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Mazda Protege5

7874 messages,  Last post on Jul 13, 2011 at 2:12 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda Protege5, Wagon

Messages Page 697 of 788

#6959 of 7874 My first barand new Car! by gabrielmoza

Nov 28, 2003 (3:10 pm)

Hey Guys,
 
I've been following this board for about 2 yrs now, and I think that this is the best web site. Thanks to you guys, and mostly my Romanian brother Dinu, I purchased my first new car, which is a 2003 Mazda Protege 5. It's laser blue, and according to my dealer I got the second last one in Ontario with 5-spd and AC! So far the car is awesome. It handles better than my old 95 Integra, but it's not as fast. I think that's because I haven't really pushed it yet, as I'm trying to break the engine in. Anybody have any suggestions on how to break in the engine. So far, I haven't driven it on the highway, and not above 80 KMS per hour yet, and I hvent revved it past 3700 RPM. It only has about 1200 kms on it. Any advice?!

#6960 of 7874 Break in by protege_fan

Nov 29, 2003 (2:03 am)

I'd start driving it a bit harder now. The specified break in is,IIRC, 1000 kms.

#6961 of 7874 gabrielmoza by bluong1

Nov 29, 2003 (7:21 am)

Congrats! You ony wonder about the break in after 1200 km? I think it's too late now, hope you vary your cruising speed now and then during the first 1000 km. Also go easy with your brakes, the pads and rotors still need time to be fully adjusted with each other. Always be be light with right foot when the engine is still cold (no need to warm up the engine without driving, just take it easy for the first 5km or so). Don't forget to change the oil and filter when the due time comes, probably around 6000-7500 kms for most people (please check the manual and you driving condition.) Wax the car once every 6 months. Use the pressured water hose to clear any road dirk accumulation when you wash the car, and don't forget the bottom: wheel axles, brakes, ... especially during winter time.

#6962 of 7874 Gabriel by dinu01

Nov 29, 2003 (8:13 am)

Congrats!
 
I would write to you in RO but Edmunds doesn't allow it.
 
After 1200kms like Bruno said, if you took it easy, the P5 is ready for a little fun. I barely held off for 800kms or so when we got the PRO in 2001 and now at 68.000kms it's a "smooth operator"
 
If you park outside, when parking overnight, take your snow brush and clear as much of the ice and snow as possible from the wheel wells - I had some ice that formed inside the rear well and on the rear supension parts that didn't allow ANY rear suspenion travel last winter!!! Had to go to a DYI car wash and spray warm water to melt the ice - not fun.
 
Besides that, Mazda recommends an oil change at 8000kms - I do it at about 4000-5000kms and I also do the coolant flush at b/w 40-48K along with changing the spark plugs. As for the air filter, check it every few months. I would change it when it's contaminated.
 
Enjoy the P5! I see you got a 5-spd. Excellent choice!
 
Dinu
 
PS: I usually hang around the Mazda3 boards now that I want to get a 3 this summer.

#6963 of 7874 Breaking it in. by gabrielmoza

Nov 29, 2003 (10:25 am)

Well so far, I have been doing all that. Varying my cruising speed, not using the brakes too hard, as it is a 5-spd. Waiting for the car to warm up for 5 minutes or so. So I think that it should be OK. I was going to take it easy until about 4000 kms or so, after my first oil change. One thing I really like is that it handles so well. So much better than my lowered integra. Really surprised me. I also love the colour, which my wife picked out. I was gonna get white but she said we should get blue. All in all so far, I've had no complaints about the car. Well I'm gonna check out the modification boards. I could barely wait 4 days before I got some mods for our ZOOM ZOOM. CYA!

#6964 of 7874 About replacement tires by mazdadude

Nov 29, 2003 (6:19 pm)

Hey P5 lovers;
 
Have not posted in a long while. Currently got 25,000 miles on my '02 silver automatic P5. No problems to date. My original Dunlops wore down to the wear mark at 25,000, even after proper rotating schedule. Mostly city driving here. Opted to replace with Falken 205/50/16 ZE 512s all around just before Thanksgiving holiday. Took the advice of earlier post. That post was right on the mark when it stated that P5 no longer drives like it is on rails with the Falkens. Higher sidewall of Falkens to blame, I suspect. Just returned from a 400 mile trip on the new Falkens and no problems. (At a gas stop, someone was checking out my car and grinning ear to ear; "That's one sharp car you got there.")I had no problems with the original Dunlops, except the early wear out. Ride on the new Falkens might be a tad softer, but Falkens fall short of the Dunlops on responsiveness and handling. If you like quick, sharp, rail-like response to your steering wheel inputs, forget the Falkens. The front end lags now with my sharp jerks of steering wheel and the rear end swaggers some; never did that on the Dunlops. I understand Falkens are better traction-wise, but in the sunbelt, not as much an issue. Hope this input helps. Falkens are quiet on the interstate at up to 75 mph. Still loving my P5 and after reading up on Mazda3 and the Car and Driver report, not that anxious to trade.... later

#6965 of 7874 Tires & Break in by bobinwi1

Nov 30, 2003 (9:44 am)

gabrielmoza
Congrats on your 1st new car. Over the years, we've had quite a few bought new & IMHO, the P5 has the best balance between fun to drive & practical as any car I've owned. Good luck with it.
mazdadude
There was some complaining in earlier posts about the Dunlops wearing out. I think this normal for sport tires. My prior car was a Sentra SER that came with Goodyears. They stuck like glue & were toast at less than 30K miles. Thanks for tip about the Falkens. Wouldn't the sidewall be the same for all 50 series tires? I thought the 205 referred to the tread width & the 50 to sidewall. Once you get some wear on the Falkens, they may get more responsive.

#6966 of 7874 by bluong1

Nov 30, 2003 (10:52 am)

Wouldn't the sidewall be the same for all 50 series tires? I thought the 205 referred to the tread width & the 50 to sidewall.
 
well, "50" means the tire wall is 50% of the width. As the Falkens is wider (205 vs 195 mm), its tire wall is therefore 5 mm taller.

#6967 of 7874 New MP5 by gabrielmoza

Nov 30, 2003 (11:06 am)

I'm not surprised that the Goodyear tires suck on this car. When you buy an economy car, the tires ussually suck. I'm hoping that they will last me through the winter, then I'm going to get some Toyo FZ4's. I had those on my old Integra and they were really awesome.

#6968 of 7874 Deflector question by irishbk

Nov 30, 2003 (6:22 pm)

Greetings all! Just bought a silver '03 PR5!! I'm pretty excited about it.
 
As part of the deal, I got the dealer to throw in the moonroof wind deflector for later installation. (since I wasn't sure if I definitely wanted it or not). Can anybody comment on what it takes to install the deflectors Mazda is currently offering? I've heard some say it's a clamp, other say it's an adhesive and still others say it's a drill-in style. Anyone have any conclusive answers? I'd like to be able to put on and take off if I don't like. Thanks alot!!

Messages Page 697 of 788

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