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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 2244 of 2405

#22424 of 24043 2003 protege es stereo any good? by steven39

Sep 08, 2003 (9:41 am)

hello, i looked at both the protege es and the vw golf gls with the 8 speaker monsoon
stereo at my local vw-mazda dealership. i did not have a chance to listen to the 6-disk stereo in the prot es,however, i did get to listen to the monsoon system in the golf which was one of the best sounding units i have heard. with the golf being on the small side you really get a very good surround sound out of the 8 speakers. its one of the reasons iam considering a golf. how is the stereo in the protege with the 6 disk cd sound? thanx steve

#22425 of 24043 Steven by boggse

Sep 08, 2003 (9:45 am)

Average is how I would describe it. Fortunately, you get a car whose fun-to-drive, reliability, and price VW cannot match with the Golf. My advice: save yourself the extra bucks the Golf would cost you and invest in a nice aftermarket stereo/speakers.

#22426 of 24043 Steven... by vocus

Sep 08, 2003 (12:48 pm)

Comparing stock to stock, I can tell you from experience that the Protege stereo cannot hold a candle to the Monsoon radio. But like Boggs said above, you can upgrade the Protege's stereo, but not the Golf's crappy projected reliability and customer service...

#22427 of 24043 LX vs. ES by SAR21102

Sep 08, 2003 (5:18 pm)

Hi everyone.
 
Are there any differences between the LX and the ES in the suspension systems? That is, different shocks or springs or stabilizer bars?
Or is the only main MECHANICAL difference between the trimlines the rear drum vs. rear disc brakes?
 
Thanks very much in advance for your info.

#22428 of 24043 Suspensions by boggse

Sep 08, 2003 (6:00 pm)

AFAIK, the actual suspensions are the same, but the ES should have less unsprung weight with the 16" alloys and lower profile tires, so handling will be superior on the ES. However, the ride will be stiffer.

#22429 of 24043 Interesting ... by mdaffron

Sep 09, 2003 (8:26 am)

I saw a report on the news last night about the costs of repairing newer cars after seemingly insignificant bumper collisions. They were talking about "family sedans," and interestingly, in their comparison, the top damage amount was sustained by an Acura something-or-other, with something like $1400 in damage after a 5-mph pole collision. The least-expensive bash?
 
The new Mazda6.
 
Maybe some of what they did to the 6 will carry forth to the 3.
 
That said, my 2000 ES did sustain a rear impact of about 10 mph (maybe a wee bit more) the other day, and all I've got are scratches and some traded paint from the other vehicle, plus a small dent/hole in my bumper cover from their front license plate screw. My wife backed into a telephone pole a few months ago in her Protege5, doing at least 5 mph (I witnessed it) and to our amazement the car took the hit and there's no evidence the hit ever took place.
 
I'm very, very impressed by the rear bumpers on the current generation Proteges and P5s.
 
Meade

#22430 of 24043 Meade I'm ashamed.... by gee35coupe

Sep 09, 2003 (10:28 am)

http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news/2003/09/08/168193.html
In a room where you can get into a dispute over the slight nuances between disc vs. drum brakes, a .01 g difference in skidpad, or a .03 sec difference in 0-60 you would go so far as to say an Acura "whatever" when there wasn't even an Acura tested.
 
That's funny.

#22431 of 24043 Acura, Infiniti, whatever ... by mdaffron

Sep 09, 2003 (12:44 pm)

Hey, I was accurate in asserting that it was one of those cars available nowhere in the world but America, where people are so hoodwinked to think a jacked-up, spit-polished, trinket-loaded Accord, Maxima or Camry is worth an extra 10 grand because it has a glitzy name.
 
Blah. All I cared about was the 6. ZOOM ZOOM!!!
 
Meadeball

#22432 of 24043 Poor Gee by ashutoshsm

Sep 09, 2003 (12:57 pm)

Takes the bait ... every time
 
Yeah - that said .. highly impressive bumper test results from newer Mazdas. After the mid/late 90s Protege/626 bumper repair costs' fiascoes
 
In 4-7 years, those pseudo-lux Ho/To/Ni marques will catch up

#22433 of 24043 Steven39 by fowler3

Sep 09, 2003 (5:36 pm)

Comparing the Protegé LX (same engine as the ES) mpg rating and actual mpg onroad to a Civic, I can give you some figures, although my driving style is different from yours.
 
I owned a 1994 Civic which got 37mpg highway with A/C on and 41mpg with the A/C off. My 2001 Protegé LX with auto tranny got 36mpg highway on a trip with A/C on. (28mpg city average) The Civic was 5-speed MT. Expect the Civic to be closer to the Pro if it has an A/T.
 
I haven't read the crash test reports nor the J.D.Powers ratings, but when I did test drives of the 2000 Pro and the 2001 Pro I *instantly* noticed the much better, solid feel of the '01's chassy. It felt like a much larger car yet still had the nimble handling. The 2000 Pro felt sort of flimsy in comparison. I also tested a 2001 Civic and it, too, felt light and less solidly built.
 
fowler3

Messages Page 2244 of 2405

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