the '00 Proteges I felt it was a nice little car but it could be better. In 2001, Mazda made the changes the '00 lacked: The crease in the hood, chrome inside door handles, better seats, nicer trim on doors and dash, and better wheelcovers. Wish I had waited 30 days and gotten the alloys and body-colored mirrors, though. Oh yeah, I also prefer the large M in the center of the grill. The changes took the Pro out of the econobox segment, IMHO.
 
I keep looking at the Mazda6 and thinking that by the 3rd gen Mazda will probably have that one right. The one thing I do NOT like on the Mazda6 -- those ugly taillights. Looks like many cars will get the STO treatment in the back, you do remember STO? They go beautifully with those chrome-plated garbage can lids I see on some car wheels.
 
Theparallax, you should send that photo to Mazda! The grill material is super! Very up-market! Look at all the cars that have two plastic bars with a big logo badge glued on them.
 
We seem to have two schools of thought here: One prefers an up-scale sports sedan look; the other a stripped down hot rod look. To each his own.
 
On the way home from dinner tonight I was thinking about how many cars are on the market, and yet, how few, if any, are what people seem to consider their ideal. That's why mod shops stay busy and why THAT is the business to be in.
 
It's like buying a suit and taking it to a tayler to have it fitted exactly for you. If I could afford it, my next car would have its seats ripped out and replaced first thing. Why? Because all seats are too hard. Motor Trend mentioned a custom trim shop that luxury car buyers take their cars to for that, especially Mercedes and BMW buyers.
 
With all the engineering and money that goes into sport/touring suspensions; auto/manual transmissions; do everything nav systems; it seems to me somebody could design an adjustable firm/soft seat!
 
The Pro's seats are very comfortable. Every new car I sit in that's the first thing I compare. Haven't found any car at any price I would trade for, really!. No matter how luxurious, how sporty, if you aren't comfortable, forget it.
 
fowler3

#16169 of 24043 fowler by newcar31

Aug 20, 2002 (7:25 pm)

I don't think North American 6s will have those clear/chrome tailights. The 6 that I saw at the Minneapolis auto show didn't have them.

#16170 of 24043 Fowler, Protegenic by theparallax

Aug 20, 2002 (7:25 pm)

Thanks for the comments on the wheels. I don't think they make them in 15", but they are in fact 4-lug. Here's where I got them:

http://store.yahoo.com/speedandstyle/wheelspecials.html

They are called Arospeed RS-11 wheels. They dropped the price another $100 so now it's $699 including tires and lug nuts. Not too shabby. Reminds me of Audi wheels...very nice looking.

I don't know about the grille being very "upmarket". In fact, it only cost me some $6 and change for the material! It does make the car look nicer (to me) though.

#16171 of 24043 Theparallax by fowler3

Aug 20, 2002 (7:32 pm)

I don't know about the grille being very "upmarket". In fact, it only cost me some $6 and change for the material! It does make the car look nicer (to me) though.
 
Yep, very nice and clean looking. Thanks for the URL!
 
fowler3

#16172 of 24043 Wonder when... by fowler3

Aug 20, 2002 (7:43 pm)

alloy wheel companies are going to scrap all those out-dated designs and offer wheels that look as good as those on the new cars?
 
fowler3

#16173 of 24043 I think that silver screen door looks great ... by mdaffron

Aug 21, 2002 (4:43 am)

... on a light-colored car like the one in the picture. I don't think I'd like that silver, though, on the front of my Emerald Mica (darned close to black) 2000 ES. I think the black would do better there.
 
BTW, why did you replace the stock grille instead of just painting it? And was the stock grille hard to remove? I thought the little horizontal chrome strip above it was actually part of it. I guess not?
 
Meade

#16174 of 24043 MAPP IV: 16 confirmed! by mdaffron

Aug 21, 2002 (5:18 am)

(Please forgive me, Wil ... I know you're the organizer this time, but I would hope I'm still "Organizer Emeritus" since I started the MAPP series.)

I am proud to steal Wil's thunder and announce that so far, we have 16 confirmed attendees (and 16 Proteges) coming to MAPP IV on September 28! If you haven't signed up yet, please do at the following address, which also contains all the info, pics from the three previous MAPPs, location maps and directions you'll need (thanks to Wil):

http://www.protegenetwork.org/chapters/DC/mapp4.htm

Oh, and I, of course, will be there! How can you let yourself miss meeting the Meadeball? Will you be able to live with yourself after missing a golden opportunity like this? Sign up!

Meade

#16176 of 24043 dang it meade by the_big_h

Aug 21, 2002 (6:51 am)

wil's not the only one working on mapp4, don't give him ALL the credits!!!! I got everything rolling by setting the date and reserving the frigging shelter you know >:O
 
oh, instead of pot luck, we're gonna just go ahead and buy all the stuff, and ask for a few bucks to cover the cost. You know young people can't cook ANYTHING for squat

#16177 of 24043 fowler3 by boggse

Aug 21, 2002 (7:24 am)

Hey, did your insurance go up on your Protege this year? I seem to remember we had a discussion a while back about NC insurance rates. Anyway, Erie tells me that the state of NC reclassified the Protege. My rates went up about $110 per year.

Messages Page 1618 of 2405

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