Topic: Mazda Protege? (Read 29480 times)

dugrant153 · « **on:** February 24, 2006, 12:53:14 AM »

Hey folks,

I'm thinking of the possibility of maybe getting a used Mazda Protege as a cheaper alternative to buying a new car.
Just wondering what people think of the Mazda Protege? (2.0L ES GT model)

holeydonut · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2006, 01:42:35 AM »

Dude, you've been on M3F since the dawn of time and you don't have a Mazda3 yet

dugrant153 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2006, 05:46:26 PM »

I blame it on getting my degree, and a lack of finding a job.
I'm getting there, though.

I'm just playing with options.

ENH729 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2006, 05:53:25 PM »

What do you currently drive?

abracc · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2006, 04:27:00 PM »

If I remember right, I had a '93 LX Protege. It was a 5 speed manual. It was actually a very nice car. Great back seat room for a car that small on the outside. No real problems with it at all......

Midnight_Speeder · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2006, 12:03:36 PM »

A friend and I test drove one yesterday. For a car with 65xxx km's, it felt and looked very solid. I was surprised. Although, I didn't test the performance, but everything felt together and nothing creeked or made absurd noise. I've heard it's pretty solid though.

dugrant153 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2006, 01:36:40 AM »

sorry, forgot to state that I'm looking at the 2001-2003ish range for Proteges.
I actually drove a 1998 Mazda Protege. The car was pretty solid, although the engine had some timing issues. No chance to take it on the twisties, but the 1.8L (or possibly the 1.6L) was not Porsche Boxster fast, but fast enough for Safeway parking lots (and some cornercarving too).
I just really really like the looks of the Mazda Protege from 2001 and up. the looks + the suspension. that's what makes the car so appealing. plus, hopefully it won't have a huge markup like Toyotas do.

I currently drive a 1985 Toyota Corolla (FWD model).

jasonsk287 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2006, 05:34:09 PM »

I feel your pain. I want a Mazda3 BADLY, but I have to wait until I can find a job too. (I just posted over on the Lounge section about finding a job at a dealer). My current car, on the other hand, is a 2000 Protege LX. It truly is an awesome car. It has lasted 6 years (almost) and 96,000 (almost) miles so far. I want a 3 as soon I can, but I'm incredibly happy with the Protege. The interior quality is impressive- the material SEEMS cheap but is surprisingly durable.

The engine is extremely durable and reliable. This car will run forever (God willing) with no problems. The secret to reliability is, of course, regular maintenance. Even the service department manager at our local dealer (who we've come to know over the past 6 years) complemented the car, saying how great it runs for a car with 96k miles.

Good luck.

dugrant153 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 08, 2006, 11:02:09 PM »

wow... 96,000 miles is ...154,000km!!! NICE!

Well, I've become serious about the Mazda Protege. Definitely looking for an ES GT (or if the Canadian ES has rear disk brakes, the ES also). Judging from riding in my friends' car, it may not be a pocket rocket, but it's definitely got a killer suspension!!

Are there any particular problems that come up with 2001-2003 Mazda Proteges? anything I should watch out for that may blindside me?

Black3SQ · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2006, 11:25:38 AM »

I drove a 99 Protege for a year and a half and absolutely loved it. I love the Protege so much in fact, that I am selling my 3 to get another one. Loving the Protege isn't the only reason for selling, but it's nice to know I'll be in a car I know and really enjoy driving. The only complaint I had with my 99 was interior noise, which I do believe was taken care of the following year with additional sound dampening materials. I'd reccomend checking into www.clubprotege.com for more info on Protege's.

thebrakeman · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2006, 12:22:46 PM »

The drivetrain of the Protege 2.0L is going to need to be compared to a Mazda 3i 2.0L.
But the ES trim on the Protege ES is going to need to be compared to a well-optioned Mazda 3i.
Per Edmunds.com, starting prices for a private sale:
$10,086 '03 Protege ES sedan, 2.0L, 130 hp, 135 ft-lbs (no options)
$11,016 '04 Mazda3i sedan, 2.0L, 148 hp, 135 ft-lbs (add A/C, CD changer, fog lights, 16" alloys, rear spoiler)
$12,046 '04 Mazda3i with optioned as much as possible to match Protege ES trim

So, if you really want a Mazda3, you can get one for $2000 more than a Protege ES. It will perform better than the Protege. It will be a year newer, but being a new design, it will probably buy you 2-3 years in longevity. Think of it this way: You can spend an extra $2k now, or you can have to get another car 2 years sooner. 2 years of car payments will cost you more than $2k down the road.

I would consider the $2000 a good investment if you plan to keep the car for a while. It's about another $57/month on a 3 year loan or $44/month on a 4 year loan.

wanna3instead · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2006, 05:05:42 PM »

i bought a used '03 protege because i just started a new job and wasnt sure about my short term financial future, or else i'd have gone for something else, possibly a new mazda3. i had previously owned a '95 protege and wasn't planning on getting another protege but an accident changed that. after test driving used BMW, nissan, focus, the protege was a price i couldn't beat.

looking back i kinda wished i'd gone for the BMW but with my luck, the repair costs would have done me in. the protege had suffered 2 nails in the same tire, 1 inch apart all within a 2 week timespan, and i hadnt even owned it for 3 months. then a lady took my bumper off with her SUV while i was at work...i mean my car wasnt even being driven and it got in an accident. not to mention the rock that hit my window on the highway the protege has been easy and inexpensive to fix.

the car has everything i could ever want, nice handling, 4-wheel disc brakes--take that civic ex, trusty engine & tranny, but i wish it had RWD & a smoother shifter (in other words, that BMW hehe). engine noise is minimal but high pitched in 5th gear...almost wish it had a 6th gear for cruising. road noise takes getting used to, but really no louder than the competitors. nice extras included 16" wheels, cd-player, abs, & side-impact airbags.

a used mazda3 i may only be $2000 more but depending on who you ask, $2000 is a ton of money. thats rent, car payment, insurance, you name it. i think that if you can get "more car" and save $2000 in the process, thats something else to consider too.
-wanna3

dugrant153 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 09, 2006, 02:55:10 AM »

well, when considering a new car, I have to consider the extra tax that comes along. here in BC Canada, a used car only pays 7% tax on it's value, while a new car costs 13% tax, not including PDI, Freight, interest and all that other jazz. when it all adds up, it's a bit much, considering the car would not be used as a daily driver (as of my current job state). BUT... I have thought about that option.
Mazda3i new (w/ AC and... black interior) = 18k + tax = $20500 CDN
Mazda Protege 2002 (fully loaded) = 14k + tax = $15000 CDN
(atleast what I've observed in the local buysell market)

glad to hear it has nice handling and 4-wheel disc brakes. I noticed the nice suspension when I was in my friend's 2002 ES Protege automatic. and it's a spunky car too.

have there been major problems or meltdowns? I've sorta been reading through a few different forums and, while posts are definitely subjective, I just want to be aware if the Protege may have major breakdowns in the future. (leaking headgaskets, seizing rear brakes, etc etc... those costs all add up).

aaronmp2001 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 09, 2006, 10:01:19 AM »

I had an 02 protege and I never had a problem out of it. I thought it was a nice car and would recommend it to anyone. I have pics of it on my cardomain site on the last page.

Mello · « **Reply #14 on:** May 09, 2006, 10:35:19 AM »

Well my mom has a 2002 Protege LX Sedan, Manual. Lately it's started making alot of noise. Seems like 4 years in shouldn't be this bad, but under the hood it ain't sounding right. Lot's of engine noise during driving and a lot of crappy ildling sounds. I don't know if it's my mom not taking care of it or what. She gets oil changes but that's about it, and only takes it to the dealer if she doesn't like the way something is with it. I should tell her to have them look at her engine, I mean it runs fine, just doesn't sound right, ugh.

Overall it's a good car, yes. I know from my mom's protege it's no thrills or frills though when it comes to looks inside and out, but it does have the "fun to drive" reputation as all Mazda's do. So if you want a good reliable fun car like Mazda's are, yeah it's a good used one. Just make sure the mileage isn't too high for the year and get a carfax if necessary, check it out as normal.

dugrant153 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 09, 2006, 11:27:41 PM »

I don't mind a few noises. I figure that's normal for a car that's getting older (isn't it? Or is that a sign of not-so-long-term build quality?). But a few years only?

I really love the fun to drive factor in Mazda's. the reason why I'm even considering one.

specialized · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2006, 07:20:22 PM »

before I had my # I hada protege 5. was the best car I ever had. stock for stock it rode better and felt better then any other car in its class. The suspension was tight and nimble the the steering in the car great you could really feel the road through the steering wheel. the only down side was the HP of hte enige is was a little low and the tires were z rated from the factory. the engine could have been a little stronger and the Z rated tires suckied in the winter (for a daily driver a better year round tire could have been used).

dbzeag · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2006, 11:39:05 AM »

I have a 2001 LX 2.0 auto with some mods (KSport coilovers, corksport strut tower brace, AWR endlinks, SRI, Optima, carputer) with 112K miles. Never has left me hanging. Awesome performance and packaging (large space for small bulk), and I get about 28 mpg average driving 75mph all day.

I love the car, but it is starting to show its age. There is a bit of rust forming by the wheel wells. Since I am technically still under warranty for rust protection (unlimited mileage) I will have the dealer take a look.

I have done nothing outside of regular maintainance to the car since I have owned it, but one small issue. The radio display was flaky and was replaced under warranty no problems.

The car costs me about $265 a month with repairs and gas on average, and I live in Ohio. That includes tires, brake pads, basically everything that can be done do a car for maintainance.

MLuddyJr · « **Reply #18 on:** May 22, 2006, 05:45:14 PM »

Early models were fun, mid-'90s models got saggy, but they were much better for the '99 model year. The Protege even won a C&D test of ~13 small cars back in '99 or '00. 2001 models went from the 1.8 to the 2.0, and the suspension was upgraded then too.

They're still entry level economy cars, but the '01+ models are very tossable and fun to drive. The 3 is sometimes knocked for not being quite as fun to toss around as a Protege, even though the 3 is the better performer. I was actually shopping for a Protege5 before settling on a Mazda3 hatch. If I could have found a better deal on a Protege5 I would have bought one.

Hachi Roku · « **Reply #19 on:** June 08, 2006, 03:44:50 PM »

i like protege's, they can look real good.

nhbubba · « **Reply #20 on:** June 08, 2006, 05:40:31 PM »

How do they do on mileage? If the price of the vehicle were not an issue, which would you rather have: A trimmed out ~'03 Protoge5 w/ the 2.0L or a similarly equipped 3 HB w/ the 2.3L. From the specs both look to be good for 25-30 MPG.. if anything the 3 HB looks to squeak out just a little bit better mileage, despite the fact that it has a bigger, torquier engine w/ more horsepower. That seems kind of surprising since the Protoge5 has a 2.0L..

dugrant153 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 12, 2006, 03:10:23 AM »

I think for me, it'd come down to what I could afford. an 03 Protege5 *should* be cheaper than a new Mazda3 HB.
I'd probably go with a new Mazda3 if I could afford one, but if the Protege5 is significantly cheaper, I'd probably go for that. But if the price difference is negligible, I'd go with the Mazda3.

Raheel · « **Reply #22 on:** June 19, 2006, 06:00:03 PM »

Jon!

Good luck with your decision. ^^

thecreativ1 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 23, 2006, 11:45:40 PM »

Im looking into the Proteges too. I've had my 3 hatch for almost 2 years now, and i'm coming close to 50,000 miles. (I'm a commuter) I have been reading up alot on the 02-03 proteges and have not found anything to dislike about them. Sure, they might not be as powerful as the 3, but they have a huge tuning/aftermarket following and still have plenty of 'zoom'. And right now I have to concentrate more on saving $$$ for the future... I found a 2003 ES model, laser blue, loaded, at a dealership nearby and am taking it out for a test drive tomorrow...if anyone's interested, I'll be happy to share my experiences when i get back. -thecreativ1

MetalCord · « **Reply #24 on:** July 06, 2006, 04:56:14 PM »

Quote from: dugrant153 on April 08, 2006, 11:02:09 PM

wow... 96,000 miles is ...154,000km!!! NICE!

Well, I've become serious about the Mazda Protege. Definitely looking for an ES GT (or if the Canadian ES has rear disk brakes, the ES also). Judging from riding in my friends' car, it may not be a pocket rocket, but it's definitely got a killer suspension!!

Are there any particular problems that come up with 2001-2003 Mazda Proteges? anything I should watch out for that may blindside me?

I had a 2000 LX Protege as well. I traded it in for my 3 with 131,000+ miles on it. I never had a single mechanical problem with that car (that wasn't my fault). In fact, I never even had to change a single light bulb on that car. I'd wind the hell out of that thing all the time (you have to with the gutless 1.6) and cruised on the highway at 80 mph and still got 34 mpg in the summer. That car handled WAY better than a car in that price range should. I always had a blast driving that thing (except in straight lines

).

aca2983 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 04, 2006, 10:16:03 PM »

This is an old thread, but I'll chime in.

I had an 02 Protege5 (automatic) and it was a fantastic car. Lots of fun to drive, but the downside is a jarring ride on rough roads, and quite a bit of noise. The OEM tires were awful, definately get something with some all-season capability if you need that. I did have one rear caliper sieze up, but it was replace under warranty and I caught it early. I got a bit tired of the noise and rough ride, and traded for a Saab 9-2x last summer. Bad decision. I should have just added a bunch of Dynamat to the P5. After just a few weeks, I missed my Protege5!

Kept the Saabaru only 8 months, then got an 06 Mazda3 2.3S Hatch 5-speed this February. Couldn't be happier!

In summary, most people say the Mazda3 is definately more refined and grown up, but the Protege is in some ways more "fun", and I agree. Me, I wanted something a little more grown up. (but not dead, like a Toyota...)

The original Mazda3-based forum.

Author Topic: Mazda Protege? (Read 29480 times)