So went to the Calgary Auto Show and damn I'm happy I bought a P5 this past summer.

Quite a good show overall, and came out with some opinions. In our price range, not much compares to what you get with a P5.

Cars I liked... Acura RSX-S, quite a nice car, cool interior. IS-300 with the stick, a bit much though. M3, TT, need I say more.

Cars I disliked- Honda Civic (damn ugly car), Tiburon (looks good but heavy slow and 30k), Matrix (uncomfortable, BIG, odd style) Acura NSX (ugly color, ugly headlights, and could you make the *** of a car any bigger??)

Mazda had a great showing. Three P5's, one custom with leather (mine is nicer though ), rims, intake, and unfortunately a coffee can muffler, and a shifter with the extention taken off. (which serves to remind me NOT to do that, felt odd)

So overall, I'm glad I bought my P5, almost all manf. had something similar but most seem to fall short.

Wish the Cooper-S was there though, possibly my second car.

Don

 

i agree with you. i went to the LA auto show and for the $$$ there is nothing that competes with the P5 in the coolness factor. a TT turbo quattro would be fun though but they are too much $$ for me. i like the looks of the P5 better then the lexus.

 

I really want an IS300. I think that they are great looking cars stock, but there is a ton of stuff out there for 'em to enhance the looks and engine.

 

Don,

Which were the three P5's? I only saw the yellow one on the podium, with the yellow leather. I was talking to the Mazda representative, and he knew dick all about that car. I was telling him how I've got my own P5, and all the stuff I've done to it, but he had the "Yeah right" look on his face. That is until my Dad came over, and confirmed that I DID have my own. Man, that Mazda guy was stunned from then on!

My Mom was shopping around for a replacement for her Lexus RX300, and she was really impressed with the Acura MDX. The X5 was (and I agree) far too masculine, and the ML320 is interesting, but she still thinks the price is too high for what you get. Maybe she'll get another RX300 for a year. Who knows...

All in all, I enjoyed the show this year, and after seeing all the P5's competition (a Pontiac guy was trying to sell me on trading in my P5 for a Vibe - Yeah right!) I can safely say that the Protege 5 is one kick-*** car, and is here to stay.

 

Hey Nick,

When I went Wenesday they had a Blue one like mine, the Yellow one, and a silver one. I think they riced out the yellow one a bit though. With the leather they didn't even do the door panels.

For your mom, a friend of mine had a ML430 and loved it, until a guy rearended his wife in Edmonton, so he got her an X5, (matches the M3 Cabriolet he got her for her birthday!) (too much) anyway... long story short they traded it in for an Audi Allroad, he said a much better vehicle.

Don