What features do you want next gen Pro/Mazda3 to have?
Here is my top 10.

1. Hatchback's 5 door ,4 door Sedan, 2 door Coupe
2. new Duratec HE family engines 2.0 -145hp 2.3- 166hp
and 2.3 l 178hp with all wheel drive version, 130HP / 185 lbs/tq modern Ford Europe's Turbo Diesel on 5 door hatch.
3. 2.3 turbo Mazdaspeed versions of 5 door hatch
and 2 door coupe.
4. Stifer/firmer suspension, quicker steering, sporty body work and other Mazda6 like features from it's "sport option"
5. optional 5 speed sport "manumatic" automatic tranies on
all 2.3 and mazdaspeed models
6. standard 16" wheels with 205/45 (not 50!) tires on all 2.3l models
7. trip computer with outside temp.and current fuel economy display and one CD AM/FM/ SAT RADIO stereo with separate tweeters / midrange front speakers and 10" sub as a $300 option over standard stereo and don't make it fancy $600 BOSE named audiophile upgrade.
8. guages and cabin in silver plastic (Mazda6 alike) but with all blue illumination (instead of all red Mazda6/Pro5 alike) it would separate M3 from M6 rather similiar interior lay-out
9. sportier, firmer and P5-like cloth type seats on all 2.3 models
10. non water based exterior paint

yes I can pay $20K for a 5 door hatch with AWD 178hp 2.3l and 5 speed sport manumatic auto trany, 16" 205/45 wheels tires, option 7, 9, 4 .

Am I asking too much?

 

I love the car just the way it is, except for 3 things.

1. More horsepower
2. Extra cog in the gearbox.
3. Heated mirrors/seats.

As for your top 10,
The suspension isn't firm enough for you?
A coupe is a great idea.
Manumatic transmissons suck, I'll stick with a manual until we get a SMG.
A trip computer isn't nesscary on an inexpensive car.
The paint is water based for enviromental reasons.
I like the orange illumination. My father's VW has blue illumination and I find it off putting.
Just let Kenwood do the stereo for all Mazdas.

 

Those are good...

How about a rear hatch light that turns itself off when the hatch closes?
Bigger sunroof.
Seats that fold well and truly flat for a nice smooth load area.

EDIT : I'm not selling my car for another 10 years, but I'd like to see these features on future Proteges/Mazda3s/whateveryoucallthem.

 

The light does turn off when the hatch closes. Maybee yours is broken?

Adding to the list.

better seats.
one touch down and up window controls for all windows
door lock switch on passenger side.
make the inside door handle on the passenger side the same as the drivers side.

 

I'll second the bigger sunroof idea. The current tiny mail slot is a little funny-looking, but better than nothing. And not deep-tinting it to save a few bucks needs to stop. A trip computer is useful on any car regardless of the price, but probably not a realistic feature to include at this price point. The suspension is firm enough right now for me as well.

How about variable intermittent wipers? Mazda has the part in its parts bin to give all P5s this feature right now (see thread in how-to section), but decided not to. I'd also like to see outside mirrors with a larger range of adjustment. The current ones were designed for people who like to watch the side of their own car. Finally, the driver should have the option to override the A/C coming on when the air **** is in a defrost position. It's fine it if comes on automatically but at least let me turn it off at that point if I don't need it.

 

I would definately say more power, 150 hp or so. I also think the car needs to work the "body roll" out of the suspension. It is stiff and sporty and has good grip, but when I corner I want to stay in my seat. I think the center consol should be raised 2" or so, I need a place to rest my arm. One more thing, Leather in the sedans. Other than that, I love my pro!

 

Body roll in turns?

I believe you're refering to the suck-tastic seats on the Protege. Lateral support is horrible and you really have to plant your foot in the dead pedal and hold on to the steering wheel.

Again, that's not due to body roll, more like lateral g-force (which the more the better)

 

1. A ride that isn't completely raucous, noisy, and irritating.
2. An engine that's efficient and modern by today's standards, and isn't raucous, noisy, and irritating.
3. Properly placed and configured door locks (i.e. not the current set up).
4. Better attention to interior component integrity (i.e. rattle control).
5. Leather seating option for the sedan, dammit!
6. Center armrest that's extended enough to be, you know, actually useable (i.e. not the current set up).
7. Better quality glass, particularly the windshield.
8. An instrument cluster that doesn't prevent you from installing third party (i.e. decent) stereo upgrades, like the way they've bent you over in the Mazda6. You wanna play mp3 discs in your Mazda6? You're s.o.l.. They'd better not do the same in the Mazda3!!
9. All instruments/controls are lit, not just your driver's side power window switch.
10. A transmission that doesn't force you to rev so high in what's supposed to be your 5th, *cruising* gear that you're inundated with a whining, loud, obnoxious, 'less efficient that it could be' engine.

Here's my rant! (So be warned and don't take personal offense! It's just my opinion!)

I'd say out of all of these, the 4 most critical things they have to change (and the 4 things that **** me off most about the the 3rd generation Protege) are a totally noisy ride (road, engine, etc. noise), a 5th gear that's more like a 4th gear in a normal car (Hey! Let's waste fuel, shall we?), an old-***, outdated and irritating engine, and poor ride quality.

 

stifer/firmer suspension setup - I mean close to let's say MP3, bigger anti roll bars and firmer shocks/springs what with 205/45 profile tires and remarkable multi-link rear suspension will result in great comfort and amazing handling at the same time!!!
something that rarely goes in pair, usualy handling means harsh and stiff ride but not with this new platform!!!
Mazda can knock out competition with new Mazda3/Pro, and establish new benchmark in $15K-$20K market.
Heated mirrors would be a great help.
Trip CPU like in VW's GTI ($22K) could be an option on premium models.

Let's dream on?
Not really, those options are not unrealistic.

 

1. 2dr coupe DEFINITELY
2. Heated mirrors
3. 5spd automatic
4. I think wheels should STAY as an upgrade. I wouldn't want the DX,LX, and ES coming with the same wheels.
5. BETTER CUP HOLDERS. This is the only thing that I hated about the car.

6. And of course, MORE HORSEPOWER

 

I would say the current P5 already have most of the features I wanted in a car, otherwise I wouldn't have bought this car in the first place after all.
I like all the current features like stiff suspension, huge fog lamps, front stablizer bar, the cross patten front grill, rear spoiler with LED brake light, 4 wheel disc brakes, interior, etc etc.

On top of these features, here are the features I would like to see added.

-HID

-AWD

-Aluminium Engine Block with 160+ HP

-5 speed Sportmatic Transmission

-Turbo charger or supercharger

-17" wheels

-2nd roll middle seat headrest

-power door lock button on passenger side (our current P5 only have the power door lock button on the driver side, my wife finds it irrational to only have the button on the driver side)

 

me too

I meant to add that one to my list. It drives some of my paranoid passengers crazy lol

 

Exactly.

And I would like to add that I wish they put the power door lock button along with those power windows button on the driver side elbow rest key pad instead of putting it vertically on the door.

My 94 Corolla has that power lock button on the key pad cluster on the elbow rest, which I've found easier to reach than the currect set up in my P5.

 

After driving my Pro for nearly 3.5 years, here's what I think should be adressed.

1. More power
2. Keep the great handling, but make the suspension not as harsh. It can be done - check the 6.
3. VW-like interior, without the rattles
4. Add some luxury touches, like map lights for all 4 outboard passengers, silicone dampened door grab handles.
5. Last but certainly not least, highest safety rating possible. Make side air cutains and air bags STANDARD.

 

all those add ons make my car heavy and thus slows it down...i say strip the car put a role cage in there no A/c no power, sept for steering. turboed, AWD and 40 more horses.

=)

joking. but i would love a 3 door hatch... i woulda got that instead of a P5 if they made 1 at the time.