Which color Protege? (pics inside)

Which color Protege do you like best?

  • Silver

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Blue

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Black

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Red

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
Alright I was pretty set on getting a silver one, but then I [finally] found a good picture of a blue one.

Granted it is the 2001 Protege MP3 Edition, but here's a blue one for ya:



2001MP3blue.jpg




:bow to that awesome color!
 
White95Max said:
Alright I was pretty set on getting a silver one, but then I [finally] found a good picture of a blue one.

Granted it is the 2001 Protege MP3 Edition, but here's a blue one for ya:



2001MP3blue.jpg




:bow to that awesome color!
Click to expand...



i totally agree! :xyxthumbs then again, i'm partial to blue. ;)



and $10-$50 for a strut tower brace? wow.



i must've been thinking of their song when i was thinking "zoom zoom zoom". :o i just remember that kid saying "zoom zoom". :D
 
I dunno, I just saw a blue on in traffic today (long wait, plenty of time to check it out). IMO it didn't look as good in person as that one does in the pic (especially didn't like how the front end looked). I still say "nice color, wrong for the car". Maybe the MP3 accessories make a big difference :nixweiss



Heh heh, OK, I'll shut up now, having *really* stated my opinion :o Just make sure *you* really like whatever car you get.
 
Accumulator said:
I dunno, I just saw a blue on in traffic today (long wait, plenty of time to check it out). IMO it didn't look as good in person as that one does in the pic (especially didn't like how the front end looked). I still say "nice color, wrong for the car". Maybe the MP3 accessories make a big difference :nixweiss



Heh heh, OK, I'll shut up now, having *really* stated my opinion :o Just make sure *you* really like whatever car you get.
Click to expand...



If the MP3 accessories really appear to make a huge difference in the overall appearance of the car, I will probably invest in some of them to make the car look more stylish.



Was the front end styling as shown in the pics of the red car? Or the front end as shown in the pics of the black car?



I welcome any and all opinions. Forums are for discussion, that's what this thread is for. :up
 
White95Max said:
Was the front end styling as shown in the pics of the red car? Or the front end as shown in the pics of the black car?



I welcome any and all opinions. Forums are for discussion, that's what this thread is for. :up
Click to expand...



OK, I just didn't want to be beating anyone over the head with my opinions and I don't like to call anybody's baby ugly. I find it funny that I think it looks too boring in blue since *I'm* partial to debadged silver Audi sedans (what could be more boring than those :D ).



The blue one I saw had the same front end as the black one. As best I can tell, that's the same as the one on the MP3 edition in your pic.
 
White95Max said:
Alright I was pretty set on getting a silver one, but then I [finally] found a good picture of a blue one.

Granted it is the 2001 Protege MP3 Edition, but here's a blue one for ya:



2001MP3blue.jpg




:bow to that awesome color!
Click to expand...







from what i've read online....that color is only on mp3..laser blue mica to be exact and not offered on non mp3 proteges...i could be wrong, but i've read only 1000 blue mp3 mica were made making them rather rare:nixweiss
 
The laser blue mica was available on all Proteges in 2003. I don't think they were available before that in laser blue mica, but they were available in a different, darker shade of blue as shown in the pics on page 1.
 
I went and drove a 2000 dark green Protege ES 5spd today. I loved it!

The only problems I had:

1. Alternator is hard to access in event of replacement.

2. Crappy touring tires would spin without applying that much throttle (dry roads). Although the problem of inferior tires would be dealt with REAL FAST. I've found new wheels for my summer tires - see below.

3. The "new car smell"! UGH. They must have sprayed a whole can of that crap in there...it was making me sick. I drove with the windows down for most of the time after I listened to how loud it was with the windows up.

4. Swirls and holograms were all over that poor car. :( It needs me...bad.



New wheels...

I was stuck deciding between these two...(selected because of price and size)

1. Kazera KZ-U 16x7

kazera_kzu_ci3_l.jpg




http://www.tirerack.com/servlet/Cal...ex=9&filterSize=&filterFinish=&filterSpecial=





2. Sport Edition TK5 16x7

se_tk5_ci3_l.jpg




http://www.tirerack.com/servlet/Cal...x=16&filterSize=&filterFinish=&filterSpecial=







Although I prefer the look and simplicity of the TK5s (#2), I chose #1. The Kazeras are 17.2lbs each, while the TK5s are 19.5lbs each. I thought with a small engine, a few pounds per wheel of extra unsprung weight might make a substantial difference, and any impact it had on performance would be negative.

They both cost $119 each.



BTW, you can see both of the wheels on the car by going to TireRack.com, clicking on Shop for Wheels (type in 2000 Mazda), click go, then click on Protege ES in the drop-down box. Then just scroll through the wheels until you come to the KZ-U and the TK5s. Click on the 16x7, and it will show each wheel on the car.

The wheels it shows on the car right away are the stock 15x6 alloys that come on the ES models.



And BTW, I'm probably getting the Pirelli P Zero Nero M+S Ultra High Performance All-Seasons in 205/45/16.
 
So everyone agrees on my decision to go with the #1 wheels? What do you think about the extra 2.3 lbs of extra weight per wheel? Would it make a noticeable difference?
 
IMO the weight won't make a bit of real-world difference. But I agree with #1. They make for a nice contrast with the rounded shapes on the car's profile, not *too* much of a contrast, just enough. I thought #2 made everything look too "well used bar of soap"-like/boring.



Are you really considering the dark green one or was that just to get acquainted with the model?
 
I drove that car just to get acquainted with the Protege ES, although I did like the color a lot. The flake was very prevalent even though it was dirty and swirled.

I want to make sure I really want one if I'm going to sell my wheels and start saving for a new car.



I thought for sure the first comment would be that the #1 wheels look like a PITA to clean/seal. That's the one thing that really stands out between the two...ease of cleaning.



BTW, did you look at the image on TireRack with the car and wheels?
 
White95Max said:
I drove that car just to get acquainted with the Protege ES,...

I want to make sure I really want one if I'm going to sell my wheels and start saving for a new car.



I thought for sure the first comment would be that the #1 wheels look like a PITA to clean/seal. That's the one thing that really stands out between the two...ease of cleaning.



BTW, did you look at the image on TireRack with the car and wheels?
Click to expand...



Smart move, driving one. You just don't know until you do that. I just wondered if you were really gonna buy a dark color that needed help (man, I sure wouldn't do that..).



I dunno, the #1 wheels don't look *that* tough to do. I'd get some BHBs from Griot's, seal 'em with lots of KSG and not worry.



Yeah, I *did* go there and "try on" the two wheels :D My comments about how they looked were based on how they looked on the red sample-car. I sure liked #1 better, which sorta surprised me. #2 looks like it oughta be more in keeping with the car's lines, but I didn't like how they looked on it when I did the "try on".
 
i checked them out on tirerack and i think the kazera's look much nicer. and either one looks easy to clean and maintain. and that dark metallic green (rainforest) looks nice. AIO + UPP would probably be a nice combo, nice and slick with a lot of popping flake! :D
 
Accumulator said:
Smart move, driving one. You just don't know until you do that. I just wondered if you were really gonna buy a dark color that needed help (man, I sure wouldn't do that..).



I dunno, the #1 wheels don't look *that* tough to do. I'd get some BHBs from Griot's, seal 'em with lots of KSG and not worry.



Yeah, I *did* go there and "try on" the two wheels :D My comments about how they looked were based on how they looked on the red sample-car. I sure liked #1 better, which sorta surprised me. #2 looks like it oughta be more in keeping with the car's lines, but I didn't like how they looked on it when I did the "try on".
Click to expand...



I don't know if I would buy one that needed swirl removal. Either I do it or some nut with a rotary on full speed will do it. :nixweiss



I plan to put many layers of sealant on them AFTER I get the wheels balanced. So before they actually go on the car, they will get many layers of sealant.



I agree about the #1s looking better on the car. I thought the #2 looked better by itself, but once I saw it actually "on the car" I changed my mind in favor of the #1s.
 
hirosh said:
i checked them out on tirerack and i think the kazera's look much nicer. and either one looks easy to clean and maintain. and that dark metallic green (rainforest) looks nice. AIO + UPP would probably be a nice combo, nice and slick with a lot of popping flake! :D
Click to expand...



The dark green did look very nice. AIO/UPP would surely enhance the flake of that paint.



I don't think either wheel would be too bad as far as cleaning, but obviously the style of the TK5s is simpler, and would allow quicker/easier cleaning.
 
I think I can relate to you with the weight of the wheels. Since I'm a member of Miata.net, I can tell you that these guys go to extemes with wheel weight. BTW my wheels are stock. Everyone seems to agree that with lightweight wheels you feel a difference. They say the car handles betterand feels more lively. Again, I have stock wheels so I don't know for sure. Since these guys autocross alot I'd say they know better than most. My advice would be to make sure the wheels on it now weigh more than what's going on it especially if you're going to a bigger wheel. I know a lighter flywheel also works very well. I wouldn't mess with that unless the clutch needed replacement though. For the time being I know more about cars than I do about detailing, but that's quickly changing.
 
I've heard the same things, and I know that there are plenty of people that spend great deals of money just to save a few pounds of wheel weight.
 
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