I thought, I waited this long.. why don't I just wait until a 2003 Protege5 comes out. What time of this month did the 2002 Protege5 come out?

 

No more P5!!!! That sucks. I've heard this in a few locations on different discussion boards but have yet to see any solid evidence of it. Do you have a link that will show this?

This really sucks for P5 owners because it will mean that the car won't be worth as much in the future. Also, parts won't be made available for the P5 because there won't be many out there.

I'm pissed off at Mazda because they keep changing their damn model line every 4 years. This means that noone can get used to them.

Please someone tell me that this rumor isn't true!

Thanks,

BlueP5

 

Oh man, I wonder how much better it's going to be. 15 months.. I don't think I'll wait.

 

wasn't the rumor that mazda is going to use the ford focus platform for their p5's? If this is true you'd better get yours now cause if you wait they will be ugly and less reliable. Then ours will be worth more!

 

why'd they go through all the trouble of making this year's protege 5 if they're just gonna scrap it next year?

 

oooooh. too bad we didn't get them sooner.

 

Next Gen Protege on Focus MKII suspension!
It would be a blast, Suspension in Focus is fenomenal and rear suspension is the best in the business!
If Mazda would also decide to use brand new Duratec HE engines (in works with Ford)?
That could put Protege on top of all economy to mid-size cars.
Duratec 2.3 l HE engine is just amazing VVT and about 160hp with great fuel economy and very very smooth and precise operation. One of the best I4 on the market!!!
New Protege can be a blast is Mazda can put it together.
I would most likely trade in for it, my P5 is doing great but it's 130 hp makes it slow as dog.

 

Ford Focus Wheel Wobble Prompts Safety Recall

Ford recalls 2000 and 2001 Focus models over a salt corrosion problem that could lead to wheel bearing damage on the hot selling compact.

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. is recalling 279,646 of its 2000 and 2001 model year Focus compact cars because of a problem that could cause the rear wheels to wobble.

The problem stems from corrosion caused by road salt used to melt snow and ice in the winter, Ford spokesman Mike Vaughn said. The recall covers cars sold in or registered in 21 northern U.S. states and six Canadian provinces.

Road salt could cause surface corrosion on the cars' rear-wheel seals and ultimately damage the wheel bearings, Vaughn said. If not repaired, that could allow water inside and cause the wheels to wobble, affecting handling, Vaughn said.

No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of such damage.

The Focus has been hit by a string of quality glitches during the past two years. The 2000 model year alone had undergone seven safety recalls since it was introduced in mid-1999. Yet the model still has managed to lure a younger audience than Ford's previous compact, the Escort.

 

well, heavy tweaked current Protege5 suspension is very stiff and tight (almost impossible to get in American Car Market), so after those steps it outhandles softened american Focus.
But European Focus gets much thighter suspension and while it is still not as heavily tweaked as in our P5/P3 it is superior to older Mazda suspension.
I had a chance driving soft and not tweaked american ZX3 and it is still more stable and precise in turns than my current P5 despite it's heavy suspension tweaks.
If current Focus would get all tweaks and stiffness that P5/MP3 gets it would better it in every way.
Problem with Ford: Ford had a winner in Focus and instead of making it a winner Ford cheapend it and did not take advantage of all of it's potential. Assembly quality is also a big problem, sofisticated design like Focus was too much for Escort and F-150 driven Ford.
1.8 2.0 2.3 Duratec HE engines are developed by Mazda and Ford (More Mazda than Ford). Mazda will get it with VVT and Ford will not.
Anyway I'm very happy with my P5