3rd Gen Protege/MazdaSpeed/P5/MP3 General/Maintenance Discussion for 1999-2003.5 Models Only (BJ Chassis)

MIght gt a P5 tomorrow, have questions

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Old November-16th-2001 | 05:47 PM
  #31  
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sorry man, it's you

Originally posted by DBR
hi hitman, thanks for your thoughts, but i'd have to say i have a different opinion. i think there's something wrong with the protege driveline...CV joints, engine mounts, fuel delivery, ???? i'd say it's something in the gas peddle/throttle sensor/emission control/etc. i've driven about a dozen stick cars and half dozen motorcycles over the last 35 years, and none of them have had this problem except the protege. for example my other car is currently a hyundai accent (talk about low gearing!!!!!) and it doesn't rock anything like the protege.
i agree that the driver can stop the rocking by pushing in the clutch at the same time he takes his foot off the gas, but that seems like excessive coasting. (i failed my drivers license the first time for excessive coasting!!!)
i complained to mazda canada about this and they just sluffed me off.
it's interesting that it doesn't happen when the car is initially on a fast idle (1500 rpm), but starts as soon as the idle falls to normal (about 700 rpm).
anyway i'd appreciate it if you or anyone else has any theories about what causes the rocking and any solutions. does anyone know of any experienced protege tuners that might know? i called Racing Beat about 6 weeks ago, but they didn't recognize what i was talking about. i'd be prepared to pay a couple of thousand dollars to get it fixed since i'd lose that much in depreciation selling the car now, and i like the car except for this one thing. thanks again for your feedback.
All manual transmission cars are prone to this type of lunging at low speeds in first gear. Short of possibly needing to grease the acc. cable (I doubt it) you just need to work on your driving style. On a manual transmission car, you have to SQUEEZE the gas and roll off, not press it or stomp it. You may think you have a delicate touch, but your despription of your problem quite obviously shows that you're being a little rough with the gas. The gas pedal is somewhat sensitive in the Protege, but that doesn't mean there is something wrong with the car, and it's not ANYTHING owrth thousands of dollars to fix. The only thing you need to do to fix this problem is tighten the nut behind the wheel

Honestly, try driving without shoes for a while. You'll probably notice right away that your being more aggressive with your throttle inputs than you thought you were. The worn (or just crappy) clutches on your former cars may have been masking this problem.
Old November-17th-2001 | 12:50 PM
  #32  
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Hate to agree with everyone but it is not the P5 drivetrain or anyhting like that. It usually tends to be the driver too. I haven't noticed it too much on my P5 and it isn't even a week old yet. I sit in about 20 minutes of rush hour on my way home each night and you just have to adjust your driving style to each new car. hate to say but i think it's the driver not the car

Old November-18th-2001 | 12:33 AM
  #33  
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I've been on a test driving frenzy here, while looking for the perfect protege5. Here's my views on the part throttle bucking.

I've driven the P5 a couple times and noticed the bucking. It's the same bucking that occurs with any car that has a quick throttle response. The solution is easy, just coast in 2nd gear instead of 1st. For a better solution practice being gentler on the accellerator pedal. But, you only really need 1st to get the car rolling anyway, so you can just use the easier method.

If you want to drive a car that does not do this go test drive a Focus ZX3. It doesn't do this at all, unless you make it do it. However, if you pay attention to the engine when you floor it, it takes a little longer for the engine to respond. The throttle response in the Focus isn't nearly as good as the P5.

My thoughts on it are that the engineers can design the throttle body in such a way to get rid of the low speed bucking. Doing this makes the car much easier to drive at slow speeds. The side effect of it is that you lose throttle response, by having a throttle body that doesn't react as quickly and only allows the engine to see small changes at a time. This sucks while driving aggressively. If you don't agree then go visit some of the Focus boards and pay attention to all of the people complaining about the throttle response of their cars.

Jason
Old November-18th-2001 | 07:53 AM
  #34  
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get an automatic if that bothers you hehe, pay an extra 1000$ and substract all the fun....
Old February-7th-2002 | 07:26 PM
  #35  
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I had to change my driving style.If you cant adapt to different cars then get a Buick.Sorry for the slam but hey life's a bitch.
Old February-7th-2002 | 08:24 PM
  #36  
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I love all the head turns I get ONLY about 15 PROs in my area so you dont see them too much! I love the car I had a GTI with two kids what a pain to get them in and out with the Pro no pob.!!
Old February-7th-2002 | 10:56 PM
  #37  
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I love the car so much I bought two
Old February-8th-2002 | 12:36 AM
  #38  
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pro's about the car

LOOKS!!!!!......i even find myself stairing at it for a good 30's each time i look at my car

HANDELING!......i like the fact that i can take off ramps at twice the speed

interior is nicely layed out

cons

stock CD player is $hit.......replaced it with a 1700 one

car is very low to the ground, which sucks for us canadians, means i actualy have to shovel the snow in my driveway

car is a tad under powered....i'm being picky though, its much better then my buddies POS 97 caveillier

car seems harder to start in the -20 temps (but has always turned over!!!) get a block heater!

tight suspention give you a bit of a bumpy ride, may not like that





but the pro's definatly out way the cons!....i love my pro5
Old February-8th-2002 | 02:05 AM
  #39  
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Originally posted by nightowl
pro's about the car

LOOKS!!!!!......i even find myself stairing at it for a good 30's each time i look at my car

Damn i thought i was the only one that did that. . . definitly one of the best looking affordable cars on the market hands down
Old February-8th-2002 | 07:01 PM
  #40  
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BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT!!!!! AND DON'T WAIT!!!
Old February-8th-2002 | 07:09 PM
  #41  
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well that last post got away from me!! ha ha ha

do not hesitate...the P-5 is killer.......its the best looking car in its class bar NONE, handles like a dream, and although I have heard many people say its underpowered....well I guess they are just use to driving big V-8's or something...the P-5 has plenty of ZIP even at highway speeds......and just look at all the imitators starting to hit the market.....there is quite a list, however NONE of them have as much personality as the P-5. When I had our two at the tint shop, and they were parked out front after getting tinted, there were guys from the local GM dealer stopping in and asking the tint shop guys what they were.....they are ture attention getters. As I said...our two P-5's....I got my wife a Black one...and mine is vivid yellow. I just couldn't see getting one and letting HER have all the fun! :{D

Hope you get your ride...and have as much fun with it as I am having with MINE!!!!
Old February-9th-2002 | 09:35 AM
  #42  
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Originally posted by Sir Nuke
well that last post got away from me!! ha ha ha

do not hesitate...the P-5 is killer.......its the best looking car in its class bar NONE, handles like a dream, and although I have heard many people say its underpowered....well I guess they are just use to driving big V-8's or something...the P-5 has plenty of ZIP even at highway speeds......and just look at all the imitators starting to hit the market.....there is quite a list, however NONE of them have as much personality as the P-5. When I had our two at the tint shop, and they were parked out front after getting tinted, there were guys from the local GM dealer stopping in and asking the tint shop guys what they were.....they are ture attention getters. As I said...our two P-5's....I got my wife a Black one...and mine is vivid yellow. I just couldn't see getting one and letting HER have all the fun! :{D

Hope you get your ride...and have as much fun with it as I am having with MINE!!!!
TWO P5S?! You are a true Protege Lover
Old February-9th-2002 | 11:25 AM
  #43  
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YEP!! TWO!! for if I were to have only gotten ONE....then my wife would be driving it all the time and I would be stuck in my old work truck....and what fun would that be....a few weeks before I got them....my wife made the comment to me while we were driving in my truck that I should think about getting ME something to play with after we got the new car....she thought I would get a "project" car seeing as how that is a hobby of mine....but I wanted INSTANT fun....and what better way then to just get me my very own P-5......she didn't even know I got two till we went down to pick them up! what a surprised look was on her face...it was priceless. :{D
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