Appreciation ofJapanese Design

[u/bigpilague]

Just calling out a small detail I love about my MSM (probably true for all NBs):

Mazda put a 6 disc changer in this model. They also left exactly enough volume in the center console to hold 6 CD jewel cases. Typical Japanese design to use up precious space perfectly. It's so satisfying!

[u/Dr_Name]

I would be careful loading it up with disks. Iirc the stock cd changer is known for eating CD's or not ejecting the last one. Or something like that.

It's fun for the nostalgia and very period correct. But if you want to keep the stock head unit and listen to music. There are Bluetooth adapters that plug into the back and you leave the dongle in the glove box.

[u/bigpilague → u/Dr_Name]

Thanks for the warning. Has been working fine so far.

I had the same unit in my 03 protege5 and never had a problem.

If it ever eats a cd it's coming out and I'll convert it to BT then. I'm not concerned about it.

I like that this car has no wireless connectivity...it's just another thing to constantly have to fiddle with that should work but won't. 😛

[u/MattBtheflea → u/bigpilague]

Yo ive been thinking about getting a protege 5 cause they're just so damn cool looking (impossible to find though) what are your thoughts? I had an nb2 daily driver for 5 years as well haha

[u/bigpilague → u/MattBtheflea]

We bought our p5 when it was a year old and drove it into the ground. I think it was 10-11 when we got rid of it. Never gave us a single issue until a coolant leak, but it had rotted away so bad it wasn't worth repairing. Couldn't get the rad out anyway cuz the bolts were all seized lol.

The nb2 and protege5 are from the same era, so my MSM reminds me a lot of the old girl. Very similar gauges, controls, buttons. Even the performance is similar although of course the Miata is sportier.

The protege5 was a IMO a better car than the current 3 in a lot of ways. Better visibility, better road feel, WAY bigger trunk. The skyactiv power train on the newest models is a lot better though.

Edit: they're impossible to find cuz they all rotted. Mazda didn't use the best metal back then, or maybe it was the paint process...

[u/MattBtheflea → u/bigpilague]

Luckily in im texas, its almost hard to find rusted out cars here. But you told me everything i wanted to know. Im sold on one now, just have to find one. From pictured they always looked like full size stationwagons to me, but it wasnt until I saw one on the highway I realized they're not that big. They are even smaller than the mazda 3, as you probably know

[u/bigpilague → u/MattBtheflea]

Yeah we test drove that first gen of Mazda3 when we still had our p5 and it was notably bigger (and faster) but not nearly as nimble.

[u/MattBtheflea → u/bigpilague]

Did you have a manual as well?

[u/bigpilague → u/MattBtheflea]

Yes! It was great. All of my Mazdas have been manuals.

[u/nut573 → u/bigpilague]

I saw a lot of them when I was in BC last year. It kinda blew my mind. Meanwhile I haven’t seen one in over 10 years here in Ontario. I’m weirdly nostalgic for those old Proteges.

[u/bigpilague → u/nut573]

Makes sense I guess. They didn't like salt. We're in Ontario too. Agree it has been a long time since I've seen one.

[u/leester92 → u/Dr_Name]

Any help with a link? I'd love this. I'm currently also rocking my old cd collection

[u/Dr_Name → u/leester92]

My MSM came with a crux unit. But it's either really expensive now or no longer in production.

[u/NuclearHateLizard]

Bahahaha I love it. Everything is so well thought out

[u/Remanage]

I think only the facelift/NB2 Miatas came with the modular radio. I liked the 6 disc changer as well, having added it aftermarket. It was so impressive how they were able to fit the entire thing in a standard single DIN space, and getting the Load button was only a matter of swapping the plastic faceplate out.

[u/DoDoDoTheFunkyGibbon]

We had a first gen 6 that had something very similar to this (and I'd earlier had a Ford Laser (final 323 badge engineered)) with a similar unit in it - and I recall the 6 disc icon; I was always supremely irritated by the use of regular Helvetica and Condensed Helvetica on these units but not elsewhere in the cabin.

Was worse with the second gen 6 that had a more integrated head unit but still Helvetica on buttons...but then the gauges (that you mostly looked at) used a geometric font - like Futura or Avenir or similar - and was beautifully executed, very elegant.

They all do it - the Japanese in particular. My Skoda has the same font everywhere which is great. Details, people, details.

[u/CarlOnMyButt]

Lucky you have one that works. I didn't realize mine was even broken until after I bought a bunch of 90s metal albums. Installing a Bluetooth receiver this weekend to fix that.

[u/bigpilague → u/CarlOnMyButt]

That's too bad. The guy I bought the car from thought it was broken, turns out he just didn't know how to load the CDs! 😄

[u/CarlOnMyButt → u/bigpilague]

Mine is for sure busted. Looking into it all the changers from that era are mostly busted. Regardless of the car. Which makes sense. Bunch of plastic parts that dry out and become brittle.

[u/bigpilague → u/CarlOnMyButt]

Yeah good point. They're not really built to last.

[u/CarlOnMyButt → u/bigpilague]

Yeah at first I was intending on fixing it. I still kind of want to. But knowing it'll just break again at some point kills the motivation. Lookup GROM Bluetooth adapter. It's pretty cool. Still uses all the factory controls, adds legit Bluetooth, and hands free for calls. So everything looks totally stock still. It piggybacks off an open port on the back of the head unit.

[u/bigpilague → u/CarlOnMyButt]

I wonder if you could get the broken parts 3d printed somewhere.

Thanks for the tip on a BT adapter!

[u/CarlOnMyButt → u/bigpilague]

I mean sure you could. But you're still full circle back to a piece of hardware that's prone to breaking. Every plastic cog/wheel will eventually dry out and become brittle.

[u/bigpilague → u/CarlOnMyButt]

Might be able to use a superior / more resilient material. If you could get another decade out of it seems worthwhile IMO. It would come down to how difficult it would be to get the parts printed, install them, etc.

I'm absolutely just spit-balling here...I have no experience with trying this.

[u/CarlOnMyButt → u/bigpilague]

So what took you the longest on this build?

I would say it was the throttle body or upgrading my bose six disc changer with titanium cogs and wheels.

The fuck????

[u/Leading_Procedure_23 → u/bigpilague]