Woohoo !
 

just got rid of the "brick on wheels" 2k1 Nissan Xterra (15C/17H...)
in a straight even trade for a 2k3 Mazda Protege5 !

super stoked, now I can finally get some FE progress as I lost before I even began with the Xterra.

now to pick your brains for idea's I can decide upon for increasing the aero of the car.

pic below

Nice-looking car!

thanks, yea, Im really happy, Ive wanted an mp5 since they came out, but was never really in a position to get one.
its a man trans, which is going to help, but I noticed at hwy spds the RPM are much higher than I like. I think I read somewhere the 626 man trans is a straight swap, if so, they have much taller gears, I can pick one up at a pull n pay for under $200.0

1st full tank
 

so I went through my first tank

380 miles on 1 full tank, 13.2 gallons, but I only used 12g (didnt know how many miles I have after fuel light comes on)
more than 1/2 a tank was strictly in town. no stop n go traffic, but many stop signs and a few stop lights. used minor hypermiling techniques for town driving (2nd gear take off, coasting to stops and not taking rpm past 2.5/3.0 much)
tires @ 40psi.
had to take a trip to Orlando on Sunday, left Sebring with less than 1/2 a tank. was sort of in a hurry since we had over an hour later start than planned....
ran mostly with traffic running 65-70mph most of the way, but a LOT of inconsiderate drivers on the road (not going to go into it...) once we got onto I-4, had a group of cars (7) running about 80mph with the last one being a full sized SUV, so I hooked in behind him for some drafting. RPM's were higher than Id prefer, but I figured it was offset by the amount of headwind the SUV was taking off me. but once we got off I-4 on the 408 things changed, headwind the entire way, no real traffic to draft and everyone either going 10mph under the spd limit, or 15+mph over.
so I just threw it on cruise at 65mph (posted limit).
anyways, the drive back was less hectic and had a tail wind when traveling from the E before heading S. once we turned S the wind was a 90 crosswind, at about 25mph :(
all in all though, Im pretty impressed as I managed 31.6mpg, new EPA ratings gives the MP5 22/28 w/ 24 combined: Mazda Protege5
going by that, my average is well above EPA without any modifications.

I ordered the material for a partial grill/airdam blocks over the wknd a sheet of steel perforated metal that allows 40% airflow Item #9255t911(I cant do full blocks in FL, it gets just too darn hot) but 40%, even though I feel might be pushing my luck, might be enough to keep the car cool, while allowing a decent block, also planning on blocking off the fog lights with a piece of 1/16 clr lexan.

hoping to be able to put both together over the weekend :turtle:

got my partial grill blocks cut and installed over the wknd, not an easy task attaching these in a manner that will be long lasting, and Im not overly confident they will until I get something better than what Im using now, so that will be next on my list, along with painting them (bare steel and you can already see a very light shade of rust forming....)

anyways, initial testing hasnt been done as yet, but I did take the car out for a 30 min drive last night around 9:30pm. fairly cool temps @ 87f (for S FL)
when I got home, my over flow was gurgling and some coolant was coming from the OF. the car wasnt registering that it was running any warmer than usual, but I didnt hear the fan running at all and it was too dark to tell. started it up this morning, turned the air on and both fans came on. took it out on the road with air on, came back after driving around here for 15 mins, and it wasnt hot at all, then took it out on a 15 min drive without the air on, gauge still showed around the same temp, but the primary fan wasnt on again. so Im thinking my main fan relay might not be working.
also took a look in the rad and it has some serious rust color, most likely never flushed and running it with straight water with no coolant... :confused:
anyways, depending on the days testing I may end up removing one of the blocks for now, until I can flush the cooling system and check that main fan relay.
onto some pics:

d0sitmatr -

Wow, that's pretty. I always like that generation of Mazda. I like that design better than the current-gen happy-face Mazda3s.

CarloSW2

Nice trade best of luck with it

thanks guys
@ Carlos, I do too, I considered an mazda3, 5 dr hatch, but I just dont really like the looks of them as much as this one. plus, they come with a 2.3L, cant see how even a slightly higher displacement engine is going to get better FE without a good gearing change. plus, as mentioned above (still waiting on conformation) the 626 trans should be a straight swap, but even if its not, I do know the 5th gear itself will swap in as a lot of guys who own mx6's swap in the 626 5th gear for a slightly taller highway gear. (or they go the reverse route and use an MX3 trans with shorter gears for sprinting)

Totally. That Protege5 is even more beautiful when you compare it to the current Mazda style.

some clear plexi over those parachutes that you have for fog lights