So, I have been driving my laser blue zoom-zoom 5 (Protege 5) for almost 6 months now. I mean to write up some observations compared to my old my VW Golf GL....

Good things about the zoom-zoom (or so-so/bad things about Golf):
  • It has more housepower, afterall (130 hp). It makes acceleration a bit faster.
  • It sticks more to the road on turning, it seem to because of the suspension or thinner/better Dunlop tires. Some highway off ramp was used to be a bit scary when I attacked it in higher speed (~80 km/h), but zoom-zoom just stick to the ground like I'm going 60 km/h when it is actually 90 km/h. The GL body roll quite a bit, that make a difference.
  • It gets 30-40 km more/tank of gas, compared to Golf ~410 km/tank.
  • Sequential shift is cool.
  • The standard foglight.
So-so/bad things about zoom-zoom (or better things about Golf):
  • I'm going to miss the heated side mirror, full size spare tire.
  • I feel safer if there are side-impact airbags... not that I want to use it.
  • The door metal sheet wabbles when I slam the door.
  • The car is noisier, especially wind noise above 110km/h.
  • The rear mirror rattles when going through bump or engine knocks. Ok, I have those wide mirror, but I don't remembered it rattled that bad on my Golf... maybe blame the thin rubbers??
  • The engine knock on lower RPM, to the point it sounds dying to me. VW engine sounds better. cool
  • The seatbelt is harder and less comfortable.
  • No 15 km auto door lock mechanism maybe hazardous at night.
  • You just appreciate those little things in VW's design. e.g. low gas beep, central console tilt to the driver slightly, soft plastic pad in glove and door compartments that help prevent things knocking around and make noises.
  • I wish zoom-zoom has ASR and ESP, even as options.
  • A two-tone horn is good. With a one tone horn, it's quite jumpy when the alarm armed.
  • There are magnatic interfence that I can't put the compass on the lower dash. I end up put it on the top of the wind shield.
  • The sun visor can be designed better that it is not blocked by my wide mirror. (Again, I didn't have that problem w/ Golf)
  • The hood use a metal stick to support it, unlike the Golf has a strut...
  • The windshield doesn't seem to be as strong as the one on Golf...
  • The heater is not as hot as the one in Golf.
I guess zoom-zoom 5 is a pretty good car, given it is a 10+ years old design....

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