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Mazda Protege Owners: Future Models
86 messages, Last post on Dec 21, 2004 at 5:50 AM
You are in the Mazda Protege Forum.- Your Hosts are Kirstie@Edmunds & Karen@Edmunds
What is this discussion about? Mazda Protege, Mazda Protege5, Sedan
Discuss future Mazda Protege models here!
#47 of 86 maltb!!! by panamaltd2
Nov 01, 2002 (8:06 pm)
Please, can you tell us anything??!! Please, Please, Please. What about the sedan. Did anybody sneak any pictures?
#48 of 86 The upcomming Hatch looks better in person by kevin111
Nov 02, 2002 (1:15 am)
Went to a focus group event this evening, where they wanted to get our opinions of two cars, a hatch and a wagon vs. a group of other similiar sedans and wagons. Mazda did a really nice job, especially on the interior! The only problem I have is that the stereo is built into the center console and not a separate unit. The bucket seats are really nice, racing type, with lots of bolstering and support!In person, the front doesn't look so bloated.
#51 of 86 The Edmunds Link Called by alternator
Nov 02, 2002 (1:59 pm)
"2003 Mazda Protege Compact Sedan" actually uses the same photos that the following site uses and calls the "2002 MazdaSpeed Protege (Turbo)"HERE
This site also has that photo, previously referred to in this discussion as a hatchback, which they label as the " 2003 Mazda Protege".
I find it difficult to believe that Mazda would come out with a 2003 MazdaSpeed Protege looking like these photos (very little difference from the 2002 Protege), and then immediately follow with a radically different look in a 2003 standard Protege sedan (Mazda3?, I hate that name) !!
Am I missing something here?
#52 of 86 Funny, the design I saw, looked more radical. by kevin111
Nov 02, 2002 (3:26 pm)
Nice design though. Looked more substantial than the current Protege.#53 of 86 Kevin111 by groovypippin
Nov 02, 2002 (8:53 pm)
Come on pal, you gotta give us a more thorough review of what you saw then that!!Details, details!!!
Especially the sedan.
#55 of 86 O.K., let me try by kevin111
Nov 03, 2002 (2:24 am)
The front sort of reminded me of a combo of the new Camry with some of the IS300 and Audi A4 in there. It is a more fluid design than either. It is smaller than the IS300, but has muscular lines none-the-less. The rear is higher than on previous Proteges (now called a Mazda 3). There is a clear (with a red tint) lense over the rear signal lights. The backup lights are each a big circle that are now mounted on the trunk lidThe front has headlights that were three receding silver circles and a clear lense (sort of like the Camry, except the lights are all the same size). Of course the signature grill was there.
The nose and bottom look a little like the Dodge Avenger on the sport model, and more like the Camry on the standard model.
The Wagon looks very similiar to the picture, except that the nose is more curved, and the fog lights are round. The side profile reminds me a little of a sleeker Pontiac Vibe. They had a Toyota Matrix there. The Toyota looked higher and bulkier than the Mazda wagon. The Mazda wagon also had a little bit of a point in the rear on the trunk lid (a shallow angle).
On the side view, the back seemed a little stubby (it is a compact). The rear seats were a little cramped.
The interior is really nice, even though I really did not care for the center console much. On the sport model, it is mainly charcole with sport bucket seats with plenty of bolsters (even a middle one in the front of the seat cushion!). The color scheme of the sport seats reminded me of my WRX seats. There was less bolstering on these seats than my WRX. The shifter had a nice feel even if it seemed a little vague. The trim did use plenty of aluminum colored trim. The dash was interesting. Looked like it was dials, but LCD hands! The dash was very well covered from sun, so I assume this will not be a problem. It was off so I could not tell for sure.
On the standard model, it was very well done! The color was the same color as the exterior, but looked sharp with the top of the dash being a different color than the bottom, sort of like on luxury vehicles (without the wood trim). I assume you will have the option of wood trim. The fabrics seemed to be of good quality.
The spoiler on the sports model of the sedan was sort of cheesy. It looked nice, but was just a piece of plastic covering the corner of the trunk lid. Was like the spoilers on Dodges and Chryslers.
The center console was not bad. It was charcole plastic with orange trim on the dials. It looked a little cheap, but better than many of the other cars we looked at (Civic, the Mitsu, Volkswagon Pasat and Golf). Also the stereo was part of the center console, not a separate unit fitted into the console. I really did not like that.
All in all, it looked like a significant improvement in shape and style to the older model, which in itself is very nice. Hey, if they come out with a Mazdaspeed version of it, I might think about it!
#56 of 86 Another words, the front looks similiar but better than the picture above by kevin111
Nov 03, 2002 (2:26 am)
The front on the wagon above does not do it justice. The headlights are the same though.To POST a message, please
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